Office of the President

Appointed in 2007, President David L. Chicoine ’69 is the third alumnus to sit in the South Dakota State University president’s office. It was at State that he met his wife, Marcia, whom President Chicoine spotted in an English class to which he claims perfect attendance—after he noticed her there first, that is.

President Chicoine spent the majority of his 30 years away from State in higher education at the University of Illinois, where he held administrative posts, including Vice President of Technology and Economic Development and Dean of the College of Agriculture.

While vice president at the University of Illinois, President Chicoine helped launch IllinoisVENTURES, LLC, a seed and early-stage technology investment firm. He also reached new milestones each year in restructuring the university’s technology licensing offices.

As its dean, President Chicoine transformed the College of Agriculture, leaving it with seven academic departments and an Information Technology unit in place of the previous 14 administrative units. He raised $134 million in private gifts (surpassing the campaign’s goal of $115 million) and increased the endowment to $60 million.

Of the eight siblings in President Chicoine’s family, five attended State, including President Chicoine and his brother Jeff, who finished school here the year before him. When President Chicoine graduated, he did so alongside former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle and several men and women who work at South Dakota State today.

At State, President Chicoine also met longtime friend and colleague Robert Todd, with whom he worked with almost 30 years at the University of Illinois.

The president and his wife, Marcia, live in Woodbine Cottage. Their family includes son Joshua, a Chicago-based musician; daughter-in-law Laura Ellsworth; granddaughter Sylvie; and their late son Jason. President Chicoine is the 19th president of the University and the 17th to live in the cottage.