Key Takeaways
- • South Dakota State University honored nine holders of endowed positions at its fifth annual University Leadership Honors investiture ceremony, held Sept. 24 in Founders Recital Hall at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
- • Four of the nine endowed positions were newly created and awarded for the first time this year.
- • SDSU now has commitments for 70 endowed leadership positions, up from 13 at the start of the Bold & Blue comprehensive campaign in 2019.
- • New endowments require at least $500,000 in investment, with some created from gifts of up to $5 million each.
- • SDSU President Barry Dunn said the endowed positions support recruitment and retention of talent and that the university is pursuing Carnegie R1 status.
Summary
South Dakota State University recently recognized the newest holders of its endowed leadership positions at the fifth annual University Leadership Honors investiture ceremony, held Sept. 24 in Founders Recital Hall in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. The ceremony honored nine individuals across five colleges and programs, and four of the endowed positions were awarded for the first time this year.
According to SDSU, donor commitments now support 70 endowed leadership positions, compared with 13 at the start of the Bold & Blue comprehensive campaign in 2019. New endowments require investments of at least $500,000, and some were created from gifts of up to $5 million apiece. SDSU President Barry Dunn said donor interest remains strong because people are seeing the impact of these endowments, adding that the momentum from the campaign "hasn't slowed down." Dunn said the positions help the university recruit and retain talent and touch every part of the institution, and he tied the growth from 13 to 70 positions to the university's goal of achieving Carnegie R1 status as a doctoral university with very high research activity.
The honorees and their endowed positions include Rouzbeh Ghabchi, John M. Hanson Endowed Professor in Structural and Construction Engineering; Md. Faruque Hossain, Beavers Charitable Trust Endowed Educator in Heavy Construction; Jason Sternhagen, Metzger Endowed Educator in Power Systems Engineering; Kevin Kessler, Keith and Glynn Bartels Endowed Director of Athletic Bands; Keely Eagleshield, Larson Family Endowed Director of Wokini and Tribal Relations; Christine Garst-Santos, Karen D. Stuck Endowed Director of the School of American and Global Studies; Crystal Levesque, Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production; Andrew Robinette, Paul E. and Doris J. Moriarty Endowed Professor of Choral Activities; and Alexis Stamatikos, Ethel Austin Martin Endowed Chair of Human Nutrition. Each honoree's position is named for a donor or former faculty member, including the Beavers, a construction industry honorary organization founded in 1955, and the Larson Family Foundation.
The ceremony also recognized the donors whose gifts created the positions, which the university described as reflecting a commitment to engineering, athletics, Native student success, public service, swine science, choral arts, and nutrition education.
According to SDSU, donor commitments now support 70 endowed leadership positions, compared with 13 at the start of the Bold & Blue comprehensive campaign in 2019. New endowments require investments of at least $500,000, and some were created from gifts of up to $5 million apiece. SDSU President Barry Dunn said donor interest remains strong because people are seeing the impact of these endowments, adding that the momentum from the campaign "hasn't slowed down." Dunn said the positions help the university recruit and retain talent and touch every part of the institution, and he tied the growth from 13 to 70 positions to the university's goal of achieving Carnegie R1 status as a doctoral university with very high research activity.
The honorees and their endowed positions include Rouzbeh Ghabchi, John M. Hanson Endowed Professor in Structural and Construction Engineering; Md. Faruque Hossain, Beavers Charitable Trust Endowed Educator in Heavy Construction; Jason Sternhagen, Metzger Endowed Educator in Power Systems Engineering; Kevin Kessler, Keith and Glynn Bartels Endowed Director of Athletic Bands; Keely Eagleshield, Larson Family Endowed Director of Wokini and Tribal Relations; Christine Garst-Santos, Karen D. Stuck Endowed Director of the School of American and Global Studies; Crystal Levesque, Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production; Andrew Robinette, Paul E. and Doris J. Moriarty Endowed Professor of Choral Activities; and Alexis Stamatikos, Ethel Austin Martin Endowed Chair of Human Nutrition. Each honoree's position is named for a donor or former faculty member, including the Beavers, a construction industry honorary organization founded in 1955, and the Larson Family Foundation.
The ceremony also recognized the donors whose gifts created the positions, which the university described as reflecting a commitment to engineering, athletics, Native student success, public service, swine science, choral arts, and nutrition education.
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