Profilet and DeJong Family Endowed Director of Early Childhood Education

Tate Profilet and Mary DeJong believe the key to a fulfilling life lies in what they call “the four Es”: education, empowerment, enrichment, and environment.

By funding the first-ever endowed position in the College of Education and Human Sciences at SDSU, the couple is ensuring children across the state and the Jackrabbits who will someday teach them have rewarding lives, brimming with the four Es.

The Tate Profilet and Mary DeJong Family Endowed Director of Early Childhood Education was instated in an investiture ceremony on October 22, paving the way for a new era of the early childhood education program at SDSU.

The endowed position will bolster innovative teaching strategies that foster confidence and growth in children from an early age, positioning them on a trajectory for success. The study of early childhood education offers pivotal experiences and learning opportunities for the students pursuing a degree in the field, while impacting children who are potential future Jackrabbits. In effect, the position is an investment in both current and future generations of SDSU students.

At the investiture, Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences Paul Barnes spoke to the importance of investing in our educators and our children. “We must continue to test our understanding of teaching and learning, step farther than where we have been before, and find new and innovative approaches to research and teaching that set our next generation up for success,” he said.

Endowed faculty positions, like directorships, heighten prestige for the university and build a reputation as a premier institution for cutting-edge education, attracting the best and brightest minds from across the globe.

Dr. Carie Green is the inaugural recipient of the Profilet and DeJong named directorship, and Provost Dennis Hedge is certain that Green is ready for the journey that lies ahead.

“Such recognition carries with it a high level of accountability to be impactful in positive and meaningful ways that advance the mission of the university,” said Hedge. “I am confident that Dr. Green is up to this challenge, not only because of the expertise she brings to the position, but also her work ethic, motivation, enthusiasm, and creativity.”

Green also brings with her a belief that places and environmental identity greatly influence the upbringing and wellbeing of children. In her remarks at the investiture ceremony, she acknowledged that SDSU’s land grant mission played a significant role in drawing her to the university.

Profilet and DeJong share Green’s goal to create an environment where children thrive. Both alums of SDSU, the two knew they wanted to make an impact for their alma mater and fund something that could be truly transformative. With their different majors and areas of interest in engineering (Profilet) and counseling (DeJong), the couple debated of how best to leave their mark. When considering their notion of the 4 Es – education, empowerment, enrichment, and environment – Profilet and DeJong landed on the idea of endowing a directorship that speaks to DeJong’s lifelong passion for teaching and counseling.

The directorship fuels opportunities to enhance education; builds funding and resources for faculty who are empowered to make a difference for students; enriches the lives of both teachers and students through greater understanding and diversified teaching strategies; and fosters an environment where children feel both competent and excited to learn.

Through the couple’s generosity, educators like Green are better positioned to explore new avenues of research, elevate university programming, and think boldly when it comes to envisioning the future of South Dakota State University.

“Our intention is that our gift will be transformative for the department, and that it will be a catalyst for future gifts…this is only the beginning.”