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Ustad Resigns at Dakota State University

Madison, SD  --  Mel Ustad, who worked as director of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) for the Business & Education Institute at Dakota State University, has resigned his position.

“Mel has accomplished a tremendous amount for DSU, the State of South Dakota, and the whole western region in development of small companies.  He has led efforts in the Small Business High Technology Institute (SBHTI) which was originally based in Phoenix, Arizona, and is now based at DSU.  The SBHTI assists small business to obtain Small Business Innovative Research money to develop new products.  Under Mel’s leadership, the SBIR funding obtained by South Dakota companies has increased from an almost negligible amount to a point where small businesses obtain well over $1 million of federal funds for development of new products,” said Dr. Jerald Tunheim, president of DSU. “He has been key in the development of numerous small companies in South Dakota.  He will continue to work with DSU on many of the same projects including a $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant.”

Ustad has accepted a position as Associate Dean of Research at the University of South Dakota starting July 1, 2001.