Commencement Speakers

Spring Commencement Speakers

2009 - U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
2008 - Governor M. Michael Rounds
2007 - None
2006 - Senator Tim Johnson
2005 - Gary Hanson - Public Utilities Commissioner and former mayor of Sioux Falls
2004 - Dr. Doug Knowlton - President
2003 - Terry Ryan - VP/Dean for Student Affairs
2002 - Mark Conway - Academic Programs Director for PeopleSoft, Inc.
2001 - Congressman John Thune
2000 - LeRoy Thomas - Class of 69
1999 - Governor William J. Janklow
1998 - David J. Robino - Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Gateway
1997 - David H. Dedrick - KELO TV Personality, retired
1996 - Melanie Palmquist Stopfer - Educational Consultant with IBM, Dallas, TX (former faculty member and DSU alum)
1995 - Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry - Executive Director of SD Board of Regents
1994 - Alumni from classes of 1988-90 (in recognition of 10 yr anniversary of mission change):
Cory Burma - College of Nat. Sci. ('89) David Christensen - College of BIS ('88) Carol Ersland - School of Ed. ('90) Christopher Giles - College of Lib. Arts ('89)
1993 - Dr. Carleton Opgaard - former president of DSU and retired as president of Tacoma Community College (WA)
1992 - Ms. Martha Reed - Personnel, Citibank
1991 - Dr. Dean Hubbard - President, Northwest Missouri State Univ. (chair of North Central team reviewing DSU Fall 1990)
1990 - Dr. Howell Todd - Executive Director, SD Board of Regents
1989 - Mr. Robert Karolevitz - professional writer/historian
1988 - Dr. Harvey Long - Education/Industry Consultant for IBM
1987 - Mr. Tom Daschle - US Senator for SD
1986 - Dr. Richard McCrossen - President of Citibank (SD), Recipient of DSU Honorary Doctorate
1985 - Dr. Richard J. Gowen - DSU President
1984 - Mr. Larry Pressler - US Senator for SD
1983 - Mr. Robert L. McCaughey - Businessman and Director of Mundt Fnd
1982 - Mr. Fredric R. Cozad - Attorney and SD Regent
1981 - Dr. Carleton M. Opgaard - DSU President (DSU Centennial Year)
1980 - Dr. Carleton M. Opgaard - DSU President
1979 - Justice Francis G. Dunn - Chief Justice, SD State Supreme Court
1978 - Dr. Carroll Krause - Provost
1977 - Mr. James Abdnor - US Representative from SD
1976 - Dr. Harry P. Bowes - DSU President
1975 - Governor Richard Kneip
1974 - Ms. Ruth Mondschein
1973 - Mr. Harold LeVander - former Governor of Minnesota
1972 - Mr. Anson Yeager - Editor of Sioux Falls Argus Leader
1968 - Dr. Dale Hanke, Dean at DSC

Fall Commencement Speakers

2008 - Wade Pogany - Director of Curriculum and Instruction, SD Dept. of Education
2007 - Justice Judith Meierhenry - SD Supreme Court Justice
2006 - Dr. Tad Perry - Executive Director of SD Board of Regents
2005 - None (two students on behalf of grads)
2004 - Dr. Eric Johnson Dean - College of Arts & Sciences (retired June 2005)
2003 - David Gienapp - Circuit Court Judge, former Regent
2002 - Tim Eddy - VP of Technology, Citibank
2001 - Jon M. Hunter Publisher - Madison Daily Leader
2000 - Dr. Jay Trenhaile - Dakota State University Alumni President
1999 - Dale Kringen - DSU Foundation President
1998 - Mr. James Swanson Associate - Professor of English (retired May 1999)
1997 - Mr. Alexander “Sandy” Davidson - Associate Professor Emeritus

DSU

Commencement Speakers

Spring Commencement Speakers

Fall Commencement Speakers