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Pauli Receives Allies in Indian Education Award 

Wayne Pauli, Assistant Professor and Director of Dakota State University's Center of Excellence, was presented the Allies in Indian Education Award at the annual Dakota Oyate Challenge Basketball Tournament in January.  The award is presented to a Dakota State University student, faculty, staff or greater community member in recognition of their efforts in advancing the cause of education and technology within the Native American community. 

Wayne Pauli is a graduate of Northern State University, Dakota State University and completed his PhD at Capella University with dissertation on The Native American Digital Divide: A Preliminary Investigation of an Undergraduate Population in SD.  Wayne has been the Director of the Center of Excellence at Dakota State University for the past 5 years after a 20-year career in banking.  Wayne is married with three children and four grandchildren.  He has officiated high school athletics, was a Little League baseball coach and varsity boy’s basketball coach, as well as an assistant coach for the DSU women’s basketball program.  Wayne has been active as a volunteer fireman, city councilman, hospital board chairman, and has served with many civic and church organizations throughout his adulthood in SD, Minnesota, and Colorado.  After years of participation in the South Dakota Jaycees, holding local offices, as well as serving as State Management Vice President and State Treasurer, Wayne was honored as a United States Jaycee Senator.   The Allies in Indian Education Award was presented to Pauli in recognition of his long standing commitment to advancing Native American causes in education and technology and for his unwavering support of Native American issues.