Charlene Wolf-Hall to retire at end of academic year

Charlene Wolf-Hall, dean of the College of Natural Sciences at South Dakota State University, announced today that she will retire from her position at the end of the academic year.

Wolf-Hall came to SDSU in 2019 as the college’s first dean after the Department of Biology and Microbiology, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Department of Physics and the Department of Geography combined from multiple colleges to form the College of Natural Sciences.

“The impact of Charlene’s leadership on the College of Natural Sciences will be felt for many years to come,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis Hedge said. “She has laid a foundation for long-term success that will see the college continue to ascend with strong and innovative academic programs and advance as a leader in research and discovery aimed at solving scientific challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Among her many accomplishments, Wolf-Hall helped endow the College of Natural Sciences’ Founders Fund to create strategic investments funds through the dean’s office for innovative ideas. Her fundraising efforts included updates to the Aamlid Family Human Anatomy Lab and the hiring of the college’s first endowed professorship with the Richard and Janice Vetter Endowed Associate Professor in Biotechnology.

Wolf-Hall also formed a student success team and a research success team as part of the college’s shared governance process. Among her endeavors to advance the college’s academic mission, Wolf-Hall led the effort to develop and launch a professional sciences master’s program.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to lead the College of Natural Sciences as the founding dean and work with many talented and wonderful people,” Wolf-Hall said. “As a team we made tremendous strides in the college to grow and advance our academic mission and attract faculty and students who want to advance science for the betterment of society. I am looking forward to continuing that work while we complete this academic year before turning my attention to the next chapter in my life.”

Prior to coming to SDSU, Wolf-Hall served as the vice provost for academic affairs at North Dakota State University. She held various roles prior to that at NDSU dating back to 1996.

A search for the next dean of the college will begin this semester.