Donald C. Simmons, Jr.

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Donald C. Simmons, Jr. (1963- ) is an educator, author, historian and public servant. The director of the George McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University, he has held numerous elected and appointed political positions during his career. His professional life has focused on social entrepreneurship, social justice, helping create opportunities for the poor, utilizing the commitment and abilities of America's youth,and encouraging progressive change.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Books and Writings 3 Public service and political career 4 Personal 5 Further reading

[edit] Biography

Simmons received a B.A.and M.A.in history from the University of Mississippi, and a Doctor of Philosophy in History and International Studies in 1994 from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. He has also completed additional postgraduate studies in education, leadership, political science, public administration and criminal justice at Mississippi University for Women, Troy State University, Millsaps College, and the University of South Dakota. His early research interests focused on the displacement of peoples as a result of military conflict and their subsequent emigration to other countries, but in recent years his interests have shifted toward leadership and service. Simmons is currently taking seminary courses and pursuing a divinity degree.

Simmons worked in higher education at Mississippi University for Women and Troy University from 1989 until 1995. From 1995 until 2001, he served as assistant director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, prior to his appointment as executive director of the South Dakota Humanities Council. While director of the SDHC, Don established the South Dakota Center for the Book and the South Dakota Festival of the Book.

[edit] Books and Writings

Simmons was first published as a poet, although his writing career did not take off until 1995 when he partnered with Robert P. Watson of Lynn University, to edit and serve as a contributing author for Latin America and the Caribbean in Transition. During the late 1990s, Simmons wrote a regular syndicated column that appeared in the Mississippi Business Journal and other similar publications. He also served as a frequent contributor to numerous newspapers during that period. In 2000, he was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi's Top 40 Under 40.

His second book, Confederate Settlements in British Honduras, was released in 2001. He was a contributing author for Robert P. Watson's George McGovern: A Political Life, A Political Legacy. He has served on the board of editors of White House Studies since 2005. He recently coedited a college textbook with Senator George McGovern and Dan Gaken, Central Michigan University, titled "Leadership and Service: An Introduction" which was released in April 2008. Simmons is also working on a book about political culture in South Dakota that will be released in 2010. An accomplished photographer, his work has appeared in many newspapers, books and other publications like Mississippi: An Illustrated History and in numerous regional magazines.

[edit] Public service and political career

Simmons grew up in a family with a heritage of political participation. Active in politics at an early age, he worked on the campaign of Representative Cecil L. Simmons, his uncle and later speaker pro tempre of the Mississippi Legislature. An active member of Young Democrats, he attended the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco as a John Glenn alternate delegate/delegate in 1984. During the 1988 presidential campaign, he worked as a Democratic Party volunteer coordinator for the voter registration drive in Colorado. Between 1990 and 2001, he was active in many statewide and local political campaigns throughout the southeastern United States.

After moving to South Dakota, Simmons continued his involvement in politics. He has been twice elected a city councilman and served as vice chair of the council. He has also served on the South Dakota Municipal League's Public Works Committee. Simmons was a member of the Kilian Community College board of trustees from 2005-2006 and was appointed by Governor Mike Rounds to the South Dakota Board of Nursing in 2003. He was elected an alternate delegate to the South Dakota Democratic State Convention in 2006.

Simmons coordinates political and public policy polling at Dakota Wesleyan University and he also serves as a regular political analyst for the regional news media. His columns appear often in the Mitchell Daily Republic and other newspapers in the Dakotas. In 2008 he joined the press corps during the week of the Iowa caucuses and predicted both the Obama and Huckabee wins in that state. Simmons also is a frequent talkshow guest on public radio.

[edit] Personal

A native of Mississippi, Simmons spent his childhood in Alabama and North Carolina prior to his family's return to the state just before his senior year of high school. While in college he volunteered with a number of church-based organizations and spent time in Belize as a medical missionary for Health Talents International. In 1995 he was the recipient of the Presidential Award of the Association of Third World Studies for his work related to the developing world. He has been active in Habitat for Humanity and the Humane Society in a number of capacities. In 2004, the South Dakota Library Association recognized him with the statewide Friend of the Library Award for his support of South Dakota libraries. Simmons was presented the 2008 Faculty Professional Excellence Award at Dakota Wesleyan University for his outstanding service and dedication to teaching.

Simmons was married to Donna Addkison from 1987 until 2001, when the couple separated and were later divorced in 2002. He has one child by his first marriage. His second wife, Rachelle, is a native of Iowa.

[edit] Further reading

• Bolton, Charles and Edward N. Akin, Mississippi: An Illustrated History, American Historical Press, 2002.
• Findling, John E. and Kimberly D. Pelle (eds.), Historical Dictionary of the Modern Olympic Movement, Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-28477-6
• Phillips, Michael (ed.), Belize: Selected Proceedings from the Second Interdisciplinary Conference, University Press of America, 1996.
• Simmons, Jr., Donald, George S. McGovern and Daniel M. Gaken (eds.), Leadership and Service: An Introduction, Kendall/Hunt and Company Publishers, 2008.
• Simmons,Jr., Donald, Confederate Settlements in British Honduras, McFarland and Company Publishers, 2001.
• Simmons,Jr., Donald,and Robert P. Watson (eds.) Latin America and the Caribbean in Transition, Troy State University Press, 1995.