Commencement

2020 COMMENCEMENT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES SANFORD COYOTE SPORTS CENTER VERMILLION, SD OCTOBER 24, 2020 Graduate & Undergraduate Commencement Sanford Coyote Sports Center October 24, 2020 9:00 a.m. The Commencement Procession The National Anthem Welcome Dr. Rob Turner, University Senate Chair Sheila K. Gestring, President Belbas-Larson Awards for Excellence in Teaching Kurt Hackemer, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Associate Professor Shane Nordyke, College of Arts & Science Assistant Professor Lisa Ann Robertson, College of Arts & Sciences Commencement Address Colonel Inès N. White Hooding and Conferring of Doctoral Candidates and Presentation of Diplomas Doctor of Philosophy Doctor of Education Doctor of Audiology Docotor of Occupational Therapy Doctor of Physical Therapy Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Doctor of Medicine Juris Doctor Conferring of Specialist and Master Degrees and Presentation of Diplomas Specialist in Education Master of Arts Master of Business Administration Master of Fine Arts Master of Music Master of Professional Accountancy Executive Master of Public Administration Master of Public Administration Master of Public Health Master of Science Master of Social Work Conferring of Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees Induction into Alumni Association Steve Young, Alumni Association Representative University Hymn, Alma Mater Closing Remarks Sheila K. Gestring, President Dr. Rob Turner, University Senate Chair Recessional Note to Guests: The audience will remain seated for both the Processional and Recessional and will rise for the National Anthem and Alma Mater. Professional photographs by Lifetouch Photography will be available a week after the ceremony at www.usd.edu/registrar/commencement.cfm. University President Sheila K. Gestring Sheila K. Gestring, M.B.A., became the 18th president of the University of South Dakota on June 22, 2018, after serving as chief financial officer since 2010 and a part of the USD finance staff since 2006. She is a South Dakota native, and the second USD graduate and woman to serve as president. As an esteemed visionary and financial leader at USD, Gestring has played a pivotal role in stabilizing the university’s financial position while developing innovative financing plans for new facilities across campus. She was an instrumental leader in the University of South Dakota Foundation’s ‘Onward’ campaign, which surpassed over $250 million raised for student scholarships and development. Gestring’s strong vision for the future of the university is coupled with operational expertise. She is a vigorous defender of public education, particularly the liberal arts, and has a reputation around the state as an inventive problem-solver. She not only understands the needs of USD and public higher education, but recognizes the economic and political impacts, both state-wide and nationally. Her advanced approach to solving complex budgetary issues provides students with access to life- changing research experiences, as well as scholarships that make higher education affordable for all. Beyond her commitment to the university, Gestring has been a driving force in growing the city of Vermillion and creating a positive, symbiotic relationship between the community and university. As past chairperson of the Vermillion Chamber and Development Corporation, Gestring was a key visionary behind the historic renovation of McVicker Plaza, effectively linking the university and the VCDC in a meaningful way through a retail partnership with Charlie’s, USD’s fan shop. Under her tenure, Gestring helped the VCDC accomplish exceptional growth over the past four years, including achieving consecutive record growth for membership, doubling the amount of building permits secured and tripling the amount of annual construction investments made. Gestring’s spouse, Keith, holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the School of Mines and Engineering–Montana Tech of the University of Montana. He recently retired after a long career with the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They have two children, Dillon, 16, and Wyatt, 14, who are avid Coyote fans and very involved in school activities. Gestring’s story is woven together by the unique pieces that make South Dakota a place so many are proud to call home. It is one that embodies a strong work ethic, Midwestern values and compassion for others. As USD continues to develop world-class facilities while providing its students with unlimited research and learning opportunities, President Gestring will lead the way and push USD forward as a premier, Division I institution. Commencement Speaker Inès N. White Inès White is an Adjunct staff member of the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), Washington, D.C. She has provided her logistics and Strategic Planning expertise in Mali for the last four years as part of the Security Governance Initiative (SGI) effort for the Minister of Defense and for the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) efforts for the Minister of Security. Inès served in the U.S. Army for twenty-seven years as a Logistics Officer retiring with the rank of Colonel. Her last operational assignment was as the Chief of Staff, of the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), a component command of both the U.S. Transporta- tion Command (USTRANSCOM), and Army Materiel Command. In this position she provided global transportation and distribution services to include truck, rail, ship and multi-modal transportation solution for the Department of Defense. Additional key positions include; Logistics Officer, Central Command (Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq), Transportation Battalion Commander (U.S. East Coast), and Corps Logistics Officer (Germany and Iraq). Inès served as the Military Director of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, an advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. She coordinated the research, analysis, development and Secretary of Defense Approval of its annual report. This published document contains critical recommendations on policies relating to the retention, treatment and employment of professional women in the Armed Services. As Chief of Transportation, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Inès chaired the daily Joint Distribution Board managing all priority shipments, logistical operations and support functions across/into and out of Iraq. She and her staff developed and implemented logistical and distributions plans and policies for the U.S., Joint and Coalition war fighting command in the Iraqi Zone of Operations. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and English from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Development from Webster’s University. Her military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, U.S. Army Transportation Officer Basic and Advance Courses, and Airborne School. Inès currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for SESDAC, Inc., a Vermillion based organization which supports community members with disabilities. She also serves as a board member of Little Patriots Embraced and the Myhre Syndrome Foundation. Both are non-profit organizations the first is focused providing support to military children and families, while the second is focused on the needs of children diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition called Myhre Syndrome. Inès is married to Chris White and they have three children, Allie, Sam and Katie, plus two grandchil- dren, Emma and Wyatt. Head Marshals Stage Party Michelle Van Maanen College of Arts & Sciences Timothy Schorn Sheila K. Gestring College of Arts & Sciences President Inès N. White Speaker Marshals Steve Young Alumni Association Representative David Carr Kurt Hackemer Provost & Vice President, Academic Affairs Beacom School of Business Beth Freeburg De Vee Dykstra Dean, Graduate Education Beacom School of Business Tim Ridgway Gregory Huckabee Vice President, Health Affairs & Beacom School of Business Dean, Sanford School of Medicine Moses Ikiugu Neil Fulton School of Health Sciences Dean, School of Law Joy Karges Michael Kruger School of Health Sciences Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Tony Krus Venky Venkatachalam College of Arts & Sciences Dean, Beacom School of Business Amy Schweinle Dean, School of Education Bruce Kelley Dean, College of Fine Arts Haifa AbouSamra Dean, School of Health Sciences Board of Regents Kim Grieve Vice President, Student Services & Dean of Students Brian Maher Rob Turner Executive Director John W. Bastian University Senate Chair President, Bell Fourche David Burrow Reader, College of Arts & Sciences Jim Morgan Jennifer Thompson Vice President, Brookings Registrar Pam Roberts Secretary, Pierre (Hughes County) Randy Schaefer Madison Kevin V. Schieffer Sioux Falls Barb Stork Dakota Dunes Jim Thares Aberdeen Joan Wink Howes (Mead) Brock Brown Lake Norden Faculty in Attendance Professor Mejai Bola Avoseh Professor Isaiah Cohen Professor Todd Cranson Professor David De Jong Professor Matthew Fairholm Professor Daniel Hajovsky Professor Lindsey Jorgensen Professor Denyelle Kenyon Professor Jacob Kerby Professor John Korkow Professor Karen Koster Professor Sabina Kupershmidt Professor Jessica Messersmith Professor Allison Naber Professor Ranelle Nissen Professor Kevin Reins Professor Lisa Ann Robertson Professor Diane Sevening Professor

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