University Leadership Honors

Endowments play a vital role in elevating a university.

At South Dakota State University, endowments help researchers find new treatments for cancer, provide additional learning opportunities for students and even support athletic programs.

At the fourth annual University Leadership Honors on Sept. 25, SDSU honored its newest cohort of endowment holders — the highest honor the university can bestow upon a faculty or staff member.

"As we journey to be a premier university, one of the measures of success is to have endowed positions throughout our academic ranks and university programs," SDSU President Barry Dunn said. "These endowments provide their holders with credibility among national peers and within the university, and the resources to be successful. We have leaders who wouldn’t be at SDSU if it weren’t for the prestige and power these positions represent.

"That’s what we are celebrating here today. We are recognizing the wonderful commitment of generous people to South Dakota State University. I cannot thank you enough for your investment and trust in our university," Dunn added.

In 2017, SDSU began its "Bold and Blue" fundraising campaign. At the time, the university had 13 endowed positions. One of the goals of the campaign was to increase that number to 50. With seven new additions in 2025, SDSU has far exceeded its initial goal.

"It is a remarkable testament to our loyal donors that we now have 64 commitments in place for endowed positions at South Dakota State University," Provost Dennis Hedge said.

The University Leadership Honors ceremony recognized those seven individuals and the donors who made their positions possible.

Karen Sanguinet

Klingbeil Department Head of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science

Sanguinet joined SDSU's Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science in summer 2025. Previously, she was an associate professor of crop physiology at Washington State University. Her research focuses on the physiological, hormonal and genetic control of root development and stress tolerance in both crop and model plant systems.

Sanguinet is the second person to hold this endowed title, following the retirement of David Wright. The endowment was made possible through the generosity of Maynard Klingbeil, a South Dakota farmer who provided the university with 2,683 acres — the largest estate gift in university history — after his passing in 2020.

Ryan Lefers

William Mibra Griffith and Byrne S. Griffith Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources

Lefers grew up on a mixed crops and dairy farm in South Dakota and then earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in agriculture engineering from SDSU. After spending time overseas in both industry and academia, Lefers returned to his home state to serve not only as the Griffith Chair, but also as the South Dakota Water Resources Institute director and a state extension specialist.

The Griffith Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources is one of two endowed chair positions at SDSU supported through the generosity of William and Byrne Griffith. Now managed through the William Mibra and Byrne Griffith Foundation, the couple’s generous philanthropy has created a legacy that will span in perpetuity through the support of scholarships, the arts, music, agriculture and other educational programs at SDSU.

Erin Miller

Gail M. Gullickson Assistant Professor of Public and Population Health

Miller started her career at SDSU in 2020 and has worked in SDSU's College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions to increase access to care, improve chronic disease management and reduce the impact of substance use disorders. She also serves as the director of the Community Practice Innovation Center, which helps to support and expand public and population health work.

Miller's endowed position is funded through a gift from Gail Gullickson, a 1975 graduate from SDSU's College of Pharmacy who also served in academic leadership roles with the Veterans’ Administration and eventually specialized in clinical geriatric medicine. Gullickson was inspired to give based on her commitment to public health and her belief in the importance of caring for broader communities, especially rural areas.

T. Michael Farley

Gary and Sharon Van Riper Faculty Scholar in Practice Innovation

Farley currently practices at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, focusing on transition of care for patients with heart failure and hypertension. Before joining SDSU, he served as a faculty member at the University of Iowa for 14 years.

Gary and Sharon Van Riper are Jackrabbits who have devoted their lives to working for and supporting SDSU. Gary earned his bachelor’s in pharmacy in 1969 and his master’s in pharmaceutical chemistry in 1972. He joined the SDSU faculty that year and retired after 34 years of service. Sharon earned her degree in home economics education in 1968. . The couple’s funding of this endowed position is a nod to Gary’s career in pharmacy, as well as both his and Sharon’s lifelong careers in teaching.

Erica Summerfield

Karen D. Stuck Assistant Professor in Agricultural Communication

Summerfield is a faculty member in the School of Communication and Journalism at SDSU. Her research focuses on agricultural communication, visual communication and the role of emerging technologies in education, outreach and industry practice. She is particularly interested in how communication strategies can advance agricultural literacy, support producer and consumer engagement and address issues in agricultural health and safety.

Summerfield's endowed position is funded through a gift from Karen Stuck, a South Dakota native and a longtime supporter of journalism. After graduating from SDSU in 1966, Stuck began her journalism career at the Sioux City Journal and eventually landed in Washington, D.C., where, after a stint as a U.S. Senate staffer, she joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Motivated by a deep belief in the importance of investigative, ethical journalism and commitment to the agricultural community in South Dakota, Stuck aims to support students in their academic pursuits and encourage them to engage with their world.

Lacy Knutson

Lucas P. Wintrode Assistant Professor in Special Education - Autism Studies

SDSU is where Knutson discovered her passion for the science of behavior and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her career has focused on supporting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities across public/private schools, clinics and community-based services. In 2022, Knutson returned to SDSU as faculty, mentoring students in research, participating in the National Science Foundation's Great Plains I-Corps program and guiding three Schultz-Werth Award winners. In May 2025, she joined SDSU's School of Education, Counseling and Human Development to support the new special education bachelor’s degree.

Paul Wintrode is the son of Maurice ’48 and Muriel, and nephew of Virgil ’41 and Josephine Wintrode. Paul and Maria Wintrode's son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism at age 3. The diagnosis inspired Paul and Maria to elevate resources and support those navigating autism. The Wintrodes are passionate about helping as many children with autism as possible, and through their strategic partnership with SDSU, they envision a brighter future.

Rachel Willand-Charnley

Bill and Nancy Wadsworth Research Faculty Scholar in Chemistry

Willand-Charnley is a chemical biologist, specializing in interdisciplinary-applied organic chemistry and glyco-cancer immunology and leading a nationally competitive research program to “identify chronic biological problems facing society and to generate sustainable solutions using chemical biology.” Willand-Charnley joined the faculty at SDSU in 2018 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2025.

Willand-Charnley's endowed position is funded through a gift from William "Bill" Wadsworth and his late wife, Nancy, who passed away Sept. 2. Wadsworth served as a professor of chemistry at SDSU from 1963 until his retirement. He is the author of numerous research papers, the recipient of research grants and has lectured both in the U.S. and overseas.

Our people are our reason to celebrate, and the next chapter of SDSU would look very different without the donors and scholars who make named positions possible.

As new endowments come to fruition and the Jackrabbit family continues to collaborate in fueling our bold future, the University Leadership Honors ceremony is our opportunity to honor how far we’ve come and just how far we have the potential to go.