Student Success Staff
Student Success is ready to help you find academic and other resources to make you a more successful student.
Lisa Carlson
Student Success Director
Lisa has worked at South Dakota Mines in various roles, her most recent being the Director of the WiSE (Women in Science and Engineering) program. She works in partnership with instructors and faculty advisors in each department to support students
through the hardest classes at Mines. She relaunched the WiSE program to support women engineering students on campus and is taking the concept of a proven program to design a customized approach for students at Mines. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Black Hills State University and an MBA from Chadron State College. When she’s not helping students out, she likes hanging out with her three boys and watching cat videos on YouTube.
Rob Sales
Student Success Coordinator
Rob joined South Dakota Mines July of 2019 after spending 15 years implementing classroom and student interventions at the high school level in Colorado and Rapid City. In the Vanderboom Office of Student Success, Rob works with students in all
areas that affect their success at Mines, to include academic obstacles, time management, goal setting, and other non-academic factors. Rob also works with our peer mentors to ensure that all incoming students have an automatic connection
to their department, the campus, and the Rapid City area. Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Education (Phys. Ed. and Special Education) from Black Hills State University and a Master of Arts degree in Sports Management from Adams
State University. Additionally, Rob coaches the running backs for the Hardrockers Football Team. Away from campus, you will find Rob spending time with his wife and two sons.
Christopher Roman
Student Success Advisor
Before becoming an advisor in the Office for Student Success in fall of 2021, Chris came from a career in K-12 education. With a BSEd from Black Hills State University, he spent three years teaching algebra and geometry at Little Wound High School in Kyle SD and another three as a math curriculum consultant for the Wounded Knee School District. Wanting to work in higher education, he graduated from SDSU with an MEd in Administration of Student Affairs
Outside the office, Chris loves spending time with his wife Hilary, along with their two pugs: Chunk and Theo. He also enjoys writing and recording music in his spare time, and collecting vintage/rare guitars, keyboards, amps, and pedals.
Susan Satter
Testing Center and Student Success Advisor
Susan Satter works as testing and student advisor in the Testing Center. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Master’s in English and has worked as a student advisor, college counselor, dean of girls, and teacher in Connecticut,
Arizona, and South Dakota. Susan moved to Hill City, SD in 2004 with her husband to raise their two children (Michael and Julia who are now in college at SDSMT and SDSU).
Corinne Heiberger
WiSE Coordinator and Student Success Advisor
Corinne Heiberger works as a student success advisor as well as the Women in Science and Engineering coordinator. She graduated from South Dakota Mines in 2008 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Occupational Safety. Her
engineering experience has been in a variety of industries including copper smelting, aggregate mining, construction, and healthcare. Corinne and her husband (ME ’07) moved back to the Black Hills in 2017 and enjoy spending time outdoors with
their three boys and golden retriever.
Alycia Jensen
SD-FIRST Program Coordinator and Student Success Advisor
Alycia Jensen returned to SD Mines in 2021 as the SD-FIRST Program Coordinator after spending 6 years in Colorado working as a writer and professional development consultant. As the SD-FIRST Program Coordinator, Alycia works closely with SD-FIRST
scholars, faculty, and staff to ensure that first-generation students are getting the support they need to succeed personally and academically at SD Mines. Her certifications in the EQ-i2.0 (emotional intelligence) and IDI (Intercultural Development
Inventory) assessments allow her to administer and interpret results from these assessment tools to assist not only SD-FIRST students, but faculty and staff on campus as well. When not at Mines you’ll likely have trouble tracking her down
as she is either shuttling her five kids around town, scoping out interesting jeep or hiking trails, or watching classic monster movies with her family.
Heather Bunkers
Student Success Office Coordinator
Heather Bunkers works as the Student Success Office Coordinator. Heather graduated from National American College with a degree in Accounting. Before staying home to raise her three daughters, she used her accounting degree in the medical field.
As her daughters grew, she started volunteering in the Rapid City Area Schools which naturally led to her working for the public school system. She enjoys helping students find success which makes this position ideal for her. Heather and her
husband (IS ’92, MTRO ’93, AEWS ‘05) enjoy spending their time hiking, playing cribbage, and traveling to visit family.