Dr. John Helsdon has been appointed to serve as Dean of Graduate Education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Dr. Helsdon has been a member of the School of Mines family for more than 28 years, serving as a faculty member, research scientist, and director of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences. In addition, he has taught graduate courses in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences for more than 26 years. Dr. Helsdon's academic and professional expertise includes the areas of cloud physics and atmospheric electricity. His research has focused on the numerical modeling of thunderstorm electrification and lightning. He has mentored numerous graduate students during his tenure at the School of Mines and has a deep understanding in the area of graduate education.
As dean, Dr. Helsdon will focus on increasing the national and international recognition of the university's 17 graduate science and engineering programs. In cooperation with faculty in these programs, he will work to significantly increase the enrollment of and support for graduate students at the university.
Graduate education includes master's programs in atmospheric sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, geology and geological engineering, materials engineering and science, mechanical engineering, paleontology and technology management; and Ph.D. programs in atmospheric and environmental sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical and biological engineering, geology and geological engineering, materials engineering and science and nanoscience and nanoengineering.
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