‘But is it good for the students?’ Remembering Gordon Henry
Former vice president for Student Affairs — one of UND’s most respected leaders — died Sept. 10
He was a beloved presence on campus for decades, well-known and respected by faculty, staff members and students. He was a leader who said leaders must be people of integrity and recognize the dignity of others.
He was also renowned for asking a specific question, a question that helped guide his decision-making, throughout his tenure at the University: “But is it good for the students?”
That was Gordon Henry, former professor of Counseling and longtime vice president for Student Affairs. Henry, 84, retired from UND in 1998. He died Sept.10, 2024, in Altru Hospital, one day after his birthday.
“I was very fortunate to have the chance to get to know Gordon in my years as president and to truly understand and appreciate his passion for serving the students of UND,” said President Andrew Armacost. “He built a legacy at UND after three decades that is reflected today in the lives of those countless students he cared for, mentored and inspired. While Gordon’s first love was for the students, he also cared deeply for the employees of UND. We share a similar value of loving your people.
“Here at UND, where we strive to create a campus environment where people support each other in a campuswide effort to serve students, we are very much building on Gordon’s legacy.”
North Dakota born and raised
Henry was originally from Westhope, N.D., and he was born on Sept. 9, 1940. He graduated from Minot State College (now Minot State University) in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. In 1966, he graduated from UND with a master’s in education, then went on to earn a doctorate in education, also at UND, in 1970.
Henry began his career at UND in 1965 as a residence hall head resident. He then became assistant dean of men in 1969, then associate dean for student development in 1972. He served as interim dean for student development from 1977 to 1979.
Following a return from leave in 1980 for post-doctoral studies at Arizona State University, he was appointed director of the Memorial Union, in addition to his title of associate dean of students.
Henry took pride in being the “students’ vice president,” a position he assumed in 1984. He developed many strong relationships with individual students and student organizations.
When making decisions, Henry was often the first to ask, “But is it right for students?” He believed that education should center on students. His philosophy was one of working directly with students, and he actively participated in many student meetings and student events.
He facilitated many presentations in the residence halls and Greek chapters, and for various student organizations.
Name lives on in scholarships and awards
After he retired in 1998, two awards were established in Henry’s name, in appreciation for his dedication to UND, and the University’s students. The Gordon Henry Greek of the Year Award Scholarship is awarded to one fraternity and one sorority member who demonstrate commitment to the Greek community and who represent personal characteristics similar to those of Henry.
In addition, Student Government presents the Gordon Henry Award each year to a nonstudent (member of the staff, faculty, administration or Grand Forks community) who has continuously shown a commitment to making decisions that are in the best interest of students and for their untiring service, dedication and concern for students.
Members of Henry’s family shared that he was fortunate to work with so many outstanding people during his years at the University. In particular, Henry felt fortunate to work with three individuals he affectionately called the “Guardians of UND.”
Those “guardians” are Patsy Nies, Lillian Elsinga and Dean Schieve. Nies was an administrative assistant Henry referred to as the “dragon at the door,” as she regulated the steady flow of traffic into his office.
Henry said that Elsinga, then dean of students, served as his conscience. He spoke with her regularly to make sure he was always leading from the heart.
Schieve, then assistant vice president for Student Affairs, served as Henry’s voice, and made sure he always spoke to others with kindness.
Henry received many accolades throughout his career at UND. In 2019, he received the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership from the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. More recently, those honors grew yet again. What was, for a time, called the Small Ballroom in the Memorial Union was renamed the Henry Ballroom in 2023. The space is named in honor of the Henry Family, in particular Gordon and Patricia Henry and Gordon’s parents, Howard and Arline Henry.
Colleagues remember Gordon Henry
Elsinga recalled that if she couldn’t find Henry at 4 p.m., she knew he would be watching the newly formed UND Women’s Basketball team practice. Henry and Patricia’s love of UND athletics – and commitment to the inclusion of female athletes in that area of college life – was legendary, she said, and they could frequently be found at games taking notes on individual players.
Mostly though, she said she remembered Henry for his leadership style: “He led with his heart,” she said.
Bob Boyd, who succeeded Henry as vice president when he retired, recalled their great friendship, and Henry’s unwavering dedication to UND students.
“He was the epitome of what a vice president for Student Affairs should be,” Boyd said. “He was a mentor to me. Much of the success I had as vice president was built on the work he had done prior to my appointment.”
Another mentee, Cassie Gerhardt, senior associate vice president for Student Affairs, interacted extensively with Henry when she was a student at UND, and he inspired her to follow in his footsteps.
“I do the work I do today because of the impact Gordon had on my life, and because this is how Gordon taught me to do it,” Gerhardt said. “I’m really just trying to carry on his legacy of always asking, ‘But is it right for students?’”
In sharing a memory, Rob Carolin, chief of staff in the UND president’s office, said Henry’s tutelage forever changed the way he approached his career at UND.
“On my first day on the job at UND in August of 1989, I found myself in a car with Gordon on the way to a conference in Valley City,” Carolin remembered. “He immediately took me, a naive recent UND graduate, under his wing. He mentored me, helped me build on my passion for UND and what this University stood for, and created in me an understanding of what it meant to serve students and to go the extra mile for them.
“I have used the lessons I learned from Gordon every day of my more than 35 years working for this great University. I truly appreciated that our friendship continued to grow and develop over my years at UND long after he retired.
“I will miss him dearly and will forever be grateful that I had Gordon in my life.”
DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, said Henry epitomized what she hopes to see in UND alumni.
“He loved every second of his career advocating on behalf of UND students, and remained deeply invested in their success long after they transitioned into alumni of this great University,” she said. “While his numerous contributions to the University will be remembered, it is his unwavering enthusiasm for UND that will always resonate with me.”
‘UND students always came first’
Like Boyd, Peter Johnson, director of Governmental Relations and Public Affairs for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, said Henry set the mold at UND for what it means to be a vice president for Student Affairs. Current and future leaders who hold that role will stand upon the strong foundation he created, he said.
Johnson spoke of how Henry and Pat (the latter of whom he called “one of UND’s great unsung heroes”) frequently hosted students at their home. It was all part of Henry’s tremendous efforts to help UND succeed, by always striving to put students’ interests first.
Johnson, too, recalled the famous quote that captures Henry’s dedication to UND and the students he loved.
“Gordon was well known for asking the question, ‘But is it right for students?’” Johnson said. “I took part in many meetings of the President’s Cabinet, as it was called in those days, when the senior leadership met to share ideas, share concerns, help think through a path forward for UND.
“Any time there was an issue or an approach or some kind of change, you could count on Gordon at some point asking if what was being discussed, considered, planned was in the best interests of students. UND students always came first for Gordon.”
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Evening Celebration for Gordon Henry
When: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. (Visitation) with remarks at 7 p.m.
Where: UND Memorial Union – Henry Family Ballroom
Memorial Service
When: Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Where: UND Memorial Union, Ballroom.
Family and friends are encouraged to wear UND clothing and colors in honor of Henry’s love for the University of North Dakota.
Parking for Gordon’s family and friends is free in the UND Parking Ramp, east of the Memorial Union off Columbia Road.
Family and friends may park on any floor but likely will find the most available spaces on the third and fourth floors. Please refrain from parking in spaces marked “Reserved.”
Memorial Gifts may be made to the UND Foundation – https://undfoundation.org/gordon-henry or the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/
