Patricia ("Pat") G. Mahon

Vice-President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

501 East St. Joseph Street

394-2416

Patricia.Mahon@sdsmt.edu

Patricia ("Pat") G. Mahon is the Vice-President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) in Rapid City. She assumed this role in August of 2000. Her responsibilities include the coordination of the division of Student Affairs (Residence Life, Counseling and ADA Services, Student Activities and Leadership Center, Ivanhoe International Center, Multicultural Affairs, and Career Planning, Placement and Cooperative Education. She also works with childcare services, health services, judicial affairs and campus ministries. Her major role is that of student advocate and she strives to be accessible, aware and proactive in this capacity. Pat serves on the Executive Council and numerous campus committees.

During her years at the SDSM&T she has worked extensively with the planning and implementation of renovations in the Surbeck Student Center and the construction of a new residence hall that opened in the fall of 2004. She is the co-chair of the Campuses Community Prevention Coalition. This coalition is concerned about the high risk behaviors of 18 to 24 year olds. Under her leadership, the purpose and mission of the SDSM&T Division of Student Affairs engages students in the development of personal qualities and skills to enhance professional and personal success through Students Emerging as ProfessionalS (STEPS). The goal is to promote healthy choices by identifying and reducing high risk behaviors and to provide positive alternatives to create a better place to live and learn.

Dr. Mahon is a faculty member with the West River South Dakota State University Graduate Education program. She teaches the Student Personnel courses, works extensively with students in their Student Personnel practicum and internship experiences and serves on graduate committees. She is also a member of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce Education and Business Services Committee and the 2012 Civic Improvements Committee for Rapid City.

Dr. Mahon is starting her 33rd year as a professional in the field of education. She previous worked in Student Affairs at Fort Hays State University (Kansas), Kansas State University (Graduate Assistantship in Multicultural Affairs), Montana State University-Billings, and one year as a secondary education teacher at Shelby (Montana) High School.

Pat Mahon received her Bachelor's degree (Secondary Education, English major; Spanish and History minors) and Master's degree (Personnel and Guidance with School Counseling Endorsement) from Montana State University-Billings and her Ph.D. (Counseling and Educational Psychology with Higher Education Administration emphasis) from Kansas State University.

Pat and husband Tom celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary this year. Tom is the Registrar at National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota. Both are committed to their work in Higher Education. They enjoy traveling and spending time with Pat's family in her native state of Wyoming on the family ranch and visiting Tom's 12 brothers and sisters and their families who are “scattered” throughout the United States.