Employee Achievements
Dickinson State University (DSU) proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements and professional contributions of its employees. Their scholarship, leadership and service strengthen DSU’s mission and expand its impact locally and globally.
Dr. Olalekan Sipasi – School of Applied Sciences
Dr. Olalekan Sipasi, assistant professor of agriculture, recently completed a one-week leadership training delivered in collaboration with Kansas State University College of Agriculture and the Staley School of Leadership. The program trained youth participants from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture through its IITA Agripreneurs initiative.
Sipasi helped launch the Agripreneurs Leading Change institute, which focused on distinguishing technical and adaptive work and equipping participants with leadership strategies to navigate uncertainty, mobilize communities and strengthen food systems. The training was delivered alongside Dr. Clement Obayi of Aston Supply Chain Management and Dr. Trisha Gott, associate dean and director of the Leading Change Institutes at Kansas State University.
Derek Selvig – Athletics
Derek Selvig, head men’s basketball coach, was recently featured in an article by Montana Sports, recognizing his leadership and contributions to collegiate athletics.
Jiayuan Tian – School of Business & Entrepreneurship
Jiayuan Tian will present his research at the Southwestern Finance Association 65th Annual Meeting, scheduled for March 25–27, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Dallas, Texas. The conference provides an opportunity to engage with leading scholars and share new financial research.
Tian will present two completed papers. The first examines whether stablecoins served as effective safe-haven assets during the Russia–Ukraine war, finding they were more stable than major indices and cryptocurrencies while offering diversification benefits. The second explores the relationship between ambiguity and co-skewness in U.S. equity ETFs, concluding that higher co-skewness can reduce uncertainty and serve as a protective mechanism valued by investors.