Contacts: Jack R. Warner, Executive Director and CEO
jack.warner@sdbor.edu

Janelle Toman, Director of Communications
Janelle.toman@sdbor.edu

 Telephone: (605) 773-3455

Fax: (605) 773-5320

www.sdbor.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, October 11, 2013

BHSU President Schallenkamp Announces Plans to Retire

SPEARFISH, S.D. – Kay Schallenkamp, president of Black Hills State University since 2006, will retire from the South Dakota public higher education system at the end of the 2013-14 academic year, the South Dakota Board of Regents said. The announcement was made Friday on the Spearfish campus.

“Under Kay Schallenkamp’s leadership, Black Hills State University is recognized as a dynamic and growing comprehensive university in this region and beyond,” said Regents President Dean M. Krogman. “We salute President Schallenkamp’s continuing work to foster innovative changes in education. Her efforts to partner with the Sanford Underground Research Facility in developing a world-class science laboratory will pay dividends for many years to come,” Krogman said. “We thank Kay for her service to our state and wish her the very best.”

During her tenure, BHSU steadily increased enrollment and graduation rates, added several new undergraduate and graduate degree programs and increased the amount of grant funding and scholarship donations. Schallenkamp built and strengthened collaborations with business, industry, and government agencies to meet workforce needs and create experiential learning opportunities for students.

The first South Dakota university president to join the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, Schallenkamp led BHSU in numerous efforts to reduce the campus carbon footprint including LEED Gold certification of the Student Union and the Life Sciences Laboratory. The state’s only master’s degree in sustainability was launched this year.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as president of Black Hills State University. The faculty, staff, and students are among the best in the country. We truly transform lives by focusing on students and preparing them for successful careers and personal lives. I have been blessed to have spent 40 years in higher education surrounded by bright, talented students, faculty, and staff.  While I look forward to spending more time with Ken, my children, grandchildren, and friends, I will miss the vibrancy of campus life,” said Schallenkamp. 

Before coming to BHSU, Schallenkamp was president of Emporia State University in Kansas. She also served in senior-level academic posts at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Chadron (Neb.) State College. She began her higher education experience in South Dakota as an undergraduate student at Northern State University and later returned to Northern to embark upon her academic career. She holds three degrees in communication disorders from Northern State University, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Colorado.

Krogman said the Board of Regents will announce soon a presidential search process and timeline for securing Schallenkamp’s successor.

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