Graves Lecture Series

All presentations are held in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center Atrium. They begin at 7pm, attendance is free, and the community is encouraged to attend. If you have any questions and/or if you are interested in being a featured speaker, please contact Shawn Hartman at (308) 432-7059 or via email at shartman@551827.com.


From Badlands to Lake Baikal: Unraveling a Botanical Mystery

Susan Rolfsmeier

Tuesday, March 19 -7:00pm Sandoz Center Atrium

The Spring 2024 Graves Lecture Series will kick off on Tuesday, March 19th with a presentation by Susan Rolfsmeier. Rolfsmeier will discuss how a simple question about two Great Plains flowering plants in the forget-me-not family, led her to remote western landscapes, molecular ssystematics, and eventually Siberia. Her presentation will include information about the genus Lappula (stick seeds)which is a plant group having tiny blue flowers and spiny nutlets for fruits. She will talk about how she solved the mystery of their identity and more. The title of her talk is From the Badlands to Lake Baikal: Unraveling a botanical mystery.


Susan Rolfsmeier holds a BA degree in Biology, a MS in Museum Studies and a PhD in Plant Systematics. She currently works at Chadron State College as an Academic Advisor for Project Strive. 



A Path to Graduate School: Research Opportunities Offered at CSC

Emmanuella Tchona

Tuesday, April 2 -7:00pm Sandoz Center Atrium

On Tuesday, April 2, our featured speaker is Emmanuella (Ella) Oya Oluwa Tchona. Tchona is a senior at Chadron State College scheduled to graduate in May with a BA in Chemistry. She is from the Republic of Benin in West Africa, she is an international student, she is a tutor in math and science, she speaks  fluent French and English, she loves to cook,  and she is heavily involved in the International  Club (3-year president). Tchona is also part  of the INBRE program. And as an INBRE  scholar, Tchona had the opportunity to  acquire diverse research experiences in fields  ranging from medicinal/organic chemistry to biochemistry and cancer biology which has led her to a future career in research.

During her presentation, she will discuss her experience as an international student and the many opportunities available CSC. The title of her talk is A Path to Graduate School: Research Opportunities offered at CSC. 



Previous Graves Lecture Series presentations

The series is actively archived on the CSC YouTube page.