North Dakota State University, the NDSU Foundation, NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, and NDSU College of Engineering have announced the launch of the Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology. A medallion ceremony was held on Sept. 29 to honor new endowed faculty positions and recognize new student scholars.

The Peltier Institute will play a central role in shaping the future of agriculture by funding student scholarships, developing interdisciplinary academic programs and increasing opportunities for research and outreach. Through enhanced teaching and training, students will gain exposure to career pathways at the intersection of agriculture, engineering, data science and artificial intelligence.

The institute is named in honor of Joe ’51 and Norma ’23 Peltier for their lifelong involvement and philanthropic investment in NDSU.

Thanks to the visionary generosity of the Peltier family, NDSU has appointed Xin (Rex) Sun as the inaugural holder of the endowed chair for the Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology, and Matthew Olhoft has been appointed as the Endowed Professor of Practice for Advancement in Agricultural Technology.

“Dr. Sun brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach to this role,” said Greg Lardy, Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture. “His work integrates engineering, data science and agricultural production systems, aligning closely with the mission of the Peltier Institute.”

“This support opens the door to innovation and positions NDSU as a leader in agricultural technology,” said Sun. “It allows our NDSU community to work as a team to pursue ideas that not only benefit farmers here in North Dakota, but also have broader effects across the Midwest and around the world. When agriculture meets AI, the possibilities are endless.”

In addition, 10 students were selected as the inaugural cohort of Peltier Scholars. These students represent the next generation of ag tech innovators. The Peltier Scholars program will help fill a critical workforce need by introducing more students to the career opportunities available at the intersection of agriculture and engineering.

“Our students need to be on the cutting edge of what is new and how it relates to the future of agriculture, so student success is a major driving force for my work,” shared Olhoft.

“This endowed position will allow me to continue to recruit top students and bring excellent young farmers and agricultural employees to the region. Funding from the endowment will allow us to put the latest technology in the hands of our students.”

For more information on the research priorities and mission of the NDSU Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology, visit ndsu.edu/peltier-institute.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 29, 2025

Source: Greg Lardy, 701-231-7660, gregory.lardy@ndsu.edu

Source: Xin (Rex) Sun, 701-231-5756, xin.sun@ndsu.edu

Source: Matthew Olhoft, 701-231-7269, matthew.olhoft@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu