Central ND News

The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) has appointed Scott Molander as the new president of Dickinson State University (DSU), marking him as the institution's fourteenth president. The decision followed interviews with four finalists conducted during a meeting on the DSU campus on March 27.

Molander, a DSU alumnus, emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration during his interview. He 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.”

SBHE member Tim Mihalick expressed confidence in Molander’s leadership, saying, “I would like to thank the co-chairs of the Presidential Search Committee and all the members who volunteered time; we owe the committee a debt of gratitude for the hundreds of hours you dedicated to the process. I have the utmost confidence in Molander’s leadership skills and commitment to the future of Dickinson State University.”

The Presidential Search Committee was co-chaired by Danita Bye, SBHE vice chair, and Ty Orton, DSU acting president. Their effort involved contributions from various DSU community representatives. Bye noted, “We had a committed group of representatives from all facets of the DSU and Dickinson community and we understood that we were doing very important work for the future of Dickinson State University. I appreciate everyone who provided input to the Presidential Search Committee. 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 acknowledged the robustness of the selection process, commenting, “We had a dedicated search team and a detailed process. 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. We all joined the group to find the right leader for DSU, and today is a culmination of those efforts with the selection of Molander.”

Molander is set to assume his new role on July 1, 2025. The selection process included the evaluation of 54 candidates, with finalists engaging with various DSU community members to provide feedback to the Search Committee.

For further details on the DSU presidential search process and more information about Molander, visit dickinsonstate.edu/presidentialsearch.