< building the best cyber anywhere />
Relentless minds.
Next-level facilities.
Dynamic partners.
All united by one revolutionary vision.
That’s how Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, is accelerating the future of cyber everywhere.
DSU’S Cyber Mission
DSU is a special focus STEM university with an emphasis in computing information technologies and cybersecurity. Through our close-knit learning community, we’ve established ourselves as a national leader in innovative higher education.
The next chapter for us is even bigger. New projects funded and in process include the extension of DSU’s Applied Research Corporation (ARC) to a new facility in Sioux Falls, expansion of the number of graduates from The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences, and the launch of the statewide Governors Cyber Academy, a 9-12 cyber education program.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & AWARDS
We’re making waves and making it happen, measuring our wins by the success of our students and faculty. These are just a few of the biggest things Trojans are doing.
DSU, ARMYCYBER SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The partnership will promote joint research programs and projects to help define future cyber career paths and protect our nation.
NSA CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBER DEFENSE, RESEARCH & CYBER OPERATIONS
DSU is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), Center of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R), and Center of Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
DSU SECURES $90M PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR CYBERSECURITY (2022)
The new initiative includes a new cybersecurity research center in Sioux Falls and a push to expand their role as a key contributor to national security and defense.
US CYBER TEAM TAKES 3RD AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The U.S. Cyber Team – featuring three Dakota State University Trojans – won third place in the first-ever International Cybersecurity Challenge.
PRESIDENT GRIFFITHS ONE OF 50 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN AI
Dakota State University President José-Marie Griffiths has been named to the InspiredMinds! Community’s top 50 most influential women in 2022. These women represent businesses, government agencies, and academia from across the world.
DSU ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH NSA (2023)
In 2023, Dakota State University announced a partnership with the National Security Agency to enhance the resources and collaboration with both parties.
DR. ASHLEY PODHRADSKY FEATURED AT Smithsonian
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky was one of 120 women featured at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., for Women’s History Month in 2022. The exhibit honors women making an impact in STEM fields.
Facilities
Cutting-edge classrooms. Next-level research labs. We’ve invested in dynamic spaces for learning and growth. Now, we’re growing our footprint and setting our sights on the next big thing.
THE BEACOM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MADISON)
Opened in 2017, the Beacom Institute of Technology is DSU’s home for all things cyber. This 31,300-square-foot building is the engine for DSU’s 88.5% placement rate among The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Science graduates. Here, students and faculty work in state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces designed specifically for the needs of cybersecurity and other tech-intensive programs. Counting both undergraduate and graduate students, The Beacom College has more than 1,300 students.
DSU MADISON CYBER LABS (MADISON)
Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs®) is an advanced hub for research, development, and economic opportunity at DSU. This 40,000-square-foot building is one of few buildings in the country that combines all facets of cybersecurity research on a university campus. With cybersecurity and cyber operations in mind, MadLabs® contains a secure lab, 15 labs, and 2 institutes allowing students and faculty researchers to pursue work that's critical to the growth of the cyber universe.
APPLIED RESEARCH LAB (SIOUX FALLS)
Set to open in 2026, the Applied Research Lab will be a national resource for private and public cybersecurity contractors. The highly specialized facility will be home to 400+ full-time jobs. Its home is Sioux Falls, one of the fastest growing metros in the Midwest, and the #1 city in the country for young professionals.
WORKING ON THE CUTTING EDGE
< Careers at Dakota State University />
Dynamic minds united by a passion for learning and teaching: that’s what makes us revolutionary. Our faculty work in a close-knit, collaborative environment where thoughts and passions are easily shared. We’re small enough where your ideas can be heard, with enough resources to do great things with them.
LEADERSHIP, PROFESSORS & FACULTY
When you work at Dakota State, you become part of our Trojan family. We are caring, family-oriented, united, and inclusive. From training sessions to benefit packages, we strive to ensure our employees have what they need to succeed in their career – and their personal lives. In our dynamic, driven community, you’ll have optimal chances to excel in your career.
José-Marie Griffiths
President
Mary Bell
Dean, Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
Pat Engebretson
Beacom Liaison for Rising II Initiatives and Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Cyber Operations
Ashley Podhradsky
VP for Research & Economic Development
Joel Wohnoutka
Executive Director of Applied Research Lab
Kyle Cronin
Associate Professor
Kathy Engbrecht
Instructor
Tyler Flaagan
Assistant Professor
Tom Halverson
Associate Dean of The Beacom Undergraduate Programs
Michael Ham
Associate Professor
Andrew Kramer
Assistant Professor
Stephen Krebsbach
Professor / Coordinator for Ph.D. in Computer Science Program
Jason Mixon
Instructor
Kanthi Narukonda
Instructor
Austin O’Brien
Associate Professor/Coordinator for M.S. in Computer Science
Robert Richardson
Instructor
Mark Spanier
Associate Professor
Jennifer Schulte
Instructor
Varghese Vaidyan
Assistant Professor
Yong Wang
Professor / Associate Dean of The Beacom Graduate Programs
Cody Welu
Assistant Professor
Shawn Zwach
Assistant Professor
Peter Hoesing
Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development
OPEN POSITIONS
AT DSU
in the news
Transcript: The Futurist Summit: The New Age of Tech: Managing Economic Disruption
Dakota State celebrates 40 years of STEM mission and envisions 40 years into future
José-Marie Griffiths honored as USA TODAY’s Woman of the Year for South Dakota
Dr. Jose Marie Griffiths Discusses Tech Workforce on the NatSec Tech Podcast
SiouxFalls.Business: Summer Exchange Program Provides AI Workplace Skills to American, Swedish Students
Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, Unleashing America's Cyber Talent
Cybersecurity in Precision Agriculture: Safeguarding America's Connected Fields
National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program Showcase Highlights Program’s Success and Impact
CREATING YOUR CYBER FUTURE
< the student perspective />
Here, it’s not just about what you learn. It’s the environment you learn in. Hear from two DSU students about why they chose Madison. First, Ann Scripture, a cyber operations student, shares the story of what led her to DSU, and how a welcoming community makes a world of difference. Followed by Janessa Palmeri, a SFS CyberCorps Scholar, explains how she’s found opportunities she never thought possible.
