Scott Molander

About

Additional Information

Scott Molander was appointed the 14th president of Dickinson State University in 2025. A native of Crosby and a proud DSU alumnus, Molander brings to the presidency a unique combination of entrepreneurial success, academic engagement, and deep personal ties to the university.

Molander began his academic career at what is now Williston State College, earning his associate degree in 1985.  After spending one year at NDSU, he transferred to Dickinson State University, where he graduated in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 2016, he completed a Master of Business Administration from Indiana State University.

As co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Hat World inc, dba Lids Sports Group, Molander helped transform a business idea into a nationally recognized retail brand. Over more than two decades, he led the company through periods of rapid growth, strategic expansion, and operational achievement. His entrepreneurial leadership has been recognized nationally, including two Ernst & Young Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year awards (1999 and 2002) and North Dakota’s Business Innovator of the Year award in 2006.

Molander has remained closely connected to Dickinson State throughout his career. He previously served on the DSU Heritage Foundation Board, where he chaired the strategic planning committee, and has long supported the university’s mission. Before his return to DSU, he spent four years as a faculty member in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department at Butler University.

Grounded by his North Dakota roots and shaped by entrepreneurial experience, Molander is committed to transforming lives through the power of public higher education.