UND CONNECT awards support five new community-engaged projects across North Dakota

In the oil fields and elsewhere, UND CONNECT strives to combine faculty research, student learning and community expertise in ways that improve North Dakota’s quality of life

Editor’s note: In the UND LEADS Strategic Plan, the Discovery core value calls on the University to “facilitate and enhance connections, where new and existing partners ― including industry, government, and inter-institutional collaborations, among others ― can easily engage.” The following story was first published in UND Today on Dec. 16; and as it suggests, the partnerships that are being fostered through the UND CONNECT program are second to none.

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Five new faculty-led projects advancing public service, education and community well-being across North Dakota have been awarded up to $5,000 each through UND CONNECT during the Spring semester.

UND CONNECT supports partnerships that bring University of North Dakota expertise together with community needs, helping students and faculty apply their knowledge in ways that make a tangible difference across the state.

“Each year, UND CONNECT showcases what is possible when the expertise of our faculty and students comes together with the needs and aspirations of communities across North Dakota,” said Eric Link, UND provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“The projects emerging from this program continue to inspire us with their creativity, rigor and real-world impact. This newest set of initiatives — spanning rural storytelling, energy education, public transportation safety in our North Dakota climate, and more — underscores UND’s commitment to innovation and service.”

These five newly funded UND CONNECT projects build on a foundation established by 19 UND faculty-led projects funded in 2024. Together, these initiatives reflect sustained UND faculty and student engagement with North Dakota communities, said Randi Tanglen, UND vice provost for Faculty Affairs.

Previous UND CONNECT projects addressed issues such as fair housing, radon detection, teacher burn-out, and documenting the stories of new Americans.

“In this funding round, we received 19 applications for five projects,” Tanglen said. “I applaud the Senate Scholarly Affairs Committee for their careful review of the proposals, and I commend all faculty who submitted project proposals. I have been truly heartened by the depth of UND faculty commitment to contributing their expertise to North Dakota.”

Applications for Fall 2026 projects will open in the spring semester. UND faculty should watch for the announcement shortly after the start of the semester, Tanglen said.

The newly funded projects include the following:

• Energy Education Workshop

Moones Alamooti, teaching assistant professor, Energy & Petroleum Engineering

Community partner: Williston Basin Career & Technical Education Center / Williston High School

This two-day Energy Education Workshop introduces Williston-area high school students to energy-sector careers and technical skills available in their own region. Working with Williston High School and the Williston Basin CTE Center, the project will engage 50 junior and senior students interested in STEM fields through hands-on learning and career exploration.

“Despite North Dakota’s position as a leading energy producer, local students have limited exposure to the technical skills and career opportunities available in their own community,” the project’s proposal notes.

As part of the project, “The Williston school district will recruit 50 participating high-school junior and senior students interested in STEM fields, provide classroom and computer lab facilities at Williston High for the two-day workshop, and designate two science teachers to assist with coordination, student supervision, and curriculum integration.”

The workshop aims to address workforce shortages and reduce talent flight by connecting students directly with pathways to energy sector careers.

• Norwegian Community Connections

Emily Midkiff, assistant professor, Teaching, Learning & Professional Practice; Melissa Gjellstad, professor and chair, Languages & Global Studies

Community partner: Gyda Varden Lodge (Sons of Norway), Grand Forks

This project strengthens intergenerational and cultural connections in Grand Forks by linking the historic Gyda Varden Lodge with local Pre-K children, families and young adults. Through Norwegian-themed storytime events and social board-game gatherings, UND faculty and students will help preserve cultural heritage while promoting early

literacy and community engagement.

The initiative responds to the lodge’s desire to engage younger generations and sustain its 100-year legacy of service and cultural education.

• Riding through the cold: Measuring and mitigating weather exposure risks among public transit users in Grand Forks

Yue Jing, assistant professor, Geography & Geographic Information Science

Community partners: Cities Area Transit (CAT); Grand Forks–East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization

Focused on public safety and mobility, this project examines how extreme winter conditions affect public transit users in one of the coldest cities in the contiguous United States. Using transit and environmental data, the project will measure riders’ exposure to cold and wind during walking and waiting periods, identify vulnerable locations and

populations, and develop recommendations to improve shelters, routes and services.

Undergraduate students will gain hands-on research experience while supporting regional transportation planning.

• Rural Storytelling Toolkit: Media Education for High School Students

Emily Gibbens-Buteau, assistant professor, Communication

Community partner: North Dakota Newspaper Association

Addressing the decline of local journalism and media education in rural North Dakota, this project creates a free, digital storytelling toolkit for educators statewide. In partnership with the North Dakota Newspaper Association, the toolkit will include ready-to-use lessons that educators can incorporate into existing classes or use to host a one-day workshop or short storytelling camp.

Each activity centers on community journalism and media literacy, encouraging students to explore the value of storytelling, critical thinking and responsible communication.

A pilot with UND’s TRIO Upward Bound program will test the materials before broader release, helping strengthen the state’s journalism pipeline and empower rural students to tell their own community stories. The goal is to create a high-quality, free Open Educational Resource (OER) for educators statewide.

• ND RedRover Readers

Chelsea Hughes, clinical assistant professor, Social Work

Community partner: Grand Forks Public Library

RedRover Readers is a nationally recognized program that uses high quality children’s books about people and animals and a neutral, nonjudgemental discussion format to foster empathy and kindness in children ages 5 through 11.

This project would be the first implementation of RedRover Readers in North Dakota. With support from UND CONNECT, the project aims to train and certify 20 new volunteers, primarily social work and education majors, to offer the program at the Grand Forks Public Library and elsewhere.

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Provost Link emphasized that the impact of UND CONNECT and the projects it has sponsored extends far beyond campus.

“I look forward to the important work these teams will accomplish, and remain deeply appreciative of the passion and dedication that drive their efforts,” he said.

>> Questions or comments about the UND LEADS Strategic Plan? Your thoughts are welcome! Please contact Ryan Zerr, associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, or Anna Marie Kinney, coordinator of the University Writing Program, the co-chairs of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee. You also may offer your thoughts by visiting the UND LEADS Strategic Plan home page and clicking on the “Provide your feedback” link.

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