The state’s largest commodity organization endowed $2 million toward the dean position to help the University attract the most qualified, leading applicants, bringing together excellence in the agriculture, research and academia arenas at SDSU.

“This extraordinary investment by the SDCUC will benefit every stakeholder in the state and region because it puts SDSU on a competitive footing to help recruit the nation’s best talent to our University,” said SDSU President David L. Chicoine. “The endowment elevates the College and the University because it reflects a commitment of outside resources that are necessary in today’s climate. I hope that the SDCUC’s historic investment will be replicated by other individuals and organizations wanting to partner with SDSU and make our University even stronger.”

Over the years, the SDCUC has invested millions in checkoff dollars toward cutting -edge research conducted by SDSU scientists, which has resulted in key management tools along with expanded knowledge throughout the industry, including producers and agribusiness. As scientists continue to work to anticipate what answers the agricultural industry will need in the future, advanced leadership in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at SDSU has never been more important.

“The SDCUC has a long track record of supporting agricultural research, scholarships and innovation at our land-grant university and the endowment of the dean’s position is a natural next step to advance our state’s knowledge and excellence in agriculture while cultivating our industry’s future leaders,” said David Fremark, president of the SDCUC and a 1984 SDSU graduate. 

On May 22, the University brought on one of the best age leaders in the world to assume the dean’s position, Dr. Barry Dunn. An SDSU alumnus, Dunn has been the executive director and the Kleberg Endowed Chair at the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville since 2004. He is also an associate professor of agronomy and resource sciences. Prior to that, he was a member of the SDSU animal and range sciences faculty from August 2000 to January 2004. His relationship with SDSU includes three academic degrees: a bachelor of science in biology in 1975, a master of science in animal and range sciences in 1977, and his doctor of philosophy, also in animal and range sciences, in 2000.

“An endowment such as what the SDCUC has provided to SDSU gives me an amazing opportunity to build my team and set the direction of the College of Ag and Bio,” said Dunn.  “I want to personally thank the SDCUC for their tremendous gift and their leadership for the agricultural industry.” 

“The SDCUC is proud to have ties of support to such an outstanding individual as Dean Dunn,” said Fremark. “His keen and unique qualifications – pairing experience working as a farmer/rancher himself along with his top leadership in academia and hands-on grassroots involvement in rural communities – makes him a rare find and a true asset to the future of agriculture in South Dakota. The SDCUC welcomes Dean Dunn as agriculture’s voice in academia and research at SDSU.”

The increased funding from Wells Fargo coincides with the SDSU Foundation’s renewed effort to enhance scholarship opportunities. SDSU’s enrollment has increased for nine consecutive years, reaching 12,376 in fall 2010. Scholarships are a focal point of the university’s comprehensive campaign, It Starts with STATE: A Campaign for South Dakota State University.

It Starts with STATE has a working goal of $190 million to be raised over a six-year period.

“Every dollar provided to the campaign represents an investment in the university, the state and the region,” said Steve Erpenbach, president & CEO of the SDSU Foundation. “Scholarships are oftentimes the difference between a student being able to attend school, or putting off school, or having to work on top of managing a challenging class load. The additional Wells Fargo Scholars offerings will have a tremendous impact at SDSU.”

This fall, Wells Fargo will provide 17 scholarships to students in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. Another four scholarships will be awarded by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

“At Wells Fargo, we recognize the importance of providing opportunities for students to pursue a college education and gain the skills, knowledge and experience they need for today’s job market,” said Dan Murphy, Wells Fargo regional president for South Dakota. “By funding additional scholarships, we can open the door for more talented young people to attend South Dakota State University. We believe it’s an important investment in our state’s future.”

The Wells Fargo Scholars Program was established at SDSU in 1998. Recipients are required to have a 3.0 grade point average and preference is given to students who demonstrate leadership experience and interest in developing leadership skills and in pursuing experiences in diversity or global awareness.

According to the March 2010 issue of Prism Magazine, the flagship publication of the American Society for Engineering Education, SDSU ranks second in growth in the number of engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded with an 82 percent growth rate from 2005 to 2008. To qualify, schools needed at least 75 graduates in 2005 and 215 schools met the criteria.

