Hi CAS Enthusiasts, THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES is grounded in the liberal arts. We hold an excellent reputation and are well respected across the region. Faculty are actively engaged in research and scholarship while also delivering an exceptional education to students. For example, our faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized scholars and authors in their fields, Fulbright Fellowship recipients, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research award recipient. Further, some faculty have received credentials in HyFlex education as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI). Through their endeavors, faculty strive to create a classroom environment where inclusivity and participation are the norm. Above all, our faculty are committed to the success of our students, now and in the future. Practical experiences, internships, and international opportunities are offered through the college and the university. For example, English students gain valuable writing and editing experience by working for The Exponent or Northern Lights, two student-run publications mentored by English faculty. In addition, the government program prepares students for legislative internships in Pierre, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Washington, D.C. Many of our present state leaders received their education in history and social science. Faculty establish a connection with students through these opportunities and through actively involving students in research and other classroom activities. There is no better way for faculty to build strong relationships with students than to effectively guide students to academic success. The college is committed to creating a university-wide community. Most notable of these efforts is the addition of the nursing program and associated Department of Nursing to address workforce needs in the region. The college also houses acclaimed student organizations such as the Speech and Debate Club, Environmental Club, English Club, and the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. Further, the nationally accredited concurrent enrollment program, Rising Scholars, is hosted within the college as is the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement. Of interest, faculty in the college coordinate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach activities, first-year seminar activities, and undergraduate research opportunities to gain a better perspective on their community and of themselves. Students are the foundation of the college, and faculty are dedicated to creating a vibrant intellectual atmosphere in which students can thrive. The college is challenged to continue and grow these efforts each year, and we continue to charge forward and do so. As we navigate new waters with degree options, internships, careers, etc., we will continue to provide updates and information on our progress through the “year in review.” We appreciate your interest in the College of Arts and Sciences. COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES DEAN Alyssa Kiesow A MESSAGE from the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Year in Review
her research, including the People’s Choice Award at the North Dakota Nurses Association research conference. She has published research on telehealth implementation and received a $2,000 grant from the South Dakota Nurses Foundation for rural oral health screening that creates hands-on learning opportunities for nursing students. Her commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service makes her a valuable asset to NSU’s nursing program and the broader university community. DR. SHELBY BOETTNER joined Northern State University as a tenure-track assistant professor of nursing in fall 2024, contributing to the development and launch of the university’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Dakota, a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Western Governor’s University and a B.S.N. from Presentation College. Dr. Boettner brings valuable experience in nursing education and program development, paired with ongoing clinical practice in emergency department and intensive care unit settings. At NSU, she has developed multiple nursing courses including clinical practicums and simulations, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards. She established and launched NSU’s Student Nurses Association as faculty advisor, creating opportunities for student leadership and professional development. Beyond campus, Dr. Boettner represents NSU through service as president of South Dakota Nurses Association District 4, where she has been recognized as District 4 Nurse of the Year. She also serves as a board member for Northeast South Dakota AHEC and the Aberdeen Area Suicide Prevention Group. Her research on cardiac arrhythmia education for ED and ICU nurses was presented at the Avera McKennan Nursing Excellence Conference. Dr. Boettner’s commitment to excellence in teaching, ongoing clinical practice, and community engagement makes her a valuable asset to NSU’s developing nursing program. MS. CAYCEE BERTSCH is originally from Minnesota but now resides in Warner with her husband and two children. Her family has provided her with the support and motivation to continue making a difference in the lives of others. Caycee Bertsch is a dedicated educator, academic advisor, and passionate advocate for nursing students currently serving as the academic advisor for the Nursing Department at Northern State University (NSU). With a career spanning over a decade, she has spent 10 years teaching and guiding students to reach their academic and professional goals. Since starting at NSU, she has been learning the ins and outs of the nursing program and the advising team. She has been meeting our fabulous students who are either working on their pre-nursing courses or waiting to start digging into their nursing classes. Also, she donated blood for the first time at NSU’s Nursing Association blood drive. DR. LORI HENDRICKX joined Northern State University in May 2024 as a Professor in the new nursing program. With 44 years of experience as a nurse and 39 years teaching nursing, she brings exceptional expertise to curriculum development and course design for NSU’s nursing program. Dr. Hendrickx holds an Ed.D., M.S.N. and B.S.N. along with Clinical Nurse Leader certification. She maintains active clinical practice in emergency and critical care settings, ensuring her teaching remains grounded in current healthcare practices. At NSU, Dr. Hendrickx serves as faculty in residence in Great Plains West residence hall, where she conducts study sessions, organizes social events for nursing students, and provides individual guidance. She taught First-Year Seminar in fall 2024 and now teaches Pathophysiology using a HyFlex format. Beyond campus, Dr. Hendrickx serves as president of the national Rural Nurse Organization and has received recognition for NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MS. AMY JOHNSON, born and raised in Aberdeen, brings both local roots and extensive healthcare expertise to our nursing program. Amy and her husband Jamie have been married for 22 years and have two children: Olivia, a senior at USD; Axton, a freshman at NSU. Amy received her B.S.N. from SDSU in 1997 and developed a diverse clinical background in intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization lab, and Emergency Department settings. Prior to joining NSU as the simulation lab/clinical coordinator, she served in a similar role at SDSU College of Nursing, where she honed her skills creating realistic clinical environments for student learning. Currently, Amy is immersed in the exciting work of outfitting our under-construction simulation center. She is carefully selecting cutting-edge technology and equipment that will create realistic learning scenarios for our students. Simultaneously, she is building essential relationships with local healthcare agencies throughout the region, establishing clinical placement opportunities that will give our nursing students hands-on experience in diverse healthcare settings. MS. KYLIE WALDO, joined our team as nursing program assistant this year. Kylie has focused primarily on essential marketing initiatives and preparation of orientation materials for our incoming nursing cohort. Drawing on her background in business management, Kylie has developed promotional materials aimed at attracting qualified candidates to our new program. Kylie has contributed to several key startup projects, including coordinating the selection of program scrubs and assembling essential items needed to launch our first cohort. Her work on application materials and student resources has helped establish basic organizational systems that will support our program’s initial phase. While balancing her new professional role with family life in Aberdeen, where she resides with her husband Aaron and their six children, Kylie’s contributions have helped set the stage for welcoming our inaugural class of nursing students.
DR. LYNCEE MONSON, first member of NSU’s nursing department, joining in January 2024, Dr. Monson has led the collaborative development of the university’s new B.S.N. program as associate dean. Her leadership secured interim status from the South Dakota Board of Nursing and program approval from the Higher Learning Commission, while establishing program infrastructure and clinical partnerships throughout the region. Through donor engagement and crosscampus collaboration, she has positioned the program for a successful fall 2025 launch while remaining active in professional nursing organizations and community initiatives. With 24 years of nursing experience, including 19 years in academia, Dr. Monson earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Northern Kentucky University in 2022 and holds both CCRN and CNE certifications. Prior to NSU, she taught in SDSU’s accelerated B.S.N. program and has maintained an active clinical practice at Avera St. Luke’s throughout her career, bringing current healthcare expertise to her academic leadership. A resident of rural Groton and mother of two daughters, Dr. Monson’s connection to the region strengthens her commitment to developing healthcare education that serves South Dakota communities. Her daughter Hailey is a new nurse, and her daughter Hannah is also pursuing a career in the healthcare field, continuing the family’s dedication to serving healthcare need. DR. MENG TIAN, was hired as an assistant professor of communication studies in 2024. Dr. Tian arrived in August from Florida State University and will guide the program’s emphasis in public relations. Thanks to Dr. Tian’s expertise, the program has been able to update its course offering in both communication studies major and the public relations minor. Dr. Tian continues the program’s strong emphasis on pragmatic, experiential learning. Last semester, he collaborated with the NSU Foundation to provide students in his Public Relations class (CMST 150) with hands-on experience in which they developed their first PR campaign proposal for a real client. He also invited Aimee Roy from the NSU Foundation to speak to the class to introduce students to the organization and answering students’ questions. NEW FACULTY AND STAFF DR. LUCAS WISCONS, became an assistant professor of criminal justice at Northern State University in 2024, bringing expertise from his time at the University of WisconsinMadison, where he earned his Ph.D. and later taught. His research explores the complexities of police-civilian interactions, criminal case processing, autism spectrum disorder, and the evolving role of science and technology in the criminal justice system. Dr. Wiscons has taught courses spanning sociology, criminal justice, social psychology, and research methods. Before academia, he managed a San Diego law firm specializing in criminal and immigration law, as well as appellate litigation. Passionate about student engagement, he actively involves undergraduates in research, independent studies, honors projects, and graduate school preparation. He likes to focus on civil discourse in his classes because he feels the classroom is a great place to practice skills and learn how to hold civil conversations about difficult topics. He loves being a part of Northern’s community because of the priority