Meet Our Team

Dr. Rhea Waldman, Executive Director

Education: 

• Certificate in Fund Raising Management (The FundRaising School, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)
• Doctor of Natural Sciences in Biology. Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
• Master of Science in Biology. Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany.

Community Involvement:

• Rotary Club of Pierre-Fort Pierre, president
• South Dakota Space Grant Consortium (SDSGC), associate director
• South Dakota Nonprofit Network (SDNN), board of directors
• South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA), board of directors
• Capital City Campus (CCC), board of directors
• South Dakota Nonprofit Capacity Building Program (South Dakota Community Foundation / Numad Group) | 2022-2023 cohort
• Leadership Pierre (2021-2022 class)
• Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Officer of the Year (2020)

What I Do:
I advocate for science (#advocate4science), working towards STEM equity in education and workforce development. My passion is science communication, and I train over 100 STEM professionals and scientists every year in communicating their research with the public, which enables the SDDC to connect educators, students, and all South Dakota residents to today’s exciting research and advancements in science.

Anne Lewis, Grant Programs Director

Education:

• Masters of Arts in Education: Natural Science and Environmental Education
• National Geographic Education Fellow (2019 cohort)

Community Involvement:

• Zonta Club of Pierre/Fort Pierre, member
• GLOBE US Partner Forum, representative and chair

What I do:  
I work at the intersection of people, science and the environment. My passion is connecting people - educators, students, and community members - to the outdoors for exploration and discovery. One of my favorite things to do is to facilitate professional development for educators that includes field studies, whether it is three days in Badlands National Park or half an hour in the parking lot looking at what is there. I am excited about MacroBlitz, a project developed in cooperation with National Geographic, to empower people to find and photograph aquatic macroinvertebrates and upload those photos to iNaturalist to support science and learning. 

Jennifer McIntyre, Marketing & Development Director

Education:

• Certificate in Fund Raising Management (The Fund Raising School, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)
• Masters of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Arcadia University
• Bachelor of Arts in History, University of South Dakota

Community Involvement:

• Rotary Club of Pierre-Fort Pierre, membership committee co-chair
• South Dakota Nonprofit Capacity Building Program (South Dakota Community Foundation / Numad Group) | 2022-2023 cohort

What I Do: 
I help build a strong foundation for the SDDC to build from through relationships with our community, partner organizations, and granting institutions and help keep the public informed and engaged with SDDC programs, activities, and mission.

Allison Graviett-Pfaff, Exhibit Hall Manager

Education:

• Associate of Arts in Pre-Education, Secondary Education, History emphasis, (Mineral Area College, Park Hills, MO)
• South Dakota Honey Production Education Institute Certification (Edmunds Central School District, Roscoe, SD) 
• Get Grant Ready Certificate (nonprofitready.org, online)

Community Involvement:

• T.F. Riggs Emerald Regiment Colorguard Coach | 2022-2024

What I Do: 
I work diligently on multiple projects to keep visitors safe, our Exhibit Hall fun, and our SDDC Store stocked! I also create or fix exhibits, manage volunteers & Visitor Service Associates (VSAs), and generally keep the gears turning around our SDDC Homebase!

Jan Martin, Early Childhood Specialist /Volunteer

Education:  

• Doctorate (abd) in  Curriculum and Research in Science Education (University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY)
• Masters of Science in  Outdoor Teacher Education (Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL)
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education & Biology  (Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN)

Community Involvement:

• Little Learners Preschool, board of directors
• Pierre-Fort Pierre Lions Club, member
• Volunteer with Pierre Players Community Theater

What I Do: 
I get to mess about in science creating learning experiences for preschoolers and parents for the monthly Saturday morning program, Itty Bitty Einsteins. The SDDC is growing our preschool experiences with Little Explorers preschool during the summer and expanding Little Steamer into a full preschool, I am planning new opportunities for our youngest learners. Making messes, learning about the world around us and making science real for children is what keeps me happy.      

Anna Arch, Content Manager

• Pierre Players Community Theater

What I Do:
 I oversee and manage the creation, development, and distribution of content for various platforms and channels to inform and delight our audiences!

Kristine Heinen, STEM Educator

Education: 

• Bachelor of Science, Biology emphasis (University of Montana-Western, Dillon, MT)

What I do: 
I inspire curiosity in people of all types. I love to see that sparkle in people’s eye when they find inspiration and find new opportunities.
 

Raegan Kleinpeter, STEM Educator

Education: 

• Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education (University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA)

Community Involvement: 

• SCA - Resident of Shire of Coldernhale since September 2023

What I do: 
I encourage people to find a way to make our world better by looking outside of the box for answers.
 

John Kent, Facility & Visitor Service Assistant

Education:  

• American Military University

Community Involvement:

• Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA)
• Pierre Area Center for Equality (PACE)

What I Do: 
I make a visitor's trip to the SDDC engaging, safe, and fun!

Brenden Jannusch, Marketing & Visitor Service Associate

Education:  

• Intro to Digital Photography - Anoka Ramsey Community College
• Digital Imaging - Anoka Ramsey Community College
• Media Writing - Anoka Ramsey Community College
• Social Media Marketing - Anoka Ramsey Community College
• Video Production - Isanti-Cambridge High School
• Isanti-Cambridge High School (Cambridge, MN)

What I Do: 
I bring attention to all of the amazing things our SDDC team does and support great experiences at the SDDC Exhibit Hall! Managing our social media platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn), I also develop and edit videos that promote the SDDC, our team, and services that we provide. 
 

TyAnn Allison, Early Childhood Specialist

Education:

• Working on a Masters in Special Education in Early Childhood, University of North Dakota
• Bachelor's Degree of Psychology with minors in Sociology and Child, Youth, & Family Studies, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

What I do:
I work with our youngest learners, creating special opportunities for them to engage in science and in the world around them. Working with a team of educators, we support the mind and body, laying the foundation for our students grow into well-adjusted, curious adults.

Anne Rasmussen, Teaching Assistant

• Child Development Associates Degree, Sioux Falls Child Services

Community connections:

• Sioux Empire Pit Rescue

What I do:
I work with our youngest learners, creating special opportunities for them to engage in science and in the world around them. Working with a team of educators, we support the mind and body, laying the foundation for our students grow into well-adjusted, curious adults.

Shannon Utter, Teaching Assistant

Education summary:

31 Years in Elementary Education
Masters Degree in Curriculum and Development - St. Scholastica

What I do:
I work with our youngest learners, creating special opportunities for them to engage in science and in the world around them. Working with a team of educators, we support the mind and body, laying the foundation for our students grow into well-adjusted, curious adults.