Feature Stories
Lillian Elsinga, '68
After graduating from Grand Valley State University with a degree in German and teaching, Lillian Elsinga, ’68 stayed at the university for three years as an admissions counselor. In 1973, Elsinga earned her master’s degree from Michigan State University. The same year, she moved to North Dakota and became the Associate Dean of Students at the University of North Dakota. There, she advanced to the Dean of students and associate Vice President of students for the university.
In the 1980s, Elsinga developed an interdisciplinary campus crisis team to better serve the students, faculty, and staff. Other community and volunteer service includes team leader for the Community Violence and Intervention Center in Grand Folks, North Dakota and board member for Altru Hospital. She is chair of judicial affairs for the American College Personnel Association and a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
She has earned numerous awards including the Athena Award, UND Greek Pillar Award, the National Association for Student Judicial Affairs Award and several more.
Despite her retirement in 2010, Elsinga and her husband, Boyd Wright, continue to live in Grand Folks North Dakota.
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