About CCC
Our History
Founded in 1982 with a mission to meet post-secondary educational needs of students, Capital University Center (CUC) created a unique hub for learning in central South Dakota. CUC became an institution of the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) in 2003, working with all six of the SDBOR public universities.
Located more than 150 miles from the state’s nearest public university campus and servicing a large percentage of non-traditional students, classes were created with flexibility in mind. By offering classes in the evening and on weekends, utilizing face-to-face and online formats, and opportunities for dual credit courses as well as non-credit adult education seminars, the range for learning is broad. During the summer semester, we encourage traditional-age students in central South Dakota to join our classes and lighten their course loads during their on-campus semesters or simply finish their degrees that much faster.
Throughout more than three decades of this educational journey, flexibility for the needs of students remained at the forefront for the Board of Directors. As with all things in life, CUC needed to evolve and grow as needs changed. In early 2020, CUC transitioned to Capital City Campus (CCC).
Thanks to the generous support of Wallace R. Halverson and donations from Jim and Susan Mollison, among others, CCC is proud to continue offering central South Dakotans the same outstanding academic opportunities that we envisioned back in 1982 from a state-of-the-art facility here in Pierre.
We hope to see you on campus very soon!
Capital City Campus Board Members
Tom Hart, Chair
Tom Hart is a Senior Trust Officer with Bridgeford Trust Company and works closely with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors in assisting mutual clients meet their financial needs. He has over 15 years of experience in the legal and trust industries.
Prior to joining Bridgeford Trust Company, Tom worked as General Counsel for the State of South Dakota and as a private lawyer and trader for a hedge fund. Active in the community, Tom serves on the Board of Directors for Pierre Area Foundation, as well as The Capital City Campus.
Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and JD from the University of South Dakota.
Marcia Hultman, Vice Chair
Marcia Hultman was appointed Cabinet Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation by Governor Dennis Daugaard in 2014 and reappointed by Governor Kristi Noem in 2019. Prior, she had served in various DLR leadership roles for 17 years.
Throughout her career, Hultman has been involved in the delivery of workforce training, employment, adult education and literacy, and unemployment insurance services, as well as state specific wage and hour, workers’ compensation, and human rights programs.
Hultman received a bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University and completed the Council of State Government Henry Toll Leadership program in 2016.
Laurie Mikkonen, Treasurer
Laurie Mikkonen is the CFO at Delta Dental of South Dakota. Prior to moving back to Pierre in 2016, Laurie spent over 25 years gaining professional experience in finance, accounting, and management roles in the Minneapolis area.
Laurie graduated summa cum laude with an accounting degree from Minnesota State – Mankato and started her career as a CPA with KPMG in Minneapolis.
Laurie enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, traveling, reading & time on the Missouri.
Ron Woodburn, Secretary
Ron Woodburn was Director of CCC (formerly Capital University Center) from April 2004 until December 2013. After retiring as director, he joined the Advisory Board.
A native of Oklahoma and a lifelong musician, Ron earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Oklahoma State University and Master’s in Geography from the University of Alberta.
He and his wife Glenda have a trio of daughters and seven (soon to be eight) grandchildren.
Natasha Bothun
Natasha Bothun has worked for the State of South Dakota since 2005 and currently works in the Bureau of Human Resources as the Employee and Organizational Development Manager. Prior to working for BHR, Natasha spent 15 years with the Department of Tourism.
Natasha grew up in Manning, IA and attended Drake University. Upon graduating from Drake, with a Public Relations degree, Natasha moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin where she began a career as a food broker and continued her education working towards a Marketing degree.
Natasha and her husband Scott moved to Pierre in 2003 when Scott took over his family’s Farmers Insurance agency. Scott and Natasha have two children.
Dan Baldwin
Dan Baldwin serves as the Superintendent of the Stanley County School District.
He received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education Administration South Dakota State University and is a 29-year veteran educator. He also received his Ed Specialist degree from the University of South Dakota, and has been a school administrator for the past 18 years.
