JAMESTOWN, N.D. (UJ) – Several University of Jamestown (UJ) faculty members have received promotions, effective with the start of the fall semester on August 25, 2025.

Two faculty members were promoted from associate professor to professor:

• Professor Elizabeth Flory, Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences), joined UJ in 2017 and teaches in the Department of Natural Science. Her favorite course to teach is microbiology lab. Dr. Flory’s previous research focused on studying antibodies and immunity in mice, aiming to collect data that could contribute to developing a human vaccine for chlamydia.
• Professor James Schanandore, Ph.D. (Zoology, North Dakota State University), joined UJ’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in 2017. He teaches science courses including anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Dr. Schanandore’s research involves the production of biological profiles for deceased individuals using forensic radiology, as well as scholarship in physical therapy teaching and learning, ultrasound imaging applications, and 3D printing.

Eight faculty members were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor:

• Associate Professor Jessie Arneson, Ph.D. (Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University), was born and raised in Jamestown. Her research focuses on developing scientific visualization skills in undergraduates and designing effective teaching and assessment strategies for biology and biochemistry courses.
• Associate Professor Marc Carpenter, Ph.D. (University of Oregon), teaches history and political science. His favorite courses involve roleplaying key historical moments. Dr. Carpenter has published several historical works, including his recent book, The War on Illahee: Genocide, Complicity, and Cover-Ups in the Pioneer Northwest (Yale University Press, 2025).
• Associate Professor Ernesto Fundora, Ph.D. (Romance Studies, University of Miami), teaches Spanish, Latin, and courses in Latin American and Caribbean literatures and cultures. He is the founding director of the Virtual Immersion Program and currently serves as director of the Foreign Languages Program at UJ. His favorite course to teach is “Spanish Across Time: Origins and Evolution of a Global Language.”
• Associate Professor Anne Gassmann, D.M.A. (Choral Conducting, University of Nebraska-Lincoln), is a North Dakota native who leads UJ’s three choral ensembles and teaches music education courses. Dr. Gassmann also performs as a soprano throughout the Midwest and New York.
• Associate Professor Sheri Gunderson, M.S.N. (Minnesota State University Moorhead), has been teaching nursing since 2008 and is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Mary, Bismarck. She is serving a two-year term as a faculty representative on the UJ Board of Trustees. Her favorite class to teach is medical-surgical nursing.
• Associate Professor Jonathan Lasco, Ph.D. (Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University), researches engineering education, flood resilience, and curve number hydrology. His favorite courses to teach are hydrology and hydraulic engineering.
• Associate Professor Michael McIntyre, M.F.A. (Minnesota State University, Mankato), has served as UJ’s Director of Theatre since 1996, directing and designing more than 120 productions. His favorite class to teach is directing.
• Associate Professor Erik Sand, M.S. (Computer Science, North Dakota State University), has taught at UJ for more than 40 years after being recruited to teach at Jamestown College while completing his master’s degree.

• Kevin Jauregui was promoted from instructor to assistant professor. He earned his B.A. in Physics from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo and an M.S. from Emporia State University in 2021. Jauregui taught high school and middle school in California for 10 years before joining UJ in 2022. His research interests include innovative pedagogical and assessment methods in mathematics teaching.