University Mission & Leadership

Board of Directors

Marcia S. Ballinger, PhD; Board Chair

Marcia Ballinger has been a principal with Minneapolis-based KeyStone Search, an executive search firm, since 2004, after serving eight years as a vice president with another prominent executive search firm. Ballinger's previous corporate positions were as director of human resources development with two international manufacturing and distribution firms, which included management of a multiyear corporate culture transformation. She also has been an adjunct faculty member in business at Capella University and St. Mary's University, and began her career with IBM in sales and educational capacities. Marcia has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Speech-Communication from the University of Minnesota. She received her PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University. She also earned her certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the HR Certification Institute. Ballinger is vice chair of the board of the American Red Cross-Twin Cities Area Chapter and a member of the United Way Women's Leadership Council.

Bertice Berry, PhD

Bertice Berry is an award-winning lecturer, educator, sociologist, and author of nine books. She began her career teaching sociology and statistics at Kent State University, where she often infused her scholarly lectures with humor. Her popularity as a lecturer inspired her to pursue a career as an entertainer, lecturer, and comedian, earning her such awards as national Comedian of the Year and Campus Lecturer of the Year. She went on to executive produce and host her own nationally syndicated talk show, "The Bertice Berry Show," as well as host "USA Live" on the USA Network. She continues to be featured on numerous television programs, remains a popular speaker on the lecture circuit, and recently published a new memoir, "The Tie That Binds." A strong advocate of community involvement, Berry is an active volunteer and literacy activist. Berry credits her own education to a generous benefactor, who assisted in her education at Jacksonville University in Florida, where she earned her bachelor's degree. She subsequently earned her PhD in Sociology from Kent State University in Ohio. She is most proud of being a mother to her five adopted children.

Christopher Cassirer, ScD

Christopher Cassirer was appointed president of Capella University in February 2009 after serving as acting president since May 2008. He has also served on Capella University's Board of Directors since October 2008. He joined Capella University's School of Human Services as a faculty director in 2005 and was appointed dean of the school in 2006. Previously, Cassirer was an associate professor and director in the Department of Health Services Management and Leadership at The George Washington University from 2003 to 2005; chair of executive studies and associate professor of healthcare management at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management from 1999 to 2003; co-founder and CEO of the Partnership for Patient Safety in Chicago from 1999 to 2000; and assistant vice president for knowledge services with MMI Companies Inc. from 1998 to 1999. Cassirer earned his Doctor of Science in Health Policy and Management and completed his post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He earned a Master of Public Health in Health Policy from the Yale University School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University.

Willie B. Garrett, EdD

Willie B. Garrett has been licensed as a master's-level psychologist since 1980 and has more than 25 years experience in behavioral health care and employee assistance, both as a consultant and as a clinician. He currently serves as director of behavioral health at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in Minneapolis. Prior to joining NorthPoint in 2007, he was the chief professional officer of the Minnesota Psychological Association from 2005 to 2007. His volunteer work has included serving as president of the Minnesota Association of Black Psychologists, president of the board of directors of Adoptive Families of America, and a board member of the Employee Assistance Society of North America. Garrett also has served on committees to enhance gifted and talented education for the past 20 years and is currently a member of the Minnesota Department of Education's Gifted and Talented Advisory Council. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, his Master of Science in Counseling from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and his Doctor of Education in Organization Development from the University of Minnesota.

Elena Kays, PhD

Dr. Elena Kays has extensive experience in the field of higher education, having served in faculty and administrator roles for more than 17 years. Currently a core faculty member with Capella's School of Education, she previously served as program coordinator and then chair of the Graphic Arts and Professional Design Department at Centenary College in New Jersey. She also has been a visiting scholar for several higher education institutions, including Syracuse University in New York, Kean University in New Jersey, and West Virginia University. Kays has been a pioneer in the development of distance learning courses for studio-based design curricula, and has presented and published numerous papers at international conferences. She has also worked as a professional designer for more than 20 years, developing, managing, and evaluating design projects around the globe. Dr. Kays received her MA in history at East Stroudsburg University and her PhD in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University.

Nathaniel Richardson, Jr.

Nathaniel Richardson Jr. has more than 20 years of health care and leadership experience, including his current role as vice president of operations for Huntsville Hospital, in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a board member for Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (HEMSI), and The Heart Center, Inc; and has previously served on the boards of Houston Community College and Alvin Community College. Richardson is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Association for Medical Imaging Management. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business at Capella University.

Stephen G. Shank, JD

Stephen Shank founded Capella Education Company, the parent company of Capella University, in 1991, and served as CEO of the company until his 2009 retirement. He remains the chairman of Capella Education Company, a position he has held since the company went public in 2006, and the chancellor of Capella University, a position he has held since 2001. He is also a voting director on Capella University's board of directors, having previously served as an emeritus director from 2003 to 2006, and as a voting director from 1993 to 2003. Prior to founding Capella, Shank served for 12 years as chairman and chief executive officer of Tonka Corporation. During this time, The Wall Street Transcript twice recognized Shank as the industry's most outstanding chief executive officer. Shank began his career as an attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Dorsey & Whitney. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts from The Fletcher School, a joint program of Tufts and Harvard universities, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Kimberly F. Stephan, JD; Board Secretary

Kimberly Stephan joined Capella in February 2007 as corporate counsel, with a focus on corporate governance matters. She was previously a corporate and securities attorney and shareholder at Seattle-based law firm Graham & Dunn, PC, where she worked from 1998 to 2007. She also served as a corporate attorney with the Financial Institutions Group of Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP, a Minneapolis-based law firm, from 1996 to 1998, and as law clerk for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin from 1994 to 1995. Stephan earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she served as a managing editor of the Wisconsin Law Review during her final semester. While in law school, she also participated in a doctoral-level student exchange program with the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, where she studied European Union and international comparative law.

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