President Miller

[Alumguy]

She is retiring at the end of the calendar year in 2006.

[Jacks_Backer]

Re: President Miller

Dear Alumni,

Dr. Peggy Gordon Miller, the eighteenth president of South Dakota State University, today announced her plans to retire at the end of the calendar year in 2006. President Miller has directed the university since January 1, 1998. She is known for her intellect, energy, and "can do" spirit. Dr. Miller has welcomed countless students, alumni and friends into the President's Home. During her tenure, SDSU has experienced record enrollments, the construction and renovation of fantastic building projects, and the move to Division I athletics. She will be leaving a great legacy for years to come.

We look forward to working with her for the remainder of her storied presidency.

Sincerely,

V.J. Smith
Executive Director, SDSU Alumni Association



Excepts from her letter written to SDSU staff

Dear Friends:

I have had a difficult time coming to the decision, but I believe it would be the right time for a new President to come and join the SDSU family.

Additionally, I will be five months from my seventieth birthday, a time when even those of us blessed with endless energy and robust health must assume it will begin to lessen. Bob will have reached his eightieth milestone.

I have had no happier or rewarding period of my life than this time I am spending with all of you at SDSU. I thank each of you sincerely for helping me and making me a part of the great university family.

Bob and I love South Dakota State, and we love you. While we will not intrude on the new president, we will continue to work for SDSU the rest of our lives as we fund and friend raise for its needs and successes every time we have the opportunity.

May this holy season bring special joys and blessings to each of you.

Peggy Miller

[JackTwice]

Re: President Miller

Not to look ahead too far but speculate and hope is what we do here.

Who's next?

I like the name Mark Benedetto - Those of us from the Sioux Falls area know that name well and know what he has done as far as fund raising and improving the Athletic facilities at USF. He would be a huge addition.

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: President Miller

Huge difference working for a private religious school of 1500 students than working for a public BOR research based university of 11000.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: President Miller

Benedetto is a very capable person and I respect all he has done at USF.

I would expect as in the past an extensive national search will be conducted with a group of finalist being selected. I think I could win the power ball lottery before I could name the finalists that we will find out about in late 2006.

SDSU's needs some one like Dr Miller who had previous experience at U of Akron and other institution, but knew nothing about South Dakota. I recall when she first was hired she was working with a trade association In DC. She told the press that the first thing she did after finding out she had selected was to go to several books stores in DC to find all the books she could find on South Dakota.

I would be opposed to picking the smartest and brightest alum who has shown leadership for the following reasons:

1. They would come to campus with ideas and notions based on their own experiences.

2.  They probably have connections and networks of people who could later hopple any plan or idea if this did not please this connection or network person.

3 .South Dakota needs leaders who know nothing about SD and its past but are brave enough to suggest effective changes. I think these people come without preconceived notions about how the ad0ministration should run. They bring new and good ideas.

With Peggy she came. She listened and then decided what the course of action should be. She has been successful these past 7 years.

I think too we do have to remember Pres Miller is accountable to the board of regents. I would doubt this accountibilty will disappear with the next president.

[SD-STATE]

Re: President Miller

I agree SDSUFAN, it would be best if we get someone with a outside perspective and has big school experience. Most important is keeping SDSU growing and moving forward.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: President Miller

I think they need to find the best candidate to continue to move SDSU forward. I don't think they necessarily have to be an outsider as their are plenty of people in the state that have the experience.

[filbert]

Re: President Miller

I think someone with Land Grant university/ doctoral-granting university administrative experience would be a must. Such experience at a northern Land-Grant would be preferable (i.e. Purdue, Iowa State, Minnesota, Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Cornell, etc., etc.)

Someone closely related to Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and/or one of the Walton clan would be OK, too

[jackrabit1]

Re: President Miller

I was in the first graduating class --1998-- that President Miller (then President Elliot) served. I remember that a lot of people were a little unsure about her coming as a "hired gun" with little to no knowledge of South Dakota and it's school. But I also remember her electing to live in one of the campus apartments at Brown Hall while Woodbine was being renovated. I think that did a lot to ingratiate her to the students and the school.

Even though I've been off campus for a while now, I can see all the great things that have come from President Miller's tenure. From the new building projects and renovations (Coruthers, Solberg, Cadwell, Yeager, and the Performing Arts Center to name a few) to projects to ensure the school's fiscal security, to the Jackrabbit Guarantee, to the move to Division I, it's safe to say that President Miller's imprint on South Dakota State will be felt for a long time. She truly has made herself a Jackrabbit, and a South Dakotan.

It'll be sad in 2007 when the Pride will no longer be able to say "Hi, Peggy!"

