Melissa L. Gruys named dean of Nistler College of Business & Public Administration

Gruys, currently serving as professor of management at Cleveland State University, will assume Nistler College deanship on Jan. 2, 2027

Following a national search, Melissa L. Gruys has been appointed dean of the University of North Dakota’s Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. She will assume the role on Jan. 2, 2027.

Gruys joins UND from Cleveland State University, where she serves as a professor of management in the Monte Ahuja College of Business. She brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including a decade of leadership as dean of AACSB-accredited business colleges at Cleveland State University and Purdue University Fort Wayne.

“Dr. Gruys brings a strong background in academic leadership, along with experience building industry partnerships and developing innovative programs that prepare students for success,” said Eric Link, UND provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“I’m confident she will be a great addition to the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration and to UND,” Link said. “We look forward to the impact her leadership will have on our students, the college, the business community and the state of North Dakota.”

Gruys expressed her enthusiasm about joining UND.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration at such an exciting time,” Gruys said. “The College has tremendous momentum with a new building, growing enrollment, a strong focus on experiential learning and extraordinary support from alumni, donors and community partners.

“Most of all, I was impressed by the dedication of Nistler’s faculty and staff and the engagement of its students,” she said. “I look forward to working together to build on the College’s many strengths and further expand its national reputation and impact.”

Gruys will succeed Patrick O’Neill, professor of Economics, who has served as interim dean since July 2025. O’Neill joined UND in 1987 and has served the University in both faculty and administrative roles within the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.

Link expressed his appreciation to O’Neill for his leadership and service as interim dean, as well as to those who contributed to the search process.

“I am grateful to Dr. O’Neill for stepping into this role and providing exceptional leadership over the past 18 months,” Link said. “His experience and commitment to the college have been incredibly valuable during this time.

“I also want to thank the search committee for its thoughtful work and everyone who contributed their time and perspectives throughout the process. The input of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners played an important role in identifying the next dean.”

The Nistler College of Business & Public Administration is the largest business school in North Dakota, serving more than 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students. As the state’s first AACSB-accredited business college, the Nistler College offers a broad range of academic programs across business and public administration, preparing students to become leaders in their professions and communities. The College is committed to experiential learning, industry engagement and developing graduates who contribute to the economic vitality of North Dakota and the region.

About Melissa L. Gruys

Melissa L. Gruys, Ph.D., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, has served in faculty and administrative roles for over 25 years at Cleveland State University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Wright State University and Washington State University Vancouver.

Across her decade of service as dean at Cleveland State University (2023–2026) and Purdue University Fort Wayne (2016–2023), Gruys led strategic planning and successful AACSB accreditation reviews, drove enrollment and retention growth, developed innovative academic programs and cultivated collaborative, high-retention organizational cultures. She also strengthened advancement and fundraising efforts, built relationships with industry and community partners and led college-based centers serving thousands of students and hundreds of regional businesses.

Gruys holds national leadership roles in business education and accreditation, currently serving on AACSB’s Eligibility Review Committee, as an AACSB Peer Review Team Chair and Team Member, and as the Past President of the MidAmerican Business Deans Association, having served on its board for six years.

A first-generation college graduate, Gruys is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunity, supporting student success and preparing graduates for leadership in business and public service. She grew up in Edgerton, Minn., and earned a B.A. from the University of Minnesota Morris and a Ph.D. from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Human Resources and Industrial Relations.

In addition to her administrative leadership, Gruys has maintained an active commitment to teaching and research throughout her academic career. She has remained engaged in the classroom while contributing to scholarship in her field. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors for teaching, research and leadership.

Gruys and her husband, Scott, have two adult children and a Goldendoodle named Winston.