Share | Print

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.

Robert Fox, JD

As one of the founding faculty members and professor emeritus at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, Robert Fox has nearly 40 years of experience in higher education. He practiced law at a Twin Cities law firm specializing in non-profit organizations before leaving to help establish the university in 1972. During his tenure at Metro State, Fox served as department chair, assistant to the president, and counsel to the president. He also held numerous university committee and faculty positions, which involved significant work with multiple student centered learning strategies. He consults nationally on the assessment of experiential learning. Fox also served on the Minnesota Department of Health Committee on Chemical Dependency Counselor Credentials.

His passion for the game of table tennis has earned him recognition at the national level, an induction into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame, and executive leadership responsibilities for professional table tennis organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from the University of Minnesota; and holds a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law.

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.

Kevin Gilligan, BA

Kevin Gilligan joined Capella Education Company as CEO in 2009, when he also was appointed to the company's board of directors. His previous experience includes more than 20 years of executive experience in service industries. From 2004 to 2009, he was president and CEO of United Subcontractors, Inc. (USI), a national construction services firm based in Edina, Minnesota. Previously he was president and CEO of Honeywell International's second largest business, Automation and Control Systems, where he oversaw 43,000 employees and revenues of $7.5 billion. He joined Honeywell in 1977, and held a variety of executive positions with national and international responsibilities. Gilligan is a graduate of Boston College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Political Science. He sits on the board of directors of Graco, and is a former lead director on the board of directors of ADC.

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.

Return to University Mission & Leadership page.