they put on the students. A San Diego native, he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES Center for Public History and Civic Engagement THE NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY CENTER for Public History and Civic Engagement (Center) - through programming, research, and archival preservation - encourages public interaction with history and history education while promoting greater civic knowledge of an active citizenry. Under the direction of Dr. Jon Schaff, the center promotes the importance of historical and civic knowledge as the foundation for a sound republican form of government, hoping to inspire greater appreciation for American history and American constitutional forms. Activities like the South Dakota State Legislative internship program, Noon Forum, Constitution Day, National History Day and campus speakers are such efforts that promote historic and civic literacy and engagement. Dr. Amy Dolan Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Outreach SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) OUTREACH has had another busy year! During the 2024-2025 school year, Dr. Amy Dolan and her undergraduate volunteers visited eleven classrooms every month and led over 1,200 hands-on STEM activities in area 4th grade classrooms. “This program is impactful on a couple of different levels,” said Dolan. “Our undergraduate volunteers, mostly elementary education and science majors, get some valuable, STEM teaching experience, and the elementary students get to learn science with fun, hands-on activities. Besides that – it is a lot of fun!” This past year, they have worked with approximately 200 elementary students in the Aberdeen, Britton-Hecla and Evergreen Hutterite Colony schools. STEM activities have included: • Invisible ink – pH and indicators • Build your own solar-powered robot • Egg-drop challenge • Sound – build your own harmonica • Marshmallow spaghetti tower • Ecology – bird beak adaptations Dr. Jon Schaff
Dr. Jodie Ramsay PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES Math Contest NSU hosted Northern State University hosted the 69th Annual Mathematics Contest on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the Barnett Center on the NSU campus. Two hundred and twenty high school students representing 14 schools from around the area participated in the Elementary Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, and Senior Math Divisions. Great Plains Lutheran High School took home the team award for Class A and Arlington High School took home the team award for Class B. The 70th Annual Mathematics Contest is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Rising Scholars Program THE RISING SCHOLARS program under the guidance of Ms. Terry Piatz, director of the Rising Scholars program, was designed for high school students to earn college credits on-site at their high school. Much like many dual enrollment programs, high school students can earn credit toward high school graduation and a college degree at the same time. However classes are taught on-site (at the respective partnering high school) by qualified high school instructors who also are contracted consultants at Northern. To qualify, instructors must have a master’s degree in the course discipline or a master’s degree plus 18 graduate credits in the course discipline. Of interest, the NSU Rising Scholars program is the only dual enrollment program in South Dakota that is accredited by the National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), and this year the program applied for reaccreditation – we are awaiting the final results. To date, the Rising Scholars program has met NACEP standards designed to ensure quality in the areas of curriculum, faculty, student services, assessment and evaluation. Ms. Terry Piatz Howler Beer TO CONTINUE to grow community connections and student scholarships, the college worked with another local brewing company, Ben’s Brewery from Yankton, South Dakota. As a result, Howler beer was released during the AY24-25 basketball season. It was a hit, with hopes that this relationship and community building activity will continue. Communication Studies An Example of Experiential Learning STUDENTS in a Public Relations course applied various research methods learned in class to collect data and gain insights that would inform their campaign proposals. By the end of the semester, the class developed seven individual Public Relations campaign proposals, each highlighting unique findings from their research. Using these insights, students crafted seven distinct strategies tailored to the Northern State University (NSU) Foundation’s target audience, complete with detailed execution timelines and budget breakdowns. After the semester concluded, all seven proposals were shared with the NSU Foundation, providing valuable audience insights and fresh ideas for future events and campaign strategies. Science Fair NSU hosted the 41st annual Northern South Dakota Science and Math fair on March 24, 2024. The fair is directed by Jodie Ramsay, professor of biology. Science faculty, students and several community members served as judges. Students in grades 6-12 from area schools participated in the fair. The top two winners in each category in both junior and senior divisions received medals. The overall winners were selected to present their projects at the Intel ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) which was held in Los Angeles in May. The individual winners were Christian Wells and Kirra Stillman from Aberdeen Central High School. The overall team winners were Samson Flakus and Brant Fritz from Aberdeen Central High School. The student observer was Abigail Schnell from Northwestern High School. The Rehfeld award was awarded during the science fair awards ceremony. Dr. Dwayne Rehfeld, former chemistry professor at NSU, started the science fair in 1983. The Rehfeld Award is given to a junior or senior who meets not only academic criteria and is also heavily involved in volunteering and service. The 2024 Rehfeld Award winner was MiKayla Browning from Warner High School. The 2025 fair will be held on March 27, 2025. Visit bit.ly/donatesciencefair to donate.
