Image of NSU logo next to head shot of dean

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Longtime Northern State University faculty member Dr. Doug Ohmer has been named the new dean of the NSU School of Business.

Ohmer, associate professor of management, has worked at Northern for 26 years, serving as interim School of Business dean this academic year.

“I’m truly excited to take the leadership of the School of Business at Northern,” Ohmer said. “I’ve been a part of the School of Business since I started at NSU in 1994, and I now have the opportunity to more deeply share my experiences with the Business School staff, faculty and students, as well as the rest of the campus community.”

Ohmer said he also looks forward to working more closely with President Dr. Tim Downs, Provost Dr. Michael Wanous and the rest of campus leadership, as well as members of the community. 

“I was truly honored and humbled by the support from the campus and the community during the search process,” Ohmer said.

Wanous said he is excited that Dr. Ohmer will be Northern’s new Dean of the School of Business.

“He brings a wealth of experience as a business professional, teacher and leader, and has a deep understanding of the School of Business,” Wanous said. “His leadership ability and vision for the future are an excellent fit for Northern’s goal to grow enrollments and take the School of Business to the next level.”

Originally from Kentucky, Ohmer received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and banking from Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky.; his MBA from Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights; and his Ph.D. in business administration/management from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Prior to his Ph.D. studies, Ohmer worked as marketing manager for Tente Casters USA in Erlanger, Ky., a subsidiary of Tente Rollen GmbH in Wermelskirchen, Germany.

At Northern, Ohmer has held numerous positions within the School of Business, including department chair, department coordinator and founding director of the Center of Excellence in International Business.

Now as dean, Ohmer said he’s looking forward to onboarding several new faculty members for the School of Business this fall and, hopefully, the start of Northern’s new master’s degree in accounting analytics. And that’s only the beginning.

“We’re already working on plans to start a new master’s degree in management,” Ohmer said. “Undergraduate students will also see some updates to current programs and some new offerings to better prepare them for the 21st Century workplace. I look forward, as well, to meeting with more members of the local and regional community to discover how the School of Business can better serve the needs of Aberdeen, the region and the state of South Dakota.”

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions