D I C K I N S O N
S TAT E
U N I V E R S I T Y
February 2019
Dickinson State University celebrated graduates at the 2018 fall commencement ceremony Friday, Dec. 14, in May Hall’s Dorothy Stickney Auditorium. The ceremony featured student speaker Seth Moerkerke.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DSU’S STEFFAN WINS 2019 BEST COLLEGE EARNS HIGHEST LEVEL OF REACCREDITATION PROFESSOR IN DICKINSON PRESS CONTEST The School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Dickinson State University (DSU) has been reaffirmed for accreditation through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) with no notes, the highest level of reaffirmation of IACBE accreditation a school can receive. At its meeting in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 4-5, 2018, the IACBE Board of Commissioners granted reaffirmation of accreditation of the business and management programs offered through the University’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Accredited degrees include: •
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
•
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
•
Bachelor of Business Administration in Administration
•
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
•
Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management
•
Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business
The School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Dickinson State University has undertaken a rigorous self-evaluation; has undergone a comprehensive, independent peer review; and has demonstrated compliance with the following Accreditation Principles of the IACBE: 1. Outcomes Assessment 2. Strategic Planning 3. Curriculum 4. Faculty 5. Scholarly and Professional Activities 6. Resources 7. Internal and External Relationships 8. International Business Education 9. Educational Innovation In addition, the School of Business and Entrepreneurship has demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in business education, and advancing academic quality in its business programs and operations. “IACBE accreditation recognizes our continued commitment to quality business education and DSU’s mission,” said the School’s Chair Dr. Holly Gruhlke. Dickinson State’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship plans to attend the 2019 IACBE Annual Conference and Assembly Meeting April 11, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the SoBE will be publicly recognized for achieving accreditation.
Dr. Joshua Steffan, assistant professor of agriculture and biology, has been named Best College Professor – Dickinson State University (DSU) in The Dickinson Press’ Best of the Western Edge community choice contest. Steffan grew up on a farm and ranch just outside South Heart, North Dakota. He attended DSU and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. Continuing his education, he studied at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, and obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2009. Afterward, Steffan spent three years at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus as a postdoctoral fellow researching urologic cancers. Steffan returned to his home state in 2013 when he accepted an offer to become an assistant professor of microbiology and soil biology. This was a unique opportunity, as he would serve two departments on campus: Natural Sciences and Agriculture & Technical Studies. Currently, Steffan teaches courses in microbiology, immunology, agronomy, and soil science, amongst others. He has two active research grants and served as faculty advisor to the Science Club for the last six years, organizing three study tours to Utah, New Mexico, and the Ozarks. He is the faculty advisor for the Range Club, assisting students as they prepare to compete at the Society for Range Management annual meeting. Although he is involved in numerous departments and activities across campus, Steffan did not choose to stop there. He has served as the undergraduate research mentor for over 20 senior student research projects and has co-authored six publications and two book chapters since he returned to North Dakota. Steffan’s contributions to his alma mater have not gone unnoticed. He was awarded the 2018 DSU Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program Alumni Bully Pulpit Award and the 2016 Dickinson State University Faculty/Student Collaborative Research/Collaborative Scholarship Award. His recognition as 2019 Best College Professor is another well-deserved accolade. Dickinson State congratulates this incredible educator on this recognition.
MEET DR. CHERI ROBINSON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SPANISH Where are you from? What did you do before coming to Dickinson State? Growing up in western Montana and on the Oregon coast gave me an immense appreciation for the outdoors and rural areas. I also appreciate the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Southwest, where I lived for over 10 years. Before coming to DSU, I attended graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles. I taught undergraduate courses in Spanish and English in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, researched representational strategies (in film, literature and drawings), and coorganized the annual ucLADINO symposia. When did you start working at DSU? I started working at DSU in August 2018.
