South Dakota in the Science Olympiad

South Dakota has participated as a member of the National Science Olympiad State Tournaments since its earliest days in 1984/85. (History of the National Science Olympiad - Wikipedia entry).

For a long time, the SD Science Olympiad was conducted through the University of South Dakota ("USD") College of Education. 
Recently, the organization was moved to the College of Arts & Sciences at USD, where it remains to this day. 

South Dakota Science Olympiad State Directors

Term

Name

1984 - Spring 1997

Dr. Paul B. Otto [1933-2017] 
Professor of Science Education 
​School of Education
*FOUNDING DIRECTOR

Professor Emeritus (1997)

Fall 1997 - Spring 1999

Dr. Roger Ray Parsons
School of Education

Fall 1999 - Spring 2004
(Mentor for Fall 2004 - Spring 2005)

Dr. Marie Steckelberg
Professor
School of Education

Currently a consultation expert at 
Steckelberg Consulting, LLC.

Fall 2004 - Spring 2022
(Mentor for Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)

Mr. Clark Bennett
Instructor
Department of Mathematics

Fall 2022 - current

Dr. James Tracy
Lecturer
Physics Department