BROOKINGS (10-21-26) — Connie Tande, a South Dakota State University Extension plant diagnostician at the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, has been named the university’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for October.
She will be honored at a reception held from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Raven Precision Agriculture Center 236.
Tande, who’s been at SDSU for 26 years, is responsible for overseeing and conducting daily operations at the Plant Diagnostic Clinic. She takes charge of each step, from performing accurate diagnostics to sharing that information with stakeholders.
Her attention to detail and effective communication allow the clinic to run efficiently and smoothly. She produces timely diagnoses for clients, which is integral for pest management during the growing season. Tande’s leadership, dedication and mentorship have not gone unnoticed by her team and students.
“Connie’s dedication and hard work have been consistent and invaluable, in my opinion,” said Eric Jones, assistant professor and weed management extension specialist. “She has put in countless hours for the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, but also for events happening on campus. She consistently demonstrates professionalism and a willingness to help.”
As the facility’s only full-time employee, Tande led the charge in 2025 to ensure that the clinic became accredited and remained in federal compliance. At the time, only four other clinics in the country had also met those standards. She promotes the clinic by presenting information to a wide range of audiences through SDSU Extension events and activities and by co-authoring articles.
“This accreditation corroborates that the clinic provides expert diagnostic capacity, communication, coordination and quality diagnostic information,” Jones noted.
Tande provides opportunities for learning and growth through the student employees and researchers she mentors, both undergraduate and graduate. Her training allows them to become better versed in various plant pathology functions.
“Connie consistently goes above and beyond her employee expectations and tackles problems with both grit and grace,” said Madalyn Shires, assistant professor and extension plant pathology specialist. “I can say with full certainty that she is one of the reasons I was able to settle into a faculty and extension position with ease and support.”
Tande has played an integral role in keeping the clinic relevant and heavily utilized, and she is a role model for her team, leading by action to achieve teamwork and high performance. Her passion and commitment to SDSU is admirable and deserves to be recognized, Shires said.
“I worked closely with Connie during the beginning of my role to understand how the Plant Diagnostic Clinic operated and gained a better understanding of the problems faced by farmers each year,” Jones added. “Her dedication and performance in her current role embody what is meant to be outstanding.”
Tande and her husband moved back to South Dakota to raise their two children, and their grandchild has become the light of their lives. She said she has also worked with many student employees who have become like family.
Tande is a member of the National Plant Diagnostic Network in South Dakota.
All SDSU Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.
About South Dakota State University
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from seven different colleges representing more than 230 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 41 master’s degree programs, 19 Ph.D. and two professional programs.
The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state. SDSU’s research expenditures for the 2026 fiscal year were more than $86 million. SDSU has a Doctoral University: High Research Activity designation on The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
For more information: SDSU News • www.sdstate.edu
— From SDSU University Marketing and Communications
