Alumni Spotlight – Linda Rausch (ChemE 75)
When Linda Rausch (ChemE 75) arrived on the South Dakota Mines campus, she didn’t know anyone—but that didn’t last long. Like so many others, she quickly found her footing in the close-knit community of students who shared not just classes but aspirations. “There’s something about going to college and living on campus that has nothing to do with the academics—it’s the social part,” she says. “It was a special time.”
That sense of community would go on to shape her career, her friendships, and her future marriage to Scott Rausch (EE 75), who would leave a lasting legacy at Mines through his work developing the university’s avionics curriculum.
Linda was drawn to chemical engineering thanks to a love of chemistry sparked by a great high school teacher—and a scholarship that made attending Mines possible. Her older brother, already an engineer, showed her that it could lead to a good job. What she didn’t anticipate was being one of only a handful of women on campus. “There were only two girls in most of my classes,” she recalls. “But the guys didn’t discount us. There were probably a few jerks, but the student body was accepting. Maybe more so than the administration back then.”
Title IX had just passed, and while job interviews still included questions like “Are you married?”—Linda found that companies were beginning to hire women engineers. Her first job was at a large chemical production plant in West Virginia, where she was the first woman to work beyond the front gate—and the first woman engineer on site. “Before I showed up, they put out a notice that said all the centerfolds had to come down because a woman engineer was joining the team,” she says. “So you can imagine how popular I was—they weren’t exactly thrilled.” But after two years of proving herself in a tough environment, one of her supervisors told her, “Linda, you’re the best technical man we’ve ever had.” She still calls it a badge of honor.
Linda and Scott’s story began during their freshman year. They met through mutual friends at a campus party and didn’t begin dating until junior year. After graduation, they married, launched careers, and eventually returned to Rapid City after early retirement. “We intentionally got involved,” Linda says. “Scott volunteered with the electrical engineering department, and I served on the Foundation Board for 12 years.”
Scott, who passed away several years ago, left a major mark on the university. He built Mines’ first avionics curriculum, taught in nearly every branch of electrical engineering, and helped establish the department’s first simulator. Today, the Scott Rausch Avionics Lab stands as a testament to his impact. “It’s an honor to have that space,” Linda says. “He was very proud of the students he taught.”
As Linda returns to campus for her 50-year class reunion, she’s reminded of how much has changed—and how much remains the same. “There’s more growth, more women, more buildings—but that sense of connection is still here. That’s what makes it special.”
Her advice to today’s students? “Work hard. Be smart. Engineering is about solving problems. And when you graduate, think seriously about what the school has done for you. Give back—whether that’s with your time, your money, or your presence at reunions.”
After five decades, her ties to South Dakota Mines remain strong. “It’s a great way to spend a weekend—reconnect, relive memories, and see how far we’ve all come.”