Tracy Greene named first SDSU university counsel

Tracy Greene has been appointed as South Dakota State University’s first university counsel, effective June 22, pending approval by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Greene comes to SDSU from Emporia State University in Kansas, where she has served as general counsel since 2005. Prior to that, she was a staff attorney at the University of Idaho. Her professional background includes work and training in the areas of discrimination and harassment awareness, public records and public meetings, immigration and employment law, and other issues relevant to higher education.

The position was created to support the university’s growth in research activity, contracts and agreements, and licensing. As university counsel, Greene also will interact with several departments and units on employment matters, public records and risk management, among other areas. She will report directly to President David Chicoine.

Tracy Greene

“Tracy built the current legal office at Emporia State, and she brings experience in the university setting to South Dakota State,” Chicoine said. “The university’s needs have changed in recent years, and she will be the primary resource for the legal issues inherent within a comprehensive teaching and research university.”

Greene, originally from Washington, earned her bachelor’s degree in business finance at the University of Idaho and her law degree at the University of Idaho College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Idaho. Greene is an institutional representative member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and serves on that organization’s Committee on Membership and Membership Services.

“I look forward to joining the SDSU team, and to the opportunity to address the diverse and dynamic legal needs of this premier and progressive teaching and research university,” said Greene.

The SDSU legal counsel also will work closely with Jim Shekleton, general counsel to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

“Having an experienced attorney located on the campus of South Dakota’s largest state university will help the Board of Regents to manage the complex legal issues inherent in the education, research and service mission of a land-grant university,” said Shekleton.

Greene will be joined in South Dakota by her husband Robert “Bob” McCurdy. Bob is a professional musician, specializing in playing and providing instruction in trumpet and jazz.

About South Dakota State University
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from eight different colleges representing more than 175 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 29 master’s degree programs, 12 Ph.D. and two professional programs.

The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state.