Throughout her career, Dr. Caulyne Barron, President and Chief Academic Officer at Dunlap-Stone University, has helped students achieve their goals while working with organizations that support education. She is the past chair of the Board of Directors of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, where she also chaired the Academic Review Committee.
Dr. Barron holds a Doctor of Education from Northeastern University in Higher Education Administration and a Masters of Education in Adult Education. She is a sought-after presenter on topics including adult education, distance education, curriculum and assessment, and accreditation standards. As a faculty member, she has taught management and organizational behavior among other topics and has supported graduate and doctoral research.
Active in her community, Dr. Barron volunteers with local youth organizations, focusing on inclusion and training, to make programs accessible to youth with disabilities and to equip adult volunteers with the skills they need to be successful.
President Emeritus Dr. Donald N. Burton, a veteran of the US Navy and businessman, explored several industries before he found his true calling: teaching. Armed with decades of experience running mid-sized companies, Dr. Burton dove into teaching non-traditional adult learners, particularly in international trade topics. A graduate of the University of Oregon and Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Burton realized there was little support for student startups and little practical education on topics related to exporting. Seeking to address this gap, Dr. Burton founded The International Import-Export Institute in 1995. Later renamed Dunlap-Stone University when the school began to expand its offerings and broaden its mission, DSU became a hub for practical distance education in international trade and business topics. For over 25 years he served as its President, overseeing its growth. In 2022, he stepped back from Presidency, but remained on the Board of Directors. In 2024, he retired from active education and now resides in southeastern Arizona, where his next venture in American Chestnut tree farming awaits.
Dr. Burton received a BS in Clinical Psychology and a MBA from the University of Oregon, and a PhD in Management from Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Robert Abel serves as the Chief Academic Officer at Dunlap-Stone University, bringing over two decades of leadership experience in higher education. With a strong background in academic operations, accreditation, curriculum development, and faculty support, he is dedicated to advancing DSU’s mission of delivering Professionally Significant Degrees® and a student-centered learning experience. Dr. Abel holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Northcentral University and has held senior academic leadership roles at institutions such as Abraham Lincoln University and DeVry University. He has also contributed time as a standards evaluator for the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
David has founded and been employed by multiple online higher education companies over the past fifteen years overseeing financial and compliance matters. Over the past five years, David assisted in the launch of both a theology college and a private University in Florida through the commission of independent education. David manages all Dunlap-Stone University financials matters and reporting to the board of directors. Additionally, he is in charge of the annual audit for state and federal compliance ensuring the highest standards of financial stability for the University.
David’s professional background includes consulting for small businesses, real estate ventures and low-tech startups of various types, focusing on financial planning and legal structuring along with implementing growth and development strategies.
Tyra is an experienced higher education administrator and licensed attorney who serves as a key member of the senior leadership team at Dunlap-Stone University. With a decade-long relationship with the university—including her current role overseeing operations and compliance—Ms. Burton brings a rare combination of legal expertise, operational insight, and strategic acumen. She is responsible for ensuring DSU’s ongoing compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, while supporting the university’s mission to provide quality, accessible education for nontraditional learners. Her earlier roles in K–12 charter education, real estate compliance, and special education services reflect her broad commitment to educational equity and operational excellence. Ms. Burton holds a Juris Doctor from Arizona Summit Law School and a B.S. in International Trade Management from Dunlap-Stone University.
Jacob has nearly a decade of experience in higher education, having served as faculty at both the University of New Hampshire and Southern New Hampshire University. He currently serves as Director of Student Services at Dunlap-Stone University, where he collaborates closely with the students, registrar and university president to ensure the quality, efficiency, and seamless delivery of all student services.
Fred grew up in central Wisconsin, the son of a teacher and a CPA, Fred understands the underlying challenges that businesses and individuals face. With more than a decade working in different financial roles, Fred has worked for companies both small and large. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Throughout Fred’s college years, he held internships with numerous financial institutions, becoming the youngest intern within a large fortune 500 company. After graduating from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI with a degree in accounting, he began the next phase of his career with a small successful wealth management firm located in Green Bay. Fred eventually moved to the Chicagoland area in 2016 and began working for a regional trust company and registered investment advisor (RIA). Following a successful 3 years working for the Trust Company of Illinois / TC Wealth Partners, Fred began working in a newly formed department within a big bank in downtown Chicago, focused on developing a new technology platform for institutional investors and alternative investments such as private equity & hedge funds.
With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Rodriguez is a seasoned consultant specializing in institutional research, effectiveness, accreditation, and strategic planning. She brings a data-informed lens to her work, helping institutions drive sustainable growth, improve retention, develop academic programs, and strengthen accreditation readiness. At Dunlap-Stone University, Dr. Rodriguez serves in a consulting role as Director of Institutional Research, where she supports strategic data analysis and planning efforts aligned with accreditation standards. Her work reflects a deep commitment to helping colleges and universities use data effectively to meet their goals and adapt to an evolving higher education landscape. She also serves as an evaluator and committee member for multiple accreditors and is a contributing author to Driving Innovation With For-Profit Adult Higher Education Online Institutions.
Dr. Rodriguez earned her Ph.D. in biomechanics at Texas A&M University
DSU’s leadership works with the Board of Trustees and Faculty Advisory Committee to operationalize DSU’s mission. Learn more on the governance page.
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