Western ND News

The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) has appointed Scott Molander as the next president of Dickinson State University (DSU). The decision was made after interviewing four finalists at a meeting on March 27 on the DSU campus.

Scott Molander, a DSU alumnus, emphasized his dedication to collaboration and community engagement during his interview. He spoke about the importance of teamwork, partnerships, and adapting educational offerings to meet community and workforce needs. Molander stated, "My focus will always be on people. Teamwork is everything and together, we need to build partnerships within the community. Collaboration with our university system institutions is key."

Tim Mihalick, representing SBHE, expressed confidence in Molander's abilities, stating, "I have the utmost confidence in Molander’s leadership skills and commitment to the future of Dickinson State University." He also acknowledged the efforts of the Presidential Search Committee co-chaired by Danita Bye, SBHE vice chair, and Ty Orton, DSU acting president.

Danita Bye highlighted the comprehensive nature of the search process, saying, “We understood that we were doing very important work for the future of Dickinson State University. Through the input process, we heard an emphasis on selecting a president who has a philosophy that is consistent with North Dakota values and has a vision that weaves in DSU’s dual mission and community philosophy. Molander is that person.”

Orton remarked, “The campus visits consisted of a thorough interview process from all stakeholders. Prior to the interviews, we held listening sessions to gain input from all facets of the community, both on campus and off, and attendees consistently focused on the importance of leadership and fostering community engagement while preparing students for impactful lives."

Molander was selected from a pool of 54 candidates and will officially take on his new role on July 1, 2025. The search process included meetings with various DSU and community members, providing valuable feedback on each candidate.

More details about the presidential search process and information about Molander can be found at dickinsonstate.edu/presidentialsearch.