Shear Fellow Updates
"I never forget that we are sowing winter wheat which the coming spring will see sprout and other hands than ours will reap and enjoy."-- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
It's always exciting to receive "progress reports" from more than 450 Leadership Academy alums, and we are proud to share their accomplishments. (Note: The number in parenthesis represents year of participation in the Leadership Academy.)
If you're a Shear Fellow and you have an update, pass the information on to Dayna: dstock@umsl.edu
Makita Abraham
Truman State University (‘08)
Makita is working as an intern in the Secretary of State’s Office.
Caitlyn Adams
University of Central Missouri (‘07)
Caitlyn graduated in May, 2009, and is currently job hunting. She is also thinking about getting her master’s degree in political science and teaching at the collegiate level.
Beth Adkins
Lincoln University (‘06)
Beth graduated summa cum laude from Lincoln in December, 2008, with BS degrees in computer information systems and studio art. She is currently a computer information technologist for the Missouri Lottery. Beth reports that she was one of the many people in DC for President Obama’s administration. “It was an amazing experience to be a part of history,” she said.
Doris Agwu
University of Missouri (‘04)
Doris graduated in May, 2008, with bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology (with a minor in business) from the University of Missouri where she served as president of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students and the African Students Association.
Rachel Anderson
University of Missouri – Columbia (’06)
Rachel is a development officer for regional programs with the University of Missouri.
Kelly Anthony
Truman State University (‘99); Amethyst Award winner 2005
After working on campaigns against constitutional amendments to define and limit marriage in at least three states (including California and Florida), Kelly has settled back in Missouri and is an organizer for Missouri Jobs with Justice in St. Louis.
Laurie Bainter
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘03)
After a brief career in property management, Laurie is now the director of student persistence at College Bound, an organization in St. Louis dedicated to breaking the generational cycle of poverty through equal access to higher education. She is responsible for the creation and development of the collegian program, and currently mentors 34 college students at 20 schools around the country. Laurie’s work at College Bound has stimulated her interest in education policy, and has her thinking about graduate school.
Jumoke Balogun
University of Missouri – Kansas City (‘08)
Jumoke graduated in May, 2009, and plans to attend graduate school (hopefully in DC) in the fall. She is currently a legislative correspondent in Congressman Lacy Clay’s Washington, DC office. This summer she spent a month in Europe and visited Ireland, France, England, Wales, and Scotland.
Regina Banks
Lincoln University (‘98)
Regina is the legislative director for the California Employment Lawyers Association. In that role she has had several meetings with Gov. Schwarzenegger, and even has bills in the California legislature that she expects will be passed and signed into law this year.
Brandy Barker
Missouri State University (‘02)
Brandy works at Fleishman-Hillard-St. Louis in the Public Affairs division, where she is a key team member in the word-of-mouth and grassroots practice. Her proudest moment to date was working with the nation’s largest inpatient rehabilitation provider to open up access to healthcare to people who needed it and might not be able to live independently without it. In her spare time, Brandy is a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Rebecca Bax
Lincoln University (‘08)
Rebecca graduated magna cum laude with a BS in sociology and a minor in history in December, 2008, and immediately started a master’s program in History at Lincoln. She is a recipient of the Zonta Club of Jefferson City “Second Chance Scholarship” and works at Moreau Montessori School.
LeAnn Beaty
Missouri State University (‘02)
LeAnn became Dr. Beaty in April, 2009, and is an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University. She is teaching American Government and Public Finance Administration for MPA students. She is interested in the fact that while women outnumber men in graduate MPA programs nationwide, they still lag far behind men in reaching senior management positions (specifically, city managers), and hopes to address this disparity in some way.
Liana Boone
Truman State University (‘02)
After spending a year in Connecticut, Liana is taking undergraduate accounting classes at UMSL and applying for the master’s in accounting program at Saint Louis University.
Pearlina Boyd
Missouri State University (’00)
Pearlina is a budget analyst with the federal government in Washington, DC, working on ARRA (economic stimulus) programs.
Crystal Brigman
Missouri State University (‘07)
In May 2009, Crystal was honored as one of Springfield/Southwest Missouri's "20 under 30" by GO! Magazine. “20 under 30” recognizes young professionals who are active in their communities and doing things that set them apart from their peers. Crystal is the grassroots organizer for the regional Planned Parenthood.
Missie Brittain
Truman State University (‘99)
Missie is relocating to Montgomery, Ala. to be the new Chair of Cross-Cultural Assessment for the Air Force Culture and Language Center. Missie will be housed within Air University at Maxwell AFB and will help build the Air Force’s ability to effectively work and communicate across cultural boundaries.
Cassie Brown
Lincoln University ('09)
Cassie graduated in May, and is currently the acting manager at The Buckle. Though she’s not sure it’s what she wants to do forever, it’s good experience and she’s enjoying it for now.