Scholarly Research MICHAEL GREBNER, a biochemistry major, spent the year assisting Dr. Amy Dolan’s research studying on Western painted turtles in the Prairie Coteau ecosystem. In the summer, he assisted with fieldwork and later contributed to ongoing genetic research of the population by extracting and amplifying DNA using PCR. He gave an oral presentation at the annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society on Feb. 28, 2025, titled A Comparison of Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Early and Late Season Captures at Two Sites in Marshall County, South Dakota. NSU English Club—2024-25 “SWEETS AND STORIES” is an annual event hosted by the Northern State University English Club. Professors are invited to read a composition of their choosing, while the club sells treats and baked goods as a fundraiser. It is the club’s signature event and is emceed by the English Club leadership. The readings are often funny, odd, spooky—or all of the above. The event took place on Oct. 28, 2024. STUDENT EXCELLENCE / CLUBS Northern Pheasants Forever Student Chapter IN THE SPRING OF 2024, a group of students established the fourth collegiate chapter of Pheasants Forever in the nation. Pheasants Forever is a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education and conservation advocacy. This group is a natural fit to Northern as Aberdeen has great pheasant populations and pheasant hunting. They have already adopted a section of Highway 281, held birdhouse building events, went on a couple pheasant hunts and are establishing a pollinator garden in Aberdeen. They have worked extensively with the local Pheasants Forever, Chapter #77. In addition, the club and the local Pheasants Forever chapter has sponsored the science display in the Jewitt Regional Science Center. The board members are Kaden St. Pierre, president; Kaisha VanEngen, vice president and publicist; Kolby Lacher, treasurer; Bryce Knapek, secretary; Logan Galuska, Habitat coordinator; and Talan Lunders, freshman liaison. Scholarly Research COMMUNICATION STUDIES majors NKEM CHIBUKO and NATALIA SZYBINSKA and alumnus BRIDGET SHISHNIA presented original research they wrote for CMST 416: Rhetorical Criticism at the annual meeting of the Western States Communication Association. The convention took place in Albuquerque, NM, on February 14-15, 2025. Chibuko’s paper, “Reclaiming Agency: Rhetoric, Resistance, and the Path to Liberation in The Joys of Motherhood,” explores a juxtaposition of feminist perspectives and colonial history in Nigerian fiction. Szybinska’s work, “Dune Through the Perspective of Feminist Criticism,” explores the relationship between the two opposing factions in the Dune universe. Shishina, in “Symbols of Strength: A Critical Analysis of Kesha’s Feminist Narrative in Praying” explores the intricacies of a music video in light of struggles of the artist to protest her treatment in the music industry.
