Staff/Administration
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Martha Potvin - Dean
Martha is now in her eighth year as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Dakota. She is the fifth UND Arts & Sciences Dean since the inception of the College in 1883. Martha provides leadership and direction for the 18 departments housed in the College.
Martha earned her B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Connecticut, her M.S. degree in Botany/Plant Ecology from Michigan State University, and received her Ph.D. in the Biological Sciences (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research interests have focused primarily on the mechanisms that determine plant distributions along environmental gradients.
Since becoming Dean, Martha has been an active member of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences and was elected to their board of directors in 2008. The Council operates under the principle of “deans helping deans to dean”. She also serves on the boards of the North Valley Arts Council and the Grand Forks Community Foundations’ Women’s Fund, the latter of which she was a founding member. Martha has also served as a panelist on the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program since 2002. Prior to becoming Dean of Arts and Sciences at UND, she was a faculty member for sixteen years at West Chester University of Pennsylvania where she was promoted through the ranks to professor.
Office: Montgomery 125A
Phone: 701-777-2749
Email: marthapotvin@mail.und.edu -
John La Duke - Associate Dean
In addition to being a tenured faculty member of the UND Department of Biology, John has been the Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences for the College since 2006. In his role as Associate Dean, John provides assistance to the Dean in the administration of the College. He is also currently serving as interim Associate Vice President of Research here at UND.
John earned his B.S. and his M.S. from Texas Tech University and received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University. His research focus area is with plant systematic and is currently focusing on the morphological and molecular study of the Malvaceae. Learn more about John’s extensive research.
Office: Montgomery 125C
Phone: 701-777-3641
Email: john.laduke@und.edu -
Thomas Rand - Associate Dean
Professor Rand began his academic career at Macalester College until they kicked him out! Tom eventually received a B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Divinity from Harvard. In 1968 he began teaching Humanities at UND and serving as Associate Dean working with students in the Arts and Sciences’ office. He has retained the two half-time positions ever since. In addition to his long list of duties, Tom writes a weekly bridge column for the Grand Forks Herald, plus occasionally teaches honor classes for the College.
In the Dean’s office, Tom provides general academic advising for students and faculty. He serves the students by reviewing and approving reinstatement requests, student petitions, and various appeals. Tom is the advisor for General Studies, Social Science majors, Pre-Law students, as well as Continuing Education.
Office: Montgomery 125D
Phone: 701-777-4382
Email: thomas.rand@und.edu -
Cheryl Schreiner - Administrative Officer
Cheryl serves as the principal advisor on personnel and budgetary matters for the College. She administers and oversees the annual college budget and is responsible for personnel appointments/payroll documents for faculty, instructional, and support staff. As the contact for Arts & Sciences Council issues, Cheryl prepares and distributes the meeting minutes and agendas. She also serves as the Arts & Sciences contact for Development Leave Proposals, Nominations for Emeritus Status, Student Technology Fee Proposals, Plant Improvement Project Requests, Annual Reports, and Faculty Housing. Cheryl also supervises the support staff in the Dean’s Office.
Office: Montgomery 125B
Phone: 701-777-4381
Email: cheryl.schreiner@und.edu -
Kim Ruit - Health Sciences Advisor
Kim’s roll as Health Sciences Advisor is crucial to the success of students interested in Pre-Health professions. Kim works with current and prospective students as they plan their class schedules, prepare for standardized entrance exams, apply to professional schools, and prepare for interviews. Kim also advises student athletes and works to train Getting Started volunteers, in addition to helping with the Transfer Getting Started Program. Kim has a B.S. degree in Biology from Wheaton College.
In addition to advising, Kim maintains the UND Pre-Health web pages. Call 701-777-2749 to schedule an appointment with Kim.
Office: Montgomery 125
Phone: 701-777-2749
Email: kim.ruit@und.edu -
Brenda Schill - Administrative Secretary
When calling the main telephone line for the College, Brenda is usually the person that helps. Brenda monitors degree requirements for all students enrolled in the College by evaluating transcripts of graduating seniors to ensure all requirements have been met, processing status sheet requests, and maintaining graduation lists and databases. She also assists students with change of major/minor and advisor requests. In addition, Brenda receives and reviews tenure/tenure track faculty evaluations, schedules meetings for the college committees and oversees elections for all of the College’s standing committees as well as the College representatives to the University Senate.
Office: Montgomery 125
Phone: 701-777-4974
Email: brenda.schill@und.edu -
Monica Arvidson - Administrative Clerk
Monica is typically the first person you will see when you stop by the Dean’s Office in Montgomery Hall. Monica helps students wishing to change majors or minors, add or change advisors, and apply for graduation. Monica schedules meetings for the Dean, the Associate Deans, and the Pre-Health advisor. In addition, Monica also receives and reviews tenure/tenure track faculty evaluations, works with the Associate Dean to collect curriculum forms and schedule curriculum meetings, manages Arts & Sciences courses offered, as well as updating the Arts & Sciences website.
Office: Montgomery 125
Phone: 701-777-2740
Email: monica.arvidson@und.edu -
Mike Meyer '86 - Advancement Officer
Mike began his academic career at the United State Military Academy (West Point) in New York. After dabbling in hockey along the way, he eventually earned his B.S.B.A. from the University of North Dakota in 1986. His degree in advertising and public relations serves him well in his Advancement role. Mike is responsible for promoting the needs of Arts & Sciences in a variety of ways including fund-raising, alumni relations, and marketing. He also serves as Arts & Sciences liaison to the UND Foundation and the UND Alumni Association.
If you are an alumnus of the College of Arts & Sciences and would like to support the students and/or faculty from any of the College’s departments or programs, please contact Mike!
Office: Montgomery 107
Phone: 701-777-3669
Email: michaelmeyer@mail.und.edu -
Tanya Butler - Administrative Secretary
Tanya works with the Administrative Officer regarding payroll issues, particularly part-time and temporary appointments, as well as undergraduate and graduate student appointments. She also assists the Administrative Officer with department finance review and management. Tanya handles Summer Session faculty appointments and works with the Associate Dean to track Graduate Tuition Waiver allocations for the College. Additionally, Tanya manages travel arrangements for the Dean, the Associate Deans, and the Advancement Officer. Tanya also compliments the Advancement Officer with event planning and assistance with alumni relations activities.
Office: Montgomery 125
Phone: 701-777-6240
Email: tanyabutler@mail.und.edu -
Kathryn Vigness '08 - Alumni Relations, Development Graduate Student Intern
Kathryn is the graduate service assistant primarily working with the Advancement Officer and the Dean. Her focus is on marketing and public relations for the College. In her appointment, Kathryn writes for the College newsletter, Cornerstone, as well as writing press releases and coordinating alumni related events. Kathryn received her bachelor’s degree in Communication from UND in May 2008 and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership – she plans to graduate with this degree from UND in May 2010.
Office: Montgomery 125C
Phone: 701-777-2749
Email: kathrynvigness@mail.und.edu