A LATIN AMERICAN & SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL hosted by Dickinson State University organized by Assistant Professor of Spanish Cheri Robinson
Feb. 6, 2019
Spider Thieves/Niñas araña (2016) Dir. Guillermo Helo, Chile
Feb. 11, 2019
On the Roof/El techo (2017) Dir. Patricia Ramos, Cuba/Nicaragua
Feb. 12, 2019
Birdboy: The Forgotten Children/Birdboy: Los niños olvidados (2016) Dir. Alberto Vázquez & Pedro Rivero, Spain
Feb. 19, 2019
The Queen of Spain / La reina de España (2017) Dir. Fernando Trueba, Spain
Feb. 21, 2019
The Future Perfect / El futuro perfecto (2016) Dir. Nele Wohlatz, Argentina
To view film trailers and for more information, visit the “Events” tab on DSU’s Facebook page.
facebook.com/dickinsonstate/events
What made you decide to apply for a job at DSU? Initially, I decided to apply for a job at DSU due to its proximity to Montana and small-town atmosphere. Later, I accepted the job because of the collegial atmosphere in the Department of Language and Literature. Thus far, what is your favorite thing about DSU? I greatly appreciate having hard-working, fun-loving colleagues to work with on a daily basis. It makes life and work just that much better. What are your goals as the Assistant Professor of Spanish? There are many Spanish speakers in the Dickinson community. Better understanding the various languages and cultures that surround us makes us more empathic and helps prevent the hate and violence that often accompany change and increased diversity. We can also better understand ourselves when we step outside of our own culture and comfort zone. I am currently planning a Latin American and Spanish Film Festival, thanks to a grant from the Spanish Film Club. The Spanish Film Club series was made possible with the support of Pragda, The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Spain, and SPAIN arts & culture. Showing films in Spanish (with sub-titles) will provide a forum for students to interact with Spanish-speakers from the community in a campus setting—a culturally-enriching experience for both the student-body and the local community. The films featured deal with overcoming adversity, life challenges, and/or a search for the truth. Many students and community members struggle both to be understood (language barriers) and to understand (cultural barriers). These screenings will be spaces where they can attempt to do both. These themes are also important in the classes I will be teaching, especially Spanish 299 that explores the beauty of trauma in film and literature. What do you love about the Spanish language? Spanish gives me another way of expressing myself. It has its own nuances and sounds. Speaking Spanish is an advantage; it has enabled me to communicate with people from most of Latin America and Spain, in addition to other former colonies of Spain in Africa and Spanish-speakers in the U.S., in professional and social situations. Plus, I’ve had many amazing experiences because of my connections to Spanish-speakers and their cultures, including volunteering at the World Salsa Championships in Las Vegas. What do you love about teaching? I aspire to create an environment where students are comfortable and willing to engage and learn about the world around them. We all have different backgrounds, perspectives and ways of doing things. By learning about each other, how to disagree and still be friends, and how to respect others, we all become better citizens and people. Teaching provides the opportunity to create positive change.
RURAL WOMEN
on the Western Edge
March 22 & 23, 2019
RURAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FRIDAY, MARCH 22 5 p.m. 6 p.m.
Celebrating the New Wave of Ibero-American Cinema
REGISTRATION Wienbergen Gym LIGHT MEAL KEYNOTE SEAKER: Elizabeth Shipstead
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 7:30 a.m. REGISTRATION May Hall, Stickney Auditorium 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CLASSES AND VENDOR SHOW Lunch will be provided
REGISTER ONLINE: dickinsonstate.edu/rwc EVENT PARTNERS
Dickinson State University – Organizer Dickinson Chamber of Commerce – Community Partner Downtown Dickinson Association – Community Partner Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau – Community Partner The Bush Foundation – Financial Support
6 - 8 p.m. Dickinson State University Campus Beck Auditorium, Klinefelter Hall
In collaboration with the Department of Language and Literature & Multicultural Committee The Spanish Film Club series was made possible with the support of Pragda, SPAIN arts & culture, and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain.
SUPPORTED BY
DICKINSON STATE’S SHARON KILZER SELECTED TO SERVE ON THEODORE ROOSEVELT ASSOCIATION ADVISORY BOARD At their annual meeting Oct. 27, the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s (TRA) board of trustees elected Sharon Kilzer, project manager of Dickinson State University’s Theodore Roosevelt Center, to serve as one of 14 members of the TRA’s advisory board, class of 2021. During their three years of service, the TRA consults advisers, formally and informally, on matters to sustain and strengthen the Association. Those with special expertise on aspects of Theodore Roosevelt’s (TR) life and career may also be asked to assist in responding to research questions received by the national office in Oyster Bay, New York. The TRA is a national historical society and public service organization that celebrates Roosevelt’s memory and legacy through an array of historical and cultural activities. Founded in 1919 and chartered by Congress in 1920, its members come from every state and have diverse backgrounds, but they all share an interest in history and in furthering the legacy of one of America’s first modern presidents. DSU began working in the Roosevelt arena in the early 2000s, and the Theodore Roosevelt Center developed from that work, becoming officially established in 2009. Kilzer has been involved since 2005. About 10 years ago, she became a member of TRA as a representative of DSU. “We have always found it important to support and collaborate with other organizations doing good work on TR” said Kilzer. Kilzer believes her appointment to the TRA Advisory Board recognizes the good work DSU has been doing through the Theodore Roosevelt Center to serve those interested in the legacy of TR. Kilzer’s personal interest in Roosevelt developed from her work with the TR Center. “The characteristic I find most intriguing about Roosevelt,” shared Kilzer, “is his ability to continue learning—from books, from the people with whom he interacted, from life experiences. He had such a quick mind and could assimilate knowledge and apply it in so many fields of endeavor. He’s a great model to follow in that regard, for our students or for anyone!”
BROOKS NAMED DICKINSON STATE’S STUDENT NURSE OF THE YEAR The Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Nursing Students’ Association (NSA) recently held their annual Student Nurse of the Year (SNOY) competition. Three outstanding junior nursing candidates from the baccalaureate nursing program were nominated: Sarah Kruger of Bowman, North Dakota; Abigail Brooks of Rocklin, California; and Jessica Summers of Medicine Lake, Montana. The SNOY candidates were chosen by the NSA student body for their leadership, community service and passion for serving others. This year’s judges were Bernie Krebs, St. Benedict’s Health Center spiritual counselor; Tania Brost of Sanford Health; and Bobbie Johnson, a Dickinson High School educator. They had an incredibly tough job and ultimately selected Abigail Brooks as the 2018-19 Student Nurse of the Year. “I cannot speak enough about how much respect I have toward the profession of nursing and the role of the nurse today,” said Brooks. “Being a nurse means a great deal to me and I am very excited for my future career to begin.” As a Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program scholar and DSU softball team member, Brooks has been preparing to be an exceptional nurse by honing important skills such as time management, teamwork, leadership and empathy. She will represent DSU at the Nursing Students’ Association of North Dakota (NSAND) convention held in Fargo Jan. 24-26, 2019, where she will compete for the state Student Nurse of the Year title. Brooks is currently a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at ABLE Inc. Before that, she worked for one year as a nursing aide at Evergreen Assisted Living before moving into a nursing role there as well. “At both jobs, I use my nursing knowledge to enhance the lives of the residents and keep them both safe and healthy,” she said. “It has helped me gain knowledge to many different medications, treatments, firstaid care and decision-making.” Dickinson State University and the department of nursing wishes her the best of luck competing at state.
ALUMNI
JOIN US FOR DINNER AND A MOVIE in the DSU Student Center
S P O T L I G H T
ALICIA ERICKSON ’00 THE PERCH
ODYSSEY UNIVERSITY 2
dickinson.sodexomyway.com
dickinson.odysseytheatres.com
24/7 dining
Breakfast – $6.50 Lunch – $8.00 Dinner – $10.00
Movie Theater
Evening Matinee
(6:00 pm and after) (before 6:00 pm)
Adults
$8.50
Children
$6.50 $6.50
(age 0 - 11)
College Students $6.50 Late Night – $8.00
$6.50
Seniors
$6.50 $6.50
Tuesdays
$5.00 $5.00
(65 and over)
All prices are before tax.