IN FALL 2024 NSU Speech and Debate competed at the Schnoor Swing and Minnesota State University, Mankato and at the Vocal Viking Tournament at Bethany Lutheran College, also in Mankato. At the 2024 Schnoor Swing ABIAH GEORGE was a semi-finalist in IPDA debate and finished as the tournament’s top overall debate speaker. She also finished second place in extemporaneous speaking and third in persuasive speaking. HAYLEE BOHNET placed fourth in dramatic interpretation. Their success earned NSU a fifth-place finish in team sweepstakes. NSU finished as the top team in combined debate and speech sweepstakes. On top of a successful tournament, the team also was the recipient of a donation to NSU Speech and Debate from alum MATTHEW MAASS. Maass, a 2016 graduate of NSU, and former competitor on the Speech and Debate team generously donated $1,000 to help fund future team travel. The donation was made in partnership with Maass’s employer Bell Bank based in Fargo, North Dakota. This donation, along with the donations made during NSU’s annual GiveNDay has begun a solid fundraising foundation for NSU Speech and Debate. Along with the continued support of the University, these funds will help more team members travel to our regional and national tournaments in an effort to build upon the NSU team’s current success. The team would like to thank Matthew Maass, and other alums, who continue to support NSU Speech and Debate, without them we would be unable to continue arguing and advocating for these events we all hold so dear. IN MARCH 2025, Northern State University’s Speech and Debate Team attended the Pi Kappa Delta National Speech and Debate Tournament in Athens, Ohio. The team included ABIAH GEORGE, LIV ASHLEY, HANNAH SMITH, KAITLYN MAAS, and HAYLEE BOHNET. The team ended with a 5th place finish in the nation in small school debate team sweeps, a 10th place finish in the nation in small school speech team sweeps, and an 8th place finish in the nation in small school speech and debate sweeps combined. NSU Speech and Debate Kept the Success Rolling IN MARCH 2024, the Northern Lights club proudly premiered its latest publication, a collection of student-created literary and artistic works. Throughout the academic year, club members meet regularly to gather, edit, and curate submissions, as well as design the publication from the ground up. This past year, our editor, AUTUMN MCDONNEL, led a dedicated team of six in crafting a beautifully polished edition. KASEY HINMAN, our talented graphic designer, skillfully brought the publication to life using Canva. The club is now hard at work on the 2025 edition, set to launch in March 2025. STUDENT EXCELLENCE / CLUBS
FACULTY Excellence STEVEN USITALO, professor of history, is the 2025 recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award. His selection exemplifies a continued commitment to the college as a professor and as chair of the Department of History and Social Sciences at Northern State University (NSU). His research specializes in Russian and Soviet history with his current research focused on the Roma experience in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia, examining how their history has been shaped, interpreted, and appropriated in official narratives. At present, he is working on two articles, one titled “Appropriating Memory: The Roma and the Soviet Great Patriotic War Narrative,” which explores the incorporation, in fact appropriation, of Roma wartime experiences into Soviet memory politics. He plans to submit the article by summer 2025 to the Journal of Global Postcolonial Studies. The second, “‘Gypsy Days’: The Racialized History of Northern State University’s Homecoming,” is being written and will be submitted to Critical Romani Studies. In May through June 2025, he and Erin Fouberg, formerly a geographer in the department, will co-lead a trip, sponsored by NSU, to Vietnam. Participants on the trip will include students, alumni and community members. KRISTEN BROWN, assistant professor of English, is serving her discipline at the national and international level. She was nominated to serve for three years on the Executive Council of the Western Literature Association, an organization of scholars, artists, environmentalists and community leaders, founded in 1965. In addition, she serves as an editor for H-Net AmIndian, a worldwide forum for scholars of Native American and Indigenous Studies. JON SCHAFF, a professor of government, undertook three scholarly endeavors. First, the Bill of Rights Institute invited him to contribute to its Government & Politics: Civics for the American Experiment curriculum. Collaborating with Jonathon Den Hartog of Samford University, he outlined the core arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists—Professor Den Hartog presented the Federalist perspective, while Professor Schaff focused on the Anti-Federalist position. Additionally, he contributed two pieces to a study of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, sponsored by Constituting America, an organization led by actress Janine Turner. Finally, he authored the chapter “All the Past We Leave Behind: Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! and the Agrarian Vision” in This Hard Land: Scenes from the American Working Class, published by Lexington Books. DAVID J. GRETTLER, a professor of history, is retiring in May 2025 after 32 years of dedicated service. A former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, he has taught a broad range of American history courses, along with classes in geography and anthropology. As a specialist in early American history, he played a key role in expanding the department’s offerings and was instrumental in launching the public history minor at NSU. His contributions to the university and his students have been invaluable, and his impact on the field will be long remembered. We wish him the very best in his retirement—live long and prosper, Dave! VIRGINIA “GINNY” LEWIS, a professor of German, is retiring in May 2025 after 20 years of dedicated service to Northern State University. A former chair of English, Communication and Global Languages and current coordinator of First-Year Seminar and member of Graduate Council, Ginny taught a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in language and linguistics for the department. She was instrumental in building the Germans from Russia archives and serves as a translator for multiple languages and multiple needs. Further, she is a scholar who is well known and owns her own business, Library Cat Translating, centered around her scholarship. Her contributions to the university, students, and region will have a lasting impact – we wish her well in her retirement. RETIREMENTS
