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Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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Experiential Learning

We believe in providing experiential learning experiences for our students, faculty, and community.

Experiential education involves “learning by doing." At the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration we strive to meet these goals through the variety of business symposiums that are offered on campus throughout the year. Experiential learning opportunities are an integral way for students to gain insight into the business world.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

  • Add more value to their academic studies by giving students a chance to apply theories learned in classes to “real life” situations.
  • Assist in identifying the interdisciplinary skills gained from the classroom that are utilized and applied in their field of interest.

Speaker Series and Symposiums

The Hultberg Lectureship Series was established thirty-two years ago with a gift through the UND Foundation by Clara E. Anderson (Hultberg) in memory of her parents Hans and Suzanne Hultberg. Clara was a 1928 UND graduate; her interests were in stimulating challenges and opportunities for students in business. Each year, successful women alumni from UND bring their professional experiences to the University community through this unique event.

The NCoBPA Women's Leadership Summit will host a dynamic group of UND alumnae & leaders for a Hultberg Panel Discussion on networking and leadership. Followed by a keynote presentation.

2026 Be Bold Event

TBA
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Small Ballroom/MU

*By invitation only

The purpose of the Olafson Ethics Symposium is to provide a platform for students and the business community to explore the importance of both personal and professional ethics.

This annual event is funded through the support of Robert Olafson and his dedication to ethical business practices and the University of North Dakota, and SEI.

2025 Olafson Ethics Symposium 

Join us on Wednesday, November 5 at 7 p.m. in the Barry Auditorium in Nistler Hall.

Keynote presentation from Melissa Fors Shackelford, Author, Marketing Strategist & Startup Advisor.

Title: Marketing With a Conscience: Purpose, Ethics, and the Power to Do Good.  

This keynote invites a critical look at the real stakes of marketing when ethics are ignored versus when purpose guides the work. Drawing on cases of deceptive and predatory advertising, the talk challenges audiences to consider how influence can either exploit or protect people and how values like transparency, fairness, and responsibility can turn marketing into a true force for good.

About Melissa Fors Shackelford

Melissa Fors Shackelford is a trusted advisor, author, and nationally recognized voice in purpose-driven marketing and healthcare innovation. With more than 20 years of experience leading high-impact brand and growth initiatives, she helps organizations navigate complex markets while staying grounded in clarity, integrity, and human connection.

As founder of Shackelford Strategies, Melissa works closely with C-suite leaders, startups, and mission-driven healthcare brands to shape market strategy, refine messaging, and scale impact. Her background includes executive roles at Optum, Hazelden Betty Ford, Cigna’s Evernorth, and LetsGetChecked, where she led transformative marketing efforts that balanced performance with purpose.

Melissa is also a sought-after speaker, known for delivering thoughtful, insight-rich keynotes that resonate with leaders across industries. Her signature talk, “Marketing With a Conscience: Reclaiming Integrity in a Purpose-Driven Age,” challenges audiences to rethink how they build trust, loyalty, and relevance in a changing world. She offers a candid, motivating call to lead with authenticity, and to make marketing a force for good.

She has spoken at leading national forums, including The American Marketing Association, American Hospital Association’s Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD), The Forum for Healthcare Strategists (HMPS), The University of Minnesota Women’s Leadership Conference, The National Association on Addiction, and The Mid-Atlantic Society for Healthcare Strategy.

Melissa is the author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Harnessing Purpose: A Marketer’s Guide to Inspiring Connection, and has been recognized with honors such as Nonprofit Marketer of the Year (AMA), the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Award, and inclusion in the Top 50 Women in Healthcare.

She currently serves on multiple boards and advisory groups, including the American Hospital Association’s SHSMD Editorial Advisory Board, Asbury Communities, Inc., and the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST.

Melissa holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a BA from the University of Minnesota.

Melissa’s work blends real-world executive experience with a deeply human perspective. Whether she’s speaking on stage, advising a startup, or guiding a leadership team, Melissa’s work centers on this belief: when marketing is led with intention, it becomes a force for trust, change, and connection.

Watch Live

PAST SPEAKERS 

The Morrison Leadership Summit has been established by a gift from McCain Foods, in honor of the company's former CEO, Dale Morrison. Morrison, a North Dakota native, is a distinguished alumnus of the Nistler CoBPA.

He has more than three decades of experience within the international food industry. Morrison worked at General Foods, PepsiCo, and Campbell Soup Company until 2004 when he became the President and CEO of McCain Foods. Notable alumni and friends of the Nistler CoBPA who currently hold (or have previously held) leadership positions will be in attendance for the event.

Join us for a Virtual Webinar with David Aaker on "Emerging Brand Roles that Create Differentiation and Growth"

February 25, 2025
12:15- 1:15 p.m.CST

ZOOM LINK PENDING

*In-person event viewing available in Nistler Hall Barry Auditorium.

About David

David Aaker is the Vice Chairman of Prophet and Professor Emeritus at the BerkeleyHaas School of Business. He is the winner of five career awards including the NYAMA Marketing Hall of Fame. He has published over 120 articles and 18 books that have sold well over 1 million copies and been translated into 18 languages. They include Managing Brand Equity, Building Strong Brands, Aaker on Branding, Creating Signature Stories, Owning Game-Changing Subcategories and The Future of Purpose-Driven Branding.  Called the Father of Modern Branding by Phil Kotler, he was named one of the top five most important marketing/business gurus in 2007 and won awards for the best article in the California Management Review and the Journal of Marketing (twice). His work has received 165,000 citations.

NistlerEdge

Communicate the value of experiential learning with NistlerEdge.

Through the NistlerEdge platform, Nistler College students can build their experiential learning transcript by tracking these activities. Students create their own digital portfolios, share achievements on LinkedIn, and compete for the top spot on the leaderboard. 

NistlerEdge provides employers with a more comprehensive view of a candidate's abilities and real-word experiences.

Learn More About Nistleredge

App

Download the suitable app to launch NistlerEdge.

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Real World Educational Opportunities

Our students have a wealth of opportunities to apply classroom concepts to real world scenarios. For example:

  • Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) allows students to manage and administer a $1 million investment portfolio on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • The Dakota Venture Group gives students the opportunity to review and fund entrepreneurial business ventures. Students who participate in Dakota Venture Group gain valuable insight through planning and promoting a special speaker series and visiting alumni at their career sites.
  • Students pursuing a degree program within the college also have access to a large pool of scholarships, which are awarded annually, as well as numerous internships that assist in building a student's resume.

Additional Experiential Learning Opportunities

  • Executives in the classroom
  • Study abroad experiences
  • Student internships
  • Classroom/interactive projects
  • Student organizations

Contact

Photo of Laura Arneson
Laura Arneson
M.A. Communication
Director of External Relations
  • laura.arneson@UND.edu
  • 701.777.6937
  • Nistler Hall Room 230D
    Grand Forks ND 58202-8098

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Nistler College of Business & Public Administration

Nistler Hall Room 230
3125 University Ave Stop 8098
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8098

701.777.2135

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