August 12 Named R. Scott Rasmussen Day

Idaho State Governor, Brad Little has declared August 12, 2021 as R Scott Rasmussen Day.  The Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education (IDCTE) office arranged for the governor to make the proclamation to showcase the incredible impact that Rasmussen has had on CTE during his tenure at the Idaho State University’s College of Technology.

The event was held in surprise for Rasmussen at the William M. and Karin A. Eames Advanced Technical Education and Innovation Complex. Surrounded by family, former colleagues, and friends; IDCTE Administrator, Clay Long read the proclamation and ISU President, Kevin Satterlee provided remarks.

A Bengal graduate himself, Rasmussen returned to Idaho State in 1992, leaving a career at Union Pacific Railroad to teach radio frequency principles. He soon found that he loved working with students and enjoyed seeing them learn, grow, graduate, get great jobs, and become successful in their career field.

He was named chair of the Department of Electronics in 2000. In 2007, he led efforts to bring together industry partners and educators to create the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC). In partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory, ESTEC established programs in careers in high-demand energy fields all over the country. Since its beginning over 1,000 ESTEC graduates have found success through these programs. Due to Rasmussen’s passion and vision for the ESTEC field, Idaho State University’s College of Technology was the first CTE college in the state to offer an Associates of Applied Science in Cyber-Physical Security, now known as Industrial Cybersecurity.

In 2011, Rasmussen was named dean of the College of Technology. During his tenure as dean, he has helped to raise funds to provide tools, equipment, scholarships and state-of-the-art facilities for students. His vision has inspired donors such as the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation and Bill Eames to contribute millions of dollars to renovate the William M. and Karin A. Eames Advanced Technical Education and Innovation Complex.