PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents announces four finalists for the President position at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City. The selected finalists will visit the STEM-focused university on November 13-14. During their visit, they will meet with area leaders, faculty, staff, and students, allowing the university community to gain insight into each candidate’s vision and leadership style.

• Dr. Angela Lueking currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at the Montana Technological University (MTU) in Butte, Montana. She has been with the University since 2021. Prior to joining MTU, Dr. Lueking was the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering and Computing at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She has also worked as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation and as a faculty member at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Lueking earned a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, all from the University of Michigan.

• Todd Kenner is the Chief Executive Officer of RE/SPEC Inc., based in Rapid City, SD. He has held the position of President and CEO since 2010. Before joining RE/SPEC, Kenner was the President of PBS&J Corporation, where he worked in both Tampa, FL, and Henderson, NV. Throughout his career at PBS&J, he held various roles before becoming president. Additionally, Kenner served on the South Dakota Mines Foundation Board for ten years, acting as Chair from 2016 to 2019. He is an alumnus of South Dakota Mines, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

• Dr. Mohamad Qatu has been serving as the Dean of the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI, since 2015. Before becoming Dean, he was the Director of the School of Engineering and Technology at Central Michigan University and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University. Before his academic career, Dr. Qatu worked in the private industry. He holds both a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics from The Ohio State University.

• Dr. Brian Tande is currently the Dean of the College of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, ND, a position he has held for the past five years. Before becoming Dean, he served at UND in various capacities, including Associate Dean, Department Chair, Director of the Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and tenured faculty member. He also spent a year at Kansas State University as the Graduate Programs Director and Associate Professor. Dr. Tande earned his Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware.

On Thursday, November 14, the Board of Regents is scheduled to meet with each finalist and representatives from the search committee who represent the campus constituencies. These discussions aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of each candidate’s qualifications and vision for the institution.

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Click the names to download headshot: Dr. Angela Lueking, Todd Kenner, Dr. Mohamad Qatu, Dr. Brian Tande