FACULTY & STAFF E-UPDATE

Announcements Events Policy Updates

Announcements

Kara Ewing - Farewell and best wishes!

Kara’s last day at the Bookstore will be Friday, April 10. Please take a moment to stop by and wish her well as she begins the next chapter of her journey. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for Kara as she takes this next step in her career.

Submitted by JUSTIN NAUTA on 2026-03-31

Send-A-Thanks Recipients

The Send-a-Thanks platform was developed for employees to be able to send a special thank you, or kudos, to one of their colleagues across campus. Employees who receive a send-a-thanks are entered into a monthly drawing for either a Bookstore gift card or a mug and gift card courtesy of Einstein's. We would like to give a shout out to the recipients who have received a kudos! March recipients were:


SandraKringenSenior Accountant
Marc JolleyBuilding Maintenance Specialist
JordanCooperSr Building Maintenance Worker
BHSU Facilities Services


If you would like to send a special recognition to someone, please click the quick link on the main e-Update email.

Thank you all for everything you do!

Submitted by Tami Roberts on 2026-04-02

Available Positions at BHSU!

Check out these BHSU job openings! Please share with anyone you know that might be interested!


  1. Associate VP for Facilities Services
  2. Admissions Counselor - Rapid City
  3. Associate VP University Advancement
  4. Head Women's Basketball Coach
  5. Accountant
  6. Bookstore Buyer
  7. Adjunct Instructor - Studio Art
  8. Assistant Professor, Physics
  9. Assistant Professor, Graduate Studies
  10. Assistant Professor, Marketing
  11. Assistant Professor, Psychology


Staff and Faculty job listings can be found here: https://www.bhsu.edu/About-BHSU/Employment-Opportunities.

Submitted by Tami Roberts on 2026-04-02

Planned Printer Maintenance

Network and Computer Services will perform maintenance to the Papercut printing system between 6:45 AM and 7:15 AM Thursday, April 9th. During this time, the BHSU printers will not allow users to print, copy, or scan on both the Spearfish and Rapid City campuses.

Submitted by Ryan Delzer on 2026-04-07

American Indian Experience (AIE) – new library database

AIE engages researchers with the historical experiences and contemporary practices of more than 150 Native American tribes. Dedicated investigations of events and time periods, illustrated through rich primary source and reference libraries, prepare researchers to deepen their understanding of American Indian history and culture. Content includes over 2,000 primary and secondary full-text sources including treaties, captivity narratives, traditional stories, speeches, maps and images. BHSU email and login required. Access via the library A-Z database directory: A-Z Databases ; https://libguides.bhsu.edu/az.php

Submitted by Mike Tolan on 2026-04-07

Employee Award Nominations

🎉 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!

Submitted by Cassie Maser on 2026-03-16

TOWN HALL MEETING

Please mark your calendars to attend the Spring Town Hall:

Thursday, April 30, 2026

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Student Union - Jacket Legacy Room (upper level of the Union)

Submitted by Jacky Easton on 2026-03-05

Geek Speakers needed for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

Dear BHSU Faculty and Staff,

  • Do you have a secret or not-so-secret passion or interest you would like to share with our Geek Speak community?
  • Or a conference paper or Joy of Learning presentation that deserves a second audience?
  • Is an old Geek Speak begging to be revived?
  • Or do you have an idea for a round table discussion? A hands-on workshop?

    We are looking for YOU for the 2026-2027 Geek Speak lineup.  Talks are every Monday at 4:00 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

    Interested? Please contact me at Courtney.HuseWika@BHSU.edu.
Submitted by Courtney Huse Wika on 2026-03-05

Events

Bellman Writing Awards Celebration

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the annual Bellman Writing Awards!

The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, April 14 at 4:00 PM in the Black Box Theater. Everyone is welcome to attend.


Composition

1 Avery Layne: “Last Name, First Name”

English 101: Composition I. Dr. Martin Fashbaugh

T-2 Brynn Treiber: “Electoral College Reform”

English 201: Composition II. Ms. Ronda Mehrer

T-2 Katherine Palmer: “The Expectations of Women During World War II”

English 201: Composition II. Ms. Isabel Litzen


Literature

1 Owen Vaughn: “Bruised Notes: The Importance of Music in Manhattan Transfer

English 490: Seminar. Dr. Vincent King

T-2 Sarah Lopez Strongheart: “Two Imagist Poems About the Sea”

English 492: Topics. Dr. Nicholas Wallerstein

T-2 Kaitlyn Czernek: “A Feminist Analysis of The Bell Jar

Sociology 483: Sociology of Gender Roles. Dr. William Cockrell


General

1 Emma Golinvaux: “Methodology or Mirage: Orientalism in Egypt”

History 480: Historical Methods and Historiography. Dr. Alexander Lang

2 Jared Golinvaux: “そんのうじょうい と ふこくきょうへい: Slogans that Brought About the Meiji Restoration”

History 480: Historical Methods and Historiography. Dr. Alexander Lang

3 Ashley Kerr: “An Eclipse of Time”

English 283: Introduction to Creative Writing. Dr. Courtney Huse Wika

Submitted by Matthew Bauman on 2026-04-07

Earth Day Events 4/18

Celebrate Earth Day with a day full of exciting events focused on sustainability, community, and environmental awareness!

Guest Presenter

Kick off the day with our guest presenter, Spearfish Trails Coalition, in Meier Hall. Enjoy a social hour from 9:30–10:00 AM, followed by the presenter from 10:00–11:00 AM. Learn, get inspired, and engage in meaningful conversations about protecting our planet.

Earth Day Festival

Immediately after our guest presenter, we will kick off the Earth Day Festival on April 18th from 11:00-2:00 PM on the Campus Green. This year's theme is “Think Global, Act Local,” and there will be educational booths, food trucks, a free plant giveaway, solar panel tours, and much more!

We hope to see you all there!

If you have any questions, please contact Taryn.Davis@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu


Submitted by Elena Long Wolf on 2026-03-27

Recycled Art Competition

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit recycled artwork as a part of BHSU’s Earth Day celebration! Display of artwork and community voting for winners of the art competition will take place Saturday April 18th from 11am to 2pm. First place and runner-up awards for students and first place and runner-up awards for faculty/staff.


Artwork should be made primarily of repurposed /recycled/found materials. All work must be dropped off by April 15th to Woodburn, Rm 302-A (9am to 5pm). Tags to attach to artwork with artist and artwork information will be available upon drop-off. Artwork pick-up Saturday April 18th at 2pm.

Submitted by Bridget Beck on 2026-03-26

Murder's in the Heir

An Audience Interactive Murder Mystery-Comedy


By Billy St. John

Directed by Josiah Sabrowski-Johnson


A Dinner Theatre Fundraiser for Scholarships


April 11, 2026

Turn the game Clue into a play and you have the masterfully entertaining Murder’s in the Heir!’ Almost every character in this hilarious mystery has the weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit the unseen murder.


And it’s up to your audience to decide who actually did it! Each of the heirs to the tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means and the motive to do away with him. Starkweather gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula (a Southern belle) and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many servants. Then Lois delivers the bombshell! Within hours this will becomes invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it’s not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an ax, a gun, and poison. Predictably, the lights go out, and Simon is discovered murdered. Simon III (played by the same actor who plays the elderly Simon) is determined to find his grandfather’s killer, with the help of detective Mike Davis. The play’s unique ending, utilizing secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience, determines the killer in this Billy St. John maze of murder.


Purchase Tickets

https://app.arts-people.com/?show=297187

Submitted by Josiah Sabrowski-Johnson on 2026-03-30

American Indian Awareness Week

Please join us for American Indian Awareness Week April 13th - 17th!


Our guest speakers will be presenting in Jonas Academic Room 107


This year's theme is "Elevating Native Voices: Embracing Our Collective Impact."


Monday April 13th


  1. 11:00am - 11:50am Cante Heart - “8th Generation”
  2. 1:00pm - 1:50am Bobbie Koch - “Indigenous Placekeeping: Culturally-Responsive & Community-Driven Architecture”


Tuesday April 14th


  1. 2:00pm - 3:15pm Dew Bad Warrior-Gange - “Zuya Sica Consulting"


Wednesday April 15th


  1. 9:00am - 9:50 Marty Two Bulls - “Breaking Stereotypes: Lakota Public Artworks and the Importance of Self Representation”
  2. 11:00am - 11:50am Dr. Brittany Bearstail - “Monument Health"
  3. 1:00pm - 1:50pm Bobby Pourier - “Intergenerational Healing: How to Drive Community Change Across Time”


Thursday April 10th


  1. 2:00pm - 3:15pm Tasha Peltier - “Restoring Balance: Women, Kinship, and Community Wellness”


Submitted by Jordon Mendoza on 2026-03-23

Policy Updates

No policy updates at this time.