SDSU - Key Persons


Alex Purdy

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Counselor

Allen Jones

Job Titles:
  • Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Allyson Helms

Job Titles:
  • Students' Association President

Amanda Stirling


Amanda Williams

Job Titles:
  • Professional
  • Professional Academic Advisor / School of Performing Arts / Music
Amanda Williams serves as the Professional Academic Advisor for the School of Performing Arts. Amanda advises all Music and Theatre majors from their sophomore year through graduation. Amanda also serves as the Scholarship Coordinator and Recruitment Coordinator for the School, working closely with faculty during the scholarship process, traveling with the ensemble groups, and to conferences for recruitment events. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory from the University of Sioux Falls and a Master of Music, specializing in Musicology, from the University of South Dakota. Her main interests are the historical aspects of music and theatre and how they translate into today's society in regards to education and performance. Education B.A. in Music Theory from the University of Sioux Falls M.M. in Musicology from the University of South Dakota

Amy Puetz

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources
  • Program Assistant II / Human Resources

Andi Fouberg

Job Titles:
  • President & CEO, SDSU Alumni Association

Andie Star

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant and Special Projects Coordinator / School of Performing Arts / Music

Benjamin Nelsen

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources

Beth Clapp

Job Titles:
  • HR Generalist I / Human Resources
  • Human Resources

Beth Vollan

Job Titles:
  • Director

Billy Wilburn

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor of Theatre

Bobby Punt

Job Titles:
  • HR Program Assistant II / Human Resources
  • Human Resources

Brenda Ferguson

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources
  • Institutional Payroll Specialist / Human Resources

Brittney Murphy

Job Titles:
  • BOR HR Generalist I / Human Resources
  • Human Resources

Bryce Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant I

Carissa Redenius

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Assistant Director - Classification, Compensation & Recruitment / Human Resources
  • Human Resources

Casey Paradies

Job Titles:
  • Instructor of Theatre and English / School of Performing Arts

Cassandra Stangeland

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Assistant Director - Education Abroad

Colbi Grack

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant II / Human Resources

Connie Lemke

Job Titles:
  • Secretary / School of Performing Arts / Music
  • Secretary for the Department of Music
Connie Lemke is a secretary for the Department of Music. She has worked for the Music Department for many years. She works on many important projects in the department including organizing scholarship auditions, prospective student visits, and facilitating the ticketing for many department events.

Corey Shelsta

Job Titles:
  • Designer, Professor of Theatre / School of Performing Arts

Dan Hansen

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Dean, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

Dani Wermedal

Job Titles:
  • Senior Secretary / Human Resources

David Reynolds

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Inauguration Committee

Denia Warne

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources
  • Senior Employee Relations Specialist / Human Resources

Derek Peterson

Job Titles:
  • Director, Business & Auxiliary Operations, Finance & Business

Doriane Paso

Job Titles:
  • Instructor - ESL

Elizabeth Davis

Job Titles:
  • Employee
  • Human Resources

Emily Theroux

Job Titles:
  • HR Program Assistant II / Human Resources
  • Human Resources

Eric Leise

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director for International Admissions

Hayli De Jong

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Counselor / Office of Financial Aid

Hilton M. Briggs

Job Titles:
  • Library

Ismael Pallares

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Counselor / Office of Financial Aid

Jamison Lamp

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Inauguration Committee
  • Coordinator of University Events, University Marketing and Communications

Jane Dunn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Inauguration Committee

Jason Everson

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources

Jill Thorngren

Job Titles:
  • Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences

Joe Cassady

Job Titles:
  • Department Head, Animal Science

John Ackman

Job Titles:
  • Professor Emeritus of Theatre / Director of Theatre

Jon Meendering

Job Titles:
  • Project Architect, Facilities & Services

Jon Stauff

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Vice President for International Affairs

Kara Vostad

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant II

Karyn Weber

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Inauguration Committee
  • Co - Chair / President

Kat McVey

Job Titles:
  • Secretary

Katie Dam

Job Titles:
  • Graduate Admin Assistant

Kimberley Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Scene Shop Supervisor / School of Performing Arts

Laura Sroufe

Job Titles:
  • Communications & Employee Engagement Specialist / Human Resources

Linda Schumacher

Job Titles:
  • Executive Administrative Assistant to the President

Linda VanMaanen

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist II / Human Resources

Liz Augustine

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Coordinator / Office of Financial Aid

Mary Kay Helling

Job Titles:
  • Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mary Larson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director of Human Resources / Human Resources

Melissa Hauschild-Mork

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor of Dance

Michelle Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director EO / Title IX Coordinator / Human Resources

Michelle Watkins

Job Titles:
  • Web Services Coordinator & Office Manager

Mike Lockrem

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Inauguration Committee
  • Co - Chair / Director, University Marketing and Communications

Nancy Fahrenwald

Job Titles:
  • Dean, College of Nursing

Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator - Disability Service

Niki Youmans

Job Titles:
  • Digital Strategist

Olde Towne

Job Titles:
  • Artistic Director
  • Executive Director

Patty Vostad

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant I / Human Resources

Renae Mills

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Assistant / Office of Financial Aid

Robert "Lane" Speirs

Job Titles:
  • Students' Association Vice - President

Ross Pirlet

Job Titles:
  • Student Accounts Specialist / Human Resources

Sarah Lesnar

Job Titles:
  • Coordinator

Shyan Smith

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant I

Stephanie Bebensee

Job Titles:
  • Academic Advisor, University College

Stephanie Frank

Job Titles:
  • Financial Aid Counselor / Office of Financial Aid

Steve Erpenbach

Job Titles:
  • President & CEO, SDSU Foundation

Sydney Chapman

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Assistant Director Financial Aid

Terri Veen

Job Titles:
  • Program Assistant I / Human Resources

Terry Molengraaf

Job Titles:
  • Web Developer

Tonya Hohenthaner

Job Titles:
  • BOR HR Generalist III / Human Resources

Tracey Buisker

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Assistant Director Financial Aid

Tracy Greene - Chief Legal Officer, VP

Job Titles:
  • General Counsel
  • Vice President

W. James Wood

Job Titles:
  • Artistic Director of Theatre
  • Artistic Director of Theatre & Dance, Associate Professor / School of Performing Arts
W. James Wood is the Artistic Director of Theatre at South Dakota State University where he is also an Associate Professor. During the summers he acts and directs with Prairie Repertory Theatre. Prior to coming to SDSU, Jim ran the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre, South Dakota's only year-round dinner theatre, for almost 9 years. An actor, director, designer, manager and playwright, he prides himself on being considered a theatre generalist. He directed the premier production of his new play Chameleon Love in fall 2014. Specific areas of interest include stage combat, dialects and management. Jim is also the Immediate Past Region 5 Chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. He is currently serving on the KCACTF National Committee as a Member-At-Large. His production of Escape From Happiness was an invited production to the Regional Festival in 2003. Education Minnesota State University - Mankato, MFA in Directing, 2003 University of South Dakota, BFA, 1999

William Mattix-Hatch

Job Titles:
  • HR Program Assistant II / Human Resources