Four Finalists Chosen for Next President of Mines
The South Dakota Board of Regents announced four finalists for the next leader of South Dakota Mines. The selected finalists will visit the STEM-focused university on Nov. 13-14. During their visit, they will meet with area leaders, faculty, staff, and students, allowing the university community to gain insight into each candidate's vision and leadership style.
The chosen candidate will replace Jim Rankin, Ph.D., P.E., who retired in June after six years as president. Dr. Lance Roberts, the university's provost and vice president of academic affairs, has served as interim president since Rankin's retirement.
The finalists include:
- Dr. Angela Lueking currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Montana Technological University (MTU) in Butte, Mont. She has been with the university since 2021. Prior to joining MTU, Dr. Lueking was the associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Computing at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She has also worked as a program director at the National Science Foundation and as a faculty member at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Lueking earned a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, all from the University of Michigan.
- Todd Kenner is the Chief Executive Officer of RE/SPEC Inc., based in Rapid City. He has held the
position of president and CEO since 2010. Before joining RE/SPEC, Kenner was the president
of PBS&J Corporation, where he worked in both Tampa, Fla., and Henderson, Nev. Throughout
his career at PBS&J, he held various roles before becoming president. Additionally,
Kenner served on the South Dakota Mines Foundation Board for 10 years, acting as chair
from 2016 to 2019. He is an alumnus of South Dakota Mines, where he earned a Bachelor
of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
- Dr. Mohamad Qatu has been serving as the dean of the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., since 2015. Before becoming Dean, he was the director of the School of Engineering and Technology at Central Michigan University and a professor of mechanical engineering at Mississippi State University. Before his academic career, Dr. Qatu worked in the private industry. He holds both a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics from Ohio State University.
- Dr. Brian Tande is currently the dean of the College of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, N.D., a position he has held for the past five years. Before becoming dean, he served at UND in various capacities, including associate dean, department chair, director of the Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and tenured faculty member. He also spent a year at Kansas State University as the graduate programs director and associate professor. Dr. Tande earned his Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
On Thursday, Nov.14, the Board of Regents is scheduled to meet with each finalist and representatives from the search committee who represent the campus constituencies. These discussions aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of each candidate's qualifications and vision for the institution.
The CVs for each finalist can be found here.