FACULTY & STAFF E-UPDATE
In place of the April 30 Town Hall Meeting, BHSU will host a Campus Forum as Executive Director Nate Lukkes and his senior staff will be visiting campus.
Please plan to attend this campus community open forum with President Elliott and Board of Regents Executive Director Nate Lukkes. During the forum, President Elliott will provide a BHSU update, and Executive Director Lukkes will provide an update on higher education in South Dakota, along with a summary of the recent legislative session.
This forum offers faculty, staff, and students an opportunity to hear from President Elliott and BOR leadership and stay informed on key developments affecting higher education across the state.
CAMPUS FORUM
Thursday, April 30
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (note time change from Town Hall meeting)
Jacket Legacy Room (upper level of the Student Union)
We are looking for volunteers to assist with this years Women in Science STEM conference May 13th 8:00-3:00. Volunteers will receive a free lunch and will help with event directions, chaperoning a student group, help in the exhibit hall, or help with set up and tear down. The conference is at BHSU and will be hosting over 800 middle schoolers to explore careers in STEM. If interested contact Sydney.Haugland@bhsu.edu or call 605-642-6697.
The Verizon Digital Ready platform is designed specifically for busy entrepreneurs and students, offering:
Registration is free and takes less than five minutes. Use the dedicated SD CEO link below to ensure you are counted toward our community's goals and gain full access to these exclusive resources.
Sign Up for Verizon Digital Ready: https://bhsu.edu/sdceo/digitalready
Please reach out to SD CEO West if you have more questions.
Do you enjoy visiting with people about Spearfish, the Black Hills, and BHSU? Do you excel at directing the lost? Is the hum of nervous excitement music to your ears? Then we have a deal for you!! We are seeking on-campus staff/faculty who would like to welcome and assist new students and their families during summer orientation.
When would assistance be needed?
Summer orientation dates are May 22, June 5, June 15, June 26, and July 13. We are looking for help in key parts of the day:
1. Welcome/Check in - 8-9:15 AM
2. Information fair/Student & family lunch - 11:15 AM-12:45 PM
3. Tear down/Clean-up - 3:30-4ish PM
What are you asking of me?
Examples of things you might be doing include giving directions, answering basic questions and referring to resources, technical work such as computer password help, providing info pamphlets, or being a runner, or just having an engaging conversation with students and their families. The most important task will be making around 120 new students and their guests feel welcome while positively promoting BHSU and our community.
Please call or email Lauren Krier (6062 or Lauren.Krier@bhsu.edu) to sign up for days and times on which you can help. Thank you for your consideration!
The NSO Committee - Janette Hettick, Jane Klug, John Allred, John Ginther, Joe Rainboth, Jessie Gramm, and Lauren Krier
Dr. Amy Fuqua will be taking on a new role with the South Dakota Board of Regents as a Regent Fellow, where she will be leading Academic Affairs projects such as system approaches to AI integration and general education updates. With this transition, Dr. Fuqua will be stepping away from her position as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts after eleven years of exceptional service. During her tenure, she championed the creation of the light studio in the basement of the library, advocated for the remodel of Woodburn Theatre to support the reinvigoration of the BHSU theatre program, brought significant sculpture art to campus, and successfully led Black Hills State University through two Higher Learning Commission accreditation visits.
Provost Carriveau noted, "While I am genuinely sorry to see Amy leave the dean’s role, I am also immensely proud of her and excited for this next chapter. Her leadership and collaborative approach have had a lasting impact on BHSU, and it will be a tremendous advantage for the university to have such a strong and knowledgeable partner working within the Board of Regents office. I look forward to continuing to work closely with her in this new capacity."
Plans to recruit and hire the next dean for the College of Liberal Arts are in development and Dr. Carriveau anticipates sharing the next steps with the campus shortly.
Thank you for joining us in congratulating Amy on this well‑deserved opportunity.
We are offering individual plots in the BHSU Anita Haeder Community Garden this summer!
Whether you have a seasoned green thumb or just getting started, this is a great opportunity to grow your own fresh produce and flowers in a beautiful community space. Plots are limited and go fast, so don’t wait, reserve yours today!
To secure your spot:
Let’s grow something amazing together. Happy gardening!
We are looking for students who want an opportunity to join the Facilies Services Summer team from May through August. We have many positions available working in the grounds, custodial, mail services, facilities, maintenance, recycling, and sustainability departments. Hourly rate is $15 and training and equipment is provided.
If you would like to apply, or have a friend who is interested please stop in the Facilities Services building to complete an application.
Don’t wait – apply in advance!
🎉 Call for Nominations: Annual Employee Recognition Event 🎉
We are thrilled to kick off the nomination period for our Annual Employee Recognition Event—a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements of our colleagues!
This event honors individuals who exemplify dedication, innovation, and teamwork in their roles. We invite all employees to take a moment to reflect on the outstanding efforts of their peers and submit nominations for those who have truly made a difference.
🏆 Individual winners will each receive a $500 award!
📅 Awards will be presented at the State of the University this fall.
You may nominate multiple colleagues across different categories if you feel they meet the criteria. Nomination forms and award descriptions can be found at the BHSU Experience page (https://experience.elluciancloud.com/bsu945/). Please look under the "BH Employee Links" card to find all nomination forms.
🗓️ Deadline for nominations: Friday, May 15, 2026
📧 Submit nominations to: BHSUHumanResources@bhsu.edu
📞 Questions? Contact HR at: 605.642.6549 or via email.
Let’s recognize and celebrate the incredible talent and dedication within our university community!
Dear BHSU Faculty and Staff,
Beautify Spearfish – Trash Pick Up Day – St. Joe Street and Spearfish Creek/Rec Path
We are joined by The Joy Center, BHSU, and Spearfish 4-H for our first 2026 Trash Clean up! Please join us in keeping Spearfish Beautiful!
DATE: Wednesday April 29, 2026
TIME: 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm MDT
LOCATION: St Joe Street and Spearfish Creek/Rec Path
DISTANCE: approx. 1 mile from the starting point for each crew. We will clean both sides of the road.
TOTAL MILEAGE CLEANED: 2
PARKING: Meet in The Joy Center parking lot
*We have some vests to use from the State if you'd like. If not, please wear a bright colored shirt that is easily seen. We will equip children with vests first. After all, they are our future!
*We will have gloves available along with trash grabbers and hand sanitizer. Buckets are courtesy of TUF Storm Restoration and Quiksigns! Feel free to bring your own gloves, hand sanitizer, and another protective gear you feel is important to your safety.
*Children must be supervised. Please use your best judgment on the appropriate age for your children to participate. Parents/Legal guardians are the only responsible party for their child/children's safety.
*Please NO pets at this event.
*Please respect private property - do not go through fences, open fences, or walk through yards.
Why? We have a beautiful community and beautiful planet. We have a responsibility to be kind to our planet so future generations can enjoy her like we do. We need to be the change we want to see in others. 
April 30th at 7 pm in the Woodburn Black Box. Completely Free
The students in Advanced Acting class have been hard a work this semester. Come join them as they showcase their work! The performance will be about 90 minutes and will feature monologues from some Shakespeare classics, and of course scenes from modern realism to Greek tragedy to absurdism. Come see what they have been up to, oh and did we mention it is FREE for everyone! See you there! The Advanced Acting class will showcase what they have learned so far this semester through their own monologues, which they wrote themselves.
Since I arrived at BHSU in August 2024 as a Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator, I would like to sincerely thank you for joining the activities I have hosted. Sharing Japanese culture at BHSU has been an irreplaceable and meaningful experience for me.
Time has flown by, and I will be completing my program and returning to Japan in early July.
Before my departure, I will be hosting a closing event, and I would be delighted if you could join us.
As part of this event, I would like to share one of the main reasons I applied for this program: to communicate accurate information about my hometown, Fukushima. In March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, and my hometown was affected by the earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster, and subsequent reputational damage. Since then, with support from around the world and the efforts of residents, recovery has steadily progressed. I hope this event will provide an opportunity to share both that journey and the current state of Fukushima.
I would also love for you to experience not only the history but also the culture and cuisine of Fukushima.
At the event, we will have a giant sushi roll-making activity, as well as tastings of sake, cheese, pickles, seaweed snacks, and sweets from Fukushima.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: The Joy Center
Admission is $10 for attendees over the age of 21 and $5 for those under 21.
Tickets can be purchased at https://partiful.com/e/NbGsZ9mLFQsUVwXPN1Rz?c=0wttuWiH
The speaker Jake Price, is a filmmaker, photographer, and educator focused on climate change and its impact on communities worldwide. He has documented Fukushima’s post-disaster recovery, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, BBC, and Rolling Stone, and has received top honors from World Press Photo.
