Board of Directors
*Parent/guardian of a child with a disability
**Self-advocate
Kristi Wallin
President, Sioux Falls
Kristi Wallin
Kristi Wallin serves as the President of the Board of Directors for South Dakota Parent Connection. She joined the South Dakota Parent Connection Board of Directors in 2017. She is a retired educator having taught special education and then becoming a Special Education Director. Kristi holds both a B.A. and M.A. in special education as well as her Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. Kristi and her husband have three children and six grandchildren.
Andrew Renke*
Co-President, Sioux Falls
Andrew Renke
Andrew is the parent of a child with special healthcare needs. He has served as a youth pastor and has experience serving on boards and a background in IT.
Amber Winkler*
Secretary, Sioux Falls
Amber Winkler
Amber graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2005 with a BS in Sociology. She devoted 10 years to working at LifeScape as a Coordinator of Supports and Services; overseeing Day and Residential programs for adults with Autism. Amber left Lifescape in 2016 to work for the Department of Human Services Long Term Services and Supports Division. Amber spends her days helping Elderly and Disabled Adults connect with needed resources, services, and providing case management. At home, she is a loving wife and mother. Her daughter was diagnosed with CMV at birth and, as a result, suffers from bilateral moderate hearing loss. She is passionate about South Dakota Parent Connection's mission and the work they do as it directly benefited her family and many families across South Dakota. Amber enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, camping, hiking, and staying active.
Elizabeth Krogstad*
Past President, Sioux Falls
Elizabeth Krogstad
Musheera Mohammed Anis Abdellatif*
Member, Brandon
Musheera Mohammed Anis Abdellatif
Musheera is the mother of a young child with Down Syndrome. She is a University of South Dakota faculty member. She has a Ph.D. in Child Development and Educational Psychology. She worked as a child psychologist in Egypt, mainly with patients and families affected by mental illness and childhood psychiatric disorders. She was one of the founding members of a highly specialized Child Psychiatric Unit in her hometown. There she worked closely with families of individuals with ASD and ADHD, working with adolescents from high-risk environments. As part of her work there, she also founded the Mansoura Autism Support Association (MASA) in Egypt.
Elizabeth Welf*
Member, Spearfish
Elizabeth Welf
Elizabeth Welfl (pronounced well-full ) joined the South Dakota Parent Connection Board of Directors in 2021. She works at USA TODAY as a Sports Sales Strategist. She is also pursuing a Masters in Special Education with Specialization in Visual Impairment to become a Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired. In 2020, Elizabeth was appointed by Governor Kristi Noem to serve on South Dakota's Advisory Panel for Children with Disabilities. She and her husband, Kade, live in Spearfish, SD.
Haley Coss*
Member, St. Lawrence
Haley Coss
Coming soon.
Lorna (Emmy) Her Many Horses
Member, Pine Ridge
Lorna (Emmy) Her Many Horses
Coming soon.
Lora Barthleman
Member, Sioux Falls
Lora Barthleman
Coming soon.
Myriah Ventura**
Member, Sioux Falls
Myriah Ventura
Miah Ventura is a skilled self-advocate from a farm near Glidden, Iowa. She currently lives in Sioux Falls with her three daughters. Miah uses her lived experience to advocate strongly for her children and is a lifetime learner who enjoys reading and coaching others. Miah works for Ness Tax and Bookkeeping, and she participates on several boards and committees.
Miah is a member of the South Dakota Advocates for Change, and she serves on the South Dakota Parent Connection Board, and as a part of their Development Committee. Miah is a part of the Lighting the Way Committee, and she presented at the 2023 Lighting the Way Conference. Miah is a Year 31 Partners in Policymaking Graduate, and she was the keynote speaker for her graduating class.
Chris Nickles
Member, Sioux Falls
Chris Nickles
Coming soon.
New Board Member
Could it be you?
To learn more about becoming a board member, please contact Carla Miller, Executive Director at cmiller@sdparent.org.