Emily Cherry Oliver, Pablo de León named UND’s 2026 Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors
Emily Cherry Oliver, professor and chair of Theatre Arts, and Pablo de León, professor and chair of Space Studies, have been named the University of North Dakota’s 2026 Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors — UND’s highest honor for faculty.
The Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorship recognizes faculty who excel in teaching, research and service. Honorees are selected through a provost-convened panel that reviews nominations and letters from deans, peers and former students.
Both Cherry Oliver and de León will be formally recognized at the UND Founders Day awards ceremony at the UND Memorial Ballroom on Feb. 19.
Provost Eric Link — joined by Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen, Theatre Arts colleagues and fellow Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors — surprised Cherry Oliver in a Starcher Hall classroom as she taught students about playwrights Bertolt Brecht and Augusto Boal.
“It really is an honor to be able to grant this award to you in recognition of all the great teaching, research creativity and your work in productions across the state and nationally,” Link said to a visibly surprised Cherry Oliver. “You’re an outstanding faculty member, and we are so pleased to have you at UND.”
De León learned of the honor via Zoom while attending a conference in Orlando, with Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen, Provost Eric Link and UND President Andrew Armacost on the call.
“One of the most joyful things I can do as the president of UND is to recognize the accomplishments of our faculty members and to also bestow upon them certain honors that are due to them,” Armacost said.
