Western ND News

The School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Dickinson State University is making changes to its faculty and academic programs as it continues to expand its accredited business offerings. The school’s programs in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, and Human Resource Management hold accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

Dr. Ayodeji Arogundade, dean of the school, has identified strategic priorities including recruiting new faculty members, improving student retention, ongoing curriculum evaluation, and increasing enrollment. To support these goals, Dr. Arogundade and Assistant Dean Kass will guide faculty efforts in these areas.

Three new faculty members have been hired for the upcoming fall semester: Bright Quayson (Ph.D., ABD), Jiayuan Tian (Ph.D., ABD), and Claire Stewart. These appointments fill three of four open positions within the school.

Bright Quayson brings experience from multiple countries with degrees from Ghana and China and doctoral studies at North Dakota State University. He has worked as an internal auditor and banking officer in Ghana’s financial sector. “Joining Dickinson State University is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high-quality, accessible and dynamic business program that values innovation, practical learning and student success,” said Quayson. “I’m passionate about equipping future business leaders with the skills and mindset to thrive in today’s evolving marketplace.”

Jiayuan Tian specializes in economics and finance while completing his Ph.D. at the University of New Orleans with research on cryptocurrency stablecoins’ impact on the U.S. dollar. “I aim to cultivate students’ growing interest in finance and economics, encouraging them to develop a sound investment mindset,” said Tian. “I hope they treat financial and economic knowledge as a practical skill for building their careers. I will do my utmost to draw upon my professional background to meet students’ thirst for knowledge.”

Claire Stewart returns to DSU after previously working in admissions at the university and later as a trust administrator at Dakota Community Bank and Trust. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from DSU. “I am excited to return to my alma mater to help grow the next generation of Blue Hawks,” Stewart said. “My goal is to prepare students to prosper in the business world.”

The school is also working on strengthening its core undergraduate programs while promoting its accelerated 4+1 Master of Business Administration program, which allows students to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees efficiently.

Plans are underway for a new Digital Marketing degree launching in Fall 2026 along with potential partnerships with DSU’s School of Applied Sciences for additional degrees such as Cybersecurity Management, Digital Financial Technology, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technology, and Business Data Analytics.

“We are thrilled to welcome these talented faculty members to Dickinson State University. Their diverse expertise and passion for teaching will be instrumental not only as the School of Business and Entrepreneurship launches innovative programs and strengthens its academic offerings, but for current majors.” shared Dr. Holly Gruhlke, DSU Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, “Their contributions will help shape a dynamic learning environment that prepares our students for success in the modern business world.”

More information about Dickinson State University's School of Business & Entrepreneurship can be found at https://dickinsonstate.edu/academics/fields-of-study/sobe/index.html