SD School of Mines Football Media Guide

Robert A. W Wharton, Ph.D. President o of South Dako ota School of Mines and TTechnology Robert A. W Wharton, Ph.D D., became prresident of the South Dako ota School of M Mines and Tecchnology on Ju uly 1, 2008. P Previously, hee served as th he provost an nd vice president for acadeemic affairs att Idaho State University (ISSU). Wharton n was a tenured professor of ously served aas its chief research officer. biology at ISSU and previo His Ph.D. in botany is fro om Virginia Po olytechnic Insstitute. He alsso A. degree in biology and a B.A. in botany from Humb boldt holds a M.A State University in Califo ornia. Dr. Whaarton is a Fellow of the American A Association for the Advanceement of Scieence, the Explorers Cllub, and the R Royal Geographic Society. Wharton is aa recipient off the United SStates Antarcttic Service Meedal and has served on th he National R Research Council’s Polar Reesearch Board.

Dick Kaaiser Athleticc Director, Haardrocker Ath hletics Dr. Dickk Kaiser earneed a bachelorr's degree in p physical educcation from th he Universsity of Northeern Colorado, a master's deegree in educcational adminisstration from South Dakotta State Univeersity, and a d doctorate of educatiion in athleticc leadership aand administrration from Brigham Youngg Universsity. He comp pleted his post‐doctorate in n health educcation and adminisstration at Orregon State U University.

Kaiser is in his secon nd year at Sou uth Dakota Scchool of Minees. Previously,, Western Oreggon Universitty Kaiser sserved as the AD for Defiance College, W and Willamette Univversity. He haas received a number of ho onors and awards, including Atthletic Directo or of the yearr, from athlettic organizatio ons such as the Nationall Association of Collegiate Directors of A Athletics (NACDA A), National C Collegiate Ath hletic Associattion (NCAA), aand National Associaation of Interccollegiate Ath hletics (NAIA) along with otthers.

As AD, Kaiser is resp ponsible for leeading the ath hletics prograam through all phases of development and fosteering an envirronment of quality instruction a and high scho olarly and ath hletic achievement. He also o plays a key role in athletic fundraisingg and continu uing to build aand m maintain rela tionships with boosters an nd communitty leaders. Hee oversees all operations in n the athletic department,, including inteercollegiate atthletic sports; recruitmentt, selection, d development, and retentio on of coaches and staff; heealth o of student‐at hletes; and m management o of daily operaations.

During the firrst year of the D e job, Kaiser leed the univerrsity process o of applying fo or membership into the ranks of NCAA Div. II. The school was accepted in July, 2010 and now will begin the tthree‐year program of app proaching fulll NCAA for the 2013‐‐14 season. m membership Kaiser has two grown child K dren, Cassie aand Ryan; onee grandson, Jaack; twin gran ndsons Carso on and Caden and one g granddaughte er Lucy.