Western ND News

Dr. Huijian Dong has served as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Dickinson State University (DSU), contributing significant academic and leadership expertise to the institution. Dr. Dong holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from South China University of Technology, a Ph.D. in financial economics from the University of Delaware, and a second doctorate in education from Columbia University. Prior to his tenure at DSU, he held positions at New Jersey City University, advancing from faculty member to department chair and dean.

Dr. Dong was attracted to DSU by its supportive culture and shared commitment to advancing the university's mission. Reflecting on his decision, he noted, “North Dakota colleagues and people were friendly and welcoming.” He appreciated DSU’s readiness for new ideas and innovation. His focus was particularly on impacting students' academic growth, stating that "DSU students are one of the best that I have ever seen."

During challenging times for DSU, Dr. Dong played an essential role by promoting collaboration and communication within the university. He participated in faculty senate meetings as a representative of the president’s office, addressing concerns and sharing ideas. A notable contribution was updating the syllabus template to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into classroom practices.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Dong implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing academic excellence. He revised university policies like class size to improve course accessibility for students. Recruiting high-caliber faculty in areas such as digital media, English, and biology was also a priority achieved through his professional network.

Dr. Dong emphasized that “ensuring high-quality teaching is the most important job of the provost,” advocating for continuous innovation and progress in education while promoting faculty autonomy and excellence. His commitment to diversity brought faculty members from varied backgrounds to DSU.

As Dr. Dong transitions to be closer to family in January 2025, his legacy at DSU is marked by leadership focused on improvement, innovation, and diversity.