Dean of
Students, Dr. Patricia Mahon is retiring after 21 years of service to South
Dakota Mines. This letter is published
in the most recent edition of The Hardrock magazine. This spring, university dedicated a new plaza
on campus to Dean Mahon.
Dear Campus
Community,
In
June I will be retiring. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the
Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students at South Dakota
Mines for the past 21 years. The joy of coming to work has been centered around
the students. Each day I have been reminded of the unique and individual
qualities, backgrounds, and characteristics each aspiring Hardrocker brings to
the campus, along with their individual struggles, joys, and aspirations.
The
memories are endless. The reminiscences start in the fall of the academic year
and include new student orientations—M Week with beanie and senior hats,
coronation, standing at the base of M Hill making sure everyone returns safely;
Career Fairs; Family Weekend; Veteran’s Day Salute; Diwali; Parade of Trees;
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; Engineers Week; Cultural Expo;
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt; Student Leadership Hall of Fame Induction; CAMP
competitions; club and organization functions (i.e., attending weekly Student
Association and Circle K meetings, semester meetings with the Greek Advisory
Board). Each semester, I thoroughly
enjoyed the drama club presentations (played the dead dean in one play and was
cast in the movie production of Snooze); wonderful vocal and instrumental music
concerts; Native American honoring ceremonies; and close to perfect attendance (sans COVID
restrictions) to cheer on the Hardrocker scholar athletes, especially during
the BHSU rivalry contests! The culmination was reading the names of each
graduate who walked across the stage during the fall and spring commencements
(and giving virtual greetings in 2020 due to COVID).
As
student development team leaders, we’ve strived to collaborate across campus
and the broader community to provide students personal and professional
development opportunities and services in a safe, healthy, and inclusive
environment. Residence hall capacity doubled, including expanding west of
campus, which has helped create a safer neighborhood. The Surbeck Center
experienced two major renovations and an expansion is once again in the
planning stages There is so much more on the horizon for future generations of
Hardrockers including renovations to the Devereaux Library and the new Mineral
Industries Building. Though the future is bright, it isn’t easy. I’ve marveled over
the years at the dedication of colleagues who operate on meager budgets to make
South Dakota Mines thrive in a highly competitive recruitment environment.
My
wish for South Dakota Mines is increased support from alumni, friends, and
industry partners. This comes in many ways—by telling the Hardrocker story and
encouraging aspiring scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to enroll or
fostering retention through motivational classroom presentations and social
conversations at area alumni events. Sometimes it’s in the form of rocks—Dusty
Swanson and his family donated a boulder from their quarry which marks the entrance
at St. Joseph and University Loop; Josh Sting implemented the spirit rock in
2003 which has been painted hundreds of times announcing upcoming events; Jim
and Connie Green donated a bronze statue of Grubby—a favorite location for
treasured photos.
The
Student Emergency Fund created by alumni who received assistance along the way
is augmented by Campus Ministries organizing the self-serve food shelf. Gifts
that honor student life – like the Brass Life Award which provides study abroad
opportunities, and the Stephen D. Newlin Family Wellness & Recreation
Center and Fraser Gym, providing students a place to gather and take care of their health.
Hardrockers
share memories that brought them together at the Pearson Alumni &
Conference Center. As my husband, Tom, and I head into a new chapter of our
lives, we will be returning to my childhood home at the foot of the Big Horn
Mountains near Sheridan, Wyoming. As forever friends of South Dakota Mines,
we are endowing a scholarship. Contributing to future students who have the
potential to make positive societal impacts and to the institution that has
provided us with purposeful experiences is gratifying.
Best Always,
Dean Mahon