The first cohort of the President’s Leadership
Academy speaker Linn Evans. Back row (L-R): President Jim Rankin, Matthew Birch, Linn
Evans, Will Kuhl, Logan Sanford. Front row: Madelyn Siekmann, Evelyn
Smith, Emily Randolf, MD Kausar Hamid Miji, Linus Uy.
South Dakota Mines has launched the inaugural
President’s Leadership Academy. The President’s Leadership Academy is a
year-long leadership development program that exposes participating students to
the skills, insights and perspectives that define an effective leader.
The program is anchored by a CEO speaker series in
September, October, February and March and exclusive dinner conversations
between the speakers and students. The program also includes engagement with
elected officials in a visit to Pierre during the legislative session;
networking with campus, community and alumni leaders; and dialogue sessions
regarding lessons in leadership.
To be considered for the President’s Leadership
Academy, student applicants had to submit a cover letter, a current resume and
a letter of recommendation from a South Dakota Mines faculty or staff member.
“Each member of the inaugural class of the
President’s Leadership Academy has already distinguished themselves as a top
student at SDM,” says President Jim Rankin, Ph.D., P.E. “This training program
will help prepare them to take the next step as a leader in STEM. I look
forward to spending time with our students as they embark on their journey.”
The first-ever class of the President’s Leadership
Academy includes:
- Matthew Birch, a junior mechanical engineering major,
Parkersburg, Iowa. Birch is a Phi Eta Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society
member, the National Society of Leadership and Success, CAMP scholar award
recipient, the SAE Aero Design team and South Dakota Mines Professional
Development Institute.
- Will Kuhl, sophomore civil engineering major,
Buffalo Gap, SD. Kuhl is involved in Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, Surveying
Team, Trapshooting Club, Pre-orientation, American Indian Science and
Engineering Society and Student Senate Association. Kuhl’s volunteer experience
includes the Cultural Expo, Wellness Fair and speaking to students from Crazy
Horse High School about South Dakota Mines.
- MD Kausar Hamid Miji, a master of science candidate
in computer science and engineering, Chandpur Sadar, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
Miji is an Ivanhoe International Center fellow and a graduate research
assistant. While at South Dakota Mines, Miji developed an anomaly detector for
unmanned autonomous vehicles using Long Short-Term Memory.
- Emily Randolph, sophomore chemical engineering major,
Jordan, Minn. Randolph is an undergraduate research assistant, coaches at the
Tennis Center of the Black Hills, and is involved in the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers, ChemE Car, WiSE and jazz and university bands.
- Logan Sanford, junior mining engineering and
management major with a minor in business management in technology, Inman, Neb.
Sanford has a background in agriculture, working at Agriculture Services, Inc.
and Atkinson Livestock Market.
- Madelyn Siekmann, sophomore biomedical engineer
major, Chaska, Minn. Siekmann is a member of the Student Association Senate,
Biomedical Engineering Society, Future Health Science Professionals, National
Society of Leadership and Success, Society of Women Engineers, choir, and Drama
Club. Siekmann is also a Women in Science & Engineering mentor and member
of the WiSE Scholars program.
- Evelyn Smith, senior chemical engineering major,
West Des Moines, Iowa. Smith is part of the ChemE Car team and Dance Team.
- Linus Uy, sophomore civil engineering major,
Bellingham, Wash. Uy is a South Dakota Mines Gold Scholar, a Slide Rule tutor,
and a peer mentor. Uy also volunteers with Faith Frontier Ministries in
Okanogan, Wash.
The inaugural cohort of the PLA is sponsored by
South Dakota Mines alumni Lorin (MetE 75) and Mary (CE 77) Brass.
Speakers for the series include:
Steven Newlin, Chairman of the Board of Directors
for Oshkosh Corporation, a Fortune 500 company
Linn Evans, CEO of Black Hills Corporation
Kathy Jourdain, Worldview Intelligence
Jerry Nagel, Worldview Intelligence
Lorin Brass, Senior Advisor of Business Development
for Shell Oil Company, retired.
Drew Dudley, Internationally-acclaimed leadership
speaker and best-selling author