Drs. Holly Gruhlke and Holly McBee have been named deans of their respective colleges at Dickinson State University (DSU). Drs. Gruhlke and McBee will both serve as teaching deans and will begin their administrative appointments Aug. 1, 2020.
Dr. Holly Gruhlke has been named the dean of the College of Education, Business and Applied Sciences (CEBAS). Gruhlke holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from Wilmington University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. For the past three years, she has served as chair of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship at DSU for which she is also an associate professor of business. Her passion for education earned her numerous awards, including Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Distinguished Educator of the Year, and the Mountain-Plains Business Education Association Educator of the Year.
While chair of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Gruhlke worked collaboratively to streamline programs, reduce budget impact, and grow enrollment with a focus on retention and recruitment. DSU’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Debora Dragseth noted, “Dr. Gruhlke is well-respected across campus as a leader with a strong vision who at the same time builds a happy and healthy atmosphere.”
Gruhlke said, “I look forward to working with the chairs in the College of Education, Business and Applied Sciences to position DSU for the future.”
Dr. Holly McBee has been named the dean of College of Arts and Sciences. McBee holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Purdue University and a Master of Arts from New Mexico State University. McBee is a full professor of English, the co-chair of the Department of Arts and Letters, and the director of the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program. She will be starting her thirteenth year at Dickinson State University this fall. Dragseth said, “Dr. McBee’s leadership, collaborative and pedagogical experiences make her a strong choice for this position.”
McBee’s service to the University includes faculty senate, curriculum council, Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Committee, Heart River Writers’ Circle, Women’s Voices, the Albers Humanities Festival and the Promotion and Tenure Council. This summer, McBee took on the challenge of being the chair of the Instructional Planning Committee to help develop feasible and safe plans for teaching and learning in response to COVID-19.
McBee said, “I am excited about this new challenge and welcome the opportunity to continue to serve DSU and our students.”
McBee will continue her duties as director of the University’s prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program.
