Dakota State University students walking around campus

Preparation + opportunity = success

That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

The winning DSU team at the global Collegiate Pen Testing Competition, Merrill Newman, Hunter Wade, Derek Manzella, Gwen Vongkasemsiri, Ryan Kleffman, and Rayn Light.

January 29, 2025

DSU wins global pentesting competition

Dakota State students reached a milestone achievement this year – taking first place at the global Collegiate Pen Testing Competition (CPTC). They competed against 100 schools from seven global regions.

Tags: All News Academics Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Student Life

Dakota State University is now a Cisco Network Academy certified campus, and students will be able to take advantage of this curriculum when fully operational later this year.

January 23, 2025

Dakota State joins Cisco Networking Academy

Dakota State University is now a Cisco Network Academy certified campus. When fully operational later this year, this collaboration will provide a huge benefit for faculty and students to draw from Cisco’s resources.

Tags: The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Academics Research Stories All News Student Life

DSU’s role as a founding partner with the ACE Institute will help students train for cybersecurity jobs.

January 22, 2025

DSU founding partner with ASU on cyber education platform

Dakota State University and Arizona State University have created a partnership that will help train individuals for cybersecurity jobs through the American Cybersecurity Education Institute.

Tags: Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Academics All News Research

Assistant Professor Erik Pederson (standing) provides feedback to two students working on a game for Global Game Jam 2024.

January 21, 2025

DSU again hosts site for annual Global Game Jam

Dakota State’s game design program is hosting a Global Game Jam site the weekend of January 24-26. Global Game Jam (GGJ) is an event designed to bring people together for 48 hours to create a game from start to finish. These can be video games, board games, or card games, as long as they relate to a central theme chosen annually.

Tags: The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Student Life All News Stories

Noelle Vainikka art exhibition impulse featuring bright signage of pricing and advertisements with bags of garbage displayed in the middle of the floor.

January 21, 2025

Noelle Vainikka artwork featured at DSU

“Impulse,” an exhibition by Noelle Vainikka, is on display in Dakota State’s First Bank & Trust Gallery now through March 20. Vainikka, an interdisciplinary contemporary artist based in Watertown, South Dakota, explores themes of consumerism, nostalgia, femininity, popular culture, materialism, sustainability, and family.

Tags: Student Life Stories College of Arts and Sciences All News

DSU students pose for a photo with (back row l-to-r): Assistant Professor Kanthi Narukonda, Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, President Jose-Marie Griffiths, Provost Rebecca Hoey, and Dean Mary Bell.

January 16, 2025

Competition wins translate to workforce success

DSU teams swept the top four spots at a recent CTF event, demonstrating that competition experience is a way to stand out in the cybersecurity job field.

Tags: Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Student Life All News Stories

Night photo of Piccadilly in the United Kingdom featuring the neon signs, historic architecture, and fountain that draw tourists and locals alike. This image was taken at night with long exposure, creating blur motion in the image.

January 13, 2025

Professor’s photo selected for international exhibit

“Piccadilly,” a photo by Professor Tom Jones, is part of an international exhibition, “Nocturne: Photographs After Dark” by Photo Artfolio. Photo Artfolio is an online gallery and resource center for emerging and established photographers.

Tags: All News Stories College of Arts and Sciences International Online @ DSU

Callie Mueller is Miss Rodeo America pictured in an arena wearing her chaps, a sash, and hat. Photo credit to Sherry Smith Photography.

January 10, 2025

DSU alumna crowned Miss Rodeo America

Dakota State alumna Callie Mueller’s 2024 was packed full of travel and accomplishments, serving as Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2024 and publishing her first children’s book “Faith Over Fear.” However, 2025 will be even busier as she takes on her duties as Miss Rodeo America.

Tags: College of Education and Human Performance All News Stories

DSU alumnus Brandon Daniels (pictured back row third from the left) with his team with the AmeriCorps Rural Health Partnership.

January 9, 2025

Daniels gains rural health experience from AmeriCorps

A recent DSU graduate, Brandon Daniels (B.S. ’24), is working alongside Harvard doctors at Harvard’s teaching hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, while serving with the AmeriCorps Rural Health Partnership.

Tags: All News Athletics College of Arts and Sciences Research Stories

Pictured (l-to-r): Student works with Dr. Patti Brooks in the classroom.

December 18, 2024

Virtual training benefits students and industries

Dakota State University health informatics and information students and other students in healthcare information systems or cybersecurity and faculty have the opportunity to participate in the Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) program training with other universities and organizations throughout the world.

Tags: College of Business and Information Systems Online @ DSU Stories All News Student Life

Students excel at international competitions.

December 16, 2024

International competitions hone good cyber skills

Dakota State University students are honing their cybersecurity skills everywhere they can, in class, through campus clubs, and with competitions that take place around the world.

