Dean Search

Three finalists have been invited to visit campus as part of the search for the next dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration at the University of North Dakota.

Faculty, staff and students of the Nistler College are strongly encouraged to participate in the interview process. The campus and broader community are also invited to attend the candidate Open Forums.

Candidate Interviews and Open Forums

Dates and times for candidate interviews and Open Forums are listed below. Each Open Forum will include a 10–15 minute presentation by the candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees.

All participants will be asked to complete a feedback survey for each finalist. Your perspectives and input are an important part of this search process, and we appreciate your participation.

Michael Maier - Feb. 18-20, 2026

Dr. Michael Maier is an experienced academic leader, researcher, and educator with a deep commitment to advancing excellence in management education. He currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and Business Analytics and as Associate Dean of Master's Programs and Executive Education at the University of Alberta.

Michael brings over a decade of progressive leadership experience in graduate education, where he has been instrumental in strategic program development, accreditation, and stakeholder engagement. He successfully proposed and launched three new master's programs, including Western Canada's first Master of Accounting with full CPA accreditation, and secured over $2.7 million in external grants for student experiential learning. His leadership of the graduate portfolio has focused on innovation in teaching delivery, program responsiveness, and the student experience through engagement with the corporate and public sectors. Under his guidance, Executive Education has transitioned from crisis to sustainable growth, increasing revenues by over 400% since 2021.

He holds a PhD in Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of Iowa and a BCom with Distinction from the University of Alberta. Michael is a CPA and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, reflecting his commitment to governance excellence and applied practice.

Michael's research has been published in the Journal of Accounting Research and other leading outlets. As an educator, he is known for his clarity, energy, and ability to connect complex financial concepts to real-world decision-making. He has received multiple teaching awards and is Vice-Chair of the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable.

Visit Schedule

Ronn J. Smith - Feb. 22-24, 2026

Ronn J. Smith (Ph.D., Washington State University) is Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Marketing in the College of Business at the University of Wyoming. Across two flagship, Carnegie R1 universities, he has focused on advancing academic excellence through strategic alignment, relationship-based leadership, and innovation in teaching, research, and engagement. Further, he has led initiatives focused on student success by enhancing curricular relevance through experiential learning and leveraging industry partnerships. His research interests predominately revolve around consumer psychology and behavioral topics related to retailing and at the intersection of marketing and supply chain management. Professor Smith is an award-winning researcher, and his scholarly activity has been published in the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Consumer Research, and Journal of Retailing, among other leading journals and national conference proceedings. He serves on the editorial review boards for the Journal of Business Research and Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. Professor Smith is an award-winning teacher who enjoys teaching at both the undergraduate and doctoral program levels. Prior to his time at the University of Wyoming, he spent fourteen years at the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business where he most recently served as the Department of Marketing Chair and R.A. & Vivian Young Chair in Marketing. Before pursuing a career in academia, he co-owned and managed a retail and service venture.

Interview Schedule

Mya Pronschinske Groza - Feb. 24-26, 2026

Mya Pronschinske Groza, Ph.D. is Associate Dean and Professor of Marketing in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Idaho, the state’s public flagship R1 institution. She is known for her visionary leadership, collaborative approach, and talent for branding and storytelling that celebrates student success, academic excellence, and regional impact. As Associate Dean, she provides college-wide leadership across strategic planning, academic programs, faculty and staff development, research, external engagement, and accreditation.

Dr. Groza manages AACSB (business and accounting), NWCCU, and PGA of America accreditation processes, emphasizing faculty qualifications, continuous improvement, and mission alignment. She serves as Chair of the University Budget and Finance Committee, partnering with senior leadership on fiscal priorities and resource allocation. She has created institution-wide forums that bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners for high-impact conversations on leadership, ethics, and entrepreneurship.

Previously, she served as Department Head, overseeing a large, multidisciplinary academic unit. She advanced undergraduate and graduate program growth, supported faculty success, and championed experiential learning and career readiness. She also had the honor of serving as the founding director of the Master of Science in Digital Marketing program at Northern Illinois University.

A former Division I women’s golfer and Tri Delta alumna, Dr. Groza earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and her doctoral degree from the University of Wyoming. She is deeply thankful for her educational experiences and remains committed to shared governance, collaborative leadership, and strengthening the impact of public higher education.

Interview Schedule

Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration

The University of North Dakota is seeking candidates for the position of Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.  Reporting directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the leader of a distinctive and thriving academic unit.

Reporting directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean will lead this distinctive and thriving academic unit, fostering an environment that advances strategic goals and aligns the College with UND’s broader strategic plan, UND LEADS.

In collaboration with the Provost, the Dean oversees academic and administrative planning, budgeting, policy implementation, and external relations, including fundraising and government engagement. Partnering with faculty, the Dean guides academic program development and review, supports faculty and staff recruitment, development, and evaluation, and promotes a positive student experience.

The anticipated starting date of the new Dean will be July 1, 2026, or as soon as reasonable thereafter.

Position Profile

Search Committee and Timeline

The search committee for the dean of the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration is chaired by Robert Kraus, dean of the John. D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences with assistance from Academic Search, a prominent executive search firm that specializes in higher education placements. 

Committee & Timeline