$6.50
Why did you choose Dickinson State University for your bachelor’s degree? I was a first generation college student and there was no question I was going to college. I had started researching colleges when I was a sophomore in high school and knew it was closer and more affordable for me to go to college in North Dakota versus Montana. I was looking at NDSU or UND because I thought bigger was better. My parents told me to slow down because they wanted me to go to a smaller school for the first two years since I was graduating from a high school class of 22 students. I chose DSU because it had the concentration that I was looking for in the Business Administration area and it was just the right distance from home. By the end of my freshman year, I knew I wasn’t going to transfer. I got involved and loved the class sizes. It was the right fit for me. What degree did you earn? I graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in banking and finance. Was there a certain professor who made a big impact on your life? During college, I think all of the business professors did a great job in applying the “real world” tactics in the classroom. I remember Business Policy was a class you took as a senior. They were afraid of Dr. Deb Dragseth’s ratio quiz because you had to pass it in order to pass the class and graduate. I remember doing the case studies and getting to the part where we took the ratio quiz. I passed on the first attempt. At that point, I knew I was ready for the real world. As an employee, Hank Biesiot has had a big impact on my life. I got to know him really well when I worked in Admissions. He had a lot of football recruits that would come in that I would meet with and he offered a lot of life advice and kind of became that guy I looked up to when my dad passed away in 2001. Hank is still very much connected with DSU, and I love that he visits us at the DSU Heritage Foundation a few times each week. I think everyone needs a Hank in their life. A tremendous man who has impacted the lives of many!
Congratulations to Dr. Jeremy Wohletz, assistant professor of music at Dickinson State University, who was featured in Prairie Business magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2018!
Unni Boksasp Ensemble (Norway)
What are you most proud of when you look back at your time at DSU? I think of the person I became because of my time spent at Dickinson State. It changed me and allowed me to find who I wanted to be as an adult. What was the most difficult thing for you as an undergraduate, and how did you overcome it? The most difficult thing was meeting new people. Growing up in a small community and attending a high school where you knew everyone, it was hard to come to a college where you didn’t know anyone. Getting involved in college activities like Woods Hall Council as a freshman and then Campus Activities Board as a sophomore really helped me meet more people. By the time I started my junior year, I had the confidence to apply for Student Ambassadors and get one of the positions. The confidence I gained opened the doors to the Finance Committee and Student Hearing Board which were appointed positions. It also led to me getting recruited to become an Admissions Counselor before I even graduated from college. It’s also led me to become who I am today. What would you tell someone who is considering attending DSU? Definitely consider it. Estimate what the cost is of tuition and fees, room and board, books and add another $1,500 in each semester for living expenses. Do that for each of the colleges you are looking at and see the price difference. Come for a campus visit and see how personalized the campus is for you. Visit us at the DSU Heritage Foundation and find out about the scholarship opportunities and hear the success stories of some of our alumni. Go on a campus tour, visit with a college professor in the area in which you plan on majoring in, and ask to visit with some current college students. Ask those students why they chose to attend DSU and what makes them want to finish college as a Blue Hawk. The best part of being a Blue Hawk is the family you are always surrounded by.
PUBLIC CONCERT April 13 at 7:00 p.m. May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
How did DSU help shape your decisions for your path after you graduated? I didn’t know it at the time but I listened to my parents, Deb Dazell (my Student Ambassador advisor), and Marshall Melbye. They encouraged me to become an Admissions Counselor. That first year was interesting. I didn’t know if I really liked my job or not. My dad told me that working in a job for one year wasn’t long enough to determine if I loved or hated my job. He told me to give it another year so I did. Driving on Highway 2 in Montana I realized that I really loved my job. I stayed in Admissions for 11 years until I was recruited to go to work in the mortgage industry. I left my job while I loved it. For me, I needed to see what else was out there and see how I could really use my degree. After working in the mortgage business for two years during the oil boom, I knew I was ready to go back home to DSU when I was recruited for two different positions. I chose to work for the foundation because I felt like I needed the change in my career and was excited for the challenge. Fast forward five years and I can’t believe all the people I have met and continue to meet. I LOVE MY JOB! How did your time at DSU help you to be successful in your later pursuits? It definitely made me more outgoing. I was able to form a friendship with a lot of my classmates. Fast forward to the present and it has turned into the “friendraising” aspect of my job. I LOVE meeting new people and reconnecting with those who I’ve previously met. You never know who will meet or who they may be related to. What are you doing now? As the Director of Alumni Relations, I never know who I may talk to on the phone. I love being able to talk to alumni and hear their story of their time spent at the College on the Hill. I also enjoy getting to meet our students and their parents at athletic events, such as the tailgates and postgame socials. My friends range in age from 2 years of age up to 95 years of age. It’s pretty cool to see the broad spectrum. What do you enjoy most about working for your alma mater? My favorite thing about working for my alma mater is the people I have met and continue to meet. The students are some of my favorite ones to visit with because I want them to know that DSU is more than a college. We are a family if you allow yourself to get involved and meet the people in the offices and in the classrooms. My job has allowed me to get to know so many people in our community as well. From our city commissioners to our locally elected officials serving at the state level, I’m happy to know them on a first name basis. Do you have any plans for the future you would like to share? I hope to be the next Maude Klinefelter and enjoy working for DSU until I retire.
