GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer Chad Karthauser announced on Tuesday, July 29 that Natalie Talk has been hired as the Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations.
 
"We are very excited to have Natalie join our team," said Karthauser. "She brings an outstanding level of business experience at the collegiate level to this position, and we have no doubt she will be a valuable asset to the athletic department here at UND."
 
Talk joins the athletic department after spending the previous three years on campus. Most recently, she was the Procurement Systems Administrator at UND, where she led the development of financial reporting tools, managed procurement technologies and ensured compliance with institutional and state policies.
 
She got her start at UND as a Procurement Officer in Jan. 2022, where Talk led a campus-wide cost savings initiative that resulted in an estimated 7.5% reduction in vendor expenses. She also implemented process improvements that significantly enhanced invoice processing efficiency.
 
"I am incredibly excited to join UND's athletic department," said Talk. "I am looking forward to contributing and supporting the continued excellence of our sports programs."
 
Talk's professional background includes roles in project management, logistics and procurement with organizations such as Vinyl Marketing, Pentair and Vertiv USA. She holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Ashland University, where she was a four-time First Team All-America selection and team captain in track and field.
 
Talk's husband, Elijah, currently serves as an assistant coach with the North Dakota track and field program.
 
For more information on North Dakota Athletics, follow on social media @UNDsports or visit FightingHawks.com.