[SDSUFAN]

Re: President Miller

I think they need to find the best candidate to continue to move SDSU forward. I don't think they necessarily have to be an outsider as their are plenty of people in the state that have the experience.

I really would be disappointed if we got some local yokel whos is so caught up on status quo and that good old stuck in the mud SD attitude. That would be a major set back IMO.

We need new fresh thinking, and apparently, the BOR saw it that way in 1998. One of the finalists was an SDSU grad from U Of Illionis. This individual was not selected over Peggy and I think the BOR made a good choice.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: President Miller

I really would be disappointed if we got some local yokel  whos  is so caught up on status quo and that good old stuck in the mud SD attitude. That would be a major set back IMO.

We need new fresh thinking, and apparently, the BOR saw it that way in 1998. One of the finalists was an SDSU grad from U Of Illionis. This individual was not selected over Peggy and I think the BOR made a good choice.

Local Yokel, huh. Thank you for putting down the good people of South Dakota as well as its alumni. Perhaps you would like to rename SDSU's ad campaign "You Can go Anywhere But Here." You do know we are trying to keep graduates in the state? Great message to send to our graduates—"we can’t hire from our own graduate pool because they are not forward thinking enough." I know you didn’t mean it like that, but if we can’t hire our own products, what does it say about our University? I could be mistaken, but aren’t most of the BOR from South Dakota? They seem to be forward thinking enough. Sorry to get harsh, but lets not eliminate candidates before the process has even begun. I know you can give it as well as take it SDSUFAN. ;D

I personally don't think it would matter where the next president is from, but I do agree they should have some new and fresh ideas. We are in a key stage of the University's life.

President Miller did a fantastic job. I think she connected with the community, alumni, and students. The next president certainly has some big shoes to fill.

[SD-STATE]

Re: President Miller

Local Yokel, huh. Thank you for putting down the good people of South Dakota as well as its alumni. Perhaps you would like to rename SDSU's ad campaign "You Can go Anywhere But Here." You do know we are trying to keep graduates in the state? Great message to send to our graduates—"we can’t hire from our own graduate pool because they are not forward thinking enough." I know you didn’t mean it like that, but if we can’t hire our own products, what does it say about our University? I could be mistaken, but aren’t most of the BOR from South Dakota? They seem to be forward thinking enough. Sorry to get harsh, but lets not eliminate candidates before the process has even begun.

There are yockels around here as there are everywhere else. One has to admit that South Dakota and Brookings itself are dominantly conservative places and often drag there feet when it comes to change. The D1 transition and Lowes are prime examples of that. People don't like change, so they do what they know the most. There may be qualified individuals that are SDSU grads that would be great for the job. As to what their vision is for the future of SDSU that will sort itself out in the hiriing process. One thing to think about is that it is not always good to hire with in because they are essentially by products of what has been done and may not neccessarily think about things that could be done. SDSUFAN makes a great point that hopefully is considered carefully.

[filbert]

Re: President Miller

I wouldn't call it yokel-ness as much as it is a curious (and unnecessary) inferiority complex that SD has on the national stage.

It's that attitude that underlies much of the resistance/skepticism to the SDSU D-I move in the first place--a sense that "we shouldn't try to compete at the highest level nationally 'cause we're not good enough." (And, by the way, that sense is not unique to SD--down here in Kansas City, you pick up the same kind of vibe on occasion.)

Someone from outside the SDBOR system, outside the state, wouldn't be burdened by this inferiority complex.

There are probably several people in SD which would make good SDSU presidents. But there are dozens or maybe hundreds nationwide. South Dakota isn't a very big state, after all.

The goal is to select the very best person and go from there.

[RonRabbit]

Re: President Miller

Wild, wild thought:.....

There are some examples of people from outside academia who have been great university presidents.  Sometimes people have left the political arena with a great deal of experience and know-how that translates directly to running a university (fund-raising; ability to rub elbows and schmooze; leadership; guts; willing to take a stand; etc. etc.).  After all, running a university requires one to be a politician of sorts.

I've always been a registered Republican.  But, it seems a certain former Senate Majority Leader (happens to be an SDSU grad) would be an interesting thought.  Some would continue to hate his guts because he's from the wrong political party but....interesting nonetheless.

President Miller turned out to be exactly the right person at the right time for SDSU...we've been lucky to have her.

[SD-STATE]

Re: President Miller

I've always been a registered Republican. But, it seems a certain former Senate Majority Leader (happens to be an SDSU grad) would be an interesting thought. Some would continue to hate his guts because he's from the wrong political party but....interesting nonetheless.

"former", would mean that not some would hate his guts but the majority would... ;D