2024 Jumpstart Your Wellness


SDSU students, alumni, and friends are invited to join the SDSU Alumni Association for an event that promises to move you, motivate you, and help you further invest in your wellness. Experience three dynamic and educational presentations and walk away ready to take the next step in your wellness journey. You don’t want to miss it!

Thursday, April 11, 2024
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
(Doors open at 5:00 PM)

Woster Celebration Hall
SDSU Alumni Center
815 Medary Avenue
Brookings, SD

Register Here

2024 JUMPSTART YOUR WELLNESS SPEAKER INFORMATION

Bruce Johnson headshot
Bruce Johnson

Presenters Name: Bruce Johnson
Presentation Title: "What has changed, and what has gone unchanged in the pursuit of wealth."

Presentation Description

This short talk will discuss the issues and ways that have continued unchanged in pursing wealth versus what has changed in the last 10-20 years. We will examine how a person’s mindset needs to change and how they must continuously re-examine their efforts. Surprisingly, if one is adapting their efforts, they may ultimately change their goals as well.

Bio

Bruce Johnson is an instructor of management in the Ness School of Management and Economics at South Dakota State University. He has taught a wide range of business and management classes at South Dakota State University and the University of Sioux Falls. Since 2011 he has taught finance, banking, personal finance, marketing, and management classes. Through this diverse range of classes, Bruce found how wealthy individuals often treat their wealth generation similarly to corporations. He has also worked as a business consultant for numerous for-profit, non-profit, start-up, and learning organizations. He routinely speaks to organizations about personal development and organizational well-being. Bruce has an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls. Prior to his academic career, Bruce worked in commercial banking and previously served in the United States Marine Corp from 1999-2003. He is married and has two children.

 

Katie Milbrandt headshot
Katie Milbrandt

Presenters Name: Katie Milbrandt
Presentation Title: "Speak Up: Ending the Silent Struggle by Starting the Conversation

Presentation Description

Without knowing it, we encounter people every single day who are in a silent battle with their mental health. Katie silently struggled with her mental health for years, and she will share how choosing to stop the silence by starting the conversation changed her life. She makes it a priority to speak up and have a voice for those who no longer do.

Bio

Katie grew up in Wisconsin but has since planted her roots in South Dakota after moving here to attend college in the Fall of 2020. Katie is in her fourth year at SDSU, studying Architecture with a minor in Studio Arts. Katie works as a group fitness instructor at the Miller Wellness Center and has also found a passion for running in her free time. Aside from being a full-time student, Katie competes in pageants through the Miss America and Miss South Dakota Organizations and currently holds the title of Miss Hub City 2024, previously holding the title of Miss SDSU 2023. After losing loved ones and almost losing her own life to mental illness, Katie makes it a priority to spread awareness across the state and help those who are struggling with their mental health!

 

Caitlin Walters and April Schneider headshots
Left to right: Caitlin Walters, April Schneider

Presenters Name(s): Caitlin Walters & April Schneider '05/MSN '18
Presentation Title: "Sleep and Your Wellbeing"

Presentation Description

This presentation will cover the importance of sleep for your overall health and wellbeing. April and Caitlin will discuss why you might not be getting a good night's sleep, and ways you can improve the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Bios

Caitlin Walters is a Wellbeing Specialist at South Dakota State University. She has a master's degree in kinesiology from LSU, and undergraduate degrees in psychology, recreation, and tourism from the University of Utah. In her role at SDSU, she is responsible for health promotion and the implementation of campus-wide initiatives. She also supports the work of various wellbeing committees on campus.

April Schneider '05/MSN '18 began her employment with South Dakota State University (SDSU) Student Health Clinic in the fall of 2021. She has worked in the healthcare field for over 25 years. April has worked in a variety of medical settings, including the United States Air Force, Sanford Intensive Care Unit, Sanford Clinic Brookings, and South Dakota State University Student Health Clinic.
 
April earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from SDSU and received her Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner specialty from SDSU in 2018. She is board certified through the American Association of Nursing Practitioners and is a member of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
 
Her hobbies include organizing, antiquing, spending time with family, and cooking.

 

Shari Landmark and Mariah Weber headshots
Left to right: Shari Landmark, Mariah Weber

Wellness Guides: Shari Landmark '99/MS '04 and Mariah Weber '07/MS '10

Bios

Shari Landmark '99/MS '04 is the Chief Wellness Officer at South Dakota State University. She started her time at SDSU as a student, then joined as a full-time employee in 1999. Shari currently provides leadership to the Miller Wellness Center Student Health Clinic, Counseling, Fitness and Recreation, Wellbeing Specialist and Communications Coordinator under the newly formed department of University Wellbeing in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. She provides critical vision, bandwidth, and expertise to strategically align campus efforts, identify gaps and redundancies in resources, and assess progress. Shari serves on a variety of university and division-wide committees to support the mission and goals of the university.
 
Mariah Weber '07/MS '10 is a Registered Dietitian currently working as the Assistant Director of Programs and Development at the South Dakota State University Wellness Center. She holds both her BS and MS in nutritional sciences from South Dakota State University. In her current role, she directly provides nutrition counseling and wellness coaching to students, staff, faculty and community members. In addition, she oversees and supervises the areas of health promotion, fitness and memberships. Mariah is an active member of the American College Health Association and NIRSA (Leaders in Collegiate Recreation).