DeMaris Nesheim graduated from Northern in 1963 with a degree in elementary education. To support her studies, she worked at a local telephone company and taught in a rural county school, experiences that instilled in her an understanding and appreciation for hard work from an early age.
DeMaris went on to build a successful career as a franchise business owner, but her life did not come without challenges. DeMaris’s first husband, Chuck, unexpectedly passed away at age 45, and she lost her daughter, Jodie, to cancer at just 36 years of age. In the face of these challenges, DeMaris made a decision to find meaning in her life again and it became her mission to help children who have not been giving a fair shake in life.
Her commitment to service is reflected in her involvement with numerous organizations focused on supporting children in need, such as the Children's Home Society of South Dakota, Abbott House South Dakota, Lutheran Social Services, Salvation Army of the Black Hills and Lutheran Outdoors of South Dakota.
To continue her mission to help those in need, DeMaris recently established the DeMaris Paulson Nesheim Endowment Fund at Northern. This fund provides educational opportunities and support to education students that are enrolled in the TRIO program. TRIO serves income-eligible students, first-generation college students, and students with documented disabilities by offering tutoring, service learning, financial literacy education, enhanced academic advising, career and graduate school preparation, and more.
DeMaris’s story, rooted in hard work, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to serving others, demonstrates the profound impact one person can make by choosing to lead with purpose and compassion.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.