A Healthy Commitment: Knudson Law School Alumnus Takes Public Health Leadership Role in Sioux Falls
As director of public health, Kippley oversees the city’s health department, covering a variety of areas including Falls Community Health, code enforcement for restaurants, lodging, tattoo parlors, in-home daycare, mosquito control, ambulance system quality assurance, and public health initiatives such as promoting good diet and exercise.
In this role, Kippley collaborates extensively with community partners including major health systems, a network of nonprofits and state and county governments.
Born and raised in Brookings, South Dakota, Kippley is a longtime advocate for matters of public health and policy. Kippley graduated from the USD law school with Sterling Honors in 2010. Before joining USD, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Iowa.
While in law school, Kippley held a summer internship in Sanford Health’s legal department.
“I enjoyed doing legal research and being part of a team that gave legal advice, but I gravitated toward the administration side that had the role of making strategic and business decisions,” said Kippley.
Kippley’s first role at a hospital combined his degrees well, as he worked in risk management and compliance. Since then, Kippley has worked in clinical operations, leading teams in primary care, oncology, genetics and cardiology.
With a background in health policy, Kippley is no stranger to working for the public good, and has served his community directly through public office. In 2022, Kippley was elected to the Minnehaha County Commission.
Alongside his professional and public appointments, Kippley serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Sioux Empire and is a trustee of the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Foundation.
Reflecting on his new role and his time at USD’s Knudson School of Law, here is what Kippley had to say.
What are you most proud of in your work?
I am proud of our team members in the Sioux Falls health department and their willingness to collaborate with the public and private sectors to promote our community's best interests.
What advice would you give current students interested in pursuing a similar career path?
A legal education can be an option-expanding choice. There are many highly regulated fields where a legal background can set you apart. The joint degree programs at USD are a terrific way to efficiently combine a JD with an MBA/MPA/MPH to pursue a similar path.
Why South Dakota? What makes the state so special?
South Dakota is home to me and my family. It is the perfect size of community where you can always meet new people and make new connections while still feeling like we have common bonds. As Sioux Falls grows at an incredible rate, it makes the case for getting public health models and innovative problem-solving methods in place before we grow so large that it is harder to get our arms around problems. We are also a naturally collaborative people tied to a sense of place with our agricultural industry that keeps us literally and metaphorically grounded.
Why did you choose USD?
I planned to be a practicing attorney in South Dakota, so USD was the best fit for that career path. Even though I switched the emphasis of my career, the network and education I gained at USD has been instrumental.
How do you stay connected to the university?
I enjoy going to the law school to speak with first-year students about public service, and I admire Dean Fulton’s leadership. It is satisfying to stay in touch as alumni when you feel like the school is on the right track.
What is your favorite memory from your time at USD?
I enjoyed being a graduate assistant for then-Dean Barry Vickrey. That role gave me the honor of leading the first-year study group in my second and third years. It was great to see new students come in and tackle the first-year curriculum. It helped me get a head start on studying for the bar exam by working through the first-year material and mentoring those students.
How did your time at USD prepare you for the work you do today?
Law school provides critical thinking skills as well as research and writing skills. For any leadership position, this is outstanding training to advocate for an organization and be persuasive, especially in areas of public policy.
What does it mean to you to serve as the public health director for Sioux Falls?
It is a great honor to be entrusted with leadership of the city’s Health Department by the mayor and city council. It has been a good fit for me so far, and I enjoy the professionalism and servant-minded approach of the city staff that I get to work with. I look forward to building trust in our local institutions and empowering citizens to live healthy lives.
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