Statesmen to the 2000 Gulf South Conference and

Dr. John Hilpert, President
“Where Champions Play”
When Dr. and Mrs. John Hilpert were presented as the new president and first lady of
Delta State University in the summer of 2003, he said to those present at the
announcement, “You won our hearts.” His words conveyed the message that the
warmth of the Delta State community combines with its determination to make
meaningful contributions to the Mississippi Delta in ways that are both unique and
appealing. Since he arrived and took office on September 1, 2003, his appreciation for
the mission of the university has deepened. He has worked with the faculty and staff to
set an agenda that will accomplish an ambitious and straightforward goal: Delta State
University will be the best regional university in America.
Dr. Hilpert served as president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota,
from 1997 until he assumed the presidency of Delta State. During his tenure at NSU, the
university strengthened its marketing efforts and completed a successful multi-million
dollar campaign. Integrating technology into the university’s academic programs was
another major goal during the Hilpert years. Northern received legislative designation
as the Center for Statewide E-learning in 2001, and today the university offers daily
classes to more than one-third of the state’s school districts from ten studios on the
campus. Another of Northern’s specialized programs is the Center of Excellence in
International Business. Even as it provides academic offerings, this unique Center
works with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to link South Dakota
businesses with overseas opportunities and to bring foreign investments to the state. Like Delta State, Northern is known for
its competitive athletic programs in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
For seven years prior to his arrival at Northern, Dr. Hilpert served the University of South Dakota as Vice President for
University Relations, and for an interim term as Acting President. He has also held senior administrative posts at Thiel
College in Pennsylvania and at Finlandia University (formerly Suomi College) in Michigan, during the 26 years of his career in
higher education. External relations and fund raising have been among the focus areas throughout Dr. Hilpert’s career. He
has written proposals competing successfully for millions of dollars in grant funds and has surpassed the goal in each capital
campaign he has led.
Dr. Hilpert earned his doctorate – Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration – from the Center for the Study of Higher
Education at the University of Michigan. His research into factors leading to enrollment success was grant-sponsored. During
his doctoral studies, he was honored with the prestigious Brubacher Award for scholarship by the faculty of the University of
Michigan. He earned both a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also holds
a two-year diploma from St. Paul’s College in Missouri.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hilpert has served various
organizations on boards, task forces, and committees. He was
for seven years a member of the South Dakota Workforce
Development Council, a state policy group appointed by the
governor. As a member of the American Association of State
Colleges and Universities, he has served as an appointee to
both the Commission for the Rural/Regional Agenda and the
Task Force on Teacher Education, as well as being selected for
the organization’s Council of State Representatives for both South
Dakota and Mississippi. Dr. Hilpert has served as a governing
board member for two Chambers of Commerce, and has been
co-chair of a hospital financing task force. He has testified before
several state legislative committees and a select committee of
the U.S. House of Representatives. Several of his articles have
appeared in scholarly or other publications.
In recognition of his years of service to the state, Governor
Michael Rounds designated July 3, 2003 as Dr. John Hilpert Day
in South Dakota.
Dr. Hilpert and his wife, Pat, have been married for 32 years.
Both grew up in Missouri, he in Cape Girardeau and she in St.
Louis. They have three sons, Joshua, 26, Zachary, 23, and Adam,
22, as well as a two-year-old granddaughter, Julia. Pat spent 27
years as a Registered Nurse, serving in different settings as a
nurse administrator and educator. She is also a published
photographer who has exhibited her creative works in a variety of
galleries and won several awards, including one co-sponsored
by the Smithsonian Institution and the SD Department of Tourism.
The Hilperts enjoy antique collecting and outdoor recreational
activities.
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