President Kelley goes from tourist to tour guide on annual bus tour, Aug. 15-17

Patrick Miller

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

8-2011

Campus Unit

University of North Dakota

Abstract

For the fourth year, President Robert and First Lady Marcia Kelley will lead the annual bus tour for new UND faculty and staff, taking a route along the northern tier of North Dakota Aug. 15-17.

“I’m starting my senior year,” quipped President Kelley.

The tradition was launched 21 years ago by former UND President Tom Clifford as a way to acquaint the University’s new faculty and staff with people and places in North Dakota. It also provides an opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities shaping the state.

Kelley’s firsthand experience as a newcomer to the state in 2008 helps him understand the value of the tradition.

“My first two years here, I was still getting to know the state myself,” he said. ”I felt like a fellow tourist. Now I feel like the tour guide. I’m expected to know a great deal more about the state, and I do. I enjoy introducing people to the things that I’ve discovered and learned – the things that fascinate me about the state.”

Communities visited on the first day include Edinburg, Rugby, Minot and Velva. On day two, stops will be made at New Town, Tioga and Crosby. Minot, Devils Lake and the Grand Forks Air Force Base are on the itinerary for the final day. (See complete itinerary below.) Approximately 35 new faculty, top administrators and their spouses and guests will participate in the tour.

“This tour gives us a chance to interact with some of our communities, meet more people who support the University or are interested in the University of North Dakota and give our new faculty a chance to get acquainted with their new state where many of them have never been before,” Kelley noted.

Among those participating in this year’s bus tour are Lori Reesor, vice president for student affairs, and Denise Korniewicz (korn-YAVE-ich), dean of the UND College of Nursing. Reesor came to UND last February from the University of Kansas. Korniewicz started at UND Aug. 1 prior to working at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies.

“I’m excited about participating for many reasons,” Reesor said. “One is that it’s a tradition for new people at UND. Having been here for 6 months, I feel like I know something about North Dakota, but I’m excited to visit some towns in the state and see some of the beautiful sights I’ve heard about. It’s important to see where our students are from and where they live.”

Korniewicz views the tour as a great way to learn more about North Dakota.

“I would really like to know who we serve and how the college of nursing can best serve them,” she explained. “I want to see where people are from, meet them and learn their concerns about health care so I know how to position the college of nursing. I want to be sure we are meeting the needs of the people and the state of North Dakota.”

The annual tours give UND’s newest faculty members and administrators a sense of where many of their students will come from. The trips are designed to acquaint new faculty and administrators with the state and its landmarks as well as provide them with an opportunity to form connections with others on campus.

“This is a complex organization with very diverse people,” Kelley said. “It’s good to take the University out into the communities to meet people, answer questions and show them that we’re just people, too, interested in many of the same things that they are.”

2011 UND New Faculty and Staff Bus Tour Itinerary

Monday, Aug. 15 7:30 a.m., Grand Forks – Leave from Chester Fritz Auditorium parking lot 8:45-10 a.m., Edinburg – Coffee stop at Community Center 12-1 p.m., Rugby – Lunch at the Cottage 2:15-3:30 p.m. – Minot State University 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Check-in at Minot hotel 5-7:30 p.m. – Tour and dinner at ranch of Jerry and Norma Effertz near Velva 7:30 p.m. – Return to Minot

Tuesday, Aug. 16 7:30 a.m. – Depart from Minot 8:45 a.m., New Town – Tour of the Three Tribes Museum and community briefing 11:45 a.m., Tioga – Oil and gas industry briefing 1:30 p.m., Tioga - Possible tour of the Hess Gas Processing Plant 4-7 p.m., Crosby – Tour, social and dinner 9 p.m., Minot – Return to Minot hotel

Wednesday, Aug. 17 8 a.m., Minot – Leave hotel 8:15-9:45 a.m., Minot – Briefing and tour at the Scandinavian Heritage Center 12-1:30 p.m., Devils Lake – Lunch and briefing at the Woodland Resort 3-5 p.m., Grand Forks Air Force Base – Tour 5:15-7 p.m., Turtle River State Park – Picnic supper with tour participants and invited UND campus guests 7:45 p.m., Grand Forks – Return to UND at Chester Fritz Auditorium parking lot

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