Where Opportunities Begin - Leaders of the Present and of the Future
AgBio Communications
Gary Lemme
South Dakota State University’s College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences (ABS) is an incubator of leaders. As these leaders emerge from the ABS College, they shape the worlds of agriculture, business, and natural resource management, in South Dakota and across the globe. As undergraduate enrollment in the ABS College has grown, so has the influence and leadership of our graduates. SDSU’s ABS College is now one of the largest agricultural colleges in the nation.
Excellence in teaching and faculty attention to student needs have long been hallmarks of the ABS College. The core values of the College, which are outlined in the 2007-2012 ABS College strategic plan, reflect our continued focus on academic program excellence. That focused excellence then extends to the job market, where opportunities for our unique graduates are strong. The ABS College is dedicated to providing students an environment where opportunities begin.
ABS College graduates have the skills to capitalize on the opportunities provided to them throughout life. Alumni always comment on the important roles that ABS College professors have played in their careers and lives. Our faculty members do more than teach technical facts; they provide opportunities that help develop the whole student. ABS College students graduate not only with the technical skills required to be successful in their disciplines, but also with the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, time management, leadership, communications, and team building. This combination of scientific underpinnings and life skills enables ABS College graduates to become leaders in both their professions and their communities.
At the ABS College, learning by doing provides opportunities and lifelong lessons in leadership. Students develop leadership skills through the experiences that can be gained in over 30 student clubs, on judging teams, and at events like Little International. Student interactions with peers and with faculty club advisors complement lessons learned in the classroom and laboratory.
Donations to the SDSU Foundation on behalf of the ABS College are critical to ensuring that future students have access to the opportunities provided by SDSU. Scholarships such as those donated by alumni and supporters to approximately 500 ABS students, combined with the Jackrabbit Guarantee scholarships, provide nearly $750,000 to our students annually. As the cost of college increases, so does the importance of financial assistance to students through scholarships, pre-professional internships, and employment. These methods of support really do help students both advance and complete their education while attending SDSU. While ABS students are grateful for financial assistance, they are also grateful for the expressions of confidence that scholarship donations bring; donors boost the self-worth and self-esteem of the students whose lives they touch.
Providing a top-notch educational experience at SDSU is the goal of every ABS College faculty member and support staff person. Our vision is for the ABS College to be a place where opportunities begin. The ABS College is a place for the leaders of the present and of the future.
Gary Lemme, Dean/Professor