ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates at Winter Commencement, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center.

The ceremony is open to the public, and no tickets are required. Doors will open at least one hour before the event. The ceremony is expected to last about 90 minutes. Guests are encouraged to stay through the end to honor all graduates.

The event will also be available via livestream on the NSU Facebook page and the Graduation and Commencement webpage. Local viewers…

ABERDEEN, S.D. –

Bea Smith, who leads the Northern Innovation and Startup Center at Northern State University, is among this year’s Prairie Business 40 Under 40 honorees. The award highlights professionals making notable contributions to their organizations and communities.

Published monthly by Forum Communications' Grand Forks Herald, Prairie Business Magazine highlights business leaders and organizations across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota, covering industries such as finance, healthcare, energy, agribusiness, education, and more.…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Students in Dr. Sal Villegas’ Business Policy and Strategy class at Northern State University have earned global recognition, tying for ninth place in the GLO-BUS business strategy simulation during the week of Nov. 25–Dec. 1. Competing against 1,417 teams worldwide, the group showed impressive leadership and decision-making skills. It’s the second time in two years that Northern students have placed in the top 10 globally in this competition.

The team, known as Flair Technologies (Company F), performed strongly in several areas:

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University students and best friends Abiah George and Kayla Waltman have been accepted into the Honors Law Opportunity Program (HLOP). Both students were approved by the NSU review committee and the USD Knudson School of Law Committee.

The program, a partnership between Northern State University and the University of South 

Dakota, helps increase the number of talented and committed lawyers in northeast South Dakota. Each year, up to five students in the Northern Honors Program are guaranteed admission into the…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dr. Dan Shannahan, assistant professor of management at Northern State University, has co-authored an article in the December issue of Small Group Research. The article, titled "When Power and Expertise Collide, How Do Groups Decide?", examines how teams handle decision-making when authority and expertise conflict.

The article looks at how teams make decisions when authority and expertise are at odds. Drawing on four separate studies, the research highlights the ways groups handle these conflicts and what it means for collaboration and leadership.…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University’s first-year student retention has climbed to 77%, well above the national average for public universities of 72%.

Britt Lorenz, executive director of Student Success indicated retention is influenced by a number of factors. “From personalized academic resources to scholarship offerings, students at NSU are well-supported. The Northern experience is marked with numerous opportunities to engage with faculty, peers, and the entire campus community, helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.”

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ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University has released the results of this year’s Concerto-Aria Competition. The event highlighted the hard work and talent of students who performed a variety of impressive pieces.

The winners are:

Emily Palmer (soprano), Class of 2025, Langford, SD
Antonio Vivaldi: “Sposa son disprezzata” from Bajazet
Student of Dr. Darci Bultema

Angel Olivo Porcayo (tuba), Class of 2027, Huron, SD
Bruce Broughton: Sonata (Concerto) for Tuba
Student of Dr. Travis Netzer

Honorable mentions were awarded to Jaron…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University’s Nkemdilim Chibuko recently achieved a milestone, winning first place in the arts and humanities category at the National Collegiate Honors Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Chibuko’s research project, titled “Dehumanizing Discourse: Rwanda’s Genocide-Inciting Propaganda,” earned top recognition, highlighting her powerful work and the strength of Northern’s Honors Program.

Chibuko’s journey to this accomplishment wasn’t easy. Originally from Nigeria, she arrived at Northern feeling the weight of adjusting to a new…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dr. Marla Fogderud, associate professor of music, and guest pianist Oda Hjertine Voltersvik will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in the Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater at Northern State University. The program highlights piano and vocal works by Nordic women composers, including Elfrida Andrée, Laura Netzel, Agathe Backer Grøndahl, Inger Bang Lund, Anne-Marie Ørbeck, and Pauline Hall. This all-ages event is free and open to the public.

Originally from Bergen, Norway, Voltersvik last appeared at Northern as a soloist with…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University, in partnership with Avera, is taking a bold step forward in healthcare education with the development of an advanced simulation center.

This simulation center will be a core part of Northern’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The simulation center will be housed within the new Business and Health Innovation Center, currently under construction with a December 2025 expected completion date. The center includes six simulation suites and an eight-bed skills lab, both equipped with tools like realistic patient…