The West Podcast - Episode 11

 

Biographies

Dr. Kay Schallenkamp served as President of Black Hills State University from 2006-2014.  Before taking the helm at BHSU, Dr. Schallenkamp served as President of Emporia State University (KS) for 9 years.  Prior to that, she served as provost at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and provost at Chadron State College.  She started her higher education career at Northern State University as an instructor of communication disorders and later served as department chair and dean of graduate studies and research. 

Throughout her career she was professionally active at the state and national levels serving as Chair of the Presidents Council for NCAA  DII , Chair of the Board for the American Association for Teacher Education, Chair of the National Teachers Hall of Fame Board and the SD Speech and Hearing Association..  She also served on the boards for the American Association of American State Colleges and Universities, the Higher Learning Commission (formerly North Central Association) the Renaissance Group, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and the SD Junior Achievement.  Following retirement in 2014, she served on the SD Board of Education Standards and presently serves on the Board for the Career and Technical Education Colleges, Board of Trustees for Baker University, Board of Directors for Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Cultural Affairs Committee for the Sanford Underground Research Facility, the SD American Indian Education Committee.

Dr. Schallenkamp holds 3 degrees in communication disorders: a BS from Northern State University, and MA from the University of South Dakota, and a PhD from the University of Colorado.

She and her husband Ken have 2 daughters Heather Newbury and Jenni Simon, 4 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.

 

Priscilla holds a PhD in Education and a Master of Science in Business Education from the University of Wyoming and a Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music from Black Hills State University. 

Returning to BHSU from 1997-2017 and 2020-2021, she served as a business faculty member, center director, department chair, college dean, and provost. Her professional experiences also include serving as president of the Monument Health Foundation. Prior to her faculty and administrative roles at BHSU, she taught at several other institutions of higher education--Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY, and the Independent Institute of Russian Entrepreneurship in Moscow, Russia.

Over the course of the last 25 years, Priscilla has been engaged in various community service on the local, state, regional, and national levels including the following: Spearfish Economic Development Corporation, Black Hills Community Bank, the Black Hills Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, National Business Education Association, the National Association for Business Teacher Education, and the Zonta Club of Spearfish.

Fred and Priscilla have three sons, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren (with one on the way!). As avid runners, Fred and Priscilla have participated in a number of half and full marathons.  

 

Helen Merriman served as he inaugural Director, SD CEO, South Dakota Center for enterprise Opportunity, the only women’s business center in the state of South Dakota, partially funded by the SBA. Served as the founding director of the SD CEO since its opening in November 2009.  

 

She served as a presenter for the Boots to Business program (B2B) at Ellsworth Air Force Base: B2B is a partnership between SBA, VA, and DoD.  Developed several programs to assist women realize their full leadership potential including the annual Celebrating Women in Business luncheon and Awards, the annual Women’s Business Conference, the monthly Women in Networking (WIN) and organized seminars and workshops on all aspects of entrepreneurship.

 

She was instrumental in creating the Women in Leadership Focusing on the Future educational curriculum/program funded by Coeur Wharf Gold and Silver Mine with over 300 graduates to date. 

 

In 2015, Merriman was selected to attend the National Security Forum/Air War College  at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Served as an Honorary Commander for Ellsworth Airforce Base 28th Contracting Squadron. She has been awarded the SBA 2018 Women Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Award, 2017 South Dakota SBA Champion of the Year, 2017 SBA National Women’s Business Center Boots to Business Instructor of the Year, and the 2013 SBA Region VIII Women’s Business Center of Excellence award for the SD CEO and for herself as Director. 

In 2002 after 24 years in a commercial printing and publishing business partnership with my husband, we sold and moved to the Black Hills. 

Prior to joining SD CEO, she served as communications and development director for Catholic social Services and has experience as a sales manager for two regional publications, as a coordinator of social services for a long term care facility and in leading both non-profit and for profit entities.  

Originally from Sioux Falls, SD, she currently lives in Spearfish with husband Roger.  She has 2 adult step children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.