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Dakota State University Inaugurates 21^st President

Dakota State University held an inauguration ceremony for its 21^st president, Dr. Douglas Knowlton, Friday, October 1, at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse in Madison.

Members of the South Dakota Board of Regents, delegates and dignitaries from all six public South Dakota universities, as well as Augustana College, Dakota Wesleyan University, Southwest State University in Minnesota, and other regional colleges and universities were in attendance.

The inaugural celebration was an opportunity for the university to showcase its many talents and accomplishments while honoring and welcoming Knowlton and his wife, Sharon. Scheduled events for the week included an Educational Technology Conference hosted by the College of Education on Tuesday, various student activities during the week, and  Knowlton’s installation ceremony and a public reception on Friday. Friday evening the university sponsored an inaugural ball in the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.

The Inaugural festivities culminated Saturday, October 2 with DSU’s Homecoming.  The day included the Dakota State Alumni Annual Meeting, the Trojan Days parade, an alumni tailgate party at Trojan Field and the football game. The DSU Trojans hosted the football team from South Dakota School of Mines from Rapid City. 

Dr. Knowlton began his duties as the 21st president of Dakota State University on January 5, 2004. His BA degree is from the University of Denver, his MA and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of North Dakota, and he did postdoctoral studies at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. He is the former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, where he served for six years. In addition to serving on higher education governing boards in Minnesota, he held faculty positions at the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota, Crookston. For eleven years, he was a clinical psychologist in private practice with the Family Institute in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Dr. Knowlton is a member of several professional organizations and has been active in a variety of community groups throughout his career.

Dr. Knowlton and his wife, Sharon, are both natives of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They have two sons, Justin and Jordan.

Inauguration Ceremony Video (WMV)