ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dr. Erin Hogan Fouberg has been named the new Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northern State University.
Fouberg, professor of geography and director of the NSU Honors Program, joined Northern’s faculty in 2007 and was awarded NSU Outstanding Faculty Member in 2011.
As Northern’s new associate vice president, Fouberg will assist NSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Wanous in academic affairs duties such as academic program development, leading graduate programs, and assisting the university in all aspects of institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.
“I am excited to make the transition to Academic Affairs and to work alongside Dr. Wanous,” Fouberg said. “Northern is well positioned to become the region’s premier institution in teaching and learning. Our exceptional faculty and staff offer high impact opportunities to students, including undergraduate research, faculty-led study abroad, first-year seminars, the common read and living-learning communities. By connecting and engaging with each student, we help students realize their potential.”
Wanous said he is very much looking forward to working with Fouberg, and he was pleased to hire such a talented individual from within Northern’s ranks.
“Dr. Fouberg has distinguished herself as a gifted professor and scholar in the discipline of geography and has led our Honors Program to national prominence in the last decade. She brings a deep understanding of Northern’s curriculum and institutional culture to her new role,” he said.
A graduate of Brookings High School, Fouberg earned her Bachelor of Science in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1992; Master of Arts in geography from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1993; and Ph.D. in geography from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997.
At Northern, Fouberg has taught courses in geography, developed the GIS (geographic information systems) minor and certificate, and mentored several NSU students to pursue master’s and Ph.D. programs in geography. Since becoming Honors Program director in 2010, Fouberg has grown the average number of students enrolled from 40 to 130 and the average number of In Honoribus graduates from one each year to 16 each year.
Fouberg began the NSU Common Read Program in 2010, and it will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Nov. 13, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. when Manoush Zomorodi, author of “Bored and Brilliant,” will present The Larry and Julie Poeppel Family Common Read Lecture in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater.
Fouberg, who has expertise in political geography and geography education, won the Biennial Award for Teaching and Learning from the Journal of Geography in Higher Education. She also serves on the board of the National Council for Geographic Education. She co-authors two college level textbooks: “Understanding World Regional Geography” and “Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture,” both published by Wiley. Her chapter, “Finding Your Way in Liminal Space: Threshold Concepts and Curriculum Design in Geography,” will be published in The Handbook for Learning and Teaching in Geography in December 2019.
Due to her current course load, Fouberg will officially begin her duties full time on Jan. 6, 2020; however, she will immediately begin transitioning to this new role.
“One of my goals is to expand the many successes we’ve created in Honors and bring those to all Northern students,” said Fouberg. “Program and curriculum development will also be high on my to-do list. I look forward to working with faculty and students on enhancing existing programs and creating new majors and minors at Northern.”
Fouberg will remain Honors Program director until a replacement is hired. An internal search is planned for that position.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.