Three finalists will interview for director of Essential Studies position Oct. 10-12

Open forums will take place in Nistler Hall’s Barry Auditorium, with remote participation available

Three finalists for the director of essential studies position have been invited to participate in open forums on Oct. 10-12, following a national search.

The director of essential studies will provide vision and leadership as well as advocate for excellence in general education for all undergraduate students at UND. The director will coordinate the program; collaborate with academic units in the development and ongoing validation of a broad set of essential studies courses; work closely with faculty, staff and advisors to inspire innovative teaching and campuswide understanding of the program; and will communicate the value of the liberal arts and support student success in interactions with individual students and the larger campus.

Working collaboratively, the director will develop strategic initiatives and promote innovation across the undergraduate essential studies curriculum while ensuring its academic quality and integrity.

The schedule for the open forums is below, as well as biographical information provided by the finalists. More details can be found on the search website.

• Karla Gavin, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 1 – 2 p.m., Nistler Hall, Barry Auditorium (Participate via Zoom)
• Kate Larson, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Nistler Hall, Barry Auditorium (Participate via Zoom)
• Lori Robison, Thursday, Oct. 12, 1 – 2 p.m., Nistler Hall, Barry Auditorium (Participate via Zoom)

Karla Gavin

Karla Gavin spent the past 31 years at Upper Iowa University, a small, private, liberal arts institution. Her most recent position was Dean of the School of Business & Professional Studies. There, she led a school with 16 full-time faculty and three full-time staff members, as well as 150 online adjunct faculty members. The School housed 12 undergraduate majors and three online master’s programs.

Gavin led the implementation of Simple Syllabus and Anthology (a student course opinion survey), volunteered to supervise the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and worked collaboratively with the two other deans, of Education and Arts and Sciences.

Prior to becoming dean, Gavin held multiple positions across campus. She served as the Interim Dean for the School of Business & Professional Studies; was the online Master of Sport Administration Program Director/Associate Professor of Sports Administration; Chair and Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Studies; Director of Career Development; Student Activities Director; Athletic Director; Sports Information Director; and started at UIU as Head Softball and Assistant Volleyball Coach.

Gavin earned her Ed.D. in Sport Management with a specialization in leadership from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala., where she currently serves on the advisory board for the business programs. She received her Master of Arts in Physical Education with an emphasis in sport management from Mankato State University, and she pursued her Bachelor of Arts in German (Teaching) at Moorhead State University.

Kate Larson

Kate Larson is a seasoned educator with an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and deep passion for teaching. With 18 years of teaching experience in various institutions across Washington state and Minnesota, she has become a trusted expert in undergraduate essential studies courses, including Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Stress & Coping, and Human Sexuality.

Larson holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus on educational psychology, a testament to her dedication to advancing educational practices. This academic journey has equipped her with the skills to develop curriculum and collaborate with faculty to create engaging, learner-centered classroom experiences.

Known for her positive energy and enthusiasm, Larson has consistently fostered a culture of innovation in education. Her courses, whether delivered in person or online, are meticulously organized and developed with universal design principles and accessibility in mind.

In the past seven years, Larson took on the role of online program coordinator in psychology, where she demonstrated exceptional attention to detail, multitasking ability, and a talent for collaborating with various campus departments to ensure student success and course offerings.

Larson looks forward to the possibility of joining the University of North Dakota and bringing her wealth of experience, dedication, and enthusiasm to this pivotal role, contributing to the continued success of the Essential Studies program.

Lori Robison

Lori Robison currently serves as Chair of English at the University of North Dakota. She has worked in campus leadership roles that demonstrate her deep commitment, throughout her professional career, to promoting general education as a means of improving the educational experiences and lives of students. Most recently, she has proposed a composition program pilot project to create stronger first-year experiences and work-integrated learning for all UND students; she is also working with other humanities chairs on a grant form the Teagle Foundation to enhance student learning in the humanities.

In the past, Robison administered the original transition into the Essential Studies program, and, as chair of the Essential Studies Committee, took a key role in the creation of the new intercultural knowledge courses. Her commitment to continued improvement of undergraduate education at UND was also demonstrated through service on the Task Force on the Future of Higher Education, work on UND’s last HLC accreditation, and her participation in many essential studies assessment activities over the years.

With a Ph.D. minor in Composition, Robison was from the start of her career engaged with issues surrounding student learning and published two essays on writing pedagogy. During her service as Academic Director of UND’s Composition Program, she developed English 130, “Writing for Public Audiences,” to make writing more relevant to students through a real-world public project. This innovative general education course demonstrates to students that their words can make a difference in the world and is taken by almost every undergraduate student at UND.