Dean to leave SDSU at end of academic year

Lynn Sargeant, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University, announced today that she will leave her position at the end of the academic year. 

“The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences has achieved great success during Dean Sargeant’s tenure as dean,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis Hedge said. “Lynn’s strategic vision has elevated the college to new heights and positioned the college for a bright future. I appreciate Dean Sargeant’s numerous contributions to South Dakota State University.” 

Sargeant oversaw the restructuring of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences into a “college of schools” focused on interdisciplinary collaboration in teaching, research, scholarship and creative work. Each of the college’s seven schools now enjoys a distinct identity, a clear purpose and an elevated profile with campus, community and industry stakeholders. She also worked to ensure the success of both Army and Air Force ROTC, most notably through fundraising to transform the former rifle range in DePuy Military Hall into the Howard Family Combat Fitness Training Facility. 

“It has been my profound privilege to serve as the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for the past five years. The college will always hold a special place in my heart. Its faculty and staff do amazing things, and I am proud to have been able to support them in their work,” Sargeant said. 

Prior to coming to SDSU in 2018, Sargeant served at California State University, Fullerton, as associate dean for student relations in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and professor and vice chair in its Department of History.
 

Sargeant’s research focus has included Russian social and cultural history, the role of cultural organizations in the community and the history of education with an emphasis on music education. She wrote “Harmony and Discord: Music and the Transformation of Russian Cultural Life,” which was published by Oxford University Press as part of its series “The New Cultural History of Music.” Sargeant was awarded the 2012 Béla Bartók Award for Outstanding Ethnomusicology Book from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 

Sargeant earned bachelor’s degrees in music education from the University of Minnesota and in Russian area studies from the University of Washington. She has a master’s and a doctorate in history from Indiana University. 

A search for the next dean of the college will begin immediately.