South Dakota Mines Announces 2024 President's Leadership Academy Class
South Dakota Mines recently announced its newest class of students accepted into the President’s Leadership Academy. Launched last year by former Mines President Jim Rankin, Ph.D., P.E., the year-long leadership development program exposes students to the skills, insights and perspectives that define an effective leader. The academy is sponsored by Mines alumni Lorin and Mary Brass and the Brass Family Foundation.
“Dr. Rankin was very proud of this program and the students. We are excited to continue what he started,” said Lance Roberts, Ph.D., Mines interim president. “These students are already emerging leaders on campus and in their community. This academy will further build on their skills and help them prepare to take the next step as leaders in STEM.”
The program is anchored by a CEO speaker series in October, November, February, and March, as well as exclusive dinner conversations between the speakers and students. The academy also includes engagement with government officials in a visit to the state capitol during the legislative session, networking with campus community and alumni leaders, and conversations and lessons on leadership.
Speakers this year include Paulette Davidson, Monument Health President and CEO who has more than 30 years of experience working in medical environments; U.S. Air Force Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, the largest B-1 combat wing in the nation; Dean Schauer, Mines alumnus and president and CEO of Confluent Medical Technologies, a global leading medical device and materials science contract manufacturer; and Renita Mollman, Mines alumna and chief administrative officer and vice president for Burns & McDonnell, a $6.9 billion global engineering and construction firm.
To be considered for the President’s Leadership Academy, student applicants had to submit a cover letter, current resume, and recommendation letter from a South Dakota Mines faculty or staff member.
The 2024-2025 President’s Leadership Academy class includes:
- Lis Cave, senior industrial engineering and engineering management major and U.S. Air Force veteran, Rapid City. Cave is the logistics and supply manager at C-Lock, a global company based in Rapid City that utilizes cutting-edge science and engineering to monitor, analyze and control cattle biological parameters.
- Dade Gomez, senior mechanical engineering major, minoring in aerospace and systems engineering, Kersey, Colo. Gomez holds leadership positions in Baja SAE, Triangle Fraternity, Cornhole Club and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
- Hunter Kadlecik, senior mechanical engineering major, Sioux Falls, S.D. Kadlecik is the chapter president of Triangle Fraternity and received the Terry Newline Memorial Leadership Scholarship for his involvement in the fraternity. He is also a member of the Baja SAE team and a first-year peer mentor.
- Kenton Kowar, junior computer science major specializing in cybersecurity, Woody Creek, Colo. Kowar is the treasurer of the Soccer Club and is a member of the university’s programming team, App Development Club and Data Miners Club.
- Jadyn Moriarty, senior civil engineering major, Peoria, Az. Moriarty is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Delight Ministries, Concrete Canoe team, and Professional Development Institute. She is also a student ambassador for the university.
- Darren Osei Asamoah, Ph.D. student in mining engineering and management, Ghana. Osei Asamoah earned his bachelor’s in geological engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and his master’s in petroleum engineering from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette.
- Peter Russell, senior industrial engineering and engineering management major, Boulder, Colo. Russell has spent several years volunteering for several organizations, including the emergency department and human society in Fort Collins, Colo., and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Maine.
- Nathan Sattler, junior chemical engineering major, Eden Prairie, Minn. Sattler has been involved in many campus organizations and activities, including being the student senator for the freshman class and a member of the university’s radio club.
- Emma Sobnosky, senior civil engineering major, Highlands Ranch, Colo. Sobnosky has held several leadership roles on campus including serving as vice president of membership developing for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, secretary and social media chair for Society of Women Engineers and social media chair for Delight Ministries. She is also a member of the Concrete Canoe team, the American Society of Civil Engineers and serves as a student ambassador.
- Josey Wickersham, junior biomedical engineering major, Brandon, S.D. Wickersham is a member of the Hardrocker Volleyball team.