The magazine conducted its first study in 2000 and has done one every two years. From 2000 to 2008, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering increased 16, 29 and 51 percent, respectively, across the country.

The national rise in engineering degrees is no more evident than at SDSU, where the college has seen significant enrollment increase during each of the last six years, according to Lewis Brown, dean of the College of Engineering. Brown said that since 2003, College of Engineering enrollment grew by nearly 30 percent compared to 15.5 percent for the rest of the SDSU campus.

“This growth is a tribute to many factors,” Brown says. “Our new and improved facilities and growth in scholarships have greatly enhanced our recruitment efforts.

“We are very grateful for the private support of our friends who have made that possible,” Brown adds. “The ASEE numbers confirm that SDSU is an exciting and rewarding place to study engineering. The results show our strategic plan for student recruitment and retention is working.”

Assistant Dean Rich Reid says the data is particularly impressive considering that during 2000-06, South Dakota showed a 6.1 percent decline in high school enrollment, while other states on the Top Ten list had increases of 13.7 to 15.2 percent during the same time period.

“Even though we have declining high school enrollments, more high school students are staying in the state and are coming to SDSU to study engineering,” Reid says. “We are thankful for the support of alumni, donors, the SDSU Foundation, and business and industry partners who have a vital role in supporting our programs and students.

“The significant growth in our research, new engineering buildings, K-12 outreach programs, increased scholarships, the work of our admission’s office and personal contact with students have created an environment where success happens,” Reid adds.

SDSU’s growth rate, based on going from 89 undergraduate degrees in 2005 to 162 in 2008, is topped only by California State University of Northridge at 96 percent.

Jim Morgan, president and CEO of Daktronics, says the report is testament to progress SDSU's engineering program is making.

Jim Morgan, president and CEO of Daktronics, says, “This report is further testimonial to the great job the administration and faculty have been doing, along with the financial support for facilities and scholarships from the SDSU Foundation, to continue to build and improve the profile of SDSU’s engineering program.

“The underlying statistics show that not only has the SDSU engineering program grown, it has improved qualitatively in many ways,” adds Morgan, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1969 and a master’s degree in engineering in 1971, both from SDSU. “This is impressive progress.”

At the same time, the College of Engineering reports that the number of its applicants with ACT scores above 30 (top 4 percent in the nation) has more than tripled from 20 in 2005 to 61 in 2010.

“The best and brightest students are coming to the College of Engineering,” cites Reid, who points out that students with ACT scores above 30 are students who have outscored 96 percent of students in the nation.

“Earlier this decade we had about 20 students in the 30-point ACT range applying to our engineering program,” he says. “With 61 having ACT scores of 30 this year, along with an incoming class of about 400 freshmen, we know a high percentage of this class will be some of the best young minds in our state.”

The American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit association of more than 12,000 engineering faculty members, U.S. colleges of engineering, engineering technology corporations, and other organizations dedicated to promoting excellence in engineering and engineering technology education.

This video is one of a four-part series about the impact people have made at SDSU. The other stories include Bill Macksam, Faye Tyler Wade and Marty Kranz.

This video is one of a four-part series about the impact people have made at SDSU. The other stories include Hugh and Cari Mack, Bill Macksam and Marty Kranz.

This video is one of a four-part series about the impact people have made at SDSU. The other stories include Hugh and Cari Mack, Faye Tyler Wade and Marty Kranz.

This video is one of a four-part series about the impact people have made at SDSU. The other stories include Hugh and Cari Mack, Faye Tyler Wade and Bill Macksam.

The planned remodeling and additions will turn the 50-year-old plant into a modernized dairy processing research and education plant laboratory. Construction is expected to start in June and the project should be completed during the summer of 2011.

The net estimated cost of the project, including the building and equipment, is approximately $9.3 million. All but $1 million is privately funded.

The project is made possible largely because of financial support from members of the Jackrabbit Dairy Council, which is composed of dairy industry partners and private individuals from across the country.

“I want to thank the members of the Jackrabbit Dairy Council because it really is a partnership,” SDSU President David L. Chicoine said in his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“It demonstrates that by building these partnerships we can have impact and we can make a difference in the lives of our students, in the lives of our stakeholders, and more importantly, in the lives of agriculture and the dairy sector and in the economic well-being of all of South Dakota,” Chicoine said.

Jon Davis, chief operating officer of Davisco Foods International, Inc., agreed. “This has been a tremendous team effort to this point and it will continue to be,” Davis told the nearly 150 people who attended the ceremony.

Corporate and private council members include:

• The American Dairy Association of SD/Midwest Dairy Association;
• Davisco Foods International, Inc., headquartered in Le Sueur, Minn.;
• ECOLAB, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.;
• Glanbia Foods, Inc., headquartered in Twin Falls, Idaho; 
• Hilmar Cheese Company, headquartered in Hilmar, Calif.;   
• Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc., of Milbank, S.D.;
• the Gonzenbach family of Milbank;
• Jerry Lohr, a 1958 SDSU alumnus and president of J. Lohr Properties and J. Lohr Winery, both located in San Jose, Calif.;
• SA Education Foundation; and
• Tetra Pak, with U.S. headquarters in Vernon Hills, Ill. 

In addition, the Institute for Dairy Ingredient Processing is a research component of the new dairy plant. The Institute was formed by a partnership between SDSU, the ADA of South Dakota, the Midwest Dairy Association and Dairy Management Inc.

“Research continues to show that dairy-based ingredients provide exceptional nutrition, functionality and flavor to meet consumer demands for convenient and healthier food choices,” said Gregory D. Miller, Ph.D., M.A.C.N. and executive vice president of research, regulatory and scientific affairs for Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “We are committed to these research efforts and proud to be a partner in the development of this facility as we explore the next generation of dairy ingredients and provide even greater options for our industry partners and product innovation.”

The facility will contain state-of-the art filtration, evaporation and drying equipment that will be used to conduct applied research on dairy-based ingredients. The purpose of the Institute for Dairy Ingredient Processing is to expand the portfolio of dairy-based ingredients produced by the United States for domestic and international markets.

“From the dairy farmers’ point of view, we need to create research and information to enhance the competition of dairy worldwide,” said Ginger Hanten, chair of the American Dairy Association of South Dakota. “We need to develop student knowledge today to support tomorrow’s dairy industry. With obesity in the forefront in today’s world, we need ongoing nutrition and product research. What better place to implement these needs than right here at South Dakota State University.”

The SDSU Dairy Science program is one of only two in the United States that effectively combines both dairy production and dairy manufacturing, which is demanded by today’s global, science-based dairy industry.

In 1959, the state Legislature authorized about $800,000 in state money to build the current dairy plant building. Vikram Mistry, professor and head of the Dairy Science Department, called that decision insightful because similar departments at many other universities were being shut down.

“In the 50 years that have passed since this building was constructed, hundreds of students have gone through the program and, in fact, served the dairy industry of this country in ways that the designers of the building and designers of the program had never even imagined,” Mistry said, adding his thanks to the dairy industry leaders and individuals who have supported the renovation project.

“I want to thank you for having faith in us and I want to thank you for showing us the direction and letting us ride on your shoulders,” he said. “We look forward to working with you for many, many years to come.”

In addition to remodeling the existing dairy plant area of 7,050 square feet, the project will add 10,850 square feet of space onto the east side of the existing lab, creating a state-of-the-art facility totaling 17,900 square feet.

Mistry said the renovation will ensure that the dairy industry in South Dakota and the surrounding region will continue to be both cutting-edge and globally competitive and an international leader. The plant will enable the SDSU Dairy Science program to better compete for the best faculty and students, he said. The project also will contribute to new and expanded economic opportunities for South Dakota and the region.

The Dairy Plant renovation is one of many projects being funded by gifts and pledges made to the SDSU Foundation in support of the university’s comprehensive campaign, It Starts with STATE. The Foundation is in the leadership phase of the largest comprehensive campaign in South Dakota history. It Starts with STATE: A Campaign for South Dakota State University has a working goal of $190 million. The campaign is designed to increase scholarships for students, strengthen faculty excellence, support expanded research opportunities, build and revitalize facilities, and invest in athletics, museums, the arts and international experiences.

This year’s event features Patty Viverito, Senior Associate Commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference. Women in the Huddle will also include a panel discussion with: Nanabah Allison- Brewer, SDSU Head Volleyball Coach; Laurie Melum, SDSU Assistant Athletic Director for Academics; and Nancy Neiber, former SDSU Women’s Basketball Coach.

The Women & Giving annual event will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2010, at the SDSU Foundation Building, 815 Medary Avenue. For questions or to RSVP, contact elaine.brown@sdsufoundation.org or 605-697-7475 ext. 3023.

Viverito is in her 18th season as senior associate commissioner at the Missouri Valley Conference. She is also in her 25th year directing the Missouri Valley Football Conference as its commissioner.

A Chicago native, Viverito was named the Missouri Valley Football’s first commissioner in September of 1982. She led the conference (then known as the Gateway Conference) to national prominence in the 1980s. The league, which sponsored nine women’s sports and FCS football, saw its women’s programs merge with their MVC men’s counterparts in 1992.

At The Valley, Viverito’s responsibilities include championship administration and compliance, serving as the primary coaches liaison for most sports, and she served as the Tournament Director of the 2001 and 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Allison-Brewer took over the Jackrabbit volleyball program in 2008 after two years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. A Farmington, N.M. native, she joined the Dartmouth staff after completing her master’s degree in higher education and serving as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Arizona, where in her final year, the Wildcats advanced in the elite eight at the 2006 NCAA tournament.

One of just a handful of Native Americans (Navajo) to play and coach at the Division I level, Allison-Brewer earned four varsity letters at the University of New Mexico from 1995 to 1999, compiling 1,005 digs and 195 service aces for the Lobos in 417 games over 118 matches.

The founder and president of the Native American Volleyball Academy (NAVA), Allison-Brewer remains active numerous organizations, including the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Minority Coaches Committee and as a member of the USA Volleyball Diversity Commission.

Before moving in to the academic side of the Athletic Department, Melum was an assistant coach for the SDSU women’s basketball program for eight years. She played an instrumental role in the development of the Jackrabbit women’s basketball program into a championship-caliber team at the NCAA Division II level and has helped direct a seamless transition into the Division I ranks by serving as recruiting coordinator. Melum’s recruiting has allowed the Jackrabbits to attract a number of top in-state high school recruits throughout the D-I transition, while continuing to secure commitments from top-level players throughout the Upper Midwest.

A Rapid City native and graduate of Stevens High School, Melum played four years at Augustana College, earning all-North Central Conference and academic all-NCC honors as a senior in 1997.

Longtime coach and athletics administrator, Neiber retired in June 2007, ending nearly 25 years at South Dakota State University. A Pierre native, Neiber was hired as women’s basketball head coach at SDSU in 1984. Over 16 seasons, Neiber became the winningest basketball coach in SDSU history, compiling a 301-140 career record (.683 winning percentage). Neiber’s teams posted 14 consecutive winning seasons from 1987-2000, recording two runner-up finishes in the North Central Conference and six NCAA Divsion II postseason appearances. She earned NCC Coach of the Year honors in 1988 and 1995, and was honored as the NCAA Division II District VII Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 1995.

In June of 2000, Neiber stepped down from her coaching position to become SDSU’s first full-time senior woman administrator for athletics. During her time as an administrator, SDSU moved to NCAA Division I, added women’s equestrian as the school’s 21st varsity sport and secured membership in the Mid-Continent Conference for most sports, as well as the Great West Football Conference and Western Wrestling Conference.

The Women & Giving annual event will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2010 at the SDSU Foundation Building, 815 Medary Avenue. for questions or to rsvp contact elaine.brown@sdsufoundation.org or 605-697-7475 ext. 3023

Schedule of Events

9:00 a.m.

Registration – Coffee, Juice, and Scones

9:30 a.m.

Welcome

9:45 a.m.

Panel Discussion

Nanabah Allison-Brewer

Laurie Melum

Nancy Neiber

10:45 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

Patty Viverito

12:00

Networking Lunch

1:00

2009 Grant Recipients

1:30

Closing Remarks