Sustainability at USD

Sustainability at USD This is the official page for the Sustainability Program at the University of South Dakota.

For more information regarding the Sustainability Program at USD please visit http://usd.edu/sustainability.

Ready to build your career? Applications are open for the National Sustainability Society (NSS) Sustainability Career Co...
09/19/2026

Ready to build your career? Applications are open for the National Sustainability Society (NSS) Sustainability Career Coaching Program! This external program pairs students with experienced sustainability leaders for valuable 1-on-1 mentorship.

Deadline: October 31, 2026
Registration is required
Use the link below to secure your spot for the January cohort today!
https://www.memberleap.com/members/forms/form.php?fid=8736979

From a USD PhD dissertation to a real-world climate solution!Meet alumna Khushboo Jain, co-founder of EarthMaze. Her bre...
09/18/2026

From a USD PhD dissertation to a real-world climate solution!
Meet alumna Khushboo Jain, co-founder of EarthMaze. Her breakthrough work at USD uses remote sensing technology to map cover crops and monitor conservation tillage, providing the crucial data agribusinesses need to scale regenerative agriculture.
Click the link to read how she brought her research to market:
[https://gp-icorps.org/more-than-just-a-paper/]

We loved having the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC) on campus to review our Sustainability Prog...
09/17/2026

We loved having the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC) on campus to review our Sustainability Program. A massive thank you to Rebecca Watts Hull, Meghann Jarchow, Jordan King and everyone, administrators, faculty, and students alike who shared their experiences with the review team. From campus tours to sunset walks at Spirit Mound, we loved showing off what makes the USD community so special.

Thank you to Kevin O’Kelley, Mark Sweeney, and Molly Rozum for their fantastic remarks at the Drowning in Dirt exhibitio...
09/15/2026

Thank you to Kevin O’Kelley, Mark Sweeney, and Molly Rozum for their fantastic remarks at the Drowning in Dirt exhibition reception! Their insights shed light on Joseph Hutton's visionary fight against soil degradation in South Dakota. If you missed the reception, you can still experience this incredible mix of history, science, and poetry yourself.

The traveling exhibit is open on the third floor of the I.D. Weeks Library through October 22nd. USD is committed to accessibility. If you need accommodations to visit, please contact the Office of Accessibility at 605-658-3745 or [email protected].

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Sustainability Department welcome event yesterevening! We had the best time ne...
09/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Sustainability Department welcome event yesterevening! We had the best time networking over Cow & Spoon ice cream, taking a guided hike and watching the sunset.
A special thanks to our volunteers who helped clear invasive trees to protect the Spirit Mounds prairie!

Do you know what makes some soils more vulnerable to wind erosion than others?That is the question Sustainability studen...
09/11/2026

Do you know what makes some soils more vulnerable to wind erosion than others?

That is the question Sustainability student Isabella Rabac is exploring through her research on soil aggregation in the Northern Great Plains.

Her research looks at what helps keep soil stable and what causes it to break down and become a source of dust.

Wind erosion can lead to topsoil loss, economic impacts, and hazards to human health. Understanding what makes soil more susceptible to wind erosion can help identify vulnerable landscapes and support better conservation and land use practices across the region.

Isabella’s research is funded by the Peter Birkeland Award from the Geological Society of America and is conducted with faculty mentor Dr. Mark Sweeney.

Research starts with a question, but its impact can reach far beyond the lab. Isabella’s work is helping us better understand the landscapes around us and how research can inform the way we protect them for the future.

Turning passion into impact! Congrats to sustainability alum Caleb Swanson on becoming a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and con...
05/17/2026

Turning passion into impact! Congrats to sustainability alum Caleb Swanson on becoming a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and continuing his journey in environmental advocacy.

Full details on link: https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fusd.edu%2Facademics%2Fcolleges-and-schools%2Fcollege-of-arts-sciences%2Fsouth-dakotan-arts-and-sciences%2Fusd-alumnus-selected-as-a-2026-knight-hennessy-scholar%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawRxp31leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehcdo-Ak-J8jHjDc0yamAXXbxstzVMQ-7WbiLA5Y5r_leEgdH8Uks5YwfskY_aem_6wwvssNZwn0geEM2Q4U1qQ&data=05%7C02%7Cirene.kamau%40coyotes.usd.edu%7Cc09a82b8cba5488f91f308deb120e098%7C9c36a7d0bf7b49919b78be91a52f0226%7C0%7C0%7C639142953930014353%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BEEJ%2FbbaTBPerJt9T5TqYgdnjYhCCoiT1ruPCPe3lrE%3D&reserved=0

Celebrating our newest alumni
05/17/2026

Celebrating our newest alumni

Celebrating our student researchers who presented at USD’s Social Science Interdisciplinary Consortium Conference! They ...
05/10/2026

Celebrating our student researchers who presented at USD’s Social Science Interdisciplinary Consortium Conference! They had excellent research presentations on cohousing, sustainability and how Gen Z envisions the future.

Mark your calendar!Join us for the Sustainability Program’s end-of-year celebration onThursday, May 7, 12:30 – 2:30 PM, ...
05/01/2026

Mark your calendar!
Join us for the Sustainability Program’s end-of-year celebration on
Thursday, May 7, 12:30 – 2:30 PM, Akeley Lawrence Science Center, Room 313

Celebrate community, connection, and the joy of sustainability with great food, trivia, and shared insights. Submit a fun fact or highlight in advance for a chance to win a special prize!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Address

414 E. Clark Street, Akeley-Lawrence Science Center
Vermillion, SD
57069

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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