Ms. Krista G. Bau, director of student rights and responsibilities and title IX coordinator, continues to enhance campus safety and Title IX assessment through the deployment of the Administrator Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) survey in the spring 2025 semester. This survey evaluates experiences, perceptions, and attitudes related to safety and sexual misconduct. This marks only the second time the survey has been conducted, providing critical data to inform policies, procedures and program development. Bau was selected to serve as co-chair for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Criterion 2 for accreditation and attended the HLC Annual Conference in April 2025. She also completed Trauma-Informed Care training through the School of Public Health at Indiana University Bloomington. A dedicated advocate for community engagement, Bau serves as an executive board member for both Safe Harbor and Independent Living Choices. She is also an active member of the Community Coordinated Response Team (CCRT) through the Department of Social Services Victims’ Services Stop Violence Against Women Grant Program. On campus, Bau continues to lead initiatives such as the Student Education Behavior Series, which runs each fall and spring semester. This series includes Northern CARES, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Dangerous and Disruptive Students and ALICE Active Shooter Training. Additionally, she chairs Northern CARES and serves on several committees, including the Mental Wellness Week Committee, HOWL, the Advisory Group on Inclusion and Belonging and the Advisory Team on Accessibility and Disability. In recognition of her leadership and contributions, Bau was honored as a member of the Leaders of the Pack Class of 2025 by the Northern State Foundation and was a recipient of the “4 Under 40” award from the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Sean S. Blackburn, dean of students, led Student Affairs in the completion of 13 Key Results in the fifth and final year of the Student Affairs Strategic Plan (2021-2025). Blackburn serves on the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Enrollment Management Council (EMC), Student Budget and Appropriations Committee (SBAC), the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) Student Affairs Council and the Campus Culture and Climate Committee. Blackburn co-chairs the Opportunity for All Council and the Data Governance Oversite Committee (now sunset). Blackburn chairs Northern’s Student Affairs Council and continues to serve as the vice chair of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and was selected to serve as the president-elect of the United Way Board of Northeast South Dakota. When not winning march madness bracket challenges, he enjoys time with his family, gardening and talking about the Strategic Plan. Mr. Laine A. Converse, residential community coordinator, is a member of the Advisory Group on Inclusion and Belonging, advisor to the Residence Hall Association and has served on two professional staff search committees with the intramurals coordinator and the residential education coordinator positions. He also served as the interim Student Affairs advisor for the Student Government Association in the fall, allowing for a smooth transition of advisors. Converse has taken on a research role within the office of Residence Life regarding Living Learning Communities and best practices that could be brought to our campus before fall 2025. He currently serves as the vice president of the Graduate Student Association at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Converse will graduate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Master of Science in education in higher education student affairs and will walk on August 8, 2025. He was one of the recipients of the Team Award, granted to the Residence Life staff for the year 2024-2025. He has served the State of South Dakota for five years. Laine was one of approximately 30 applicants selected to attend the 2025 UMR-ACUHO Regional Entry Level Institute hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in June and is described as an intense learning experience for housing professionals. He is the proud owner of Tig, a five-year old domestic shorthair cat. Ms. Michelle L. Dannen, residential facilities coordinator, joined the staff in fall 2022 and has made a big improvement with our facilities management and communication with students and the Northern Facilities Department. She has completed QPR, mental health first aid, disruptive and dangerous student behavior and ALICE active shooter training. She serves on the NSU Staff Council and the Advisory Team on Disability and Accessibility. Michelle was the lead person on Key Result (179), Partnering with the Office of International Programs to update and clean the international flag display in the Student Center. She has helped on two professional staff search committees. In her spare time, Dannen has served as co-manager for the Dakota Horizons Service Unit team 402 since 2023. Prior to that she was the service volunteer mentor for 5 years, she has also been a Leader of Girl Scout Troop 40137 for the past eight years and a Girl Scout volunteer for over 13 years. STUDENT AFFAIRS 21 ANNUAL REPORT PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: Student Affairs team members are challenged to be lifelong learners, to engage with national and regional professional associations and to utilize institutional opportunities (committee assignments, campus and community projects) to develop their skills and abilities, grow as individuals, and better serve students. Committed to excellence and personal growth, these staff members live out this challenge.
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