Tags: Student Life The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences All News Stories College of Business and Information Systems Academics

Angela Slattery, #21, found her place at DSU in the classroom and on the basketball court.

December 12, 2024

Slattery: DSU was made for me

Angela Slattery, the fall 2024 commencement student speaker, said DSU was made for her, allowing her to develop her identity in the classroom and on the basketball court.

Tags: Student Life Stories Athletics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Academics All News

Nanocon student organizers gain valuable experience in project management, teamwork, and leadership.

December 9, 2024

Nanocon is game changer

Nanocon is a game changer for the student committee members who organize the free gaming convention held at Dakota State University by teaching them project management, organizational skills, and teamwork.

Tags: College of Arts and Sciences Student Life All News Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Education and Human Performance Academics College of Business and Information Systems

The Municipal Cybersecurity Grant Program will be led by Mike Waldner.

November 18, 2024

Waldner appointed director of Municipal Cybersecurity Grant Program

Dakota State University and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announce the hiring of Mike Waldner as director of the newly established Municipal Cybersecurity Grant Program. This initiative, funded through Senate Bill 187, will enhance the cybersecurity infrastructure of South Dakota's municipalities.

Tags: All News Stories Research College of Business and Information Systems The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Dr. Kevin Smith received a STEM outreach grant.

November 15, 2024

Smith awarded STEM outreach grant

Dr. Kevin Smith knows how important math is for STEM careers and a skilled workforce, and he’ll use a South Dakota Biotech/SD EPSCoR grant to create an outreach program helping students be positive about math and STEM.

Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Research Academics Stories All News

ATT has contributed $26,400 to the Dakota State University Foundation to help youth with limited internet access from South Dakota’s nine tribal nations.

November 14, 2024

AT&T donates to CybHER

AT&T is continuing its partnership with CybHER® to bring technology outreach and digital literacy training to the state’s tribal students through local Boys & Girls Clubs.

Tags: Stories All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Education and Human Performance

DSU faculty who won the capture the flag competition at the Wild West Hackin’ Fest are Cody Welu, Tyler Flaagan, Shawn Zwach, and Andrew Kramer.

October 31, 2024

Faculty win Hackin’ Fest competition

Four DSU faculty in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences won the Capture the Flag competition at the 2024 Wild West Hackin’ Fest in Deadwood.

Tags: Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences All News Stories

Gwen Vongkasemsiri smiling.

October 9, 2024

Competitions and passions drive Vongkasemsiri

Whether she’s on the volleyball court, participating in an international cybersecurity competition, or running the club she created, Gwen Vongkasemsiri loves competitions. A senior cyber operations and network & security administration double major, Vongkasemsiri chose to attend DSU after analyzing a list of schools across the U.S. that have excellent cybersecurity programs.

Tags: Athletics Stories All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Student Life

Title card of Beau Headrick's animation DAYTRIP.

October 4, 2024

’DAYTRIP‘ selected for multiple festivals

Dakota State senior Beau Headrick’s 2D animation “DAYTRIP” was selected for several film festivals, one of them international. Follow Fuzz on his journey to climb Mount Magoo all by himself, as he realizes along the way that maybe the summit is not the goal, but the company he keeps while on the journey.

Tags: Student Life College of Arts and Sciences Stories All News

DSU senior Madison Miller published her first poetry book recently.

September 25, 2024

Healing through art

Madison Miller published her first poetry book, "He doesn't deserve to know me." The book was a way for her to address her complicated relationship with her father.

Tags: Student Life All News Stories College of Arts and Sciences

RayLee Wallis holding certificate and coin.

September 20, 2024

No goal is too big

RayLee Wallis’s summer internship in the Secretary of the Army Primary Cyber Advisor’s office taught her that she is capable of doing big things. “I can develop the skills necessary for contributing in a fast-paced work environment.”

Tags: Academics All News Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Student Life

For three years, Dakota State University has hosted an industrial immersion program for graduate students from DSU and Swedish universities.

September 10, 2024

Meaningful Contributions

Dakota State University’s research exchange program is growing in size, impact, and reputation through an industrial immersion program for graduate students from DSU and Swedish universities.

Tags: College of Business and Information Systems The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Stories Academics All News Research International

Arien Stalford, a senior at Chester (SD) High school, highly recommends the Governors Cyber Academy.

September 3, 2024

Exceeding Expectations

First-year numbers show that expectations were exceeded in the first year of the Governors Cyber Academy, a program that fuels students’ passions for cyber careers.

Tags: Online @ DSU College of Arts and Sciences College of Business and Information Systems College of Education and Human Performance Academics All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Stories

The 2024 True Trojan award winners include Sierra Heppler (back left), Fenecia Homan, Cherie Noteboom, Kathy Engbrecht; Kristen Uilk (front left), Kindra Schneider, Erin Kahler. Not pictured, Addie Borah.

