Identity area
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Authorized form of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Charles Woodard earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English Language and Literature from the University of Oklahoma in 1975. He joined the faculty of South Dakota State University the same year, where he taught courses in American literature, with particular emphasis on American Indian literature, American poetry, and the literature of the American Midwest and West. His teaching also included peace and conflict studies, composition, and Honors College courses.
During his career, Woodard developed four annual programs at SDSU: the SDSU Great Plains Writers’ Conference, the Oak Lake Tribal Writers’ Retreat, the SDSU Wacipi, and the Consider the Century Conference. His scholarly and professional work focused primarily on American Indian studies and veterans affairs, and he frequently collaborated with individuals and organizations outside the university to develop programs intended to serve broader communities.
Among the notable recognitions of his career, Woodard was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1990, was named a Distinguished Professor in 1992, received South Dakota State University’s Excellence in Outreach and Engagement Award in 2012, and was awarded the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English Author of the Year in 2013.