2025 UJ Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees Named

The University of Jamestown will welcome three new inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame on May 2, 2025. The induction ceremony honors alumni who have made exceptional contributions to both their alma mater and society. Admission to the Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded by the University of Jamestown Alumni Association.

The honorees include Dr. Teree Rittenbach, PhD (’76), Dr. Mark Murphey, MD (’78), and Will Bernhagen (’79). Dr. Teree Rittenbach will also be granted Faculty Emeritus status.

“The University of Jamestown Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon a Jimmie alum,” said Brett Moser, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. “This year’s class is an incredible group of accomplished individuals who have served others with integrity and passion for decades. All of their stories began on our beautiful campus, and we are excited to welcome them back to inspire others and celebrate their remarkable lives.”

Dr. Teree Rittenbach graduated from UJ with a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing in 1976. Since then, this Jamestown native has dedicated nearly five decades of her life to the nursing profession, serving various communities across North Dakota and abroad and educating the next generation of nurses.

Rittenbach has spent close to 48 years as a nursing professor at UJ and will retire in 2025. She has also worked for decades as a registered nurse (RN) and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner in Jamestown, while serving as an adjunct instructor for Nurse Practitioner programs at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and the University of Mary in Bismarck.

Rittenbach is involved in more than a dozen committees and professional associations and still finds time to volunteer in her community and with her parish. Beloved by her colleagues, nursing students, and piano students, she is a three-time UJ Professor of the Year and has received numerous other awards, including the Outstanding Rural Health Educator/Mentor from the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.

Dr. Mark Murphey, originally from Jamestown, graduated from UJ in 1978 with degrees in both biology and chemistry. He is currently the Physician-in-Chief at the American College of Radiology’s Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

After earning his MD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1982, Dr. Murphey has been an academic radiologist for over 35 years, focusing his scholarly work on musculoskeletal imaging. In his early years at Kansas, he published the first article on MRI of the sacroiliac joint. During his tenure at AIRP, he has emphasized research on the imaging appearance of musculoskeletal tumors.

Dr. Murphey has published 154 peer-reviewed articles, 155 abstracts, 27 books and book chapters, and 72 scientific exhibits, in addition to giving 700 international presentations. He has received numerous awards, including the President’s Medal from the International Skeletal Society and has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.

Will Bernhagen, originally from Ellendale, North Dakota, graduated from UJ in 1979 with a degree in business administration. He is the President and CEO of Cen-Dak Leasing of Montana Inc.

Raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs, Bernhagen learned the value of hard work from an early age. His relentless work ethic earned him all-district honors as an offensive guard on the Jimmie football team under legendary coach Rollie Greeno, which helped shape his determination.

After graduation, Bernhagen quickly immersed himself in his Montana heavy truck and trailer leasing business. He later became a successful real estate developer in Montana, Wyoming, and Belize.

Bernhagen credits much of his success to his experiences at UJ. He has served on UJ’s Board of Trustees since 2015 and is currently the chair of the Student Affairs Committee. In addition to giving his time, Bernhagen has generously supported UJ financially, donating his vacation home in Belize to UJ’s annual Dine and Bid live auction and walking over 500 miles from his home in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Jamestown in 2019 to raise funds for his beloved alma mater.

In addition to the UJ Hall of Fame honorees, three former faculty members will be awarded the title of Faculty Emeritus. This title is granted to associate professors or professors who have limited or terminated their responsibilities after 10 or more years of distinguished service to the University. An additional faculty member will be awarded the title of Vice President Emerita.

The title of Faculty Emeritus will be awarded to Sharon Cox, Dr. David Godfrey, and Dr. Teree Rittenbach, PhD (’76). The title of Vice President Emerita will be awarded to Tena Lawrence (’81/’17).

Sharon Cox joined the University of Jamestown in 1992 to teach art and journalism after previously teaching in Virginia, Mississippi, and Georgia. As the Art Department Chair, she has significantly contributed to the university’s academic community.

Dr. David Godfrey earned degrees in political science and English from Washington State University and completed his Ph.D. in English at the University of Kentucky. He joined the faculty of the University of Jamestown in 1988, where he taught courses such as American Literature, the American Short Story, and Writing in the Professions. He retired from the University in 2022.

Tena Lawrence earned her Master of Arts in Leadership in 2017 and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, History/Political Science, and Secondary Education in 1981, both from the University of Jamestown. After a career in banking, she joined the University of Jamestown in 2007 as the Director of Development. She subsequently held the positions of Dean of Enrollment, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing, and finally Executive Vice President. Tena continues to contribute her expertise to special projects at the University of Jamestown and has served on various local non-profit organizations. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the Top 25 Women in Business by Prairie Business Magazine. She retired from the University of Jamestown in 2023.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in the foyer of the Harold Newman Arena on Friday, May 2nd, after a brief social beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets for the dinner are available for purchase for $20. To RSVP or for more details, please contact Brett Moser at (701) 252-3467 ext. 5638 or Brett.Moser@uj.edu.

About University of Jamestown

University of Jamestown is consistently ranked as a top regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1883 as Jamestown College, UJ is a private, Christian liberal arts institution that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. At the bachelor’s level, students can pursue degrees in the arts, sciences, and nursing. The university also grants master’s degrees in business, education, leadership, technology and clinical counseling. Additionally, UJ provides doctoral programs in clinical research, leadership, and physical therapy. To expand access to its high-quality education, University of Jamestown launched UJ Accelerated, its online division, which delivers intensive upskilling opportunities to learners across diverse settings. For more information about academic offerings, campus life, and online programs, please visit UJ.edu.