August 27, 2024

DSU's True Trojans

Dakota State University has named several employees “True Trojans” at the 2024 Welcome and University Address on August 19.

Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Stories All News College of Business and Information Systems The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences

DSU student David Siemienas pictured with a blue background that has dots connected with lines.

February 14, 2024

DSU student sees latest tech at trade show

Dakota State University junior Cyber Operations major David Siemienas attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association, in January.

Tags: All News Research Student Life Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Stephanie Veltkamp and her grandmother, Arlene Johnson Hoek.

January 5, 2024

Generations unite

Stephanie Veltkamp’s grandmother, Arlene Johnson Hoek, graduated from high school in 1953 and went on to earn her teaching certificate from DSU, when it was known as General Beadle State Teachers College. Now, Veltkamp is earning her teaching degree from Dakota State through the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (TAP) program.

Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Stories Online @ DSU All News

Connor Starrett

October 18, 2023

Starrett to reach stars through position with Space Force

Connor Starrett learned recently that he was accepted for a position with the Space Force military branch and is excited to take on a cutting-edge role.

Tags: All News Stories The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Justice Forster

October 17, 2023

FDIC internship leads to job offer

DSU student Justice Forster has accepted a permanent position with the Federal Insurance Corporation (FDIC) upon his graduation in December. Forster spent the summer as an intern for the FDIC as part of the Financial Management Scholars Program.

Tags: Stories Student Life All News College of Business and Information Systems

Emmanuel and Hazel

October 10, 2023

DSU athlete is role model for local cancer survivor

Houston native Emmanuel Drain lost his left eye to retinoblastoma when he was four years old, but he didn’t let that stop him from living life and participating in things he loved, like football.

Tags: Stories All News Athletics

Snakeskin samples collected by DSU student Adam Peak for research.

August 28, 2023

Student research looks to confirm snake fungal disease in SD

Through research, Adam Peak hopes to discover whether the Snake Fungal Disease can affect the Plains Garter Snake, South Dakota’s most common snake.

Tags: Stories College of Arts and Sciences Research

Jenna Frank DSU Graduation

August 21, 2023

DSU alum moves on to nursing career

DSU alum moves on to nursing career. Life can take unexpected but exciting turns.

Tags: Academics College of Arts and Sciences All News Stories

Dan Beacom DSU Track

August 14, 2023

DSU Track to be named for alumnus Dan Beacom

The new track at Dakota State University in Madison will be named “The Dan Beacom Track Complex” after alumnus Dan Beacom, who passed away on May 24, 2023.

Tags: Stories Athletics All News

An image of a lightbulb overlaid on a photo of a city and small circles surrounding it.

July 13, 2023

Finding the Future

Brenna Smith, a veteran, and mother of two, has returned to school to earn a degree in Business Administration Technology through DSU's online programming.

Tags: All News Online @ DSU College of Business and Information Systems Stories

Fenecia Homan, Dean of the Governors Cyber Academy at Dakota State University, is one of the 40 members in the 10th class of Leadership South Dakota.

June 20, 2023

Homan selected for Leadership South Dakota

Fenecia Homan, Dean of the Governors Cyber Academy at Dakota State University, is one of the 40 members in the 10th class of Leadership South Dakota.

Tags: Stories All News

Justice Forster headshot

April 28, 2023

Forster to intern with FDIC

Justice Forster will spend 10 weeks of summer 2023 as an intern for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as part of the Financial Management Scholars Program.

Tags: Stories All News College of Business and Information Systems Student Life

President Griffiths

April 25, 2023

President Griffiths to be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame

President Griffiths to be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame

Tags: All News Stories

Dakota State University and MarketBeat Partner to Reimagine  the Kirby Science Discovery Center’s Space and Technology Floor

April 14, 2023

DSU and MarketBeat Reimagine the Kirby Science Discovery Center

Dakota State University and MarketBeat Partner to Reimagine the Kirby Science Discovery Center’s Space and Technology Floor

Tags: All News Stories

Boyd-SRI

February 24, 2023

Practical research leads to professional internship

Joseph Boyd’s research project has led to a summer internship opportunity, and could possibly lead to a career as well. Robert Richardson is Boyd’s faculty mentor for the research.

Tags: Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Research Stories All News Student Life

ServiceAnimal

January 20, 2023

Service Animals

What they do and how to interact with them. A service animal is specifically trained to complete a task or service.

Tags: All News Stories

Kemal-Kramer

January 17, 2023

Real-life tweet provides real-life research opportunity

Amir Kemal was inspired by a real-life tweet to do some real-life research on Twitter fake domains.

Tags: Research Stories All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Johanna Coffey is a first-generation college student.

January 10, 2023

Ask the questions

Johanna Coffey can ask a family member questions about the college process, but the DSU sophomore said any of the friendly people at the university can help.

Tags: Stories Student Life The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences