James W. Abbott
Encyclopedia
James W. "Jim" Abbott is the current president of the University of South Dakota
in Vermillion, South Dakota
. He became president on July 1, 1997.
Abbott is a businessman and former politician. He represented Yankton County
in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1991 to 1993. Abbott was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
in 1994, running on a ticket with Jim Beddow. The ticket was defeated by Republicans Bill Janklow
and Carole Hillard
. Abbott also mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives
in 1996, losing the nomination to Rick Weiland.
Abbott was named president of his alma mater
, the University of South Dakota
, in 1997. Abbott received his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his Juris Doctor
in 1974 from USD. In 2002, Abbott took a leave of absence from the presidency to seek to Democratic nomination for Governor of South Dakota
. Abbott easily won the nomination, but was defeated in the general election by Republican Mike Rounds
. After the election, Abbott returned to the presidency of the University of South Dakota
.
In June 2007, Abbott took a leave of absence to donate a kidney to USD Chief Diversity Officer Bruce King at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The surgery was successful and Abbott returned to work two weeks later. He is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Fraternity.
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
in Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
. He became president on July 1, 1997.
Abbott is a businessman and former politician. He represented Yankton County
Yankton County, South Dakota
Yankton County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,438. It's county seat is Yankton.Yankton County is the only county in the Yankton Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1991 to 1993. Abbott was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota is the lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota.He or she is the second-ranking member of the executive branch of South Dakota state government and also serves as presiding officer of the South Dakota Senate...
in 1994, running on a ticket with Jim Beddow. The ticket was defeated by Republicans Bill Janklow
Bill Janklow
William John "Bill" Janklow served as the 25th Attorney General of South Dakota, before being elected as South Dakota's 27th and 30th Governor, as well as to the United States House of Representatives where he served for a little more than a year. A Republican, Janklow's career has continued as a...
and Carole Hillard
Carole Hillard
Carole Hillard was the first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota.-Personal:Hillard was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, August 14, 1936 to Edward Rykema and Vernell Peterson; she was one of three daughters born to them. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 1957 with an...
. Abbott also mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1996, losing the nomination to Rick Weiland.
Abbott was named president of his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
, in 1997. Abbott received his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1974 from USD. In 2002, Abbott took a leave of absence from the presidency to seek to Democratic nomination for Governor of South Dakota
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
. Abbott easily won the nomination, but was defeated in the general election by Republican Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds
Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds is an American politician. Rounds served as the 31st Governor of South Dakota. Rounds was first inaugurated on January 7, 2003, having been elected on November 5, 2002, and was re-elected on November 7, 2006...
. After the election, Abbott returned to the presidency of the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
.
In June 2007, Abbott took a leave of absence to donate a kidney to USD Chief Diversity Officer Bruce King at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The surgery was successful and Abbott returned to work two weeks later. He is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
Fraternity.