Monday Message, Jan. 20
SDSU Community,
I hope each of you enjoyed the three-day weekend and had an opportunity to rest and spend time with family and friends. As we return to campus and continue the spring semester, I want to thank you for the energy, dedication and care you bring to South Dakota State University each day. It is because of your commitment that SDSU continues to thrive as a place of learning, discovery and service as the state’s premier land-grant university.
One of the ways we honor that commitment is through the Celebration of Faculty Excellence, which will be held on Feb. 17. This annual event provides an opportunity to recognize the outstanding teaching, research, creative activity and service demonstrated by our faculty. Faculty excellence is central to our land-grant mission and plays a vital role in student success, scholarly achievement and community impact across South Dakota and beyond. I encourage you to attend and help us celebrate colleagues whose work exemplifies the highest standards of our university. Additional information about the event is available on sdstate.edu.
Tomorrow is also a significant day for SDSU and the Brookings community as we travel to the Capitol in Pierre for Brookings/SDSU Day at the Legislature. Throughout this legislative session, we will engage with lawmakers and state leaders on issues that affect higher education, our students and our ability to fulfill our mission. These conversations are essential as we work to ensure sustained investment in higher education, support for research and innovation, and policies that allow our institutions to serve the people of South Dakota effectively. I am grateful to everyone who is participating in this day and representing SDSU with professionalism and pride.
As we move deeper into the spring semester, I also want to offer an important reminder about our digital accessibility efforts. The April compliance deadline is approaching quickly, and ensuring that our digital content is accessible is a shared responsibility. This work reflects our commitment to compliance with federal requirements. A number of training opportunities are available throughout the semester to support this effort, and I encourage all employees to participate. Information about training sessions, resources and expectations can be found online.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students, our mission and one another. I wish you a productive and meaningful week ahead.
Sincerely,
Barry H. Dunn
President
South Dakota State University
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South Dakota State University employees, faculty and students for individual and team efforts that go Above and Beyond to make the campus community a better place.
This week’s Above and Beyond applauds the nine students a-painting who created the “12 Days of Christmas” installation at the 2025-26 Garden Glow at McCrory Gardens.
The dozen 4-by-4-foot pieces each depicted a line from the famous holiday poem and song with an accompanying illustration of a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, four calling birds — you get the gist.
South Dakota State University associate professor of theatre Billy Wilburn designed each Victorian-inspired illustration. He gave these designs to his students in a 400-level scenic painting course. Each student received an illustration from one of the poem’s “days” to re-create on a larger scale.
As part of a class within the School of Performing Arts, the outdoor display project teaches students how to bring a client’s vision to life while showcasing their own unique talents. It’s a real-world skill artists need in the theatrical world and beyond.
It took around 15 hours of in-class work time to create the artwork. Let’s recognize the students whose hard work brought a little extra holiday cheer to Garden Glow:
- Thomas Alpers
- Samantha Clark
- Asterin Foster
- Karli Haack
- Jake Hilmoe
- Mari Jacobson
- Alyza Pike
- Katherine Power
- Alex Raether
And thank you to Wilburn for providing the technical skills and his infectious passion that helped this class complete the project.
SDSU Theatre and Dance has had this partnership with McCrory Gardens for several years, beginning six years ago with a “Candyland” display. Let’s also recognize the contributions of scenic painting classes and McCrory Gardens teams of the past that helped pull off as theatrical an event as Garden Glow every year.
Speaking of the Garden Glow team, here’s a peek behind the curtain of how much work goes into the annual event:
- 350,000 estimated lights
- 800 hours of work to install, maintain and dismantle the displays
- Six weeks to install
- Six part-time staff
- Four full-time staff
- Two seasonal staff
- 1 mile of pathway
Thanks to every Jackrabbit, especially Lisa Marotz, director of operations at McCrory Gardens, and Chris Schlenker, director of horticulture and grounds, whose contributions brought the Brookings community one garden a-glowing this year!
The Monday Message appears weekly during the academic year and less frequently during the summer months and holiday breaks.
Information for the Monday Message, including nominations for Above and Beyond, can be submitted online.
Tackling Burnout: Tips and Tricks from Experts
The Wellness Advisory Committee will host a panel discussion focused on workplace well-being and burnout Thursday, Feb. 5, from 2-3 p.m. The panel will bring together campus professionals to explore how burnout differs from everyday stress, its common causes and its impact on individuals, teams and organizations.
Moderated by Mary Anne Krogh, the panel will feature Andrea Bjornstad, Becky Jensen, Whitney Keller-Reetz and Stephanie Johnson-Kane, who will share practical, research-informed strategies for both prevention and recovery. Topics will include organizational interventions, personal coping tools and the role leadership and policy play in supporting sustainable and healthy work environments. Wiyaka His Horse Is Thunder will assist as chat and Q&A monitor, ensuring time for audience questions and discussion.
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Interdisciplinary Research Clusters
SDSU’s Multidisciplinary Research Initiative Task Force invites applications for the establishment of interdisciplinary research clusters to develop and submit major federal center grant proposals that focus on one of SDSU’s priority research areas:
- Bioproduct innovation
- Rural health and well-being
- Data-driven solutions for agriculture and natural resources
Associate or full professors may submit a one-year proposal for up to $30,000 to support center planning and pilot activities. Each proposed center must include key personnel from at least two different SDSU departments.
Timeline and information on how to submit a proposal can be found on sdstate.edu.
Seeking 2026 Orientation Leaders
New Student Orientation is seeking outstanding and motivated students to serve on the 2026 Orientation Leader Team. Orientation leaders play a vital role in the program by helping new students connect with fellow Jackrabbits and begin building a sense of belonging.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate exceptional students who would be successful in this role. Nominations should be submitted by emailing Cody Burggraff no later than Monday, Feb. 2, at 8 a.m. Please include the student’s name, Jacks email address, major (if known) and one or two reasons why they would be a strong orientation leader.
As nominations are received, nominees will be sent position details, application instructions and a copy of your nomination statement (including your name) to help build their confidence and encourage them to apply.
Additional information about the nomination process is available on sdstate.edu.
Commencement Speakers
South Dakota State University is seeking graduating students to serve as featured commencement speakers at each commencement ceremony May 9. Nominations are being accepted for exceptional students who would be strong candidates for this honor and who demonstrate the ability to craft and deliver a meaningful commencement address.
Qualification requirements:
- Graduating senior or master’s/doctoral student (summer 2025, fall 2025, spring 2026).
- A record of academic excellence (please indicate cumulative GPA).
- Ability to speak effectively to a large audience.
- Demonstrated leadership in student organizations, student activities, public service, etc.
- Representative of the best qualities of an SDSU graduate.
Nominations should include the nominee’s name, major, academic college(s) and a brief bulleted list of how they meet each of the qualification requirements above.
Commencement is May 9. Please submit your nominations to Neethesh Chakkingal by Feb. 1.
Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award
The Professional Staff Advisory Council is seeking nominations for the 2025-26 Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award.
All nominations are due Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.
is available on InsideState.
Oakwood Literary Magazine Submissions
The Oakwood literary magazine is seeking submissions. Writers are asked to submit their poetry and prose as well as visual art by the Jan. 31 deadline. Additional information is available on sdstate.edu.
Undergraduate students are invited to submit their creative poetry and prose for consideration. The top three student entries will receive cash awards and publication in the April 2026 issue of Oakwood magazine. .
Updated Policies
New and updated university policies continue to be adopted and published. For the most recent updates, visit the New and Recently Revised Policies page on sdstate.edu.
