Founded in 1860, Augustana is a selective, comprehensive university affiliated with the Lutheran Church. With more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs for undergraduates, along with graduate degree and continuing education programs, the University is committed to enriching lives and fostering development by combining a foundation in the liberal arts with professional skill and advanced study.
Augustana serves approximately 1,900 students from 34 states and 38 countries. Most are part of the 100-acre campus residential community.
Augustana serves approximately 1,900 students from 34 states and 38 countries. Most are part of the 100-acre campus residential community.
Augustana University introduced former congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin as its 24th president on February 23rd, 2017. Her appointment, made by the Augustana Board of Trustees following an extensive national search, marks the first time in Augustana’s 157-year history that a woman will serve as president. She began her official tenure as President on August 1, 2017.
Program Highlights for August 21, 2017
Augustana University has a 98% graduate school/job placement rate. President Herseth Sandlin stated that 50% of the student body study abroad which helps to increase their global perspectives.
During 2017-18, Augustana University will have their largest freshman class since 1978. In addition, there will be the largest head count of students since 1990. Furthermore, President Herseth Sandlin stated that Augustana University has a special niche in our state by offering a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students.
President Herseth Sandlin stated by 2019, Augustana University has a goal to have 500 graduate students in attendance (currently 300 students). One of her goals as President is to embrace and make further investments in technology.
About Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin grew up on her family’s farm near Houghton, South Dakota. She attended college in Washington, D.C., earning undergraduate, graduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. During this time, she was a teaching fellow for university students and an instructor on the faculty of the law school.
In 2002, she became the first executive director of the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation where she worked to strengthen cooperative education and enhance rural economic development.
In 2004, she became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota as well as the youngest woman serving in the House during that time. While in Congress, she specialized in developing policy important to South Dakota, including agriculture, renewable energy, veterans’ education and tribal affairs.
She earned a number of national distinctions while serving in Congress, including being named among the Ten Outstanding Young Americans in 2006 by the U.S. Junior Chamber. She was also included on TIME magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of “New Civic Leaders.”
After leaving Congress in 2011, she became a partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm, building a public policy practice centered on bioenergy, food safety and nutrition. In 2012, she joined Raven Industries in Sioux Falls as its first general counsel and vice president of corporate development. As an executive officer for Raven, as well as a member of the CoBank Board of Directors, she has been actively involved in strategic planning, governance, enterprise risk management and oversight of financial performance.
Herseth Sandlin and her husband, Max Sandlin, are parents to Zachary, age 8. They live in Sioux Falls and enjoy all things baseball and bluegrass. They also have four older children — Hillary, Trey, Emily and Christian — and three beautiful granddaughters, all of whom currently reside in Texas.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin grew up on her family’s farm near Houghton, South Dakota. She attended college in Washington, D.C., earning undergraduate, graduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. During this time, she was a teaching fellow for university students and an instructor on the faculty of the law school.
In 2002, she became the first executive director of the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation where she worked to strengthen cooperative education and enhance rural economic development.
In 2004, she became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota as well as the youngest woman serving in the House during that time. While in Congress, she specialized in developing policy important to South Dakota, including agriculture, renewable energy, veterans’ education and tribal affairs.
She earned a number of national distinctions while serving in Congress, including being named among the Ten Outstanding Young Americans in 2006 by the U.S. Junior Chamber. She was also included on TIME magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of “New Civic Leaders.”
After leaving Congress in 2011, she became a partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm, building a public policy practice centered on bioenergy, food safety and nutrition. In 2012, she joined Raven Industries in Sioux Falls as its first general counsel and vice president of corporate development. As an executive officer for Raven, as well as a member of the CoBank Board of Directors, she has been actively involved in strategic planning, governance, enterprise risk management and oversight of financial performance.
Herseth Sandlin and her husband, Max Sandlin, are parents to Zachary, age 8. They live in Sioux Falls and enjoy all things baseball and bluegrass. They also have four older children — Hillary, Trey, Emily and Christian — and three beautiful granddaughters, all of whom currently reside in Texas.
Next Week's Program August 28, 2017
John Meyer, Rotary Water-Tanzania