GUANGWEI DING, professor of chemistry, served as editor for the Journal of Agronomy. As editor, he guided four articles through the publication process: (1) Effects of Different Ecological Restoration Pattern on Soil Organic Nitrogen Components in Alpine Sandy Land, (2) The Influence of Different, Long-Term Fertilizations on the Chemical and Spectroscopic Properties of Soil Organic Matter, (3) Oliviculture and Viticulture Crop Byproducts Use for Peat Partial Substitution for Carnation Production, and (4) The Influence of Green Manure Planting on the Spectroscopic Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Freshwater-Leached Saline–Alkali Soil at Different Depths. JOHN LONG, associate professor of environmental physics and Department Chair of Science and Mathematics, published an article, “Rethinking Secondary Succession: Lessons from the 1988 Fires in Yellowstone National Park” in the Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science. A second article, “Connecting Disciplines: An Application of Vectors in Advanced Statistics”, has been accepted for publication in The Physics Teacher. AMY DOLAN, associate professor of biology, published a paper titled “Long- and Short-term Weather Variables affect capture Rates in Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) in Marshall County, South Dakota” in the Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Sciences. In addition, she had a student present at the annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society and plans to present at the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in July. SHELBY BOETTNER, assistant professor of nursing, presented her nursing-related research at Avera Excellence in Nursing Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Most notable is her recent award as South Dakota Nurse Association District 4 Nurse of the Year. LORI HENDRICKX, professor of nursing, presented at the North Dakota Nurses Association’s Conference: Power of United Minds: Advancing Healthcare through Interprofessional Education and Practice. She also co-authored the following publication: Hendrickx, L. & Kuznia, C. (May 2024). “Decreasing Door-to-Needle Time With Telehealth: Lessons Learned From Implementation of a Telestroke Program.” EMS1. In addition, Dr. Lori Hendrickx and external faculty collaborators partnered with Delta Dental to create an opportunity for NSU prenursing students to assist in providing fluoride treatments for area youth. The initiative received a $2,000 grant from the SD Nurses Foundation to help support these efforts. The nursing program gained regional recognition through a feature article in 605 Magazine, where LYNCEE MONSON AND ALYSSA KIESOW shared insights about our innovative nursing program. The article highlighted the program’s commitment to addressing healthcare workforce needs in South Dakota and showcased our unique approach to nursing education. View the article with the following link bit.ly/4irvw6b. ERIC PULIS, associate professor of biology, has been appointed as the chair of the Undergraduate Research Committee. In 2024, Northern State University hosted NSU-Con where students, faculty and community members presented on their scholarly and occupational activities across several venues on campus. The committee had a record number of applications for the Northern Edge Award, established in 2020 to augment existing funding sources for students. This year the Scholarly Forum will be held in the Beulah Williams Library on April 9, 2025. FACULTY Excellence
ALUMNI & More Alumni Notes ANDREW (A.J.) JOHNSON, a 2009 history graduate of Northern State University (NSU), has made significant contributions to education in South Dakota as both a teacher and principal. His dedication and leadership were recognized when he was named to the NSU Alumni Association’s “Leaders of the Pack” roster in 2025. His career exemplifies the impact of NSU alumni in educational leadership within the state. MENNO SCHUKKING, a 2015 NSU history graduate, has also been honored on the “Leaders of the Pack” roster. Mr. Schukking currently works as a transportation planner for the city of Minneapolis, reflecting the diverse and successful career paths of NSU alumni. Mr. Schukking demonstrates that our students are able to find success across the region. Both individuals have brought pride to NSU’s History and Social Sciences Department through their professional achievements. Obituaries JESSICA WARNS. It is with great sadness that we report the death of Dr. Jessica Warns. Jessica passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 23, 2024, her 34th birthday, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1990, the daughter of Tim and Beth Warns. