SDSU President receives 2025 Most Inspirational Leadership Award

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – SDSU President Barry H. Dunn was named the recipient of the Mayor’s Most Inspirational Leadership Award for 2025.

Brookings Mayor Oepke Niemeyer will honor Dunn at the annual Mayor’s Awards and Holiday Celebration on Wednesday, December 3, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Dacotah Bank Center in Brookings.

The event is open to the public.

SDSU President receives 2025 Most Inspirational Leadership Award(South Dakota State University | The City of Brookings)

The Mayor’s Most Inspirational Leadership Award honors community leaders age 40 or older who significantly impact through engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness, and innovation.

“President Dunn and I share a desire to ensure a strong town-gown relationship between the City and SDSU,” said Mayor Oepke Niemeyer.

“With the Mayor’s Most Inspirational Leadership Award, I recognize and honor President Dunn’s commitment to collaborating, creating partnerships, problem-solving, and building community.”

Niemeyer noted that the relationship between SDSU and Brookings is collaborative, focusing on economic development, community planning, and public safety.

“The City of Brookings is proud to be home to SDSU, the state’s largest, most comprehensive higher education institution,” Niemeyer said.

“SDSU boosts our city’s economy through job creation, student spending, and innovation. It provides an educated workforce and fosters research and entrepreneurship. In addition, SDSU challenges our thinking and enriches our culture with diversity, special programs, arts, entertainment, athletics, and social activities that benefit residents and attract visitors.”

Before becoming president of SDSU, Dunn was the dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences for six years and previously served as director of SDSU Extension for six years.

Dunn became the president of SDSU in May 2016.

He attended SDSU as an undergrad in the 1970s and is the fourth alumnus to lead the university.

As a member of the Sicangu Lakota, he is believed to be the first enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe to serve as president of an 1862 land-grant university.

During his presidency, Dunn has played a key role in several initiatives at SDSU, including the Pathway to Premier seven-year strategic plan, which builds on the earlier Imagine 2023.

He also launched the Wokini Initiative to improve access to higher education for Native Americans in the state, focusing on collaboration with tribal nations, colleges, and organizations.

Dunn is also a researcher, published author, and successful rancher with expertise in beef production and ranching systems, managing his family’s cattle ranch in Mission from 1979 to 1996.

link