PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Larry Rhoden has appointed Rapid City nonprofit leader Sara Hornick to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDH) Board of Commissioners.
Hornick serves as executive director of the Rapid City Public School Foundation and brings more than a decade of community service and nonprofit leadership to the board. A graduate of Black Hills State University with degrees in speech and mass communications, she has built her career around public relations, advocacy and community development.
Hornick and her husband, Chris, are former foster parents who opened their home to 26 children over nine years, adopting two. She later became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children in the legal system.
“We’re excited to have Sara on the board,” said Chas Olson, executive director of SDH. “Her background working with nonprofit service providers combined with her experience in community relations will be a valuable complement to our current Board of Commissioners.”
Beyond her professional role, Hornick is active in several Black Hills organizations, including Community Services Connection of the Black Hills, Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition, Rapid City Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group, Live Well Black Hills and Lutheran Social Services.
“I am looking forward to serving as a commissioner for the South Dakota Housing Development Authority,” Hornick said in a statement. “I worked as a volunteer with the Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition for 10 years and interacted with SD Housing through the Point-in-Time count and the Coordinated Entry system. I am passionate about affordable housing and making it accessible in South Dakota.”
Hornick joins commissioners Jonathan Guenthner of Mitchell, Alex Jensen of Sioux Falls, Mark Roby of Watertown, Shuana Sheets of Rapid City, Preston Steele of Huron and Chairman Scott Erickson of Sioux Falls.
The South Dakota Housing Development Authority provides financing and programs to expand affordable housing across the state. Commissioners are appointed by the governor to set policy and oversee operations.
