A new president has been sworn in at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. In pomp and circumstance, the governor and lawmakers, much of the state education community, and the student body came to welcome the new face of the school.
Steve Elliott formally took the reigns at BHSU at a special inauguration ceremony where he shared his priorities and optimism for the institution’s future.
For Elliott, who has a background in the United States Marine Corps and as a professor and vice president of academic affairs at Wayne State in Nebraska, BH is an up-and-coming institution.
“I am proud of the progress we’ve made together as an institution and as a system we’ve made in South Dakota," Elliott said. "One of the most pressing issues in higher education is enrollment, and Black Hills State is no exception. Our new integrated marketing campaign which Gov. Rhoden mention earlier is focused on brand awareness, digital outreach, social media and search engine optimization. Industry standard things that we need to do.”
Further, he has the approval of Gov. Larry Rhoden, who said BH holds a special place in his heart.
“I got to meet once again Steve Elliott, and every time we’ve met, I’ve been more impressed," Rhoden said. "As governor of this state, I care about all the communities, but as a West River rancher I might be a wee bit more partial to this part of the state. I want all of our universities to do well, but I especially want Black Hills State to do well.”
Previously, there have been talks of potentially closing the 142-year-old institution. However, enrollment increases have kept the university alive into the 2020s.