Index of University Press Releases

Aug. 20, 2007

SD PUC chairman to serve as McGovern
Visiting Professor of Leadership and Public Service

Dusty Johnson

MITCHELL – Dustin “Dusty” Johnson, chairman of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, is the 2007 McGovern Visiting Professor of Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Johnson will teach PSL 330 Public Service: Policy Formation on Thursday evenings this fall.

"Our students are really excited about the opportunity to learn from someone so young and already so accomplished as a public servant," said Donald Simmons, chair of the Department of Public Service and Leadership at DWU. "Johnson brings a unique mix of knowledge and experience to the classroom."

Johnson currently serves as chairman of the PUC, chairman of the South Dakota Rural Development Council and is a member of the NARUC Electricity Committee. Before joining the PUC, he served as the senior policy adviser to Gov. Mike Rounds for economic development, energy, corrections and transportation issues. He has worked for local governments in the Kansas City area and was a Truman Fellow for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Dakota and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. He was elected to the Public Utilities Commission in November 2004, becoming the youngest utilities commissioner in the nation.

Johnson and his wife, Jacquelyn, live in Mitchell with their son Max.

Anyone interested in enrolling in PSL 330 may contact the registrar’s office at 605-995-2676. The first class meets at 7 p.m., Aug. 30 in the McGovern Library.