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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.
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.
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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