He has published multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and periodical pieces. He was the co-founder and first Editor in Chief of the Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs housed at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, Dian was the Assistant Director of Orientation and New Student Programs at the University of Maryland College Park. During that time, he created a national award-winning first-year experience program for LGBTQA students called The One Project. He has served on the board of directors for NODA- Association for Orientation, Retention, and Transition in Higher Education and held numerous positions in ACPA-College Student Educators International.