FActs & Stats
In 2022, we conducted a survey of Trojan alums, gathering information about salary, job satisfaction and more insights into the professional world of cyber. Here are the highlights, along with more facts about DSU.
COMPUTER &
CYBER SCIENCES
TO
FACULTY RATIO
AID AWARDED
(2021)
LIKE OR LOVE
THEIR CURRENT JOB
GET A JOB IN THEIR
FIELD OF CHOICE
THEM FURTHER
THEIR EXPERTISE
THEM EARN
A HIGHER WAGE
ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN CYBERSECURITY
How satisfied are you with the education you received AT DSU?
How likely are you to recommend a program from DSU to a colleague, friend or family member?
A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you join the Trojans, you either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
B.S. IN cyber operations
DSU's Cyber Operations program shows you how to discover and investigate attacks like data breaches, malware infections, and software vulnerabilities. This degree is also part of our 4+1 Program, which means you can complete your BS in Cyber Operations and your MS in Computer Science in just five years.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
M.S. IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (MSAI)
The MSAI program equips graduates with advanced knowledge for excelling in AI. Its curriculum covers core AI foundations, including computer science, math, and contemporary models. As one of the few online master’s degrees in AI, this program provides a solid foundation in programming and algorithms, along with expertise in data science, computer vision, and natural language processing for practical applications in various sectors.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
PH.D. IN CYBER OPERATIONS
Gain a foundation in cyber operations while specializing in data collection, software exploitation, analysis of malicious code, and reverse engineering. Our PhD in Cyber Operations is a technical program grounded in computer science with an emphasis in cyber security.
Helping You Reach the Next Level
What’s the DSU difference? Next-level access to cutting edge technologies, all in a close-knit learning community. When you become a Trojans, either online or on campus, you’ll shape tomorrow with today’s latest tech. That’s why 99% of our grads find a job or go on to post-graduate education – we prepare them for what’s next.
2022 CYBER GAMES
In 2022, four DSU Trojans represented the US Cyber Team in the first-ever International Cybersecurity Competition, with three making the trip to Athens, Greece. For two days, they competed with teams from around the world, representing the United States on the highest stage.
the winning mindset
Inter-collegiate competitions are just one way our students shine. Here’s a sample of the hardware Trojans have brought home in the past few years.
1st Hivestorm 2020
1st MetaCTFs’s CyberGames 2020
1st CUCTF 2020
1st MetaCTF’s CyberGames 2019
2nd National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition 2022
2nd Place eSentinal North American Open 2021
3rd National Cyber League 2020
3rd CAE in Cybersecurity Outreach Competition 2021
YOUR CYBER PARTNER
< connecting for smarter cyber & better graduate outcomes />
Outside partners come to DSU because of our graduates. The breadth of our students’ training – across six programs related to computer science, cyber operations and artificial intelligence – means our grads hit the ground running. That’s why we work closely with the Department of Homeland Security, US National Science Foundation, and a regional health care leader, among others. By creating more jobs in South Dakota, we’re able to keep our grads closer to home.
EVOLVING HIGHER EDUCATION
President Griffiths shares her vision for public-private partnerships, and how cyber isn’t an industry unto itself, but a vital tool across across every industry.
Partner Highlights
National Security Agency
Dakota State University partners with the National Security Agency through an Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA). According to Dr. Pat Engebretson, Beacom Liaison for Rising II Initiatives and Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. inCyber Operations, “An EPA is an agreement between NSA and an education institution to transfer or enhance technology and provide technical assistance to the institution.”
ARMYCYBER
In June of 2023, DSU and ArmyCyber (ARCYBER) reached an agreement to promote joint research, collaboration and additional educational programs between the two organizations.
"We are proud and excited to broaden our relationship with Dakota State University," said Lt. Gen Maria Barrett, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cyber Command. "DSU's students and faculty have proven to be innovative, skilled, and forward-thinking — just the kind of talented, focused, and driven young minds our nation needs in its cyber workforce…”
Sanford Health
Brad Reimer, Chief Information Officer at Sanford Health, on the organizations’ strategic alignment: “DSU educates some of the most in-demand students for national security agencies and large tech companies around the world. Sanford Health’s robust investments in healthcare technology, research and innovation offer an ideal platform for the partnership.
Initially, our alliance will focus on Sanford Health’s and DSU’s well-matched present needs and interests, including talent acquisition, development and retention.”
advantages of south dakota
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