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Amy Crissinger

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Department

Admissions

Education

M.S., Strategic Leadership, Black Hills State University
B.S., Marketing, Dakota State University

Biography

Amy Crissinger started at DSU in August of 1992 as an Admissions Counselor. She was promoted to the Director of Admission in 1999 and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management in 2011. She was named Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management in 2021. She is responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of undergraduates at DSU. She develops annual and strategic enrollment plans in collaboration with the academic and student affairs departments, as well as the marketing and athletics departments, and the DSU Foundation. She also partners with online education, international programs, graduate programs, and ITS to implement recruitment systems and enrollment databases.

Amy graduated from DSU with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a marketing specialization. She also holds an MS in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University.

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-256-5696
Email

Amber Schmidt

Director of Admissions

Department

Admissions

Biography

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD – Roosevelt High School
College: Dakota State University - 2008
Major: Computer Graphic Design

Why did you choose DSU? I chose DSU because I wanted to be close to home and I was looking for a school where I wouldn’t get lost in the crowd and feel like I was valued. I also couldn’t beat the value/cost of a DSU education anywhere else.

Favorite DSU experience? My favorite part of my college experience at DSU was the people I met. I have made friends that I will cherish forever, met my husband,
College was an amazing experience and was some of the best years of my life so far.

Five Interesting Things About Me:

I love being active in sports, and played for our DSU Trojan softball team.
I take dressing up for Halloween super serious.
Fleetwood Mac is one of my favorite bands to listen to. I love me some good classic rock music.
I have a husband, a son, and a large dog named Hank.
Thin crust pepperoni, black & green olive pizza is the best pizza on the planet.

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-681-8238
Email

Austin Slaughter

Director of Veteran Affairs / Title IX Coordinator

Department

Veteran Affairs

Biography

Hometown: Madison, SD
College: Dakota State University ’09 Alumni
Major: Computer Graphic Design

Why did you choose DSU?
At the time I was looking at what college best fit me, DSU was just getting ready to make the transition to where every student on campus would receive a tablet computer with the cost of education. Other schools I had looked at were not anywhere close on the technology side that DSU was going to offer. I also wanted to run track in college, and through DSU I was going to be able to do so. The small classes and campus really fit well with me. I also wanted a school that I was going to be able to change majors if needed and not have to transfer to another university. DSU offered both majors I was interested in; Exercise Science & Computer Graphic Design.

Favorite DSU experience?
My favorite DSU experience was the fact that my best friend that I met in college and I actually met for the first time at a DSU registration day and later ended up being roommates the last 3 years of school.

Five Interesting Things About Me:

My wife’s name is Leslie, step-son Treyton, and a daughter Emma.
I have been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
I have been a member of the SD Army National Guard for 10 years.
I am a 2 time High School State Champion in the 4x200m Relay.
I enjoy traveling (overseas trips: 3 personal, 2 military)

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-681-8276
Email

Bailee Matucha

Admissions Specialist

Department

Admissions

Biography

Recruiting Territory: Central SD, North Dakota, Nebraska

Hometown: Burke, SD- Burke High School

College: Dakota State University - 2019

Major: General Studies

Minor: Sociology

Why did you choose DSU? I chose DSU because of the size. I come from a small town and I knew I didn’t want to go to a big university. Here at DSU they will know you by name and not just a number. As a student, I loved the one-on-one time that I needed with a professor to get the education that I needed.

Favorite DSU experience? My favorite experience at DSU was being a Go! Leader. Helping move freshman and transfers in I met some of my best friends. It is awesome to connect with the new students that will help shape DSU.

Five Interesting Things About Me:

I grew up on a family farm in Burke, SD, but I am afraid of chickens.
I was in 4-H for 9 years, shown cattle for all those years and now an active volunteer.
I am the oldest of 5, 3 sisters and 1 brother.
My favorite colors are purple and blue.
When it comes to eating any kind of candy I don’t like to eat the yellow ones.

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-681-8248
Email
Website

Samantha Heap

Admissions Specialist

Department

Admissions

Biography

Recruiting Territory: Minnesota, Iowa, Madison and Sioux Falls, SD

Hometown: Sioux Falls

College: Augustana University

Major: Interdepartmental (Business Management, Fitness Management, Sports Management)

Five interesting things about me?

I have Dual Citizenship with Canada.
My favorite movie series is Pirates of the Caribbean.
I have a German Shepard named Jasper.
My favorite animal is an Elephant.
I sang the National Anthem at a San Diego Padres baseball game in 2014.

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-681-8256
Email

Jill Nachtigal

Admissions Specialist

Department

Admissions

Biography

Hometown: Little Rock, IA

College: Northwest Iowa Community College, South Dakota State University

Major: Associate of Arts at Northwest Iowa Community College, Agricultural Leadership at South Dakota State University

Five interesting things about me:

I am the youngest sibling, I have one older brother
My favorite color is turquoise
I grew up on a family farm in Little Rock, IA
I have shown horses since I was 10 years old
My soon to be husband and I have 2 labs, Murdo and Zoey

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-681-8284
Email

Rose O'Brien

Campus Visit Coordinator

Department

Admissions

Education

BS, Consumer Affairs with a business minor – SDSU

Biography

Hometown: Midland, SD

5 Interesting things about me:

I love to crochet, sew and cook.
I went to a country school from Kindergarten to 7th grade.
I have 4 kids with 3 different hair colors: I have a brunette, a blonde, and 2 red heads. Genetics are strange.
Karaoke is my favorite.
My favorite flowers are daisies.

Contact

Office Location: Heston Hall
Phone: 605-281-8269
Email
Website

Nicole Claussen

Director of International Programs

Department

International Programs

Contact

Office Location: Learning Engagement Center
Phone: 605-256-5744
Email

Holly Macfarlane

International Admissions Specialist

Department

International Programs

Contact

Office Location: Learning Engagement Center
Phone: 605-256-5267
Email