Stensaas to start as DSU marketing director

March 23, 2017

Dakota State University President Dr. José-Marie Griffiths announced today that Starla Stensaas, M.F.A., has been hired as the Director of Communications and Marketing. She will begin her duties on April 3.

Stensaas will be DSU’s first such director, an addition that will bring many advantages to the university.

“Ms. Stensaas comes to us with higher education experience in teaching as well as administrative roles,” said Griffiths. “In addition to teaching experience with graphic design and web design, she has leadership experience as a communication manager and digital strategist. This will enable her to assist our communications and marketing staff to craft and execute an effective and unified marketing message.”

“I am looking forward to working with Dr. Griffiths, campus leaders, faculty, staff and students,” Stensaas said, “to develop communication strategies that articulate Dakota State University’s strengths in student-centered, technology-focused education for a variety of audiences.”

"Dakota State has a long history of making a difference in the lives of students,” Stensaas added, so “I am excited about telling authentic and truthful stories about what Dakota State does each and every day for the state, for the nation, and for the world.”

Stensaas was most recently Director of Communications for IT Services at the University of Arkansas. She has taught at several academic institutions, including Dana College and Nebraska Wesleyan University in Nebraska, and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She earned a B.A. in journalism, and also an M.A. from Eastern Illinois University. Her M.F.A degree in graphic design is from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.