Project Team
Part of the InTeGrate University of South Dakota Program Model
Mark Sweeney (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Sweeney is an associate professor in the Earth Sciences Department. He teaches a variety of introductory level Earth Science courses as well as upper level courses in Sedimentology, Geomorphology, and Environmental Earth Sciences. His research expertise is in the geomorphology and sedimentology of arid lands, and specifically focuses on the generation, transportation, and deposition of dust. He is also an associated faculty with USD's Missouri River Institute and studies sedimentation issues related to the Missouri River, often incorporating undergraduate students in his research.
Meghann Jarchow (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Jarchow is the coordinator of the Sustainability Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at USD. She teaches many of the core courses for the sustainability major. Her research expertise is in prairie plant community ecology, sustainability pedagogy, and scenario planning. Dr. Jarchow is a co-author of the module An Ecosystem Services Approach to Water Resources.
Timothy Heaton (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Timothy Heaton is a professor of Earth Sciences specializing in archaeological geology, and chair person of the Earth Sciences and Physics Department. He has taught courses such as Historical Geology, Oceanography, Paleontology and the Evolution-Creation debate. Dr. Heaton has conducted paleontological and archaeological excavations on the Prince of Wales Island and other islands in Southeast Alaska to research what mammals, birds, and fish lived in the region before, during and following the Last Glacial Maximum.
David Swanson (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Swanson is a Professor of Biology and Director of the Missouri River Institute at USD. He teaches field ecology, physiological ecology and ornithology courses in the Biology Department. His specific research interests include patterns and mechanisms of seasonal phenotypic flexibility and adaptation to cold in birds, and woodland and wetland habitat use by migrating and breeding birds in the Northern Prairie region.
Read David Swanson's Faculty Reflection
Elise Boxer (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Boxer is a professor in the History and Native Studies department and is an enrolled citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. She is Dakota from the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands. She teaches a variety of courses in Native Studies such as Introduction to Native Studies and Crime in Indian Country.
Cathy Ezrailson (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Ezrailson is an associate professor in the School of Education. Her teaching interests include Science education (physics education), curriculum, strategies and methodologies for teaching science, safety in the science lab and teaching with technology, and integrating STEM into the sciences with education. Her research interests include teaching science with technology, setting and meeting high standards and best practices in STEM teaching, history of teaching science in public schools, and safety in the science classroom, lab and field.
Read Cathy Ezrailson's Faculty Reflection
Paul Formisano (University of South Dakota)
Paul Formisano is the Director of the Writing Program and an assistant professor in the Department of English at USD. He teaches courses in Western American literature, environmental literature, and composition, and, as the Director of Writing, also teaches pedagogy courses for new teaching assistants. His research focuses on water issues in the American West across varied periods and genres, and is currently at work on a manuscript about marginalized discourses on the Colorado River Basin.
Silvana Rosenfeld (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Rosenfeld is an archaeologically grounded and anthropologically informed scholar engaged with the major themes of food, ritual, and inequality. She has investigated these topics in three major areas in the Andes of South America. She teaches courses such as Introduction to Archaeology, Human and Animal Osteology, Anthropology of Food, Historical Archaeology, Collapse of Societies, and World Ethnography.
Molly Rozum (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Rozum is an associate professor of history and holds the Ronald M. Nelson Chair for Great Plains and South Dakota History. Her specialty fields include the American West, U.S. Northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairie Provinces, and Women's History. Her Northern Grasslands Grown,a history of sense of place and regional identity on the American Plains and Canadian Prairies, from 1870 to 1950, is forthcoming from University of Nebraska Press.
Read Molly Rozum's Faculty Reflection
Matthew Sayre (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Matthew Sayre is an anthropologist and archaeologist who primarily works at the site of Chavin de Huantar in the Peruvian Andes. His work focuses on the ecological, agricultural, economics, and ritual practices of people in the Andes. He has teaching interests in: anthropology, pedagogy, increased access of underrepresented populations, interactive learning, and collaboration across departments.
Aimee Sorensen (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Sorensen is an instructor in the Department of Communication Studies, engaged in the instruction of communication classes. The majority of her classes are core communication curriculum, including the fundamental speaking course, interpersonal, and rhetorical studies.
Read Aimee Sorensen's Faculty Reflection
Mandie Weindandt (University of South Dakota)
Dr. Weinandt is an instructor of economics and statistics specializing in environmental economics, applied microeconomics, and optimization techniques. She primarily teaches a two semester sequence of Business Statistics, Economics for Managers, Environmental Economics, and History of Economic Thought. Her research interests include online vs. face-to-face delivery, environmental economics, and the Austrian School of Economic Thought.