SDSU VP Tschetter to retire

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BROOKINGS – Longtime South Dakota State University employee vice president Wesley Tschetter has announced his plans to retire from the university in June. Tschetter has been employed by the State of South Dakota since the early 1970s and began his career at SDSU in 1982.

“I have had an exciting career in several financial and managerial roles during the past 36 years as chief financial officer for South Dakota State University. My experiences have been motivating and professionally rewarding,” Tschetter said. “In 1982, President Sherwood Berg asked me come to SDSU to lead the SDSU finance functions in the capacity of director of finance and budget, which today is a vice president-level position. I have been honored to be a part of the senior management team during the entire 36-year time.”

In addition to leading the financial affairs of the university, the vice president of finance and business leads human resources, facilities management and the university’s auxiliary functions.

Tschetter came to State after a 10-year career in the South Dakota Legislative Research Council, where he served as director his final seven years. In his legislative staff position, he drafted the consolidated employee retirement law that became the South Dakota Retirement System.

He has served on numerous administrative committees including the president’s senior leadership team and the board of governors for the SDSU Foundation and council of trustees. Since 1985, he has been a member of the board of directors and secretary to the State College Development Association, a property acquisition arm of South Dakota State. He developed and implemented the university property acquisition plan. In the past 15 years, he has also served on more than two dozen university and college accreditation site visit teams for the Higher Learning Commission. 

Tschetter served on the Brookings School Board, Brookings Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the chamber’s government affairs committee, South Dakota Cement Plant Commission, the State Investment Council, the boards of the Brookings-based Advance and its foundation, and for 17 years on the board of trustees of the South Dakota Retirement System.

During a time when SDSU’s enrollment has nearly doubled, Tschetter led the financial planning of dozens of new academic programs and campus building construction and renovation projects, including $175 million investments in student residence halls, the University Student Union, the Wellness Center and the food service system.

In 1987, Tschetter started what has become the Brookings/SDSU Day at the South Dakota Legislature.

“Wes has a long and distinguished career at SDSU and within the state of South Dakota,” said SDSU President Barry Dunn. “He has been involved in many transformational moments and initiatives that have helped define the importance and impact of higher education to the citizens of South Dakota and beyond. He will be missed, but all of us at South Dakota State University wish him well in his retirement.”

Tschetter graduated from State in 1969 with a degree in engineering. He earned a master of business administration from the University of South Dakota. His wife, Lois, is a graduate of SDSU and currently serves as a faculty member and interim associate dean for undergraduate nursing in the College of Nursing. Wes and Lois have three children: Paul, Jane Lucas and Emily Willett.