GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Closing out the calendar year, the University of North Dakota and North Dakota Athletics partnered to honor one faculty member who has gone above and beyond in supporting and guiding our students, especially our student-athletes. This Distinguished Faculty of the Month award recognizes those who make a lasting impact through their dedication to teaching, mentorship and leadership.
Each month, UND student-athletes have the chance to nominate faculty who they believe deserve this recognition. A selection committee then reviews the nominations and selects a winner each month. This award is a great way to celebrate the incredible work our faculty do for all UND students and to show our appreciation for their unwavering commitment to excellence.
"UND Athletics is thankful for the support of these instructors and professors," said Senior Associate AD, Internal Operations Liz Jarnigan. "Their commitment to student success provides our student-athletes with opportunities to succeed in the classroom, in the community and in competition."
Let's continue to celebrate and thank our faculty for their outstanding contributions to UND!
Distinguished Faculty of the Month 2024-25:
September - Dr. Tristan Darland
Dr. Tristan Darland earned a PhD in Portland, OR and a post-doctoral position in Boston, MA. Dr. Darland started at UND in the Fall of 2005 as a Research Associate, starting a zebrafish facility in Starcher Hall to study genes involved in human eye disease and addition. This work developed into working with Turtle Mountain Community College in 2009. In 2010, Dr. Darland accepted a tenure-track position in Biology at UND. Dr. Darland believes teaching is the best opportunity to impact others positively while trying to be a compassionate, attentive, and nurturing instructor.
October - Dr. Margaret Laumb
Dr. Margaret Laumb is a senior lecturer in the College of Engineering and Mines. She teaches engineering mechanics and environmental engineering courses, serves as a faculty advisor to Engineers Without Borders and provides engineering student advising. Her early career was spent in research and analysis work. Dr. Laumb joined UND faculty full-time in 2019.
November - Gwennie Byron
Gwennie Byron has been the Math Active Learning Lab Director at the University of North Dakota since June 2024. She has been an Associate Teaching Professor of Mathematics at UND since May 2002. Gwennie and her husband, Andy, live in Grand Forks with their three children.
December – Dr. Tammy Gerszewski
Dr. Tammy Gerszewski began teaching with the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration (NCoBPA) in the fall of 2010. Currently, a full-time Clinical Associate Professor, she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. She has received several awards for her teaching and engagement with student activities: NCoBPA Meritorious Pedagogical Excellence Award, NCoPBA Meritorious Teaching Award, Milton E. Larson Teaching Excellence Award, Outstanding Faculty Advisor, and Faculty Star. She has also received the Making a Difference Award from the ND CPA Society.
Dr. Gerszewski has earned four degrees from the University of North Dakota: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Accountancy, Master of Accountancy, and PhD in Higher Education. She became a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 2002 and worked locally in public practice with Drees, Riskey, & Vallager, Ltd. She continues to be involved in the accounting profession through her service engagements. She is the current Treasurer and Past-President of the board for Spectra Health, is a Governor appointed member of the ND State Board of Accountancy, and serves on various ND CPA Society committees.
January – Dr. Nicole Derenne
Dr. Nicole Derenne teaches art history courses to undergraduate and graduate students as a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design. Dr. Derenne has taught art history at UND since 2003. From 2003 to 2016, Dr. Derenne taught part-time and worked full-time as Director of Grand Forks' arts council and Public Arts Commission, becoming a full-time faculty member in 2016. Dr. Derenne received a Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Education from the University of North Dakota and a Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Derenne earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Alverno College. In addition to my teaching, I serve on several University Senate committees, College of Arts and Sciences committees, and Departmental committees. Outside UND, Dr. Derenne serves as Commissioner on the Grand Forks Historical Preservation Commission, as President of the Grand Forks Public Library Foundation Board, and as a member of the ArtWise Board.
February – Dr. Douglas Munksi
Dr. Douglas Munksi has been faculty at the University of North Dakota since 1978 and is a professor in Geography. He holds a B.S. ED., M.A. and Ph. D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Munski served as the chair of the geography department at UND from 1999 to 2001and 2020 to 2023 and is a member of the Grand Forks County Historical Society board. Dr. Munski was recognized by the University Continuing Education Association in 2007, the University of North Dakota with the Outstanding Course Development Award in 2021 and received a Distinguished Teaching Award at the National Level from the National Council for Geographic Education, as well as a National Academic Advising Award. Dr. Munski strives to his students excel and thrive.
March – Dr. Allyssa Baumbach
Dr. Allyssa Baumbach has been working at the University of North Dakota since 2013. Prior to joining the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation, she was a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department. She taught courses as an adjunct beginning in 2017 before accepting a full-time appointment in 2021. In her role with the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) (2018-2021), she managed graduate education program data for the College and oversaw the data collection and management process for advanced licensure programs. As a project coordinator and evaluator with UND's Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMSH) (2013-2018), Allyssa worked on a seven-state project aimed at improving cardiac response and care systems. She also evaluated state level public health programs.
Allyssa is a member of the Faculty Motivation Research Group (FMRG)
April – Dr. Montana Etten-Bohm
Dr. Montana Etten-Bohm is an assistant professor and serves as the Undergraduate Programming Director in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UND. Dr. Etten-Bohm holds a B.S from the University of Alabama Huntsville and a M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. In both her teaching and research, she focuses on curriculum development, ungrading and active learning. Above all, she enjoys being in the classroom, engaging with students and simply sharing her passion for meteorology.
North Dakota Athletics would like to extend a special thank you to Faculty Athletics Representative Gary Schindler for his continuous support of our student-athletes.
