The South Dakotan
The South Dakotan is our story hub highlighting the meaningful contributions of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Find out everything USD is up to here.
Medicine & Health
Momentum for USD Sanford School of Medicine Transition Accelerates Timeline
The Latest
USD – Sioux Falls to Host Business Leadership Conference
The University of South Dakota – Sioux Falls is set to host the Business Leadership Conference on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the USD – Sioux Falls campus in the Classroom Building.
USD Students See Legislative Process Up Close Through Pierre Internships
This semester, nine University of South Dakota students from the Department of Political Science have been building connections, gaining experience and learning about issues of interest to South Dakotans through their internships in the state’s capital.
USD Medical Students Learn Post-Graduate Destinations at Match Day 2026
University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Pillar 3 students received their post-graduate assignments on Match Day, held on March 20.
USD and Vermillion Schools Awarded $75,000 Grant to Support Native Students
Since 2023, the University of South Dakota’s Native Student Services division and the Vermillion K-12 Schools Title 6 program have been awarded support from the Clayton and Odessa Lang Ofstad Foundation through the Vermillion Area Community Foundation (VACF).
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Knudson School of Law Announces Tom Simmons as Inaugural Trusts and Estates Endowed Chair
Tom Simmons, J.D. ’98, ’91, a tenured faculty member at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and a leading expert in trusts and estates, will serve as the inaugural McDowell, King, & South Dakota Trust Company Chair in Trusts and Estates Law.
Featured
USD to Celebrate Research and Creative Scholarship at Two Signature Events
The University of South Dakota is set to host the annual Research Week from April 13 to 14, and the IdeaFest symposium from April 15 to 16.
Alumni
Becca Jordre Honored with National Physical Therapy Award
A professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of South Dakota has been honored with an American Physical Therapy Association award.
Honoring a Voice for the Black Hills: Anna Van Kley’s Thesis Earns USD’s Top Graduate Recognition
Anna Van Kley, a ’24 graduate of the University of South Dakota, has received the 2026 Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award. This honor recognizes the dedication, research and originality required not only to complete a master’s degree, but to craft an exceptional thesis.
Alan Sazama Named Chair of Newly Established Emergency Medicine Department
Dr. Alan Sazama '14 has been named inaugural chair of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine’s new Department of Emergency Medicine.
USD In The News
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USD in Argus Leader
USD Discovery District to Hold Ribbon Cutting, Looks to Future Plans for Expansion
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USD on SiouxFalls.Business
Coyote Business Consulting Prepares USD Business Student for Avera Fellowship
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USD on SDPB
Teacher Talk | Compassionate Classrooms
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USD on Dakota News Now
USD Students Excited to Learn About Future Plans on Match Day
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USD in the Argus Leader
Why This South Dakota City is the Best in the U.S. for Small Town Arts Scene
More Headlines
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USD Knudson School of Law Students Attend Exclusive Conference in D.C.
Summary: Every year, a group of law students from across the country are chosen to attend the Columbus School of Law’s annual Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference.
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Physics Researchers at USD Successfully Fabricate High-Performance Germanium Detector
Summary: A team of researchers at the University of South Dakota, led by Dongming Mei, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Physics, has achieved a major milestone in the development of advanced radiation sensors, successfully fabricating a highly sensitive mini-inverted coaxial point contact (ICPC) detector.
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Ideas in Action: USD Department of Communication Studies Hosts ‘Speakers’ Night'
Summary: On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the USD Department of Communication Studies hosted “Speakers’ Night,” bringing students and faculty together for an evening dedicated to the art of public speaking.
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USD's Chiesman Center for Democracy to Bring State and National Perspectives to Annual Conference
Summary: The University of South Dakota’s Chiesman Center for Democracy will hold its annual conference on Thursday, April 9, 2026, on the university’s Vermillion campus.
Guest Column
USD has done a great job of recognizing that higher education is changing, and they provide internship programs and job training opportunities that help students adapt to a changing workplace. The faculty at USD are top notch, and they put focus on providing students with the qualities they will need when they graduate.
A Conversation with the Leader of the Band: Scott Lawrence
USD alumnus Scott Lawrence has had a rather unique journey from high school band director to president and CEO of one of the region’s most successful advertising agencies.
