Trent Dawson is new Director of Governors Cyber Academy at DSU

January 13, 2026

Dr. Trent Dawson is the new Director of the Governors Cyber Academy at Dakota State University.

The Governors Cyber Academy is a program dedicated to expanding awareness of and access to cyber education for South Dakota for K-12 students. High school juniors and seniors can earn up to 30 transferable college credits in computer and cyber science through the Academy.

"We are excited to welcome Trent to DSU in June of 2026," said Dr. David De Jong, dean of the College of Education & Human Performance. "This will allow him an opportunity to help with the many youth camps at DSU."

Dawson, currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the College of Education, has a background in marketing, instructional design and technology, computer science education, and experience leading an apprenticeship program, including pre-program initiatives within a state-wide apprenticeship program.

"Dr. Dawson has outstanding experience creating meaningful opportunities that attract K-12 students into STEM fields," said Dr. Rebecca Hoey, provost and senior vice president for academic & student affairs. "His proven track record of forming partnerships with rural school districts, supporting educators through professional development, and designing instruction and assessment of computer science education is a perfect fit for DSU."

In 2019, as a doctoral student at Louisiana State University, Dawson contributed to the launch and instruction of an inaugural computer science teaching methods course within a federally funded program supporting Louisiana's K-12 computer science education efforts. This helped Dawson build his foundation in K-12 computer and cyber science education, even using the high school curriculum to teach himself how to code.

"His experience will help the Governors Cyber Academy continue to flourish by strengthening our dual credit offerings in computer science, cybersecurity, and AI, growing our cyber apprenticeship pathways, and expanding summer camps like CybHER and GenCyber that spark students' interest in cyber careers."

Dawson is looking forward to joining DSU and expanding the Governor's Cyber Academy to a broader audience.

Tags: College of Education & Human Performance Academics All News Cyber