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.
The Latest
USD to Host James and Deborah Fallows for ‘It’s Happening Here: American Renewal, Ingenuity and Innovation’
On Nov. 6, 2025, the University of South Dakota will welcome James and Deborah Fallows for their talk “It’s Happening Here: American Renewal, Ingenuity and Innovation” at 7 p.m. in Farber Hall, with a Q&A session and book signing to follow. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
Real Work, Real Impact: How Coyote Business Consulting Launches Careers
Coyote Business Consulting serves a dual purpose. It connects South Dakota’s businesses with motivated student consultants to solve a critical problem for their organization, and it provides those students with hands-on experience and financial support.
Three USD Anthropology Students Awarded Prestigious Archaeology Scholarship
University of South Dakota anthropology students Eva Rindelaub, Elyn Krohn and Angel Vazquez were recently awarded the 2025 Justin Runestad Scholarship from the South Dakota Archaeological Society.
USD's Division of Educational Leadership to Host 'Leadership in Action' Learning Series
The University of South Dakota’s Division of Educational Leadership, housed in the School of Education, is hosting an upcoming learning series called “Leadership in Action."
Ireland to Industry: Students Attend American Irish State Legislators Caucus Summit
From the Great Plains of South Dakota to the historic streets of Dublin and Belfast, five Beacom School of Business and President’s Student Leadership Institute students traveled to Ireland this August as part of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus Summit.
Featured
USD's Director of Native Student Services Accepted to NASPA SERVE Academy
Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, Ph.D., director of Native Student Services at USD, will participate in the sixth cohort for the 2025 Region IV-West Supporting, Expanding, and Recruiting Volunteer Excellence Academy.
Alumni
From Mentee to Employee: USD Experiences Create Path to Full-Time Career for Recent Graduate
For Katie Gellerman ’25, the University of South Dakota offered more than a degree—it offered opportunities to get involved, gain hands-on experience and build connections that opened doors beyond the classroom.
Nursing Alumna Selected for 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellow Leadership Program
At just 23 years old, Kylie Briest has spent nearly her entire life as a caregiver. In 2005, her father, U.S. Army Sgt. Corey Briest, was severely injured by an IED explosion in Iraq. The blast left him with a traumatic brain injury, resulting in limited mobility, vision and speech. Kylie Briest was only three years old at the time.
.jpg?rev=0d292021af7f4991a027758af3fec715&w=350&la=en&hash=441B160EA62C0338F24E58E17FC589F9)
USD Alumnus Frank Leibfarth Named 2025 Laureate in Chemical Sciences
Frank Leibfarth, Ph.D., a 2008 graduate who studied physics and chemistry at the University of South Dakota, and was one of three laureates chosen, was honored on Oct. 7 at the American Museum of Natural History as the 2025 Laureate in Chemical Sciences for the Blavatnik National Awards—one of the country’s most significant prizes for early-career researchers.
USD In The News
-
USD in Argus Leader
USD Discovery District to Hold Ribbon Cutting, Looks to Future Plans for Expansion
-
USD on SiouxFalls.Business
Coyote Business Consulting Prepares USD Business Student for Avera Fellowship
-
USD on SDPB
Teacher Talk | Compassionate Classrooms
-
USD on Dakota News Now
USD Students Excited to Learn About Future Plans on Match Day
-
USD in the Argus Leader
Why This South Dakota City is the Best in the U.S. for Small Town Arts Scene
More Headlines
-
From Classroom to Trading Floor: USD Business Students Experience the Financial Industry in NYC
Summary: This spring, University of South Dakota students experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the business world up close in the nation’s largest city.
-
A Frontier Physician
Summary: The trauma bay is oddly quiet now. Blankets are strewn on the floor, monitors are silent but still flashing, and in the midst of the chaotic aftermath of a trauma code, Dr. Emily Boden, a 2015 graduate of the USD Sanford School of Medicine, radiates a quiet calmness.
-
USD Student to Showcase Business at AI Edge Summit
Summary: University of South Dakota student Shivansh Rastogi will represent USD and his growing company, Elevaze, at the upcoming AI Edge Summit in Sioux Falls on Oct. 30, 2025. The summit, which brings together leaders and technologists, explores the future of AI and automation.
-
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate Casey Wall Breaks Down Explainable AI, Studies Whale Sounds
Summary: USD doctoral student Casey Wall, M.S. ’22, is prying open the black box of artificial intelligence models to shed light on the decision-making process these systems use to produce results.
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.