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 2009 where she enjoyed playing in the marching band. She earned her Master of Science in 2013 from Muskingum College and her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2018 from the University of North Dakota and began her career in January 2023 as an assistant professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern State University (NSU). Dr. Warns specialized in microbiology and her primary research interest was unraveling the molecular mechanisms of early brain development. Despite her short stint at the university, Jessica taught a variety of courses including microbiology, general microbiology, biology survey, general biology lab, biochemistry lab and First-Year Seminar. Prior to NSU, Jessica had spent two years in research at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. She had a great passion for biology and her research and loved to share those experiences. During her career, she had six papers published detailing her research findings. Her passion for learning was so deep she often remarked that she would become a full-time student if she could! She is missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her husband, Colin Carrick, a Northern employee. JEROME “JERRY” ROSONKE. Dr. Jerome R. Rosonke, 84, passed away on Jan. 20, 2025. Jerry was a long-time teacher, mentor, and friend to many NSU students and staff over a career at NSU that spanned decades. As one colleague noted, Aberdeen is now 1.3% less interesting without Dr. Rosonke. Jerry Rosonke was born on Sept. 21, 1940 to Ben and Clara (Schwickerath) Rosonke in rural New Hampton, Iowa. There he attended a parochial elementary school and graduated from public high school. Jerry loved to learn and he went on to earn his undergraduate degree in social science from the University of Northern Iowa and two master’s degrees, one in sociology from the University of Iowa, the other in guidance and counseling from South Dakota State University. Jerry then earned his Ph.D. in sociology from SDSU in 1974. Outside of education, Jerry worked on the family farm and various jobs in carpentry, construction, and gravel trucking. His handson experience shaped his strong work ethic. Jerry later combined his love for education and athletics as a teacher and coach in several communities. He taught and served as assistant wrestling coach in Reinbeck, Iowa, then went on to teach and become head wrestling and cross country coach in Chetek, Wisconsin. He continued his coaching career as a professor and head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and as a graduate assistant at South Dakota State University. As a teacher, Jerry was known for his innovative assignments. In one of his upperlevel sociology courses, for example, he had students write their own obituaries. Ever the good sport, Jerry wrote his own obituary noting his single most important achievement: “The most important and best decision in my life was, after dating a few other girls, to ask Malee Shaw for a date. From that first date in 1958, we went steady through my college years, and later, in 1963 she become my wife. We created and raised four great children: LaCinda, Lisa, Brad, and Kimberly. That was the greatest thing I did in my life.” Jerry came to Northern in 1974 and retired in 2002. Through those years he was a largerthan-life figure who made a lasting impact on Northern and the Aberdeen community. See a student just standing in a restroom doing nothing? See a student in full scuba gear walking through the Aberdeen mall? Chances are, that was a student in one of Jerry’s sociology classes doing an experiment in reactions to deviant behavior. See a professor walk into another’s professor’s classroom, take their coat, and drop it into a trash can, then walk out without saying another word? Well, that was probably Jerry doing what he did best: making sure that, while learning is a serious business, it’s too serious not to treat with a touch of humor. While Jerry retired more than 20 years ago, he is still a lasting presence at NSU. Jerry always said he wanted a step at NSU named for him. People had been stepping on Jerry Rosonke throughout the many years he taught at NSU, and he wanted to be sure they could still do that after he retired. Sure enough, there’s a Jerry Rosonke step in the southeast staircase of Mewaldt-Jensen Hall on campus that administrators, instructors, and students still step on every day. Indeed, some of his colleagues go out of their way to step over Jerry. He’d appreciate that more than anyone. Jerry’s great legacy to NSU, though, is the long-lasting impact of his mentorship of junior colleagues. Jerry’s example gave them permission to experiment, to engage students in new ways and to improve their teaching. Through his colleagues and former students, Jerry continues to make Northern a more interesting place—even after his passing. For Jerry’s legacy beyond the campus, see his obituary: https://www.schriversmemorial. com/obituary/JeromeJerry-Rosonke. MARK CHARLES BARTUSIS, born on Dec. 11, 1953, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died recently in the Philippines, where he had retired. He was the son of the late Charles and Anna Bartusis. Mark was a very distinguished historian specializing in Byzantine studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester in 1975, followed by a Master of Arts in 1978 and a Ph.D. in 1984, both from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was advised by Angeliki Laiou, one of the leading Greek and Byzantine historians of her time. Bartusis began his academic career at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, serving as an assistant professor from 1985 to 1990, associate professor from 1990 to 1995, and professor of history from 1995 until his retirement in 2014. His scholarly work focused on the Byzantine Empire, with notable publications including “The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society, 1204-1453” (University of Pennsylvania Press) and “Land and Privilege in Byzantium: The Institution of Pronoia” (Cambridge University Press). In addition, he was the author of dozens of articles and book reviews on Byzantine miliary and economic history. He was also a longtime member of the editorial board of Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies. Throughout his career, Bartusis has been widely recognized
