A Message from the SMSU President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I am very happy to tell you that SMSU students will soon benefit from a $3 million investment made by North Star Mutual Insurance Company of Cottonwood, MN. This investment will provide funding for programs in the School of Business and create a new scholarship program at SMSU. In recognition for making the largest donation to an academic program ever, the School of Business will now be named the North Star Mutual School of Business. Thank you to North Star Mutual and their leadership team for this amazing investment in SMSU students.

Other efforts to provide enhanced opportunities for SMSU students also got a much needed boost leading in to our new academic year. Thanks to several donors and a special matching equipment grant from the Minnesota State system, nearly $400,000 in new equipment was purchased for several academic programs. We also made facility investments last summer that included new turf at the Schwan Regional Event Center and renovations to the pool in the Don Palm Natatorium. Watch for more information about these projects as you explore the stories in this edition of Focus.

These examples of investing in our campus and our students are just a few of the things our faculty and staff work on every day. All with the same goal in mind. To develop, prepare, and engage students through classroom and experiential opportunities while they are attending SMSU. Thank you all for your support of these efforts.

Best wishes,

Kumara Jayasuriya

President Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya

Vice President of Government Relations, Communications and Marketing

Bill Mulso ’93

Executive Director, SMSU Foundation

Nathan Polfliet ’00/MS ’11

Senior Director, Alumni Relations and Outreach

Dr. Stacy Frost ’93

Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, Writer and Designer

Marcy D. Olson ’93/MBA ’05

Photography

Adam Henning ‘11/MBA ’14

Contributors

Kelly Loft ’97/MS ’11

Jen Flowers

Dave Werpy

Graduate Assistants

Alumni

Maria Valentin ‘22

Communications & Marketing

Annika Freiburger ‘21

Juliana Villa ‘22

Send correspondence and story ideas to: SMSU FOCUS, Founders Hall 20 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258

Contact the Editor: Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu or 507-537-7374

Volume 42, Issue 1. Feb. 2023.

All cities and towns are located in Minnesota unless noted.

Year(s) after names reference degrees awarded by SMSU. Year of undergraduate degree listed first. Year of advanced degree listed after MBA/MS. FOCUS (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by the Office of Communications & Marketing at SMSU. Opinions expressed in FOCUS do not necessarily reflect official University policy.

To make name/address corrections, call 507-537-6266 or email alumni@SMSU.edu. Feature stories may be reprinted with the written permission of SMSU. Other articles may be reprinted without permission provided that credit is given to SMSU.

This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Request by calling 507-537-6255, 800-260-0970, or via the Minnesota Relay Service at 800-627-3529.

Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. ADA Accessible.

A member of the Minnesota State system.