DSU names new Dean of College of Education

Dakota State University in Madison has named a new Dean of it’s College of Education.  Dr. David De Jong will take over as DSU’s Dean of the College of Education on June 22nd.  Dr. Mark Hawkes, DSU’s Graduate Studies Dean, has served as interim dean for the past academic year, following the retirement of Dean Crystal Pauli in 2021.  

De Jong currently serves as the Chair of the Division of Educational Leadership at the University of South Dakota, but said he was inspired to apply for the DSU position because of DSU’s heritage mission in education, now mixed with technology.

De Jong brings to this position a great deal of experience and training in the field of education. He has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Middle Level Education from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI); a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University; a Superintendent’s License in Educational Leadership from UNI, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, also from UNI.

Some of De Jong’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he is active with professional organizations.