2026 College of Arts & Sciences Pillars of Distinction
Recognizing Exceptional Partners
The Pillars of Distinction are awarded each year to exceptional members of the College of Arts & Sciences community who uphold our efforts to offer a world-class education in the liberal arts and sciences, to create and disseminate knowledge, and to serve the people of South Dakota, the nation and the world.
In addition to the award recipients, we will also celebrate the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees. Click the button below to learn about them!
Meet the 2026 Pillars of Distinction Recipients
Gary Conradi '61 - Pillar of Service Award
Gary L. Conradi has dedicated his life to serving South Dakota through military service, business leadership and community involvement. A Sioux Falls native and 1961 graduate of the University of South Dakota, he served as a U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Special Agent in Charge from 1961 to 1964 before leading the South Dakota Mental Health Association from 1964 to 1966. He then spent more than 35 years as Chief Administrative Officer of Raven Industries, serving from 1966 to 2001.
Throughout his career, Conradi provided leadership to numerous civic, educational and nonprofit organizations, including the University of South Dakota Foundation, where he served as a trustee and board member. He also served as chairman of the South Dakota Governor's Advisory Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and as a member of President Nixon's Advisory Committee on the Handicapped. At USD, he helped initiate the idea for Patriots Plaza, creating a lasting tribute to those who have served our nation.
His lifelong commitment to service has earned him numerous honors, including induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, the South Dakota Governor's Award for History, the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for Excellence in Community Service and recognition from the Sanford Health Foundation for his dedicated service.
Kathleen C. M. Campbell, Ph.D. '77 - Pillar of Discovery Award
Kathleen Campbell, Ph.D., earned her master's degree in Communication Studies from the University of South Dakota in 1977 before working as a clinical audiologist in Canada and the United States. She later earned her doctorate from the University of Iowa and joined Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, where she is Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Scholar. There, she developed a nationally recognized research program focused on hearing protection and the pharmacology of the auditory system.
An internationally recognized researcher and inventor, Campbell holds five U.S. and 33 foreign patents and pioneered the use of D-methionine as an otoprotective agent to help prevent hearing loss caused by noise exposure, chemotherapy and antibiotics. She has authored leading textbooks in audiology and received numerous honors, including the American Academy of Audiology Presidential Citation, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Honors of the Association, Southern Illinois University's Distinguished Scholar Award and two Medical Innovator Awards. In 2015, her Department of Defense-funded research was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.
Campbell credits the mentorship and education she received through USD's graduate audiology program with launching a career she has loved and considers herself forever grateful to the faculty and mentors who helped shape her success.
Paul Van Buren '60 - Pillar of Leadership Award
Paul Bartlett Van Buren, a Dell Rapids native, earned his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from the University of South Dakota in 1960, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and, under the mentorship of W.O. "Doc" Farber, became a Rhodes Scholar. He continued his education at University College, Oxford, before earning his law degree from Stanford University School of Law.
After beginning his legal career in Sioux Falls, Van Buren held leadership roles with Owens Corning Fiberglas, General Electric's Nuclear Energy Division and AT&T/Pacific Bell in San Francisco. Following his retirement in 1994, he dedicated more than 30 years to providing pro bono legal services through Senior Adults Legal Services (SALA) in San Jose, California.
A lifelong champion of his alma mater, Van Buren remained deeply involved with the University of South Dakota, serving as chair of the USD Foundation, vice chair of the USD Alumni Association and an active supporter of the Farber Fund. His distinguished legal career, commitment to public service and unwavering dedication to the University of South Dakota exemplify the spirit of the Pillar Award.
Kenneth Meier, Ph.D. '72 - Pillar of Enlightenment Award
Kenneth J. Meier is a nationally recognized scholar in public administration and political science. He serves as Distinguished Scholar in Residence in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University and holds faculty appointments at Cardiff University in Wales and Leiden University in the Netherlands. Throughout his distinguished career, he has also served as editor of the American Journal of Political Science and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.
Meier's research has shaped the fields of public administration and political science through its interdisciplinary approach to governance, representation and public policy. His work has examined topics ranging from education, public health and government accountability to civil rights, gender equity and regulatory policy, earning him recognition as one of the leading scholars in his field. His influential career reflects the University of South Dakota's commitment to advancing knowledge and creating meaningful impact through public service.