Faculty and Staff

Purushotham Tukkaraja , Ph.D., QP 
Director, MSHA Program 
Office Phone: 605-394-1267 
Email:   PT@sdsmt.edu

Dr. Tukkaraja is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management at South Dakota Mines. He is an MSHA-approved mine safety and health instructor for both surface and underground mines; ABET Program Evaluator (PEV); and Qualified Professional (QP). He serves as an Associate Editor, Editorial Board Member, and a Reviewer for several Mining Engineering Journals. He is the Past-President of the Black Hills Chapter of the ISEE; Executive member of Underground Ventilation Executive Committee (UVC) of SME. Dr. Tukkaraja’s research is primarily focused on mine ventilation, mine health and safety, and rock fragmentation.

Kelli McCormick , PhD, CPG 
Instructor, MSHA Program 
Office Phone: 605-394-1971 
Email:   Kelli.McCormick@sdsmt.edu

Dr. Kelli McCormick is a senior lecturer in the department of mining engineering and management at the South Dakota School of Mine and Technology. Her primary research interest areas include mineral exploration/economic geology, magmatic processes, and petrology. Dr. McCormick has been teaching undergraduate courses in mining engineering and geology full time since 2012. Prior to joining the South Dakota Mines, she worked for the South Dakota Geological Survey as well as completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario Canada. Dr. McCormick was faculty advisor to the South Dakota Mines Mine Safety and Rescue Team, among other student organizations. She participated in the Sanford Underground Research Facility Emergency Response Team training and has her benchman certification for the BG-4 SCBA. She is an active member and Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists; and active member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), the Geological Society of America (GSA); the American Institute of Professional Geologists, through which she holds certification as a professional geologist; and is Secretary of the Black Hills Chapter of Sigma Xi. She is an MSHA-approved mine safety and health instructor for both surface and underground mines.

Larry Stetler , PhD 
Instructor, MSHA Program 
Office Phone: 605-394-2461 
Email:   Larry.Stetler@sdsmt.edu

Dr. Stetler is a Professor of Geological Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He has been an engineer for 40 years. He has worked in the oil and gas industry and has been involved in research in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) at the former Homestake mine. He has conducted a number of geomechanical studies at surface and underground mines. He is an MSHA-approved mine safety and health instructor for both surface and underground mines.

Stanley Allard
Instructor, MSHA Program  
Email:  Stanley.Allard@sdsmt.edu

Mr. Stan Allard is a former Homestake miner where he gained extensive experience in ground control, a variety of underground mining methods, raise driving, mechanized mining, and equipment repair. He has also been a tax auditor and rancher. Mr. Allard is co-advisor for the South Dakota Mines intercollegiate mining team. He is an MSHA-approved mine safety and health instructor for both surface and underground mines.

Jennifer Parrow
Senior Secretary, MSHA Program
Office Phone: 605-394-2344
Email: Jennifer.Parrow@sdsmt.edu