His documentary, “The Invisible Season,” will be shown at 6:00 PM in Jonas 110 on Wednesday, April 29.
I truly look forward to seeing you all at the event before I leave BHSU. I hope you can join us.
Join award-winning historian and author Paul L. Hedren for a presentation on his latest publication: “Sitting Bull's War: The Battle of Little Big Horn and the Fight for Buffalo and Freedom on the Plains.” Hedren will share his research on America’s greatest Indian war as told distinctly from the perspective of the Lakotas and the Northern Cheyennes.
This event is free and open to the public, with refreshments and book signing to follow. Part of BHSU’s Madeline A. Young Speaker Series and co-sponsored by the Leland D. Case Library.
When: Thursday, April 23rd at 7 p.m.
Where: Joy Center
Questions? Contact Lori.Terrill@BHSU.edu or 605-642-6361
Hedren will also be giving a session for students on research techniques from 2 - 3:15 p.m. on April 23rd in Jonas 106.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Henry’s Books
In Know My Name, the reader experiences Chanel Miller’s brilliantly-written memoir about her experience of being sexually assaulted by a Stanford University athlete and the many ways she copes and recovers from a life-altering experience. Formerly known as “Emily Doe—the unconscious intoxicated woman,” Chanel Miller comes out to the world to describe what happened after the assault, the process of sharing her story, mental health challenges, bystander awareness, creativity and coping, the legal process, toxic masculinity, and many more themes that are of fundamental concern for our community.
Join us for this powerful panel featuring experts that have assisted survivors of sexual violence. Hear local panelists share their knowledge and actionable strategies for social change.
Be a part of the conversation tackling social norms...you can make a difference!
No ticket needed. Free Community Event
The Matthews
Thursday, April 30th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Please note: this event and book contains mature content and may not be suitable for all readers.
Submit Questions for the panel and learn more
https://www.artemishouse.org/awareness
Join the Community Book Read Facebook Discussion Group in April
https://www.facebook.com/groups/readwithartemis
Expert panelists:
Tracy Dollison Decker, The Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault Attorney Consultant & Advisor
Rebecka Funk, LPC-MH Black Hills State University Licensed Counselor
Samuel Funk, Spearfish PD Detective
Jeanie Berns, Artemis House Advocate
Tifanie Petro, MS Pennington County Victim Services Director
Please join us to celebrate a successful academic year and to wish our retirees well in their new endeavors.
Food and refreshments will be available.
Tuesday, April 28
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Open House
The Joy Center
Fukushima was deeply affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and its communities continue to rebuild with resilience and determination. However, the realities of this recovery and the region’s unique culture remain little known outside Japan.
This event will highlight Fukushima’s ongoing recovery, the strength of its people, and its rich community-based culture.
In addition to learning, the event will feature hands-on experiences such as making giant sushi rolls as well as tastings of sake and food from Fukushima.
Through cultural experiences and engaging presentations, come discover Fukushima today—and explore what it means to build stronger, more resilient communities for the future.
-Event Details-
Event time: Saturday, Apr. 25, 4:00-6:00
Guest Speaker: Jake Price
Experience: Make a giant sushi roll (Daiyamaki)
Enjoy: Sample sake & local foods
Jake Price is a filmmaker, photographer, and educator focused on climate change and its impact on communities worldwide. He has documented Fukushima’s post-disaster recovery, with work featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, BBC, and Rolling Stone, and has received top honors from World Press Photo.
In 2025-2026, eight faculty and six staff members developed a plan for elevating the quality and consistency of online courses at BHSU. Join this session to learn about this Academic Affairs initiative and explore some of the resources the group developed, including new BHSU Online Course Quality Standards.
When: Thursday, May 7, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Where: JA 103A (RSVP for online option)
Hosts: Nick Van Kley, Prasanthi Pallapu, Amy Fuqua
Join us at Black Hills State University for our 10th annual Arbor Day celebration!
Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Ida Henton Park
Help us honor our decade of commitment to sustainability with a fun and educational afternoon of tree-focused activities:
We invite all students, faculty, staff, and community members to come out and celebrate with us!
Questions? Contact Debbie Liddick or Rhyse Naylor at 605-642-6244
Let’s make year TEN the best one yet! See you there!
No policy updates at this time.