Dean Cindy Juntunen accepts position at Cal State University, Monterey Bay

Juntunen, dean of the College of Education & Human Development, will begin her new position Sept. 5

Cindy Juntunen, dean of the College of Education & Human Development at the University of North Dakota, has accepted the position of Associate Provost/Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Juntunen will begin her new position on Sept. 5.

“I have spent 29 very happy years at UND and have formed meaningful relationships with many people across campus over the years,” Juntunen said. “I will carry countless wonderful memories with me, and I sincerely appreciate the diverse experiences and opportunities I’ve had during my tenure here.

“Serving as dean of the College of Education & Human Development has been extremely rewarding, and I believe it has helped me to think much more broadly about strategies to engage both students and faculty. These experiences, as well as the mentoring I’ve received at UND, will help me to be more effective in my new position.”

“Let me be the first to thank Dean Cindy Juntunen for her incredible service to UND over many years,” said UND President Andrew Armacost. “When I was first appointed to serve as President, Cindy truly helped me transition into this important role. Throughout her time at UND, she has provided an unparalleled commitment to the essential principle of offering respect and dignity to each person on our campus. We will miss her deeply.”

“Dean Juntunen has been a dedicated and influential leader at the University of North Dakota for many years,” said Eric Link, UND provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Her service to the institution in many different roles has truly highlighted her commitment to the students of the University.

“She will be missed, and we wish her great success in her new role.”

Link confirmed that a process will soon be underway to name an interim dean before the end of the summer. A national search will be launched concurrently for the next long-term dean of the College of Education & Human Development.

Juntunen, a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology and Community Services, as well as a UND alum and North Dakota native, joined the faculty at UND in 1994.

From 2006 to 2014, Juntunen served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the College of Education & Human Development before becoming dean of the College in 2016.

Also, during her nearly 30-year career at the University, Juntunen served as chair of the Department of Counseling (1998-2004), as Director of Training for the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program (2005-2016) and as Acting Director for the Northern Lights Behavioral Health Center (2014-2015).

Since 2021, Juntunen has served as co-director and principal investigator for two addiction technical assistance grants, both of which serve a large, multi-state region for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: the Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center and the State Opioid Response Technical Assistance Network.

As dean, Juntunen oversaw a restructuring of the College, creating two large interdisciplinary departments – Education, Health & Behavior Studies and Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice – to bolster collaboration and research synergy throughout the College. In fall 2022, Juntunen reported that grant expenditures had doubled for the CEHD in the past five years.

The College reestablished its Bureau of Evaluation and Research Services in 2021, providing increased resources and supports for CEHD faculty research, in addition to providing a means to evaluate the effectiveness of education, public health and behavioral study programs, both on- and off-campus.

Under Juntunen, the CEHD has also engaged in critical work to address workforce shortages in teaching and behavioral/mental health care in the state and region. The new Office of Teacher Recruitment & Retention is devoted to bringing more students into teacher preparation programs while also supporting current teachers and addressing underlying causes of stress and dissatisfaction in the profession.

“The College of Education & Human Development is a central player in addressing these two major issues of concern to the citizens of North Dakota,” Juntunen said. “Our teacher education faculty, together with the OTRR, are working tirelessly to innovate training, provide great support to students, and reduce the challenges faced by new and continuing teachers.

“In the realm of behavioral health, CEHD has partnered with the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines to lead the Rural Behavioral Health Research Cluster, investing significant faculty time and energy into developing innovative behavioral health workforce and treatment strategies.

“We’ve made significant commitments to these two areas and are well-positioned to have a positive impact well into the future.”