University of South Dakota Helps Create American Indian Studies Great Plains Consortium
“Our goals are to develop talent and prepare students to be successful in a multicultural world, working with and within Native communities on issues that are important to Native peoples,” said David Posthumus, a professor in the USD Native Studies program.
Other members of the new consortium include South Dakota State University, Black Hills State University and the University of North Dakota.
At the inaugural meeting the group discussed plans for the future and how the various institutions in the region can work together to further the goals of their own programs and of Native American/American Indian Studies in general.
Posthumus, along with his colleague Elise Boxer, Ph.D., have been working to revamp USD’s curriculum to reflect current standards in the field of Native American/American Indian Studies. Posthumus said that the new curriculum at highlights USD’s strengths and has a regional focus and specialization in Lakota Studies.