ALUMNI & More for his contributions to Byzantine studies, holding fellowships at institutions such as the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, through the International Research and Exchanges Board in Belgrade and three fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. Over decades of meticulous research using archival sources in multiple languages, his work has profoundly deepened the understanding of Byzantine military and social structures. Remarkably, he conducted this scholarship in South Dakota, far from the primary hubs of Byzantine and medieval studies in the United States—a fact that makes his achievements all the more noteworthy. At NSU, Bartusis taught Western Civilization I and II, Medieval Europe, the Middle East and for many years the required capstone research and writing course for history majors. He also wrote an excellent history of Northern State University for its 100th anniversary, offering a compelling, vivid study of the institution’s evolution. His work captures the university’s growth, formidable challenges, and achievements, providing valuable insights into NSU’s development for over a century. This history stands as the essential resource for understanding NSU’s legacy and impact. His colleagues at NSU remember that “Mark had high standards and was definitely an ‘old school’ professor who did not appreciate students walking in late to class. Mark had a reputation for being tough, but students also called him fair. That’s a great compliment - tough but fair.” Another colleague stated that Mark was an exceptionally demanding instructor, one who pushed his students rigorously but also taught them how to read and think critically. And for those who survived that experience, he instilled the ability to write with clarity and precision. In today’s world, where education is ever more cheapened intellectually - a sentiment, Mark would surely agree with - what higher complement could a teacher receive? Mark was married to Lynn, who survives him, as do his two daughters, Katrina and Anna. Construction Underway for Business and Health Innovation Center SLATED FOR COMPLETION in late 2025, the Business and Health Innovation Center will include state-of-the-art facilities for business and health education and innovation. Our new state-of-the-art facility will feature an active learning classroom, advanced simulation center, skills lab, debriefing rooms, and virtual reality systems for our new nursing program. These resources will replicate real-world clinical scenarios, allowing students to develop critical thinking, decision-making and practical skills in a safe, controlled environment. We are excited for our first class of nursing students to experience this facility!
UPDATES FROM NURSING Out in the Community • The nursing program attended NSU’s High School Career Fair to introduce hundreds of area high school students to the field of nursing. • The nursing department strengthened its community presence through presentations at regional high schools. Dr. Monson engaged with students about nursing careers and various healthcare pathways, providing insights into the profession’s opportunities and educational requirements. These sessions helped build connections with local schools while inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. • Dr. Lyncee Monson presented information about our nursing program at Chamber Connections, a weekly community forum held at the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library. • Nursing faculty and staff enhanced student and community connections through participation in NSU tailgating events, fostering relationships beyond the classroom while supporting Wolves athletics. Important Milestones this year: 1. November 2024- granted interim approval by the SD Board of Nursing 2. November 2024- Hosted Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditors for a visit seeking approval for the new nursing program. The HLC site visitors recommended full approval. In their draft report, the evaluators particularly commended the nursing department’s comprehensive preparation, the university’s robust infrastructure for program implementation, and the substantial community support for this initiative. In February 2025, the HLC board met, and full approval was granted. Simulation/Lab • Sourcing and ordering state-of-the-art patient simulators from both Gaumard and Laerdal. Both companies specialize in simulator technology unique to them that includes advanced clinical features, lifelike functions including facial expressions like fear, worry and happiness and the ability to physiologically react to scenarios as they unfold based on student actions. • Working with the IT department to integrate audio visual equipment for operating and recording simulation activities. This allows students the ability to watch themselves participate in simulation scenarios in real time and garner insights on learner’s performance during post simulation debriefing. • Sourcing and ordering realistic task trainers and real-life equipment and supplies found in the clinical setting to allow students the ability to practice and master essential skills such as IV insertion, medication administration, communication skills and much more. • Currently piloting VR software which will allow our students to completely immerse themselves in real life scenarios they may not typically see in a clinical setting or are unsafe to practice on real patients. • Identifying and procuring relationships and contracts with healthcare agencies, both locally and throughout the region, for students to complete their hands on clinical training hours in various specialties. • Researching licensing requirements for all 50 states to make sure our students will be able to obtain licensure after graduation. • Amy Johnson became a certified CPR instructor so our students will be able to become certified, as required by law, right here on campus.
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