DSU professor named top 2% global scientist by Stanford and Elsevier
October 22, 2025
Dakota State University's College of Business & Information Systems (BIS) celebrates a major academic achievement with the arrival of Dr. Abeer Alkhwaldi, who has been recognized as a Top 2% Scientist worldwide in a prestigious list compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier-2025.
The list identifies influential researchers based on six metrics, including research impact and citations by peers. This distinction places Dr. Alkhwaldi among the world's most cited experts.
“My rank of 80,775 out of over 236,000 researchers confirms I am in the top third of researchers globally,” Alkhwaldi explained. “Crucially, this means my research places me in the top 1% of the estimated 11.8 million total global researchers,” Dr. Alkhwaldi said. "This is quantifiable, third-party validation of the impact of my work in information and communication technologies."
Dr. Alkhwaldi brings a wealth of academic experience and a passion for research to DSU. She joined the BIS college in August from her previous institution in Jordan, where she had earned her MBA in 2013. Notably, she completed her Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Bradford, UK, on a competitive scholarship. Following her doctoral studies, she returned to Jordan to serve in key academic roles, including assistant professor, associate professor, and Head of the MIS Department.
"It felt like a true validation that the long hours and years dedicated to research had truly paid off," she said, reflecting on the moment a colleague alerted her to the newly released list. "It’s an immensely rewarding feeling to have your sustained professional work recognized at this level."
Her extensive productivity is a hallmark of her career. "Research is more than a job; it is my passion," she noted. "I am committed to sustained productivity, which is reflected in my portfolio of over 60 publications."
Her research interests are broad and current, covering crucial areas of modern technology, including human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence, smart government, e-learning, digital transformation, VR/AR, the Metaverse, and blockchain.
"We must continually advance our understanding of these emerging technologies to strategically implement them, maximize their benefits, and apply them effectively across diverse industries," she explained.
Dr. Alkhwaldi’s expertise has led to significant leadership roles in academic publishing. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Information & Library Review Journal (Taylor and Francis Ltd). She also serves as an Associate Editor (AE) for the Heliyon journal (Elsevier) in the Information Science section, an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE, and a Guest Editor for the International Journal of Organizational Analysis (Emerald Publishing).
Furthermore, she is an Editorial Board Member for several other high-quality, Scopus-indexed and Clarivate Analytics-indexed journals, including the International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems, the Journal of Family Business Management, Discover Sustainability Journal, and Humanities & Social Sciences Communications Journal.
She is already actively collaborating with her new DSU colleagues, a continuation of her international work with collaborators from India, the U.K., Pakistan and the Middle East. She is currently co-editing a book with Dr. Andy Behrens and a colleague from Iraq. Her future research at DSU includes an exciting new focus on AI and agriculture with Dr. Cheri Noteboom.
In recognition of her strong trajectory, Dr. Alkhwaldi has been awarded two distinct research grants this year (FY 25-26):
- The Faculty Research Initiative Award with Dr. Cherie Noteboom for their collaborative project, "Driving AI Adoption in Agriculture."
- One of the first START Awards with Dr. Yenling Chang and Austin O’Brien for another collaborative project.
In her new role at DSU, Dr. Alkhwaldi is dedicated to developing and delivering curriculum in information systems, conducting impactful research that leads to peer-reviewed publications, and mentoring and advising students.
Her immediate presence as a top global researcher instantly validates DSU's Ph.D. in Information Systems program on the world stage, significantly enhancing recruitment goals. She is prepared to mentor students on high-impact topics, leading directly to publications in Tier-1 (Q1) journals, which is critical for elevating the entire university's R1 research profile.
Specifically, her expertise is vital for the Cybersecurity and Analytics specializations. She plans to establish focused research tracks in: 1) Big Data Analytics for Business Intelligence and 2) AI-Driven Security for FinTech systems. This ensures DSU's Ph.D. graduates are equipped with the absolute latest knowledge, making them highly competitive for academic and applied research roles.
Dr. Alkhwaldi is looking forward to building her career at Dakota State and is appreciative of the warm welcome and support she’s received. Provost/SVP for Academic & Student Affairs Rebecca Hoey, College of BIS Dean Dorine Bennett, Vice President for Research & Economic Development Ashley Podhradsky, Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development Pete Hoesing, David Zeng, Dept. Chair - Information Systems, and colleagues from the College of BIS all reached out personally to congratulate her on being named a Top 2% Scientist.
"Receiving those personalized congratulations was incredibly motivating and speaks volumes about DSU’s commitment to research excellence," Dr. Alkhwaldi concluded.
This honor provides quantifiable, third-party validation that DSU is home to a world-leading expert in information and communication technologies.