News Releases
Capella University Elects New Members to its Board of Directors
New directors come from education, mental health, and human resources fields
MINNEAPOLIS, November 28, 2007 – Capella University (www.capella.edu), an accredited*, fully online university based in Minneapolis, announced today that it has elected four new members to the Capella University board of directors. They are Marcia Ballinger, PhD; Willie Garrett, EdD; Patricia Hill, MEd; and Tina Stavredes, PhD. In addition, Patricia Cardenas-Adame, PhD, was elected as the new board chair, and Capella attorney Kimberly Stephan, JD, is now serving as board secretary. The new board members bring educational and professional expertise in disciplines that complement Capella’s focus on providing graduate and undergraduate degrees for adults with careers in education, health and human services, and business and technology.
Dr. Ballinger is a principal with Minneapolis-based KeyStone Search, an executive search firm. She previously held executive positions with two international manufacturing and distribution firms, and adjunct faculty positions with Capella and St. Mary’s University. In a volunteer capacity, she currently serves as vice chair of the board of the American Red Cross-Twin Cities and as a member of the United Way Women's Leadership Council.
Dr. Garrett is a licensed master's level psychologist and the director of behavioral health for NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in Minneapolis. He previously served as chief professional officer of the Minnesota Psychological Association. He has served on numerous committees focused on enhancing gifted and talented education and is currently a member of the Minnesota Department of Education’s Gifted and Talented Advisory Council. His volunteer work has also included serving as president of the Minnesota Association of Black Psychologists.
Capella PhD student Patricia Hill is the owner of a private tutorial service that is recognized as a statewide provider by the Georgia Department of Education. She also works as a consultative teacher in special education with the Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a special education teacher at the primary, secondary, and community college level. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education, Leadership in Educational Administration specialization, at Capella and was elected as the board's learner representative.
Dr. Stavredes, a faculty member with Capella's School of Undergraduate Studies, was elected as the board's faculty representative. She previously served as Capella's director of curriculum development and was responsible for creating the Office of Curriculum Development. She also held the positions of program chair and faculty director in Capella's School of Education. Prior to joining Capella, Stavredes worked as manager of academic technology support for the University of Minnesota's College of Education & Human Development.
Newly elected board chair Dr. Cardenas-Adame is vice president of student affairs at Mesa Community College in Arizona. She has more than 20 years of administrative and faculty experience in higher education, including positions at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Gilbert, Arizona; Rice University in Houston; Rio Salado College in Phoenix; Emmanuel College in Boston; Houston Baptist University; and Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas.
Kimberly Stephan, JD, Capella corporate counsel and new board secretary, joined Capella in February 2007. She previously served as a corporate and securities attorney and shareholder at Graham & Dunn, PC, in Seattle and as a corporate attorney with Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP, in Minneapolis.
About Capella University
Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited*, fully online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella offers 104 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate program. The online university currently serves more than 20,000 students from all 50 states and 56 countries. It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company (NASDAQ: CPLA), headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).
*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), http://www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).