SDSU to honor seven professional staff members

Seven members of the professional staff at South Dakota State University will be honored for their quality work at the upcoming SDSU Professional Staff Advisory Council annual meeting. 

The event, held from 2:30-4 p.m. May 7 in the Wooster Celebration Hall at the SDSU Alumni Center, will include an all-staff social with the program and awards beginning at 3 p.m. A Zoom link will be available for those who cannot attend in person. 

Megan Glover, assistant director of communications in SDSU Athletics, will be presented the Rising Star Award. The award recognizes superior achievement by a professional staff member within the first three years of employment. 

The six staff members to be presented with Presidential Awards of Excellence are: 

• Nicole Lounsbery, director of the Graduate School 
• Christi Williams, associate athletic director for operations for Jackrabbits Athletics 
• Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension state climatologist 
• Marie Schmit, grants program specialist for the College of Nursing 
• Maryke Taute, associate director for operations for Housing and Residential Life 
• Christine Wood, SDSU Extension 4-H science, technology and math (STEM) field specialist 

Glover, in less than three years at South Dakota State, has elevated the profile of Jackrabbits Athletics. She has built strong relationships with coaches and student-athletes and goes above and beyond to highlight their successes. Glover is described as a trusted member of SDSU’s team and a positive role model for the student-athletes she works with every day. 

Lounsbery is an innovative, student-centered mentor and leader who serves to ensure the success of SDSU’s graduate students in the Graduate School. Her passion for first-generation students and expanding access to higher education has led to several grant projects expanding access and opportunities for graduate-level education. She has also spearheaded the development of graduate programs, such as the M.S. in professional science and the M.S. in interdisciplinary studies, as well as the Graduate Professionalism Academy. 

Williams joined the Jackrabbits Athletics staff in 2003 as a graduate assistant for women’s basketball and later oversaw the department’s ticketing and marketing. In 2014 she began as the associate athletic director for facilities/operations. She oversees all game management operations, including scheduling facilities, and assists with new and renovated facilities and internal department operations. She has also helped coordinate operations for two Jacks Bashes, College Football Gameday, opening of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, and multiple conference championships and NCAA events. She also oversees equipment operations and is the sport supervisor for swimming and diving. 

Edwards, a model for science communication, has built trust with statewide audiences, including the media, farmers, ranchers and tribal members through her work in SDSU Extension. Over her decade-plus tenure at SDSU, she has developed partnerships in agencies across the state and region. When discussing tough topics like climate change, she maintains respect and encourages open dialog without compromising her integrity. She is a founding member of the North Central Climate Collaborative in 2016 and created a new event, the 2023 South Dakota Climate Summit. Her numerous honors include the 2023 Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Schmit has served as the grant specialist for the College of Nursing for nearly seven years. She provides grant and budget management expertise to faculty, coordinates grant submissions and awards, facilitates research training and goals for faculty, collaborates with internal and external partners, and supports projects by fulfilling various roles to support the team. She is passionate about providing opportunities for education and research to Native American students and communities she assists through the grant projects. She is praised by her colleagues for being positive, considerate of others, supportive of peers and motivating. 

Taute’s leadership as the associate director for Housing and Residential Life has elevated the stature of housing on SDSU’s campus and has enhanced the department’s response to student needs more effectively. From room changes to student emergencies to facility issues, her compassion and expertise in her field enables her to tackle many problems simultaneously. Her position requires her to shift quickly between tasks while continually assessing the efficiency of housing procedures. She is a leader, coach and mentor within Housing and Residential Life, and she is always seeking ways to develop those around her. 

Wood, 4-H STEM specialist with SDSU Extension, is responsible for a wide range of programs and curriculum, from working with the South Dakota Afterschool Network on hands-on learning to working with multistate partners to better evaluate tinkering and its effects on resilience. She also chairs several national-level committees. Wood is willing to work on robust projects such as the statewide Adopt-A-Cow program, which connects youth to dairy cows through classroom lessons. She also spearheaded efforts to launch a similar program for beef. Wood has worked closely with 4-H educators, teachers, beef and dairy specialists, and industry professionals to mold these into premier programs. 

Each recipient will receive a plaque and a cash award. Award criteria were developed around SDSU’s core values as a land-grant institution: excellence, diversity, integrity, creativity and being people centered.