A Message from the SMSU President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

It is my hope you are having a wonderful summer and enjoying time with family and friends. As the summer days pass by quickly, I wanted to provide some updates from SMSU. In May, we honored the graduating Class of 2023 during our 55th commencement ceremony. I want to express my gratitude to Haywood Boston, Jr. ‘78 for delivering this year’s speech. His Southwest Story reflected our dedication to nurturing individuals, helping them receive a comprehensive education, and building a diverse skill set, all while embracing the core values of the Mustang family.

Throughout the summer, our dedicated staff and faculty are preparing our facilities and classrooms for the arrival of our new cohort of Mustangs this fall. The many projects underway across campus include implementing state-of-the-art classroom technology, completing renovations to the kitchen in Clapper Hall, refinishing the PE Gym floor, and establishing a new meeting space in CC 202 for our Admission staff to interact with prospective and incoming students. These updates are truly transforming our campus! I encourage you to come and witness these remarkable changes firsthand. In addition to the facilities, we are making improvements to the visitor experience. Now, when you visit our campus as a guest, you will no longer be required to obtain a parking pass. This is one more way we are making our campus more accessible and available to all visitors.

In our ongoing commitment to building a more robust environment at SMSU, I’m incredibly excited to share that SMSU was the only university in the Minnesota State System to have increased enrollment for the summer session. This achievement is a testament to our collective efforts and dedication to providing an exceptional educational environment.

Everyone on campus is looking forward to a great fall semester. We have multiple activities planned for our incoming students, returning alumni, and visiting friends. In keeping with our longstanding tradition of nurturing the next generation of leaders, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Alumni Awards (page #). Alumni achievement, honorary lifetime memberships, and service award recipients will be honored during Homecoming. The remarkable accomplishments of these individuals serve as a shining example for our current students to follow. I invite you to join me in congratulating this year’s honorees. I look forward to welcoming you back to campus for Homecoming on October 14th. Go MUSTANGS!

All the best,

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

Marcy D. Olson ’93/MBA ’05

Design & Photography

Maddy Groff Contributors

Kelly Loft ’97/MS ’11

Graduate Assistants

Alumni

Maria Valentin ‘22

Communications & Marketing

Annika Freiburger ‘21/ ‘23

Juliana Villa ‘22

Foundation

Elaina Leach ‘23

Send 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 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 and Alumni & Foundation 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.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2023 SNAPSHOTS FROM COMMENCEMENT ON MAY 6, 2023