We find ourselves in a completely different world than the last time the UND Alumni Magazine landed in your mailbox.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted all of our lives. As a society, we’ve taken measures to limit exposure and “flatten the curve” to not overwhelm our health care system. UND took unprecedented steps in mid-March to send students home and finish the semester with online classes. That will continue through at least the summer session. In-person Commencement ceremonies for spring and summer have been canceled for the first time since the flood of 1997.

My heart goes out to our graduating seniors who have seen their worlds turn upside down. As they become members of this alumni family, I want them to know that we are here to help them transition into the next stage of their lives.

UND Angel Fund

It’s hard to fathom the stress that our students are under during this crisis. In addition to the disruption of their campus routine, many students have lost jobs due to restrictions on service industry work that is the primary income source for many.

UND Angel Fund is an important resource for those facing difficult financial situations. Administered through the Division of Student Affairs & Diversity, the Angel Fund is not a new concept; it has been quietly helping UND students for quite some time.

In light of the pandemic, I encourage you to consider a gift to the UND Angel Fund. It would be tragic if a student were to give up their dream of a college degree due to the financial insecurity they are facing at this moment. Together, we can all make a direct difference in the lives of our outstanding students.

You can make a gift at UNDalumni.org/angel.

UND’s two presidents

I’m so proud of the efforts of interim President Joshua Wynne and incoming President Andrew Armacost during this crisis. Though his official start date isn’t until June 1, Dr. Armacost has been a key decision maker as Dr. Wynne has been so collaborative in recognizing that current choices will have a tremendous impact on the new administration. These two and the entire administrative team have been nimble and decisive at a time of great uncertainty, and I commend them for their efforts to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

I give special applause to Provost Thomas DiLorenzo, who has been the University’s point person on UND’s COVID-19 response. I also want to wish him a happy retirement as he steps down on June 1.

Our response

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation has been doing its part to protect our alumni, friends, and staff.

We postponed all spring events and most of our staff has been working remotely since mid-March, making it more difficult to fulfill our vision of fostering connections, inspiring generosity, and advancing the University of North Dakota.

Difficult – but not impossible. We have always used digital means, printed materials, and phone calls to supplement face-to-face meetings with alumni. Now, we are relying more on these methods and trying new ways to support and connect with our alumni and friends.

We appreciate your understanding as we adjust to this crisis, and I promise we will come out the other side as an even stronger and more effective advocate of UND and its amazing students!

Thank you for all that you do to make UND great.

Sincerely,

DeAnna Carlson Zink, '86, CFRE

UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO