A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Cathy Simonds comes to NAMI SD with several years of personal and volunteer experience with mental health conditions, and is a certified Family to Family instructor and Support Group Facilitator. As a retiree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Cathy also has professional and volunteer experience as well as public speaking skills. Cathy is also a new presenter for Ending the Silence, and is looking forward to leading school and parent presentations. 

Cathy will be leading NAMI South Dakota’s efforts in local partnerships and activities in Rapid City, with the assistance of the NAMI Rapid City advisory group. She will also be working with the One Heart campus to help individuals and families find mental health education and resources. 

Cathy and her husband, Dave, moved to the Black Hills in September 2019, to be closer to their growing grandchildren. Cathy enjoys spending time walking, skiing, reading, and craft projects, and hiking the Black Hills with her 2 fur babies, Coco and Mia.