Last Lecture Set for April 23 with Dr. Michael Roach

April 14, 2026

Dr. Michael Roach, associate professor in the College of Business & Information Systems, has been selected by students in the General Beadle Honors Program to deliver the 2026 Last Lecture. The honor is awarded annually to a retiring faculty member, chosen by Honors Program students, to present a final lecture on a topic of their choice.

Roach will present his lecture on Thursday, April 23, in the Tunheim Classroom Building, beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the lecture at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

"Retiring faculty welcome the opportunity to offer valedictory to their career in academia," said Dr. Kurt Kemper, professor and director of the General Beadle Honors Program. "To be offered the chance to look back on their career and offer lessons or insights, either personally or professionally, is something honored faculty genuinely appreciate."

Roach earned his doctorate from Capella University and spent the first half of his career in financial services-managing people, products, and budgets-before joining Dakota State University to teach economics and management, where he credits his students as central to his own learning and growth.

"Students don't always get the credit they deserve," said Roach. "When you take the time to get to know them and listen, you'd be amazed at what you can learn. And that's been my favorite part of the whole experience; just working with the students."

His lecture builds on those experiences, reflecting on lessons learned over more than 40 years of professional experience, where he focused on building and sustaining high-performing organizations. Among his key messages is the importance of asking questions like "why" and engaging with differing perspectives.

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