About the Department of Mechanical Engineering
The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to provide a highly respected, rigorous, professional education for mechanical engineering students; to conduct consequential research; and to provide technical assistance to our constituents.
Instructional and Research Facilities
- Department and faculty offices and most laboratories are located in Crothers Engineering Hall.
- The Fabrication and Prototyping lab, the Engines Lab and the Capstone Design Lab are located in Chicoine Architecture, Mathematics and Engineering Hall.
Mechanical Engineering Laboratories
These labs support education and research. The instructional labs provide students with opportunities for hands-on experience in measuring important engineering parameters, testing of equipment performance, observing physical phenomena and fabricating and testing prototype designs.
Mechanical Engineering has been a part of South Dakota State since the university was established in 1881.
The programs first official academic year was 1884-1885. Mechanical Engineering was one of the five original programs of study offered at the institution. The Mechanical Engineering program was first accredited in 1936.
The Mechanical Engineering Department seeks meaningful and regular interaction with the department's constituents. Alumni and employers are important constituent groups and who can contribute valuable feedback on the program's outcomes and objectives. The purpose of the ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ Mechanical Engineering Advisory Council is to provide external input and information for the department's continuous program improvement.
- To act as an alert sounding board on M.E. professional and technical activities.
- To make suggestions to the M.E. Department on curriculum changes.
- To facilitate communication between the University and the public.
- To be a channel for the dissemination of information.
- To provide information on trends in technology, science, engineering and the workplace.
- To give direction and exchange information on economic and societal needs and changes.
- To assist the program in development of appropriate resources to maintain high quality in performing its mission.
Advisory Council Members
- Joel Bordewyk – POET, Bingham Lake, Minnesota
- Mike Brandt – 3M, Brookings
- Bart Brost – Showplace Wood Products, Harrisburg
- Troy Erickson – Daktronics, Brookings
- Steve Fink – Tessier's Inc., Sioux Falls
- Traci Geller – Xcel Energy, Minneapolis
- Darrin Hofmesiter – Crenlo Engineered Cabs, Watertown
- Jim Huls – Link Manufacturing, Sioux Center, Iowa
- Douglas Jaton – KBR at the USGS EROS Center, Sioux Falls
- Chris LeMair – HydroGreen, Sioux Falls
- John Mahoney – Twin City Fan Co., Sioux Falls
- Nate Nearman – Daktronics, Brookings
- Jon Ness – RFA Engineering, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Jason Ollerich – Ingersoll Rand, Sioux Falls
- Shaun Riedesel – Immutrix Therapeutics, Rapid City
- Jonathan Roehrl – Bobcat Company, Bismarck, North Dakota
- Sidney Smith – TSP, Sioux Falls
- Ross Wilcoxon – Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
