May 8  | Dr. John Little and Megan Red Shirt Shaw – Everywhere and Nowhere: Moving Beyond Mascots, Stereotypes, and Cultural Appropriation – Dr. John Little, Director of Native Recruitment & Alumni Engagement at the University of South Dakota, filmmaker, and enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Megan Red Shirt Shaw, Director of Native Student Services at the University of South Dakota, founder of Natives in America magazine, and enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, join SDHC to discuss the persistence and presence of Indigenous peoples, moving beyond mascots, stereotypes, and cultural appropriation.  

May 22  |  Dr. Daniel Mourlam and Dr. Kyle Kopplin – South Dakota’s Teacher Shortage: Challenges and Change – Dr. Daniel Mourlam, Chair of the Division of Teacher Education at the University of South Dakota, and Dr. Kyle Kopplin, Assistant Professor of Economics at Black Hills State University, join SDHC to discuss the ongoing issue of South Dakota’s teacher shortage. 

June 5   | (Guests TBA) – Social Media and Mental Health – Invited guests join SDHC to discuss the relationship between social media and mental health, both in youth and adults.  

June 19  | HOLIDAY – NO PROGRAM

July 3 | (Guests TBA) – Indigenous Art: Healing  and Connection – Guests to be determined.

July 17 | David Adler – Constitutional Conversations – David Adler, renowned Constitutional scholar, columnist, and President of the Alturas Institute, once again joins SDHC to talk about the relevance of current issues and events in relation to the U.S. Constitution.

July 31 | Carson Walker and Seth Tupper – Resolving a Modern Dilemma: The Importance of  Informational (and Media) Literacy – Carson Walker, CEO of South Dakota News Watch, and Seth Tupper, Editor-in-Chief of South Dakota Searchlight, join SDHC to discuss the declining trust in America’s institutions and the possible resolution of this issue through the fostering of informational literacy – what it is, why it’s important, and how all of us can use it to contribute to a greater understanding of the world in which we live.

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Beginning August 7, Humanities Cafe will revert to a format of weekly discussions in preparation for – and celebration of – the upcoming Festival of Books, to held in Spearfish, September 26-28. These weekly discussions will feature Festival authors, discussing their work and issues important to South Dakotans. We look forward to having you join us!

August 7  |  Author TBD 

August 14 | Ann Bausum – Talking History and Culture: A Conversation with Ann Bausum – Historian and award-winning author Ann Bausum joins SDHC to talk about her latest book, “White Lies,” as well as her vast body of published work pertaining to vital social, cultural, and historical topics relevant to our times.

August 21 | Hannah Haksgaard – The Rural Lawyer: Incentives and Inspiration – Hannah Haksgaard, attorney and professor at the University of South Dakota, joins SDHC to talk about her new book, entitled, “The Rural Lawyer: How to Incentivize Rural Law Practice and Help Small Communities Thrive”, including a discussion about the importance of South Dakota’s Rural Attorney Recruitment Program.

August 28 | Author TBD 

Sept 4 | Rebecca Clarren – The Cost of Free Land: A Tangled History – 2025 SD One Book Author Rebecca Clarren joins SDHC to discuss the tangled history – and legacy – of her Jewish immigrant ancestors’ land in South Dakota and the Lakota who were forced off that land, as well as the subsequent consequences of this legacy of violence and dispossession.

Sept 11 | Author TBD

Sept 18 | Author TBD

Sept 25 | Author(s) TBD – South Dakota Festival of Books Kick-off! 

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Disclaimer: The opinions shared by Humanities Cafe guests and panelists are their own and are not to be considered representative of any state organization and/or the South Dakota Humanities Council.