North Dakota State University Foundation has announced the establishment of the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture endowment. The endowment, created by the Peltier family, longtime benefactors and supporters of higher education in North Dakota, will provide flexible funding for agricultural initiatives at NDSU. Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for agriculture, will be the inaugural holder of the endowment. The Peltier family has a tradition of supporting NDSU, including scholarships, awards, and the construction of the Peltier Complex, an agriculture facility opening this summer. The endowment's principal is commingled with other endowed assets of the NDSU Foundation, and 4% of the annual earnings will be available for spending [a874561a].
North Dakota's Legacy Fund has invested over $395 million in-state as of December 31, 2023. The Legacy Fund's assets are invested in North Dakota through the Bank of North Dakota (BND) and the North Dakota Growth Fund (NDGF). The in-state investment program aims to diversify the state's economy, create jobs, and retain entrepreneurs. The Legacy Fund has also invested $258 million in BND's MATCH program, $49 million through BND's Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund, and $89 million in private equity investments through NDGF. North Dakota's in-state investment total compares favorably to other rural states with similar economies and populations [c6214442].
Tom Stenvig, an associate professor and Ph.D. program director at South Dakota State University (SDSU), has announced his retirement after a 53-year career in nursing and education. Stenvig's career began in the mid-1960s, and he served in the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War era and the Indian Health Service (IHS), where he focused on improving community-based programs for Native Americans. He obtained a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and chaired the nursing department at Presentation College before joining SDSU in 2001. At SDSU, Stenvig played a key role in developing the university's Ph.D. program in nursing and securing grants for Native American nursing students. He has received numerous awards for his service and contributions to the nursing profession. Stenvig's retirement plans include gardening and spending time with his family, but he remains passionate about nursing and may return to SDSU in the future. Sarah Mollman will succeed Stenvig as the Ph.D. program director [38f0e935].