Central ND News

The Dickinson State University (DSU) Presidential Search Committee has announced five finalists for the position of DSU president. The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) is set to conduct in-person interviews with these candidates on Thursday, March 27, at the DSU campus.

Danita Bye, vice chair of the SBHE and co-chair of the DSU Presidential Search Committee, expressed confidence in the selected finalists. "The Board is being presented with a strong slate of finalists, and each offers unique leadership skills that will serve the DSU community well into the future," she stated. Bye noted that stakeholder feedback was carefully considered during the selection process.

Ty Orton, acting president of DSU and co-chair alongside Bye, echoed this sentiment. "We’re excited to bring these talented leaders to campus for their final public interviews, knowing they each have become acquainted with DSU and the people that make our institution unique. I am confident that the future of DSU will be in good hands with these finalists," he said.

Both Bye and Orton highlighted that the candidates possess a wide range of experiences from various institutions across the country and have held significant leadership roles.

The finalists are Dr. Jeff D. Borden from Gonzaga University; Mr. Scott Molander from Garage Living & SKINS Compression; Dr. Carmen Simone from Dakota College at Bottineau; Dr. James Taylor from Utah State University; and Dr. Jodi Washington from Broward County Public Schools.

Initially tasked by SBHE to evaluate applicants for this role, the search committee received 54 applications. Semifinalists underwent virtual interviews between March 3-6 before narrowing down to five finalists.

Scheduled visits to DSU's campus are planned for March 17-21, where candidates will engage with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders who can provide feedback to the Search Committee about each candidate's suitability for the role.

The new president is expected to begin their tenure in July 2025. Further information regarding this presidential search can be found at dickinsonstate.edu/presidentialsearch.