Teresa Schanzenbach

Teresa Schanzenbach is the Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) instructor for BHSU. As a life-long resident of South Dakota, she has been actively involved in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. Teresa served as the Executive Director for the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation for 13 years. During that time, she held numerous leadership positions on local, regional, and state tourism boards/committees. She spearheaded the fundraising and development of several community/tourism projects including the “Center of the Nation” Monument.

Prior to her full-time position at BHSU in the Fall of 2022, Teresa was an adjunct teacher while also serving as the Sales Director for First Gold, Inc. in Deadwood and the event organizer for the Deadwood 3-Wheeler Rally, the largest trike rally in the United States.

Teresa graduated from SDSU and has a MS in Curriculum and Instruction. As part of her BHSU teaching curriculum, she utilizes the real-life experiences and expertise of local tourism businesses, through site visits and guest lectures. Current topics are explored, and meaningful classroom projects make up her dynamic curriculum.

Teresa teaches Intro to Tourism, Restaurant Management, Lodging Management, Conventions, Meetings and Events and assists students find paid internships to round out their 16-month Associates Degree in Tourism and Hospitality. When she is not in the classroom, Teresa works to develop partnerships with industry leaders to expand future employment opportunities for THM students.

Teresa is married, has 3 children and a spoiled dog named Henry. She loves music and art dabbling in a variety of mediums when time allows.