University of Jamestown to Induct Three Alumni and Honor Delayed 2020 Inductee

The University of Jamestown will welcome three new members to its Alumni Hall of Fame and will formally honor a previously delayed inductee at a ceremony scheduled for Friday, May 1. The event recognizes alumni whose careers reflect service to the university and to broader communities, and it will be held in the foyer of the Harold Newman Arena following a brief social at 5 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are available for purchase.

The 2026 class includes Mark Ereth, MD (’80), emeritus professor of anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and emeritus consultant at Mayo Clinic; Marlin Jensen, PhD (’80), an associate professor of finance at Auburn University with a long career in academia; and Todd Steinwand (’82), retired president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota and current chairman of the University of Jamestown board of trustees. In addition, Kerstin (Kiki) Leuther, PhD (’88) - a 2018 Hall of Fame member whose formal induction was delayed in 2020 because of the pandemic - will be honored. Dr. Leuther serves as associate director and assistant professor in UJ’s Clinical Research PhD program.

The ceremony underscores the university’s connections to prominent institutions in health care, finance, and higher education. Dr. Ereth’s career at Mayo Clinic highlights ties between Jamestown-trained professionals and national medical centers. Dr. Jensen’s academic work reflects the university’s ongoing linkages to finance education beyond state lines. Mr. Steinwand’s combined experience at the Bank of North Dakota and current leadership on the UJ board places a former state financial executive at the center of the university’s governance, a noteworthy alignment for local oversight and institutional strategy.

For Stutsman County residents, the inductions are both a civic celebration and a reminder of the university’s role as a hub for professional development and community networking. The event brings alumni, faculty, trustees, and local leaders together, providing opportunities for alumni engagement and potential philanthropic support that can affect campus programs and local economies. Honoring Dr. Leuther acknowledges the pandemic’s disruption to campus life while reaffirming commitments to academic continuity and research training at UJ.

As the university prepares the May 1 ceremony, the induction offers a visible moment of continuity for Jamestown’s civic and educational landscape. Residents who follow UJ’s governance and community partnerships will watch for how alumni leadership and trustee oversight translate into future priorities for the university and for Stutsman County.