Dan believes in empowering staff to allow them to grow professionally and provide the most productive learning environment possible for students.
Dan is married to his wife, Denise, and they have three children with the youngest attending Stanley County High School.
Kelly Glodt
Dr. Kelly J. Glodt has been Superintendent of the Pierre School District for 13 years.
He holds educational degrees from SD State University, Fort Hayes State-Kansas, and Kansas State University. Kelly’s mission, as a 32-year veteran educator, is to use all available resources in the best way to provide great places to learn for ALL students.
He and his wife, Sue, enjoy having their children's families and grandchildren in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area.
Gloria Hanson
Currently in her third term as Mayor of Fort Pierre, Gloria Hanson grew up on a Stanley County ranch and graduated from National College of Business.
Her commitment to continually enhance the quality of life for residents and the experience of visitors has led Gloria to serve in many capacities.
Gloria and her husband Ron Schreiner together have six children and nine grandchildren.
Steve Harding
Steve Harding is currently serving his third term as Mayor of Pierre.
Prior to being elected Mayor, Harding served as a Pierre City Commissioner for nine years. As a commissioner, Harding also served as the commission liaison to every city department, and served on multiple boards.
Before retiring in 2021, Mayor Harding served as Deputy Secretary of the South Dakota Department of the Military. Harding also worked in the Governor's Office of Economic Development and owned Harding Motor Company.
Harding was born and raised in Pierre. He holds a degree from Black Hills State University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Following 34 years of service, Harding retired from the South Dakota Army National Guard as a Colonel.
Kelly Hansen
Kelly Hansen is currently serving as the principal of TF Riggs High School in Pierre.
Prior to this role, he was an elementary principal in the district for 10 years at Washington, McKinley, and then Kennedy Elementary.
He has over 25 years of experience in education. Sixteen of those years have been with the Pierre School District.
He is a graduate of Northern State University and has a masters degree from SDSU, with an education specialists degree from the University of Sioux Falls.
Rhea Waldman
Dr. Rhea Waldman is a scientist, educator, and passionate science communicator. Rhea left academia for a career in non-profit education at the SD Discovery Center 5 years ago.
In March 2020 she took over as Executive Director of the Center. As a scientist by training, but a science communicator at heart, Rhea knows about the challenges and joys of communicating science. She advances the Center’s mission to empower all People of the Great Plains, by building bridges between research, informal education, and K-12 schools to engage young minds in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Her appointment to the Capital City Campus Board of Directors will allow her to deepen their existing partnership and work to prepare students from preschool through college for a successful career and help create a strong STEM workforce for South Dakota.
Karna Pfeffer
Karna Pfeffer is Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. After earning a BSN from SDSU, Karna returned to Pierre, her hometown, to work and raise her family. Ensuring that people in rural SD have access to great quality health care and low cost education close to home are priorities for Karna. She and her husband Josh have three daughters.
Jamie Seiner
Jamie Seiner became a retirement specialist for the SDRS Supplemental Retirement Plan in March 2021.
She is active in the community and is passionate about CCC and all they offer to the area.
Jamie grew up in St. James, MN and moved to South Dakota to attend South Dakota State University where she earned a B.S. in Family and Consumer Science/ Affairs and a M.S. in Family Financial Planning.
Jamie and her husband, Buddy, share three children and a love of life on the Missouri River.
Laura Scheibe
Laura Scheibe serves as the Director for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the Director of the Division of College, Career, and Student Success at the South Dakota Department of Education.
In that capacity, she oversees secondary CTE programs and coordinates closely with the Board of Technical Education to oversee the state’s four public technical colleges.
She and her husband, Aaron, a lawyer in private practice, are raising their two young sons in Pierre.
Ariel Valle
Ariel Valle serves as the Student Representative on the Capital City Campus Board of Directors.
Ariel was homeschooled and graduated early, earning her GED. She is currently in the Dakota Wesleyan University Learn & Earn program base out of CCC.
She anticipates graduating in December and hopes to one day start her own business.