Graduate students constitute approximately 10% of the student body across 57 graduate programs and 29 graduate certificates at South Dakota State University. Each graduate student engages in research and scholarly activities with the guidance of their advisor and the Graduate School personnel.
April 1-5 marks Graduate Student Appreciation Week, providing a wonderful occasion to showcase a few exceptional graduate students at SDSU and their notable achievements.
Cierra Sazue
Cierra Sazue completed her undergraduate studies at SDSU in May 2023, earning a Bachelor of Science in psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian and Indigenous studies, and a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in counseling with a specialization in school counseling.
Originally from DeSmet and the Crow Creek Reservation, Sazue’s journey to SDSU commenced at the American Indian Student Center, where she was introduced to the opportunities offered through the Wokini Initiative.
Sazue serves as the graduate student advisor for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter at SDSU. Additionally, she instructs Lakota 101 and 102 courses.
Driven by her desire to assist others, Sazue aspires to pursue a career in school counseling. Her notable accomplishments include guiding the AISES chapter to win the National Community Service Chapter of the Year award and becoming a Sequoyah fellow. She is also actively involved in promoting the Lakota language among students.
Collaborating with Nicole Lounsbery, the Director of the Graduate School, Sazue is involved in supporting Indigenous graduate students through the Supporting American Indian Graduate Enrollment and Success (SAIGES) Wokini grant.
Alexis Barnes
Alexis Barnes, hailing from Chicago, graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in geography and sustainability. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science in plant science at SDSU under the mentorship of Kristine Lang.
As a science communication fellow with the Portal to the Public and the National Science Foundation, Barnes focuses her research on clover cover crops as a living mulch for organic winter squash, broccoli, and bell pepper production. Her work aims to explore eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics, benefiting South Dakota specialty crop producers.
Barnes has presented her research findings at nearly 50 speaking engagements over two field seasons. She emphasizes the joy of sharing her research passion with farmers, Master Gardeners, and fellow researchers.
James Okechukwu Kemeshi
James Okechukwu Kemeshi hails from Owerri, Nigeria, and is a doctoral candidate in agricultural and biosystems engineering at South Dakota State University. His research concentrates on developing cost-effective unmanned ground vehicles for weed and disease detection, intending to promote sustainable agriculture practices among small-scale farmers.
Kemeshi’s fascination with agricultural robotics led him to SDSU, where he had the opportunity to construct a functional prototype of his unmanned ground vehicle. He envisions joining an agricultural robotics company post-graduation to contribute to sustainable agriculture and societal advancement.
His advisor, Young Chang, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, played a pivotal role in nurturing Kemeshi’s interest in robotics and automation.
Kemeshi encourages prospective graduate students to consider SDSU due to its cutting-edge facilities and the unwavering support available to help individuals achieve their academic and professional aspirations.