David J. Gurchiek

David J. Gurchiek, PhD, joined Myers McRae as a consultant in 2020. He brings extensive experience in higher education, especially in healthcare and two-year colleges.

During his 25 years in the Montana University System, he served as college dean, associate dean, department chair (nursing, health, public safety), and faculty/program director. Throughout his academic career he had the opportunity to develop a variety of degree programs, certificates, apprenticeships, workforce credentials and dual credit opportunities along with building 2+2 degree pathway options for universities. He worked with program advisory boards and listened to the needs of business and industry to achieve these accomplishments.

Dr. Gurchiek started his academic career at City College, Montana State University Billings an embedded two-year college formerly named the College of Technology. After having a successful career at MSUB he went on to become the dean of Highlands College of Montana Tech, a comprehensive two-year college embedded within Montana Technological University, a highly recognized science, technology, engineering, and math university consistently ranked among the best return on investment institutions in the nation.

Today, Dr. Gurchiek is the host/creator of Academic Dean, a podcast where he connects with passionate academic leaders who share their stories and viewpoints of higher education, especially lessons learned along the way. He is also the founder of Gurchiek Consulting LLC, providing assessment services of academic programs for college leaders needing to make pivotal decisions and plans for success. He holds a M.S. degree in healthcare from California College for Health Sciences and a Ph.D. in human services from Capella University