PIERRE — Former state lawmaker and Secretary of State Shantel Krebs has been named the interim leader of Avera St. Mary’s hospital in Pierre. Avera Health Director of Media Relations Cale Feller confirmed that Krebs has been appointed to lead St. Mary’s on an interim basis as Dr. Mikel Holland is on a medical leave. Krebs has been a part of the Avera system since founding the Avera Academy in Sioux Falls. She is the administrator of the Avera Academy that began in 2019 and is a partnership with the Sioux Falls School District and Southeast Technical College. The program is designed to expose high school seniors to healthcare careers, offering credit for both high-school and post-secondary education. Krebs served in both the House and Senate of the South Dakota legislature from 2005 to 2015. She served as Secretary of State from 2015 to 2019. Feller did not say if Krebs, who previous lived outside Fort Pierre, would be moving to the area or working in the interim role remotely. She begins on Monday March 13th.