Kevin O'Kelley
Students to Participate in Summer Research
While most students head home for the summer, a handful can be found across campus doing research. Assistant Vice President for Research Kevin O’Kelley has been working hard this semester to consolidate all the research programs and looks forward to seeing what students do this summer. Across campus, over 40 students can be found this […]
New COVID-19 Strain Emerges
A new COVID-19 variant called XBB.1.5 surges on the east coast. According to the World Health Organization, the variant is likely to be more transmissible than the previous variants due to its immune evasiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the new variant accounts for 43% of new cases, with most […]
OMICRON surges at USD, CDC guidelines change
As COVID-19 resurges through the community, USD is continuing to provide testing, even amidst the test shortage. Testing is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Muenster University Center (MUC) in the Hoy room located in the northeast corner on the first floor. Kevin O’Kelley, head of the USD COVID-19 […]
No COVID-19 changes anticipation for spring semester
As students prepare for the close of the fall semester and are scheduling their trips home, USD doesn’t anticipate having to make any adjustments for COVID-19 come the spring semester. Kevin O’Kelley, head of the COVID-19 Taskforce, said while numbers are lower than the university anticipated, it’s important to remember that these cases are not […]
COVID-19 Taskforce encourages testing before Thanksgiving break
Last fall, the University of South Dakota’s COVID-19 cases peaked at 243 according to the USD COVID-19 Dashboard. This year, the highest peak has been 24 in early September. South Dakota has a total of 5,961 cases overall, according to the South Dakota Department of Health website. Kevin O’Kelley, the head of USD’s COVID-19 Taskforce, […]
Office of Research’s New Faculty Reception breaks the ice
USD’s Office of Research hosted its annual New Faculty Reception in the Muenster University Center Ballroom last Wednesday, Nov. 3. The event, which was able to be held again after a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allows new faculty members to connect with faculty in the Office of Research in order to […]
Cases stay low, on-campus COVID-19 testing remains available
There are currently six active cases of COVID-19 at USD as of Oct. 19, but COVID-19 testing is still available daily as the virus remains on campus. USD had a peak of 25 cases in early September, but hasn’t seen the case total climb above 15 since Sept. 8. There are currently nine individuals in […]
USD continues to monitor COVID-19 cases on campus
USD’s fall 2021 semester was promised as a “back to normal” semester for on-campus learning after the disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic. More than a month in, COVID-19 remains a consideration for the university. Kevin O’Kelley, assistant vice president of research compliance and the head of USD’s COVID-19 Task Force, said the difference in […]
USD, Sanford host Vaccination Drive as students return to campus
During the first week of classes, USD and Sanford Health partnered to host a vaccination drive open to all students, staff and community members in Vermillion. The vaccination drive was held for a few hours each day in a building on campus, with 100 vaccines being administered. “(The drive) went reasonably well,” USD Assistant Vice […]
COVID-19 on campus: looking back, looking forward
The tide may be turning on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with a decline in new cases nationally and regionally and with South Dakota’s Board of Regents seeking a more “normal” fall semester on USD’s campus. In response to this, USD student organizations, Vermillion businesses and local government leaders are looking to bring […]