Theme: Space

We explore the spaces within and without, from physical space to community space, mental health space to outer space.

1601 11th Street
Brookings, South Dakota, 57006
United States

Colin Amundsen

Colin Amundsen has been an archaeologist for nearly 20 years, doing laboratory as a zooarchaeologists and field-archaeology in Norway. Over those years Amundsen enjoyed all the trappings of this work and the lifestyle that comes with it. From working in the wilds of Labrador to drinking moonshine in the Qatari desert. He shares stories with fellow archaelogists on his podcast: Cooking with Archaeologists.

Erik Hatch

Erik Hatch is building a world engulfed in compassionate capitalism. His positive attitude and outlook on life are contagious. You’ll often hear Hatch complain about his abundance. “I have too much work, too much food, and too much forehead.” Hatch is the owner of Hatch Realty and Hatch Coaching – both based in Fargo, ND. He is also the co-curator of the Sell A Home, Save A Child movement as well as Homeless & Hungry. These movements have helped to raise millions of dollars and empower thousands of people across the globe and in Hatch's backyard of Fargo.

Jared Males

Dr. Jared Males studies exoplanets - planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. He is the principal investigator of a National Science Foundation funded instrument, called "MagAO-X", being developed to image exoplanets from the Magellan telescope in Chile. Dr. Jared Males graduated from Brookings High School in 1994, and from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1998. Jared received his PhD from the University of Arizona in 2013, studying exoplanets and working on instrumentation to image them. He was awarded a NASA Sagan Fellowship to continue his research at Arizona, and in 2016 he joined the faculty of the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory.

Jonathan Holth

Jonathan Holth is an active community builder from Grand Forks, ND. He currently serves on nine different local nonprofit boards and committees, ranging from entrepreneurship advocacy to the public library to domestic violence prevention to a local bike share coalition. He has a passion for challenging communities to dream big and upset the norm. Most recently, he has worked as a consultant helping to develop unique practices and principles in the areas of downtown development and urban core revitalization in a number of cities throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Holth believes in the power of well-designed public spaces, and believes that citizens need to have more say in how they’re designed. Holth is co-founder and co-owner of The Toasted Frog restaurants, with three locations in North Dakota, including Grand Forks, where he lives with his wife and three daughters.

Kevin Benham

Kevin Benham researches and creates art focused on landscape phenomena and the temporal qualities inherent in the discipline. To that end, he produces temporal and ephemeral installations that elucidate phenomena requiring careful observation through space and time. Benham is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture in the School of Design at South Dakota State University. He received his MLA from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and his M.Arch. at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, The University of Michigan. He has taught interdisciplinary studios at several academic institutions, including, the University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Boston Architectural College.

Mary Beth Fishback

Mary Beth Fishback has been personally touched by mental illness both directly and indirectly, as family members and close friends have been impacted. She has a passion for the advancement of mental health care including, reducing barriers and improving access to quality mental health care for all individuals. Fishback is the Master of Public Health Program Coordinator at South Dakota State University. She holds a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, a Master of Public Health, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences with an emphasis in mental health research. Mary Beth has provided direct patient care for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and has extensive experience with the development and implementation of treatment programs directed towards individuals impacted by mental illness.

Melissa Hauschild-Mork

Melissa Hauschild-Mork has been choreographing, teaching, performing, and advocating for quality dance education for nearly three decades. Her interest in dance as a form of personal and community transformation ignites her passion for continued research in this area. Mork is assistant professor of dance in the Division of Performing Arts at South Dakota State University. She is a member of the Dance 2050, a committee of dance educators from around the nation, visioning the future of dance's role in education. Mork presents regularly at regional, national, and international conferences. She has been recognized as South Dakota Outstanding Dance Educator, Arts and Sciences Teacher of theYear, and Arts and Sciences Outstanding Artist. Mork is also a faculty member for the the William (Bill) Evan's Teaching Certification Program.

Sarah Sunshine Manning

Award-winning columnist and contributing writer at Indian Country Today Media Network, Sarah Sunshine Manning writes on issues ranging from education, parenting, culture, environmentalism, tribal rights, social justice, arts, and entertainment. Manning is of the Newe’ and Numu indigenous nations, otherwise known as the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho and Nevada. She is also a proud descendent of the Chippewa and Cree Tribes of Rocky Boy, Montana. Manning contributes her passion and energy to the world as a mother, an aunt to many nieces and nephews, as a daughter, a sister, a friend, and professionally, as a writer, a journalist, a social science educator, and as a social justice activist.

Sharon Steed

Steed uses her speech limitation to teach conference audiences as well as teams at companies about the value of vulnerability in communication. Founder of Communilogue, an agency specializing in helping teams foster greater collaboration, Steed is an internationally recognized public speaker and marketer. She's worked with companies across the globe on identifying their ideal audience and creating content geared specifically towards who that audience is. Originally from Chicago, Steed currently lives in Pittsburgh.