Donald C. Simmons, Jr., Ph.D., MDiv., has served South Dakota in many capacities, including city councilman, Executive Director of the South Dakota Humanities Council, founding Director of the South Dakota Festival of Books, founding Director of the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service, Dean of Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University, and board member of Christ School of Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings.