BROOKINGS – Shawn Helmbolt ’02/M.S. ’07 has been named South Dakota State University’s director of admissions following a national search.
A veteran of the Office of Admissions, Helmbolt recently served nine months as the office’s interim director and has been its assistant director since April 2007.
“I am truly honored to be selected as the director of admissions at South Dakota State University and am excited to collaborate with our tremendous faculty, staff and students across the university to positively impact recruitment and enrollment at SDSU,” he said. “I firmly believe in the mission, vision and values of SDSU as a land-grant institution, and the great impact the university can have on our community, region and world.
“Through my many years on campus, I’ve seen firsthand the positive experiences the university can provide for our students,” Helmbolt continued. “I look forward to the opportunity of leading high quality and innovative recruitment and enrollment efforts that will ultimately produce the next generations of Jackrabbits.”
“I have enjoyed working with Shawn this past year as interim director. He has served the university well during this transition, implementing new ideas and increasing the collaboration between Admissions and departments across the university,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Michaela Willis.
As the interim director, Helmbolt has led efforts to award incoming student scholarships earlier, increased recruitment efforts in Nebraska and Iowa, designed program specific visit opportunities and worked with University Marketing and Communications to create a new admissions website and site for admitted students as well as increasing the university’s social media presence.
Helmbolt completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at SDSU in 2002 and his Master of Science degree at SDSU in counseling and human resource development – student affairs administration in 2007.
“It truly is special to serve as director of admissions at my alma mater,” Helmbolt said. “Those connected to SDSU as alumni have such an unparalleled pride for our university, for Brookings and for the Jackrabbit family. I share those same feelings. The opportunity to work each day at a place you feel so connected to, and ultimately share with so many the positive attributes that make this place great, is a significant opportunity that I’m very excited about.”
SDSU photo
