Central ND News

The School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Dickinson State University is expanding its academic offerings and faculty for the upcoming academic year. The school provides accredited programs in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, and Human Resource Management, all recognized by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

Dr. Ayodeji Arogundade, dean of the school, has set out strategic goals that include recruiting and developing faculty, improving student retention and success, regularly evaluating curriculum, and increasing enrollment. To help meet these objectives, Dr. Arogundade and Assistant Dean Kass will lead efforts among faculty members.

Three new faculty members will join this fall: Bright Quayson, Ph.D. (ABD), Jiayuan Tian, Ph.D. (ABD), and Claire Stewart. These appointments fill three of four vacant positions in the school.

Bright Quayson brings experience from several countries with degrees from Ghana’s University for Development Studies and Jiangsu University in China. He is completing a doctorate at North Dakota State University in Transportation and Supply Chain. Quayson also has professional experience in Ghana’s financial sector as an internal auditor and banking officer. “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 with ongoing doctoral studies at the University of New Orleans focused 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 Dickinson State after working both at the university’s admissions office and Dakota Community Bank and Trust as a trust administrator. She holds undergraduate degrees as well as an MBA and Master of Entrepreneurship 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 continues to focus on strengthening popular undergraduate programs while also seeing increased interest in its 4+1 accelerated Master of Business Administration program.

Plans are underway for new academic offerings including a Digital Marketing degree expected to launch in Fall 2026. The school is also exploring collaboration with DSU’s School of Applied Sciences on potential degrees such as Cybersecurity Management, Digital Financial Technology, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technology, and Business Data Analytics—programs aimed at meeting current industry demands.

Dr. Holly Gruhlke, DSU Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost commented on the developments: “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.” Gruhlke added: “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