By Scout Nelson
South Dakota State University named longtime administrator and faculty member Greg Heiberger as dean of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College following a national search. Heiberger will assume the permanent role on Feb. 22 after serving as interim dean since May of the previous year.
Before his appointment, Heiberger served as associate dean of academics and student success in the College of Natural Sciences and was a tenured associate professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology. His career at SDSU spanned more than two decades and included leadership roles in academics, student affairs, and curriculum development.
“Dr. Heiberger has proven himself to be a strong and collaborative leader throughout his time at South Dakota State University,” said Dennis Hedge, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Greg’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary connections and expansion of student opportunities will be pivotal during this next exciting era of the Fishback Honors College.”
Heiberger earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in counseling and human resource development with a student affairs specialization from SDSU. He later earned his Ph.D. in education and human resource studies with a university leadership specialization from Colorado State University.
His professional background included five years in student affairs and 10 years as a pre-med advisor and instructor. Since 2017, he had served as coordinator of the accelerated master’s program in human biology. In 2020, he was appointed as associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences.
“I am so humbled to be chosen as the next leader of the Fishback Honors College, and I look forward to continuing to work with students, faculty, administrators, alumni and friends as we forge a successful future in honors together,” Heiberger said.
Heiberger’s research work included a social listening study on STEM career sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as principal investigator for the National Science Foundation-funded project titled The Wokini Undergraduate Biology Education Network.
Throughout his career, Heiberger regularly led study abroad programs, oversaw student success initiatives, mentored honors students, and was repeatedly recognized for his teaching and leadership contributions within the Honors College.
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Categories: South Dakota, Education