Community invited to celebration for the 11th President of BHSU, Dr. Laurie S. Nichols

Headshot - President Laurie Nichols

Dr. Laurie S. Nichols,

President of BHSU

Black Hills State University will hold a public celebration Monday, Feb. 3, to celebrate the 11th President of BHSU, Dr. Laurie S. Nichols, who has been serving in an interim capacity since July 1.

The Feb. 3 celebration will be held in the Jacket Legacy Room on the second floor of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union. The gathering begins at 3:30 p.m. with the program at 4 p.m. Music for the event will be provided by the Roughlock Brass Quartet. Free public parking will be available on campus in the Jonas lot, near Jonas Hall and the Student Union. A shuttle will be available to escort attendees to the Student Union from the Jonas lot.

Steve Meeker, vice president for University Advancement at BHSU, will serve as master of ceremonies. Spearfish Mayor Dana Boke, along with BHSU faculty, staff, students and alumni, will share their congratulations. Dr. Joan Wink, member of the South Dakota Board of Regents, will present President Nichols with the historic BHSU Presidential Medallion.

A native of Colman, S.D., Nichols received her undergraduate degree in home economics education from South Dakota State University. She holds a master of education degree in vocational and adult education from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education/family studies from The Ohio State University.

Prior to coming to BHSU, Nichols was president at the University of Wyoming. From 2009 to 2016 she served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at South Dakota State University.

She previously served as dean of family and consumer sciences at SDSU. In 2008 she was tapped to be the interim president at Northern State University. Earlier in her career, she taught at secondary and post-secondary levels in South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, Idaho, and Iowa.