SPEARFISH, S.D. – Black Hills State University has named Dr. Matt Dobra dean of the College of Business.
Dobra comes to BHSU after having served as chair of the Accounting, Business Analytics, and Economics Department at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C. where he held the Nimocks Endowed Chair of Business. He has also held faculty positions at Monash University and at the University of Maryland University College.
“We’re so excited to have Dr. Dobra join the College of Business as dean,” said BHSU Provost Pam Carriveau. “I am confident that his experience building economic partnerships, and his extensive instructional knowledge will lead the College of Business to enhance its student-focused vision for serving regional workforce needs.”
Dobra said he was drawn to the position by BHSU’s location and the College of Business’s potential for growth.
“Both my wife and I are originally from the mountain west and have been looking to come back west for a long time,” Dobra explained. “My first reaction to being in Spearfish was a visceral sensation: it really felt like I was coming back home. But more than that, I have a tremendous affinity for the values that Black Hills State stands for and is uniquely positioned to provide – not only does it provide high quality business education, but it also strives to be a driving force for positive economic change, both locally and regionally.”
A respected economist and researcher, Dobra has written extensively on economics, health policy, and public policy. He was a regular columnist for “The Fayetteville Observer,” where he provided in-depth analysis of economic and policy issues. His research has also been featured in leading academic journals, including “Decision Sciences” and “European Economic Review.”
“I am grateful to the faculty and administration for their willingness to entrust me with the opportunity to help lead the College of Business, and excited to help the College build and grow. I see great things happening at BH, and I want to help put them on display for the world,” said Dobra. “My goal is for prospective students to see BHSU as a destination for business education and for regional businesses to actively seek our graduates while viewing our faculty as invaluable partners in their success.”
Dobra’s dedication to teaching excellence has earned him multiple awards, including Methodist University’s Distinguished Professor of the Year and Excellence in Academic Advising Award. He has taught a wide array of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Managerial Economics, Applied Econometrics, and Business Statistics. In addition to his teaching and research, he actively serves as a referee for academic journals and has presented at conferences worldwide.
Dobra earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from George Mason University, following a B.A. in history from Loyola University New Orleans.
