Dakota State University students walking around campus

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That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

Daniel Reed is DSU’s fall commencement speaker

November 29, 2017

No matter what career paths the most recent Dakota State University graduates will take, the 2017 fall commencement speaker Dr. Daniel Reed will be able to offer words of advice.

Reed, a computer scientist by training, has extensive experience with academia, the corporate world and policy committees.

A professor of computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and medicine at the University of Iowa, he is also the University Computational Science and Bioinformatics Chair. He also has served in various academic and administrative capacities at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Reed also has corporate experience, having been a vice president at Microsoft from 2009–2012, where he was responsible for global technology policy and extreme computing. He founded the Renaissance Computing Institute in 2004 and served as its director until December 2007.

In addition, Reed has been involved with determining policies regarding technology, serving on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in 2006 and on the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) from 2003–2005. Reed is the past chair of the Board of Directors of the Computing Research Association (CRA) and currently serves on its Government Affairs Committee. CRA represents the research interests of the university, national laboratory and industrial research laboratory communities in computing across North America.

The 2017 DSU Fall Commencement will be held Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the Dakota State University Fieldhouse. Of the 168 graduates, 13 will receive associate degrees, 124 will be presented with baccalaureate degrees, 42 will receive master’s degrees and two have earned doctoral degrees. A Master’s Hooding Investiture is planned for the graduate students prior to commencement, at 9 a.m. at Dakota Prairie Playhouse.

Student Senate President Hunter Brindley will give the student welcome at commencement; Samantha Luze, an elementary education/special education major from Egan, S.D., will speak on behalf of the graduates. Student marshals are Thomas Lange and Patrick Gallo. DSU Voices will provide musical selections, including leading the audience in singing “Alma Mater.” John Townsend and Justin Jungemann will sing the national anthem.

Community members and faculty are also taking part. Dr. Jeff Palmer, professor in the College of Arts & Sciences, will be mace bearer. The Lake County Sheriff’s and Madison Police Departments will present the colors.