“Working together, we will significantly enhance the School of Mines’ reputation and contribute robustly to the economic development of South Dakota,” said Dr. Robert Wharton, selected as the school’s 18th president.
Named to the presidency in February, Wharton will take office July 1.
He called the Rapid City institution on “elite, world-class university,” with a heritage of excellence in “preparing students to serve as leaders in the professions of engineering and science.”
Wharton added he considers himself fortunate to be stepping into his position following Dr. Charles Ruch’s strong, five years as president.
The new president has been provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Idaho State University. He holds a Ph.D. in botany from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. His wife, Dr. Carolyn Fassi Wharton, has 20 years of experience working in health care administration at federal, state, and local levels.
Board of Regents member Randy Morris chaired a 17-member search committee that went to work in December. “It was an exhaustive process with probably the best qualified applicants I’ve seen, and Dr. Wharton stood out above all of them,” Morris said. “He brings all kinds of expertise, including economic development, and a background and contacts that will contribute to the underground lab’s development.”
The search committee represented a wide cross-section of the Black Hills and School of Mines communities.
