'Ten years in the making'

Casey McDougall, an Iraq War veteran from White Earth, Minn., earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from UND. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.

 
 
 
 
By: James R. Johnson, Grand Forks Herald 
 

 

Iraq veteran graduates from UND's Indians into Psychology
Casey McDougall is from the White Earth Reservation in White Earth, Minn. After earning his bachelor's degree from UND, he served 18 months of duty in Kirkuk, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the 1-188th Defense Artillery out of Grand Forks. 
  

Casey McDougall completed a lengthy journey before he received his master's degree in clinical psychology Friday afternoon at UND's Summer Commencement.
 
"Ten years in the making," McDougall said. "A hiccup in Iraq, but I hit the ground running."
 
McDougall is from the White Earth Reservation in White Earth, Minn. After earning his bachelor's degree from UND, he served 18 months of duty in Kirkuk, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the 1-188th Defense Artillery out of Grand Forks.
 
"It was 120 degrees," McDougall said. "I drank about five liters a day, minimum."
He researched gambling behavior as part of his doctoral thesis through UND's Indians into Psychology program and also under the Ronald E. McNair scholarship, a national program for lower-income students created in memory of the late Space Shuttle Challenger astronaut.
 
"Without their support, I couldn't finish this at all," McDougall said.
He interned at the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital and says he will prepare for his license working with the Pueblo Indians in Acoma and Laguna, New Mexico.
"It's my goal to provide mental health services to rural communities that really need it," McDougall said.
 
McDougall was one of about 470 students eligible to cross the stage Friday in Chester Fritz Auditorium. Kelley asked those who were in any way related to the graduating class to stand and be honored themselves, to a round of applause.
 
"This day is all about your achievement, our pride in you, in what you have contributed and will continue to contribute," Kelley told the graduating class.
 
An honorary Doctor of Letters was presented to philanthropist James Ray, who has invested in more than 300 aerospace and computer ventures, including Cirrus Design in Grand Forks. He first visited UND's Center for Innovation in 1990 and has contributed more than $12 million to the university.
 
"Your generosity has made UND one of America's top universities for educating and nurturing new entrepreneurs," said Dennis Elbert, dean of UND'S College of Business and Public Administration.
 
The commencement address was delivered by Tami Carmichael, coordinator of UND Integrated Studies and the 2008 recipient of North Dakota Professor of the Year award by the Carnegie Foundation. She's been teaching at UND since 1996.