Dordt University in Sioux Center has announced a partnership with the Paul TenHaken Companies that allows business executives to earn graduate-level credit through a yearlong leadership fellowship.
Participants who complete the Tenfold Leader Fellowship can receive three elective credits through Dordt’s Master of Business Administration program, along with a certificate of completion. Each group is limited to 10 executives, and participation is by invitation only.
Paul TenHaken previously served eight years as mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, completing two four-year terms. City term limits prevented him from seeking a third consecutive term.
The fellowship focuses on practical leadership development, skill-building, and mentoring relationships.
“We saw an opportunity to connect the practical leadership development happening through Tenfold with a formal academic pathway,” TenHaken said in a news release from Dordt. “Dordt’s approval recognizes that learning and gives participants a way to build on it toward an MBA.”
TenHaken said Dordt’s faith-based approach to education aligns with what he hopes to offer through the fellowship. He also hopes the opportunity to earn credit will encourage participants to consider additional education.
“For someone considering an MBA, these credits provide a meaningful head start and make that next step feel more attainable,” TenHaken said. “It may kickstart someone toward a graduate degree who otherwise may not have considered it.”
Dr. Tim Klein, director of Dordt’s MBA program, said TenHaken’s experience adds another perspective to the university’s leadership education.
“Partnering with Paul gives our students an opportunity to develop their professional identities within a faith-informed framework,” Klein said in the release. “His experience offers a unique complement to a traditional MBA program, helping students examine who they are as leaders and how their values can shape healthy and effective organizations.”
TenHaken also pointed to his own experience at Dordt, saying it gave him confidence in the university’s academic approach and commitment to faith-based education.
