South Dakota Mines Announces First President’s Leadership Academy Cohort

October 20, 2023
South Dakota Mines Announces First President’s Leadership Academy Cohort
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