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Story by Kyra Thorstenson

Jennifer Meiners, a web communications specialist at University Marketing and Communications, has been named South Dakota State University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for January.

She will be honored at a reception held from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at University Marketing and Communications, located in the Communications Center on campus.

Meiners’ dedication, leadership and collaboration have all been praised by her coworkers and supervisors. Her commitment to every aspect of her work has set her apart as an outstanding employee.

Since starting at SDSU in 2022, Meiners has worked on a multitude of website projects including the recent redesign and launch of the university’s new website in 2025.

“Jennifer has been instrumental in working with the web team through the complex and multifaceted process of transitioning from the old website to the new platform, which hosts over 12,000 pages,” web communications specialist Sofiya Zybaylova said.

Meiners led in many ways throughout the effort and navigated complex decision-making processes. She presented the redesign to over 250 web editors and met with around 80 different groups on campus to conduct content audits, showcasing her exceptional communication and problem-solving skills.

“Her ability to explain complex, technical information in a way everyone can understand is a skill I would like to highlight,” said Michelle Watkins, web services coordinator and office manager. “Jennifer worked tirelessly to coordinate communication and the overall redesign process between our external agency, Lullabot, the SDSU web team and other campus stakeholders.”

“One of the most critical qualities I look for is someone who can independently drive a project forward, ensuring all tasks are completed on time and with precision,” Watkins added. “Jennifer did just that, and I never once had to worry about things slipping through the cracks.”

Meiners frequently put in extra hours when necessary.

“She consistently worked late into the evenings and over weekends, ensuring that deadlines were met and the launch stayed on track. Her organization and foresight were invaluable in keeping the web team aligned, focused and on top of tasks during this complex process,” Zybaylova said.

Meiners’ dedication is consistently noted by coworkers. Her ability to focus and work efficiently to ensure the success of a project is unparalleled.

“Jennifer balanced multiple competing priorities, maintained a high standard of excellence and kept the (website redesign) project moving forward despite unforeseen challenges,” said Mike Lockrem, director of University Marketing and Communications.

“She took the lead in gathering, organizing and updating content, ensuring accuracy, consistency and accessibility across all university webpages,” Lockrem added. “Her efforts to maintain the integrity of the site while supporting departments in their content needs were nothing short of exceptional.”

Meiners was born and raised in Iowa and graduated from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. She worked in various roles at Augustana University in Sioux Falls for 24 years before coming to SDSU. In her free time, the lifelong Trekkie enjoys watching musicals, playing games, doing escape rooms and hanging out with friends. She also volunteers at the Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls and works with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help community members in need.

Meiners said she enjoys working with so many areas across campus.

“It is fun to constantly be putting on a different hat to see what a department or area needs and wants to communicate,” Meiners said. “I feel so lucky to get to do what I do every day. My job at SDSU has truly allowed me to grow, learn new things and develop new skills.”

All SDSU Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.