Employee Directory

Scott Peterson

Instructor of Management Information Systems, Director of Business Internships

MeWaldt-Jensen 232

Courses Taught

Computer Science

Web Programming

Networks and Telecommunications

Information Security

Blockchain

Research interests

Information and network security

Blockchain governance

John Peterson

Associate Professor of Finance

MeWaldt-Jensen 129

Doctor of Philosophy, Finance, 1996, University of Kansas

Master's, International Economics, 1988, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Bachelor's, General Economics, 1986, South Dakota State University

John E. Peterson joined Northern's faculty in fall 1992.  

Sara Schmidt

Interim Dean of Business, Associate Professor of Accounting

MeWaldt-Jensen 138

Aaron Scholl

Assistant Professor of Economics

MeWaldt-Jensen 132

Ph.D., Economics, University of Nebraska

Master's, Economics, University of Nebraska

B.S., Economics and Mathematics, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Aaron Scholl has been an assistant professor of economics at Northern State University since fall 2021. His teaching and research interests are in the fields of labor and public economics. Dr. Scholl is a research fellow of the Dakota Institute for Business and Economic Analysis.

Dan Shannahan

Assistant Professor of Management

MeWaldt-Jensen 118

Ph.D., Business Administration (Organizational Behavior emphasis), University of Utah, 2020

M.Ed., College Student Affairs Leadership, Grand Valley State University, 2012

B.S., Psychology, Grand Valley State University, 2009

Dr. Shannahan joined the School of Business faculty in fall 2020.

Research Interests

Dr. Shannahan studies problem-solving and decision-making processes among the members of groups and teams in organizations. His research focuses on the factors that lead groups to be successful in recognizing and utilizing the skills, knowledge, and abilities of their members and the consequences that can result when managers and their employees have conflicting understandings of work tasks and the standards by which they will be evaluated.

Bea Smith

Northern Innovation and Startup Center Director

Library 142

Josh VanLaecken

Instructor of Accounting

MeWaldt-Jensen 136

MPA, University of South Dakota

B.S., Business Administration and Accounting, University of South Dakota

Certified Public Accountant, South Dakota Board of Accountancy

Josh VanLaecken is a full-time accounting Instructor in the School of Business. He graduated summa cum laude with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy and holds an active CPA license.

Prior to entering academia, VanLaecken worked in both public and private accounting environments. While in public accounting, he served a wide variety of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to locally-owned small businesses; and, from energy and financial Institutions to governments and nonprofits. 

While in private accounting, VanLaecken worked in agricultural manufacturing for a foreign subsidiary. During this time, he created and oversaw budgets for corporate and several plant locations, was a key team member in the implementation of ERP software and was responsible for examining and recording complex accounting issues including inventory valuation, international transfer pricing, lease analysis, fixed asset impairment, derivatives, and defined benefit pensions.

VanLaecken is married, with three children. In addition to time with family, he enjoys lifting and playing sports, reading, and working on projects (cars, home, small electronics). He also serves on non-profit boards and committees.

Sal Villegas

Assistant Professor of Management

MeWaldt-Jensen 117

Doctor of Business Administration in Management, George Fox University

Master of Business Administration in Management and Strategy, Western Governors University

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science, The College of Idaho

Dr. Sal Villegas joined Northern in the fall of 2020. Before teaching, he spent the nearly two decades in the finance and banking industries, where he managed multi-million-dollar portfolios, dozens of employees, and thousands of clients. He is well-versed in business-to-business networking, sales, credit, and service.

Research Interests 

Dr. Villegas’ research interests include organizational power, business ethics, human resource management, and networking/reciprocity. In practice, one of his greatest interests is working with entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into viable businesses. He has been very active in the community and has served on boards of directors for several nonprofit organizations.

Hannah Walters

Interim Associate Dean of Business, Associate Professor of Marketing, Department Chair of Management, Marketing and MIS

MeWaldt-Jensen 134

Doctorate in Business Administration (D.B.A.), Marketing, Anderson University, Indiana

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), University of South Dakota

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Marketing emphasis, Dakota Wesleyan University

Hannah Walters joined Northern in fall 2012. 

Courses Taught

Marketing

Marketing for e-Commerce

Marketing Management

Integrated Marketing Communications

Consumer Behavior

Marketing Research

International Marketing.

Research 

Walters' research focuses on ethical issues in marketing and consumer behavior - specifically, the ethicality of targeting women based on body shape and size. She has also conducted research and published multiple papers on the perception of liberal arts education in business.

Service

Walters is president-elect for the Marketing Management Association, a national academic organization that aims to advance knowledge and practice across the marketing discipline. Locally, Walters serves on the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees.