Women Artists in Collaboration was created in 1985 at Brookings, South Dakota. It started out as a small group of women who had joined together when the Brookings Women's Center sponsored a presentation by women artists. Finding the collaboration stimulating, these women continued to work together. The group was made up of "whoever was willing to contribute" and changed from year to year. Friends of the Arts and the Brookings Women's Center provided funding for the group.
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.
Gertrude Stickney Young (September 14, 1883–January 1965) was born in Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory, to Emma and Sutton Young, the first Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1910 and pursued additional studies at Cornell University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California.
Young served on the faculty of South Dakota State University from 1907 to 1942, where she gained a reputation as an engaging and respected instructor. Upon her retirement, she was named Professor Emeritus and continued to contribute to South Dakota’s intellectual life through her writing. She authored numerous historical sketches, including South Dakota: An Appreciation and Dakota Again, many of which were privately published and remain in library collections across the state.
A dedicated civic leader, Young was the first president of the Brookings Branch of the American Association of University Women and an active member of local organizations such as the Faculty Women’s Club and the Brookings Woman’s Club. She passed away in January 1965.
Dr. Marcus Stanley Zuber was born on January 10, 1912, in Gettysburg, South Dakota, to John and Mary Maas Zuber. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University in Brookings, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in agronomy from Iowa State University in Ames. Zuber served as professor emeritus of agronomy at the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked as a research agronomist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1946 to 1970, stationed at MU.
A leading figure in corn breeding, Dr. Zuber was recognized for developing techniques and genetically improved inbred lines that were widely adopted by hybrid corn breeders. His work significantly advanced the development of single-cross hybrids, notably through the release of lines such as Mo17. His innovations in measuring root and stalk strength became valuable tools in both public and private breeding programs.
Beyond his research, Dr. Zuber was active in academic and community life. He served as the first faculty advisor to Beta Sigma Psi, Iota Chapter, at the University of Missouri from 1963 to 1979, and was a member of the Campus Lutheran Church, the Golden K Kiwanis Club, the Association of Retired Agricultural Professors, and several professional organizations. He received numerous honors, including the University of Missouri Faculty Alumni Award in 1972 and the Outstanding Educator of America award in 1973. In 1983, South Dakota State University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree.