PRESIDENT

Lavinia Iancu, Ph.D.

Dr. Iancu received her PhD in Biology (forensic entomology and microbiology expertise) within the Romanian Academy, Institute of Biology Bucharest. In her research, Dr. Iancu is committed to advancing the study of forensic entomology and microbiology, aiming to identify novel biomarkers for the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI).

Dr. Iancu’s experience and contributions to the field have been recognized by the numerous peer-reviewed articles in the field, by the Henry C Lee scholarship Award, the AAFS Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Forensic Science Award received from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, The Fulbright Senior Award for initiative and leadership in advancing forensic entomology research, the Romanian Academy “Grigore Antipa” Award, granted for the pioneering work in the field of forensic entomology and microbiology, and the Itterman Faculty Professional Development Award granted by the College of Arts & Sciences in recognition of exemplary teaching while maintaining excellence in research and service.

TREASURER

Yee Han Chu, Ph.D.

Yee Han Chu holds a PhD in Teaching and Learning (UND), MSSW in Clinical Social Work (Columbia University), BS in Genetics and BA in Psychology (UC Davis) degrees. At the University of North Dakota, she is the Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator in the Faculty Affairs Office, assisting students with competitive, national scholarship and fellowship applications. She is a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Advisor, a 2023-2025 Fulbright Program Advisor Mentor, and a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Liaison.

Yee Han taught gifted education courses in the UND Special Education Program and co-founded the North Dakota Association for Gifted Children where she served as its first President. Previously as an assistant professor in the social work department at UND, Yee Han held licensure as a clinical social worker in Oregon and Nevada and as a certified social worker in North Dakota. She served on the ND Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights, and the North Dakota Ballet Company & Academy.

Pempho Chinkondenji, Ph.D., Board Member

Dr. Pempho Chinkondenji is a scholar, educator, and practitioner-activist in the field of comparative and international education. She is an Assistant Professor of Educational Foundations and Research at the University of North Dakota. Her scholarly practice, teaching, and advocacy for social justice lie at the intersections of international education, girls’ education, in-school pregnancy/student motherhood, refugee education, forced displacement, and qualitative research methods. As a qualitative methodologist, she primarily utilizes participatory visual methodologies to conduct educational research. Her scholarship has received various awards including the 2024 Gail P. Kelly Award for Outstanding Dissertation conferred by the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES).

Dr. Chinkondenji earned her Ph.D. in International Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023, and an M.A. in Cross-cultural and International Education from Bowling Green State University in 2017. She also has a B.A. in Mass Communication from African Bible College in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Yun Ji, Ph.D., Board Member

Yun Ji is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of North Dakota. She earned her B.S. in China., M.S. in Thailand, and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maine. She worked at a Postdoc Research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) prior to her job in the university. Yun received Fulbright-VTT award in Science, Technology and Innovation in Finland in 2018.