Students who major in biology prepare themselves for careers in areas such as teaching, research, industry, medicine, dentistry, medical technology, physical therapy, and environmental biology.

Graduates of the biology department have been very successful in gaining admission into prestigious graduate and professional schools, such as Vanderbilt, Cornell, Michigan State, UC Davis, Oregon Health Sciences University, the University of Chicago, and Penn State. In fact, our students’ acceptance rate to medical school is nearly twice the national average.

Our graduates have gone on to distinguish themselves in a variety of fields related to biology, including the health professions. Recent graduates have found employment at Duke University Medical Center, Sanford Research, the University of Washington Children’s Hospital and the South Dakota Department of Health, to name just a few.

The following sample of alumni provides an indication of the careers pursued and positions achieved by our graduates. It is a mere snapshot in time, as well-educated, capable and successful professionals sometimes change jobs and even careers. In fact, it is often their liberal arts education that gives them that flexibility and versatility.

Dr. Maria Bell ’84
Sioux Falls, SD
Director of Gynecologic Oncology
Sanford Health

Angela Peck Campbell '93
Seattle, Washington
Pediatrics—Division of Infectious Diseases
University of Washington

Dr. Lon Kightlinger '77
Pierre, SD
State Epidemiologist
South Dakota Dept of Health

Ellen Holste '03
East Lansing, MI
Graduate study
Michigan State University Department of Forestry

Dr. Patrick Casey '78
Chapel Hill, NC
Pharmacology/Cancer Biology Professor
Duke University Medical Center

Dr. Joy Buswell Zedler '64
Madison, WI
Aldo Leopold Chair in Restoration Ecology
University of Wisconsin

Dr. Nancy N Nichols '87
Peoria, Illinois
Microbiologist, Bioenergy Research Unit
United States Department of Agriculture

Chad Backsen '08
Sioux Falls, SD
Biology Teacher
Roosevelt HS

Elizabeth Davis '08
Vermillion, SD
MD/Ph. D. Program
University of South Dakota

Bartholomew (Bart) Johnson '08
Minneapolis, MN
Dentistry Program
University of Minnesota

Anders (AJ) Davidson '08
Omaha, NE
Medical School
Creighton University

Dr. Jesse Munkvold '01
Ithaca, NY
Postdoctoral Researcher
Cornell University

Dr. David Olson '71
Edmonton Alberta
Director of Perinatal Research
University of Alberta