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Jiyoung Kim, a program assistant with the Department of Natural Resource Management, has been named South Dakota State University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for January. 

She will be honored at a reception held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in the atrium of the Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Lab. 

Kim has worked in the department for the past eight years. 

“Jiyoung Kim is an indispensable and outstanding member of our main office staff in the Department of Natural Resource Management,” said Michele Dudash, professor and head of the Department of Natural Resource Management. “Since arriving in the department eight years ago, Jiyoung’s skill set has grown, and she is responsible for many critical tasks within the department.” 

Not only does Kim work in the main office, but she also assists other staff and faculty with tasks within the Department of Natural Resource Management. 

Joshua Leffler, associate professor and assistant department head, said, “In reality, everyone in the department works closely with Jiyoung, but I have worked with her specifically on our Assessment Committee, on multiple faculty searches and our recently completed internal program review. In every instance, she is skilled, organized and professional.” 

Leffler also said that Kim’s computer and technical expertise are where she really shines. 

“Jiyoung is a model employee and goes above and beyond in her job on a daily basis. She is constantly professional, loved by her colleagues and those of us who depend on her, and valued by the students of the department,” Leffler added. 

Steven Chipps, professor and leader of the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, said Kim served as the administrative specialist for the unit from 2017 until 2021, assisting with a variety of administrative job duties. 

“A large part of her responsibilities included working with both the university and the federal government as part of the cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and South Dakota State University. These dual ‘duties’ required someone who was proficient at a myriad of tasks,” Chipps said. 

“Jiyoung not only embraced her new duties with the co-op unit but excelled at keeping our office environment vibrant and providing creative and innovative ways to solve problems and enhance efficiency. She is exceptionally organized and exhibits a sincere dedication to any task at hand,” he added. “In my view, South Dakota State University is extremely fortunate to have Jiyoung Kim as part of its workforce.” 

Kim is originally from Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Brookings in 2016 shortly before joining the Department of Natural Resource Management at ������Ƶ. She and her husband have a son, and she enjoys supporting him in his activities, like hockey, violin and debate. 

“There have been many changes within the department over the past years, but I am very grateful to be working for the department. The people I work with are open-minded and supportive of each other. I feel more welcomed here than anywhere else,” Kim said. 

Kim expressed gratitude especially for Dudash, who she said is practically a member of her family and acts like a “local grandma” to her son and cheers him on at his events. 

All ������Ƶ Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.