DSU Presidential Search Finalists
DSU Presidential Search finalist interviews will take place on campus March 25-26, 2026.
Dr. John R. Ballard
Dr. John R. Ballard is President of the National Intelligence University, leading a multi‑campus institution that delivers workforce‑ready certificates and technology‑focused bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He serves as the university’s chief ambassador to federal and state leaders, industry partners, and the broader national security enterprise. A public higher education innovator, he has elevated NIU’s national profile through a new strategic plan and achieving national laboratory status. He has strengthened shared governance, expanded partnerships with organizations such as Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and the University of Virginia, and driven measurable improvements in student outcomes — including improved enrollment processes and capstone programs that increased overall graduation rates by 10% in two years.
His leadership career spans three continents and reflects a consistent record of building institutional significance and expanding opportunity. He has held founding academic roles in New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates and senior appointments in Virginia, Rhode Island, New York, and Washington, D.C. As the inaugural Provost of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he led accreditation recovery, modernized curriculum, and guided the institution through the COVID‑19 crisis. As Vice President at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, he advanced student success initiatives across public universities nationwide. He also helped establish and grow the National Defense College of the UAE.
Dr. Ballard serves on the executive committee of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. A historian by training and an internationally recognized expert in national security and leadership development, he has authored seven books and numerous professional journal articles. His contributions have been honored with the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Service Award, the Secretary of Transportation’s Superior Achievement and Innovation Awards, the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Society of the Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century Award, the General Horace Porter Award in History, and military decorations including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
Dr. Ballard earned his B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy, his M.A. from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and his Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America. His leadership is grounded in transparency and effective communication and guided by a vision of higher education that integrates innovative research, active learning, workforce development, and community engagement to deliver meaningful student success and regional prosperity.
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky is Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Dakota State University, where she has played a central role in advancing the university’s research growth, external partnerships, and national visibility in cybersecurity and applied technology.
A nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity and innovation, Dr. Podhradsky has helped position Dakota State as a destination for applied research, workforce development, and industry collaboration. Under her leadership, her teams have secured more than $26.5 million in competitive grants and contracts from organizations including the National Security Agency, National Science Foundation, U.S. Small Business Administration, Google, and others.
Dr. Podhradsky has also been a driving force in developing programs that create opportunity for students and strengthen the talent pipeline for the state and region. She co-founded CybHER, a nationally known outreach initiative that has engaged thousands of young people through hands on cyber education and career exploration. Her leadership has also helped generate nearly $2 million in philanthropic support for the program.
In addition to her leadership in research and outreach, Dr. Podhradsky brings valuable experience in cybersecurity governance and oversight through her service on the First Bank and Trust Board of Directors. She is also a sought-after speaker on cybersecurity, innovation, and workforce development. Her work has earned national recognition, including selection as a New America Cybersecurity Fellow and an American Association for the Advancement of Science IF THEN Ambassador. She was also honored at the Smithsonian as one of 120 women recognized for excellence in STEM.
Dr. Gillian Wilson
Dr. Gillian Wilson serves as Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development and Professor of Physics at the University of California, Merced, where she leads the university’s research enterprise, strengthens partnerships with industry, federal agencies, and national laboratories, and advances the translation of innovation into economic opportunity. Her administrative portfolio includes research administration, shared core research facilities, Organized Research Units, the Agricultural Experiment Station enterprise, the UC Merced Natural Reserve System, and the 14-county Central California Small Business Development Center network.
During her tenure, the SBDC network has assisted more than 6,000 entrepreneurs, helped launch over 400 new businesses, supported more than 20,000 jobs, facilitated more than $140 million in capital investment, and generated more than $1.5 billion in client revenue across the region. She also spearheaded UC Merced’s milestone achievement as a Carnegie R1 institution in 2025 and oversaw a 95 percent increase in research expenditures over three years.
Dr. Wilson previously served as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development and Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Riverside. Her leadership roles there included Interim Divisional Dean for Physical Sciences and Mathematics, UCR Director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, Director of the Multidisciplinary Research Building, Interim Deputy Director of the University of California Observatories, and Chair of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Executive Committee.
A nationally recognized physicist, Dr. Wilson’s research centers on cosmology and galaxy evolution. She leads major international collaborations, has authored approximately 150 publications, and has secured more than $12 million in research funding and telescope time. She is passionate about expanding student access to research and experiential learning opportunities in science and technology.
Dr. Wilson holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Durham University and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the American Astronomical Society.