The SDSU Deans’ Council meets regularly throughout the academic year to discuss what’s going on in each of their colleges.
Left to Right: Kinchel C. Doerner, dean of the Graduate School; Kristi Tornquist, chief university librarian at the Hilton M. Briggs Library; Rebecca Bott, dean of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College; Charlene Wolf-Hall, dean of the College of Natural Sciences; Lynn Sargeant, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Jill Thorngren, dean of the College of Education & Human Sciences; Bruce Berdanier, dean of the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering; John Killefer, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council Endowed Dean of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; Jane Mort, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions; Roberta Olson, interim dean of the College of Nursing; and Dennis Hedge, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
When Barry Dunn and Dennis Hedge took over as president and provost, it meant South Dakota State University had several dean positions to fill. With the addition of the College of Natural Sciences and other moves, the list grew to six.
Now with all the positions filled, the new deans provide some thoughts on why they chose to come to State.
What’s been the best part about your time at SDSU?
Lynn Sargeant:
Everyone at SDSU has been very welcoming, which has made my first few months here a real joy. I have particularly enjoyed getting to know many of the faculaty and learning about their research and creative work. Our faculty are so deeply
committed to the students and to engaging in deeply meaningful work that benefits our community and region. I’ve also been deeply impressed by how engaged alumni and community members are with the intellectual and cultural life of the university. This is rare and very special and makes SDSU an extraordinary place to work.
Charlene Wolf-Hall:
Visiting with students. They inspire me. I am also enjoying the enthusiasm of the faculty and staff for growing the new College of Natural Sciences.
What made you choose to be a dean at South Dakota State?
Mary Ann Krogh,
Dean of the College of Nursing
Mary Anne Krogh: I was drawn to the SDSU College of Nursing for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional. Some of my best educational experiences came through this college and I admire its focus on student-centered education, exploration of nursing science and professional development of faculty and students. On a professional level, I am excited to collaborate with interprofessional colleagues to solve population health issues in our rural communities. The College of Nursing has a rich history of innovation and is nationally recognized for its quality. I want to be a part of that tradition. On a personal level, coming back to SDSU feels a lot like coming home, both because of my experiences in the college, but also because of the welcoming nature of the Brookings community.
Bruce Berdanier: At the time I applied for the dean’s position at SDSU, I was already a five-year dean of a smaller and younger school of engineering in Connecticut. For me, the opportunity was the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at SDSU. The job here was a chance to come and provide leadership in an organization that was older, more established, larger, more complex, more diverse and I believed had more opportunity and upside for growth than the school that I was leading in Connecticut had. There is obvious prestige associated with a named college like the Lohr College of Engineering. Also, I wanted to get back to a mission-oriented college environment. The Lohr College serves the economic development needs of the employers of the region. The college is strongly supported and needed by our regional employers and alumni. The symbiotic relationship opportunities here are just great.
John Killefer: The interest and support for agriculture and our natural resources were key components in my decision to join SDSU and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The leadership of this institution, and vision for where SDSU would like to go further convinced me that the deanship of CAFES would provide me with tremendous opportunities and potential for programmatic growth and success. Getting to know my professional colleagues and the students, along with the culture of the community, sealed the decision for me.
Jane Mort: The College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions has outstanding academic programs that have achieved national recognition. In addition, the research efforts are poised to grow dramatically in the next five years. Finally, the service provided by the college has led practice advancement across the state. Strong faculty, great students and outstanding curricula—it’s a winning combination and a true honor to lead the college.
