Being a former SDSU graduate himself, President Chicoine says he knows where the college stands and in what direction it needs to go. So as numbers in South Dakota continue to decrease, one of his main goals for the upcoming years is to get SDSU on the map and known across the nation.

"Together we can make that which seems impossible possible," stated SDSU President David Chicoine in his opening statements. 

President Chicoine made his opening comments realizing there's a trend affecting not only the school, but the state of South Dakota as a whole. As the number of young adults in South Dakota is decreasing, so is the number of students attending SDSU.

"One of the things we can do is to bring students from outside of South Dakota here because we have an opportunity to add to the workforce and the knowledge workers of tomorrow by having students join us from throughout the region," said President Chicoine.

Business leaders in South Dakota say President Chicoine's plan is essential to keeping the workforce strong.

"Not only maintain but to grow the student base here. Workforce development is one of the keys to our states prosperity," said Dana Dykhouse, President of First Premier Bank and a SDSU alum.

In order to make SDSU a more attractive option for out of state students, Chicoine says emphasis will need to be put on the colleges unique programs, such as agriculture, physics and microbiology.

"The over arching goal is to build on our strength to ensure that South Dakota State becomes nationally distinct and known for things that we do very well," stated President Chicoine.

Under new leadership and a new set of goals, some say anything is possible.

"This University is prepared to go even higher. It's on an excellent trajectory and I think we'll see even greater things in the future," stated Dykhouse.

"Together we can achieve the high aspirations for South Dakota State and build a better South Dakota," said President Chicoine.

Chicoine has spent the past 30 years working in higher education at the University of Illinois - Champaign.

He is only the third alumnae to become a president of SDSU.