Finalists Named for Dickinson State University Interim President

A sign marks the entrance to the Dickinson State University campus. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) -Four finalists have been named for interim Dickinson State University president, with the State Board of Higher Education set to make a hiring decision next week.

The finalists are Holly Gruhlke, vice president and chief strategic officer for Dickinson State; Lucas Kavlie, vice president and provost of academic engagement for Western Governors University; Ronald Kraft, college coach and consultant for Institute for Evidence-Based Change; and William Ruud, a former college president and adviser for a search consultant.

Thirty-seven people applied for the position to succeed President Stephen Easton, who announced last July he would step down in the wake of mass resignations of nursing faculty. His resignation was effective Aug. 2.

Ty Orton, executive director of the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation, has been serving as acting president.

The State Board of Higher Education is scheduled to go into executive session on Tuesday during its meeting at the University of North Dakota to name an interim president. The board also is expected to discuss on Tuesday establishing a committee that will lead a search for a permanent president.

Gruhlke has more than 15 years of experience at Dickinson State, according to a bio provided by the North Dakota University System. She oversees admissions, university relations, communications and marketing. She also has served as dean of the College of Education, Business and Applied Science and chair of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Her highest degree is a doctor of business administration from Wilmington University.

Kavlie, of Savannah, Georgia, has experience in accreditation, compliance and academic administration. He is credited with pioneering the development of baccalaureate degrees with fewer than 120 credits, according to bio information provided by the North Dakota University System. He previously served as associate provost for compliance and accreditation at Western Governors. His highest degree is a doctor of education in higher education from the University of North Texas.

Kraft, Hayden, Idaho, has also served in senior administrative roles, including superintendent/president at Napa Valley College in California, CEO/president of Washington State Community Colleges Alliance for Corporate Education and president of Southern California University of Health Sciences. He holds a doctorate degree in higher education leadership from Capella University.

Ruud, Eagle, Idaho, has 17 years of higher education leadership experience, including serving as president of Marietta College in Ohio, the University of Northern Iowa and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He now works as an adviser for DHR Global-Executive Search and Leadership Consulting. He holds a doctorate degree in organizational behavior/psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The search committee for the interim post did not include a representative from Dickinson State University. The members of the search committee are State Board of Higher Education members Tim Mihalick and Danita Bye, Chancellor Mark Hagerott, Jerry Rostad, North Dakota University System vice chancellor of strategy and strategic engagement, and Mark Gorenflo, the University System chief of staff.

The board also will is expected to act on a recommendation to hire a consultant for the search for a permanent president, with the estimated cost of $100,000 to be paid by Dickinson State University, the agenda shows.

A proposed timeline shows the board expects to name a permanent president next March with a start date in July.