#discoverdsu
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY EVENTS Feb. 01
DSU Softball Crab Feed Fundraiser
5:30 p.m.
Biesiot Activity Center
Feb. 02
Roughrider Judging
7:30 a.m.
Agriculture Building, Indoor Arena
Feb. 05
Popcorn, Cotton Candy, & Goodies Sale
11 a.m.
May Hall, Second Floor Hallway
Feb. 06
Global Table - Japan
12 p.m.
Stoxen Library, Lower Level
Feb. 06
Latin American and Spanish Film Festival - “Spider Thieves”
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 07
Global Classroom
1 p.m.
Beck Auditorium
Feb. 08
Open Forum with the President
2 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 08
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Bellevue University
5:30 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 08
Latin American and Spanish Film Festival - “On the Roof”
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 08
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Bellevue
7:30 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 09
ACT Testing
8 a.m.
May Hall, rooms 312, 314, and 316
Feb. 09
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Dakota State University
3 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 09
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Dakota State
5 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 12
Spanish Film Festival - “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children”
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 14
True Black History Museum - traveling museum
8 a.m.
Student Center, Lower Level in The Perch
Feb. 15
Campus Visit Day
12 p.m.
Student Center
Feb. 16
Praxis Testing
8 a.m.
May Hall, Computer Lab 1
Feb. 16
Praxis Testing
1:30 p.m.
May Hall, Computer Lab 1
Feb. 16
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Presentation College
3 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 16
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Presentation
5 p.m.
Scott Gymnasium
Feb. 19
Latin American and Spanish Film Festival - “The Queen of Spain”
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 21
Latin American and Spanish Film Festival - “The Future Perfect”
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 25
ND Reclamation Conference
3 p.m.
Astoria Hotel and Suites
Feb. 26
ND Reclamation Conference
7:30 a.m.
Astoria Hotel and Suites
Feb. 26
The Mission of Herman Stern
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Feb. 27
5th Annual Woodwind Day at DSU
8 a.m.
Student Center, Sanford Health Center
Feb. 28
“Little Shop of Horrors” Production
7:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
March 1
“Little Shop of Horrors” Production
7:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
March 2
“Little Shop of Horrors” Production
7:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
March 3
“Little Shop of Horrors” Production
2:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
DSU Events - www.dickinsonstate.edu/events
Athletic Events - www.dsubluehawks.com
ADMISSIONS EVENTS CAMPUS VISIT DAY
February 15, 2019 at noon DSU Student Center
SPRING OPEN HOUSE March 29, 2019 at 10 a.m. DSU Klinefelter Hall
www.dickinsonstate.edu/visitcampus FOLLOW US www.dickinsonstate.tumblr.com www.facebook.com/dickinsonstate www.twitter.com/dickinsonstate
Dickinson State University is proud to recognize American Bank Center as November’s Blue Hawk Supporter. Thank you for promoting Blue Hawk pride in the community!
www.instagram.com/dickinsonstate
The Blue Hawk Bulletin is a publication created by the Office of University Relations at Dickinson State University. dsu.communications@dickinsonstate.edu 701.483.2787