Simone Named Executive Director of University Center
Most recently, Simone served as president of Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad and Alamosa, Colorado. As president, Simone led both campuses, stabilized enrollment and increased retention rates. She also aligned institutional revenue and expenses, and led record-breaking philanthropic efforts to establish endowments to support scholarship initiatives, facility upgrades and key faculty positions.
Prior to serving as president, Simone served as provost and vice president for academic affairs for Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, and vice president of academic affairs for Casper College in Casper, Wyoming.
Simone has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Colorado State University, with a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Dakota. She served as assistant professor of chemistry at Colorado State University from 1993-2003 and chemistry instructor at Casper College from 1993-2004.
Sheila Gestring, president of the University of South Dakota and a member of UC-SF’s board of directors, said Simone brings a wealth of institutional leadership experience that will help drive enrollment and improve retention rates at UC-SF.
“University Center-Sioux Falls is an important driver of individual prosperity and economic vitality for the Sioux Falls region and the state of South Dakota,” Gestring said. “UC-SF provides access to an affordable, high-quality public education. As the institution charged with leading University Center, we are committed to providing career-focused education to non-traditional and adult learners who seek professional development, individual advancement and lifelong learning. We look forward to working with Dr. Simone to help University Center reach its strategic goals.”
