UND research administrator elected to national council leadership

Diane Hillebrand of UND is the VP and president-elect of the National Council of University Administrators

A UND executive has been elected to serve as vice-president/president-elect of the National Council of University Administrators (NCURA) – a body that helps universities advance their research profiles.

Diane Hillebrand, assistant director of Research & Sponsored Program Development with UND’s Division of Research & Economic Development, was recognized with the honor last fall. In her role at UND, she serves as a liaison between the University and a myriad of funding sources for research.

Founded in 1959, NCURA is a nonprofit professional society, encompassing more than 9,000 individual members representing more than 1,100 colleges, universities and teaching hospitals. Its mission is to provide professional development opportunities for research administrators such as Hillebrand.

Hillebrand, who has worked at UND since 1994, previously served as the NCURA’s secretary from 2024-25. She said NCURA membership has been invaluable for her career progression.

“It is my honor to serve as the first vice president/president-elect of NCURA from North Dakota,” Hillebrand said. “For the past 25 years, NCURA has been my professional lifeline, supporting and guiding me throughout my journey in research administration.”

Scott Snyder, UND’s vice president of Research & Economic Development, praised Hillebrand’s leadership ability in her role — which supports the division’s research activity through securing grants and other funding sources.

“This is a great honor for Diane and a recognition of her talent and enthusiasm as a research administrator and leader,” Snyder said. “Her election is also a testament to the quality of the team in the Division of Research and Economic Development and something for the entire University to take pride in. We look forward to supporting Diane during her service in these important roles.”