Donna Dahlgren, who holds an NMU bachelor's degree in psychology and political science, has begun a three-year term as dean of student success and persistence at Indiana University Southeast. She has been serving as First Year Seminar director and psychology professor. 

An IUS announcement of Dahlgren's new appointment indicates that she has used her leadership and research skills to design and implement "data-driven student success initiatives that have helped IU Southeast retain more students." Dahlgren collaborates with others on campus to enhance student success and persistence through the First Year Seminar, and is the recipient of a Trustees Teaching Award. 

Her online bio reads: "Since 2000, my research has centered on the campus activities encouraging student involvement (both curricular and co-curricular) that increases student learning and student retention. The beginning of this focus occurred with the work examining how to enhance teaching effectiveness in Introductory Psychology I. By 2004, my focus of interest expanded from assessing the effectiveness of psychology courses to courses and programs that affected all first year students at Indiana University Southeast. I examine the types of measures that can be used to assess college attachment, study strategies and social skills of first year students. Overall, the data gathered helped to determine what factors can enhance student success and improve the quality of the undergraduate experience at Indiana University Southeast."

Dahlgren wrote that this area of research has thrived in recent years at colleges across the country, as researchers try to find the right combination of academic, faculty and social support to ensure their students make it to graduation. She has had opportunities to share her research from the local to international level. 

In addition to her NMU degree, Dahlgren holds a master's and doctorate in cognitive psychology from Kent State University.