About us

The Chiesman Center for Democracy is South Dakota’s leading institute for the promotion of civic engagement. It is dedicated to facilitating public dialogue, active civic engagement, and the promotion of civic values

The estate of philanthropist Allene Chiesman, who graduated from USD in 1936 with a Bachelor’s degree in history, created the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy in 1996. In 2018, the Center moved to the University of South Dakota. The Chiesman Center for Democracy is dedicated to facilitating public dialogue, active civic engagement, and the promotion of civic values. Housed in the USD Department of Political Science, the Center brings the expertise of USD faculty to the broader South Dakota public, from the private citizen to the state's elected leaders.

The Chiesman Center strives to support research and civic education activities addressing the issues of democracy, democratic principles, and active civic engagement, and to foster activities that encourage citizens to be actively engaged in the democratic process as educated, informed participants. The Center promotes civic competence and responsibility among South Dakota’s citizens and leaders. We offer initiatives and programming, and fund research and studies on the ongoing problems of American democracy, including citizen participation, civic engagement, civic values and education, public dialogue, and policy analysis. Other organizations promoting these same goals and objectives may also receive support from the center.

Thank you to the University of South Dakota magazine, The South Dakotan for writing about our efforts!