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The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences will soon have an endowed position focused on swine production. The Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production will help support a faculty member whose research and leadership will elevate scholarly research productivity and advance teaching efforts within swine production at SDSU.

The SDSU Alumni & Foundation honored the Scott '75 and Lani Ramsdell family as the 2026 Philanthropic Family of the Year.

The South Dakota Perinatal Quality Collaborative, part of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, in collaboration with Postpartum Support International – South Dakota, will host a walk and fundraiser to raise awareness about perinatal mental health issues on Saturday, May 23.

Bel Brands USA is making a major investment in Brookings, committing $200 million to expand its facility and double production of its iconic Babybel cheese. Production is increasing from about 1.5 million to 3 million cheeses per day — all made in Brookings, the only facility supplying Babybel cheese in the United States.

Marina Hendricks, associate professor in the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Communication and Journalism, was named a Faculty Champion by the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont. She is the first faculty member in the state to receive the honor.

Four Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ soon-to-be graduates will be featured speakers at the university’s 140th commencement May 9 at First Bank & Trust Arena.

When Laura Diddle arrived at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ in 2003, she stepped into a role that would allow her to bring together her talents in teaching, conducting and mentorship. Over the next two decades, that role would grow into something greater, shaping not only a choral program, but generations of SDSU students and the musical life of the region.

An interdisciplinary team of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty, including Brittney Meyer, professor of pharmacy practice in the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, has received a $3,500 grant from the Karen McComish Interdisciplinary Faculty Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Program to support a series of film screenings and discussions aimed at addressing a complex social challenge that resists simple solutions or explanations: vaccine hesitancy.

During the CAFES Prexy Council Ag Week Banquet April 15 at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ, students, faculty, staff, alums and friends of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences were honored with awards recognizing their hard work and dedication to the agriculture industry.

Transitions are always a great time to reflect on all that we have accomplished over the past year, including bringing our entire Rapid City team under one roof with our Black Hills State University partners, renovating new space at the SDSU Metro Center in Sioux Falls, increasing nursing research and scholarly activities, and implementing a new competency-based curriculum across our undergraduate and graduate programs.