For Immediate Release 10 September 2001

PIERRE—Mark Lee, Vice President for Administration and University Advancement at Dakota State University, will become the Sioux Falls Executive Dean for the South Dakota public universities on October 1, 2001. Three of the system’s universities, Dakota State University, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota have been operating as a consortium to serve the needs of the Sioux Falls community since the early 1990’s. Since 1995, this joint effort has been under the leadership of Dr. Judy Nissen, who is retiring.

The three universities offer 10 graduate degree, 11 bachelor’s degree, 4 associate degree and 7-certificate program options. In addition to daytime classes, courses are offered in the evening and on weekends in order to meet the needs of the urban community’s non-traditional students. Further, the universities provide nursing, respiratory care and pharmacy curricula in Sioux Falls that take advantage of the clinical opportunities available in the community.

Mr. Lee has been a senior administrator at Dakota State University since 1984. "He has demonstrated exceptional ability and breadth as a leader of diverse functions and this will serve him well in his new role," stated Jerry Tunheim, President of Dakota State University. In addition to his higher education experience at Dakota State University, Mr. Lee served as Chief of Administrative Services at Truman State University in Missouri.

President Peggy Elliott of South Dakota State University, who chairs the Presidents Policy Council for the public universities in Sioux Falls, said, " Mark Lee is well qualified to assume the responsibilities in Sioux Falls. He is committed to meeting the public higher education needs of an urban community. He understands the operational functions of the universities and the need for the university to be part of the community."

Jim Abbott, President of the University of South Dakota, noted, "Mr. Lee brings a special appreciation for how institutions respond to new service requirements, having been at the forefront of Dakota State’s mission change. This coupled with his understanding of the demographic changes in Sioux Falls and South Dakota prepared him for leading the operations in Sioux Falls."

The public universities have come a long way in developing services for Sioux Falls over the past decade, reported Dr. Tad Perry, Executive Director for the South Dakota Board of Regents. "The universities are sharing their rich campus curricula with students in Sioux Falls, the new facility is busting at the seams as it opened for its first Fall semester classes, and we have a renewed commitment to serve the needs of the workforce in the state’s largest city. Mark Lee will give new energy and vision to what can be done. He is the cream of our new university leadership in South Dakota."