Big, and bigger things are coming out of the Great Plains! At Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota the latest focus is on cybersecurity.

As the university focuses on the future, DSU will expand its cybersecurity education and research programming. According to Government Technology, the school is partnering with the National Security Agency and investing heavily in recruiting, research, and facilities in order to build a regional hub for cybersecurity studies and workforce development.

“NSA can send researchers to work at DSU on some projects that they’re interested in, perhaps with our Applied Research Lab or one of our MadLabs,” Griffiths said, adding that DSU’s labs could serve as a focal point for collaborative research.


In December 2022, DSU was granted approval by the Board of Regents to partner with the National Security Agency through an Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA).

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The purpose of the EPA is to improve STEM education, so through this agreement, NSA innovators can provide training and mentoring to personnel in the science and technology fields. NSA may also transfer or donate laboratory equipment to public and private schools.

What does this mean for students attending DSU? A faculty member could work with a small group of students on specific research of interest to the NSA. The NSA could send researchers to work at DSU on a potential project with the Applied Research Lab or one of the MadLabs®. A Ph.D. student may partner with the NSA on their dissertation work.

Government Technology also reported that according to Griffiths, the goal of these projects and the partnership with NSA is to make DSU and its labs a regional hub for cyber education and research in the years to come.

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12 Businesses That Would Do Great in Sioux Falls' Abandoned Gordmans Building

For thirty years the people of Sioux Falls saw the sign for Gordmans off-price department store across the parking lot from the Empire Mall.

In September of 2020, the store closed for its final time. Since then the building has sat empty, something that doesn't happen too often in Sioux Falls.

We were wondering what people in Sioux Falls would like to see take over the space. Some folks wanted their Gordmans back. It was a great place to find deals on clothing. But, all the Gordmans are gone, so that's a no-go.

And since we've gotten our Chick Fil A and Chipotle, the city is primed for another thing to line up for.

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