News and Announcements

Search Committee Named for College of Arts and Sciences Dean

Posted: 2026-09-06 17:47:19   Expiration: 2026-11-13 17:47:19

A committee of faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and Foundation and advisory board representatives will lead the national search for the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, working with executive search firm Academic Search.

NDSU has named the search committee that will conduct the search for a permanent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Kathryn Birkeland, Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean of the NDSU College of Business, chairs the committee, whose members represent college faculty and staff, students, administration, alumni, the NDSU Foundation, and the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board.

Lisa Montplaisir, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has served as interim dean of the college since Aug. 27, 2026.

Committee Members

  • Kathryn Birkeland, Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean, NDSU College of Business, Chair
  • Gang Shen, Associate Professor, Statistics
  • Sarah Boonstoppel, Associate Professor, Political Science and Public Policy
  • Grant Henriksen, Advisory Board Member, College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board
  • Teresa Shume, Associate Professor, School of Education
  • Angie Hodgson, Professor of Practice, Biological Sciences
  • Tyler Wottrich, Director, Challey School of Music
  • Nadeje Alexandre, Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office
  • Dave Clouston, NDSU Alum
  • Howie Killilea, NDSU Alum
  • Sheri Anderson, Associate Vice President, Office of Research and Creative Activity
  • Camryn Anderson, Graduate Student, Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Josh Christianson, Managing Director, NDSU Foundation
  • Carrie Anne Platt, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, ex officio

Working With Academic Search

NDSU has engaged Academic Search, an executive search firm, to facilitate the search. The committee's first work with the firm is the position profile, the document that describes the deanship, the college, and the qualifications sought in candidates. The profile is used to recruit and evaluate applicants.

Questions about the search should be directed to Kathryn Birkeland, Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean of the College of Business and Chair of the search committee, at Kathryn.Birkeland@ndsu.edu.

-- Academic Affairs: Haley Hamel