UND College of Education and Human Development

✨ Student Spotlight ✨ Summer Edition ☀️

Johanna Hildahl (third from the left) finished her Special Education degree with an exciting (and rainy) Special Olympics North Dakota! 🥇

Johanna was inspired to earn a Special Education degree after working with children with disabilities at the Anne Carlsen Center. She discovered her passion for supporting students of all abilities and helping them reach their full potential. She then chose CEHD "because of the strong education program, supportive faculty, and valuable hands-on experiences."

Being able to volunteer for the Special Olympics has always been on Johanna's bucket list, and it didn't disappoint! She loved being able to support the athletes, share encouragement, and celebrate with everyone. The CEHD team was located along the trail near the awards area, so a highlight was the ability to watch athletes receive their medals, and see first-hand the smiles, confidence, and support from others.

"My experiences through University of North Dakota and the College of Education & Human Development have strengthened my passion for special education and advocacy. Opportunities like volunteering with Special Olympics North Dakota have helped me grow both personally and professionally and reinforced the importance of inclusion and supporting individuals of all abilities."

| Special Olympics North Dakota Grand Forks

Congratulations to Kayla Dornfeld, a CEHD two-time graduate (bachelor's and master's) and 2019 ND Teacher of the Year, for being named an Empowered Woman of the Year!

Ms. Dornfeld will be honored at a gala in New York City later this year. Way to go!

https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/mapleton-teacher-named-empowered-woman-of-the-year

As we close the semester, I wanted to take a moment to share a personal note of thanks to the faculty, staff, and students of CEHD.

As the academic year comes to an end I've been thinking about the thousands of moments that rarely make it into reports, dashboards, budgets or annual reviews.

A faculty member holding office hours after 8 pm to align with the full-time work and full-time parenting schedules of their students.

A staff member solving a problem before anyone else even knows it exists.

A student balancing coursework, work, family responsibilities, and still finding a way to reach the finish line.

Those moments happen every day across the College of Education & Human Development at the University of North Dakota.

This year included celebrations, frustrations, accomplishments, setbacks, and more meetings than any of us probably wanted. Through it all, people continued doing the work. They taught. They mentored. They researched. They advised. They supported. They advocated. They showed up.

The work of CEHD reaches far beyond our building. Our graduates will teach in classrooms, serve in clinics, lead organizations, support communities, conduct research, and help people navigate some of life's most important challenges. The impact begins here, but it doesn't stay here.

As dean, one of the privileges of this role is having a front-row seat to the talent, dedication, and expertise that exist across this college. I leave this academic year with a deep appreciation for the people who make this place what it is.

Thank you to our faculty, staff, and students for the work you've done this year and for the difference you're making every day.

-Shelbie Witte, Dean

In 1991, the average retirement age in the U.S. was 57. Today, due to the rising cost of living, a desire to maintain employer-sponsored health insurance, and other factors, adults aged 65 and older are among the fastest-growing segments of the labor force. Many face criticism for the choice to continue working.

CEHD's Dr. Lee Ann Williams explores this topic in an article on PBS.org (originally published on The Conversation).

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/older-americans-often-compelled-to-keep-working-and-face-criticism-for-doing-so

Congratulations to CEHD's Dr. Akorede Teriba, the newest recipient of the Elnora Hopper Danley Faculty Fellowship!

Dr. Teriba is the co-training director of Counseling Psychology and has been with CEHD since 2023.

Learn more about Dr. Teriba's research and this prestigious honor at UND Today.

https://blogs.und.edu/und-today/2026/06/akorede-teriba-receives-elnora-hopper-danley-faculty-fellowship/

Check out the final CEHD Research in Press blog for the 2025-26 academic year. This monthly digital publication focuses on the academic and research endeavors of our faculty and graduate student body.

This issue highlights outstanding accomplishments across the college, including exciting summer initiatives and annual reports from the GRO.UND Learning Gardens and the Center for Engineering Education Research (CEER).

https://blogs.und.edu/cehd

Congratulations to everyone featured here and throughout the year!

The GRO.UND Learning Gardens are MOVING, and we need your help!

Volunteers are needed to help transport lovely plants and greenery from their current home at the corner of University & Harvard to their NEW home at 525 Stanford Road, near CEHD's Education Northwest building.

Come join our team of volunteers as we dig, haul, and build garden boxes. Please bring your own gardening gloves for your comfort; if you have a drill that you are willing to bring, it would be greatly appreciated!

Volunteer hours:
Mo 6/1: 4-7 pm
Tu 6/2: 8-11 am AND 4-7 pm

A celebratory pizza picnic will follow on 6/2 at 7 pm in Exchange Club Park.

Questions? Contact Katie Walsh at [email protected].

CEHD is offering a unique opportunity for bilingual students in grades 5-8 this summer!

Apply for your child(ren) to enroll in UND's Summer Bilingual Writing Camp, which runs July 13-24, 2026.

ALL bilingual students, including students currently receiving ML services and students who speak another language at home but are more fluent in English, are eligible.

This is a welcoming space for students to explore and celebrate their bilingual identity through writing. Students can write entirely in English, or draw on words from their home language to help brainstorm and organize their ideas.

All sessions take place Mon-Fri from 1-4pm daily in the Education Building on UND's campus. Campers will be taught by experienced K-12 teachers. Best of all, this camp is offered free of charge!

Apply today at:

https://education.und.edu/academics/tlpp/summer-bilingual-writing-camp

The Spring 2026 digital issue of CEHD's CATALYST Magazine is now live!

In this newest issue, the College shares stories of research, leadership, partnership, and community impact happening across North Dakota and beyond.

Inside, you’ll find:

✨ Fulbright educators from 23 countries learning from and with CEHD faculty
✨ Research improving mental health and su***de prevention through ND HOPES
✨ Recovery through research with the Mountain Plains ATTC
✨ National student awards and scholarship celebrations
✨ Faculty books, publications, and emerging research
✨ The inaugural Torchbearer Awards honoring leadership, mentorship, innovation, and service

From classrooms and communities to research and global collaboration, this issue highlights the many ways CEHD continues to prepare leaders and create meaningful change.

Read the Spring 2026 digital edition today!
https://bit.ly/4a6awPZ

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember those in the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

We at UND's College of Education & Human Development wish everyone a safe, meaningful, and reflective holiday.