Suzanne Struglinski Broadfield
University of Missouri (‘98); Amethyst Award Winner 2008
Suzanne is the legislative press secretary for the Natural Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org), a role that includes watching federal legislation in Congress as well as working with the media on a variety of environmental issues. Using skills she learned at the Academy, Suzanne networked her way to this position. She was recruited for this job by someone who got her name from someone else she met as president of the Regional Reporters Association in Washington, DC.
Allison Bruns
Truman State University (’03)
Allison is the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for State Auditor Susan Montee's office, and divides her time between Jefferson City and St. Louis. She serves as Vice President of the Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis and is the national committeewoman for the Young Democrats of Missouri. She is also on the national executive council for the Young Democrats of America, and serves as secretary of the Budget Committee.
Tameka Bryant
Lincoln University (‘07)
Tameka is starting graduate school this fall to pursue a M.A. in marketing at Webster University in St. Louis. She works part-time at BJC Health Center.
Reagan Buatte
University of Missouri–Kansas City (‘04)
After focusing her attention on her sons Khary, 3, and Khalil, 9-months, Reagan is ready to tackle what’s left of her master’s program in public administration at UMKC and plans to do that in 2009. She has been getting involved in politics again in bits and pieces--largely lobbying for midwifery rights, as well as other community and parenting rights issues in Missouri.
Maria Buller (Puck)
University of Central Missouri (‘02)
Maria is doing public relations and marketing on a contract basis for non-profit organizations in the Kansas City area.
Kimberly Burgess
Truman State University (‘07)
Kimberly graduated in May, 2009, with a BA in interdisciplinary studies: leadership theory. She has been accepted to several law schools and is weighing her financial options before deciding where to go next fall.
Jennifer Byrd
Missouri State University (‘02)
Jennifer is a reporter at Pensions & Investments in Chicago. She attended the Obama rally in Grant Park and said that it was “super exciting.”
Chyanne Lockhart Cardarella
University of Central Missouri (‘03);
2007 Amethyst Award Winner
Chyanne is living and working in the Kansas City area, and is gearing up to run for the state legislature in 2010. She is a recent graduate of the Institute’s “What’s Next” program in Kansas City, and is a past president of the League of Women Voters.
Anne Case-Halferty
University of Missouri (07)
Anne graduated from Mizzou in December 08, and has enrolled as a graduate student for this fall. Her husband completed his commitment in the military and they have settled in Columbia, MO.
Evelyn Chamberlain
Missouri S & T (‘04)
After finishing her doctorate in Civil (Environmental) Engineering in December, 2008, Evelyn and her husband moved to Indiana where she works as a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) for the Rural Community Assistance Program. RCAP is a non-for-profit specializing in environmental issues in rural communities with 1,000—10,000 residents. She lives on a farm, barters with her neighbors (eggs for milk and apples) and rides her horse to pay the electric bill, which, she said, “helped a little when gas was over $4 a gallon. LOL.”
Marcia Chatelain
University of Missouri (‘99); Amethyst Award Winner 2009
Marcia is the Reach for Excellence Assistant Professor of Honors and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma Honors College. She is currently training for the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon (her first) to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Carolyn Chrisman (Lumsden)
Truman State University (‘01)
Carolyn is living in Kirksville and teaching social sciences to students in grades 6-8. In April, 2009, she was elected to the Kirksville City Council. She is pursuing a master’s degree in History at UMSL.
Amber Clifford-Napoleone
University of Central Missouri (‘00)
Amber completed her Ph.D. in American Studies and graduated with honors from the University of Kansas in July, 2007. She is currently teaching anthropology and serving as Nance Collections Curator at the University of Central Missouri.
Rebecca Cliffton
Missouri State University (‘06)
Rebecca is a vocational counselor for the MERS/Goodwill Career Center in Springfield, Mo.
Alma Collins
Lincoln University (‘08)
Alma was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, and was chosen as a Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute Scholar. She was one of three students at Lincoln to receive the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship, and has been selected as a member of the Lincoln University Women’s Leadership Academy. Alma’s proudest achievement is holding her own as the sole math student (and female) in a class of thirteen engineering students.
Taylor Collier (Hahn)
Missouri Univ. of Science & Tech. (‘07)
Taylor graduated in May with a B.S. in biological sciences, and got married in July. She is attending medical school at Mizzou in the fall, and plans to continue her involvement with public health issues.
Caroline Coulter (Muller)
Southeast Missouri State University (‘02)
Caroline is an attorney in the Missouri Attorney General’s office in Jefferson City. She works in the Public Safety Division, Habeas Corpus Unit.
Chase Crowell
Missouri S & T (‘06)
Chase graduated with a B.S. in aerospace engineering in May, and is now working at Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Ks. where she does structural design engineering on a naval aircraft.
Davina Curran
Missouri S & T (‘98 )
Davina earned a B.S. in psychology from Missouri State University and worked four years doing social work in St. Louis before deciding to pursue a different path. She is currently a student and Chemistry tutor at St. Louis Community College, and is applying to a program to be a clinical lab technician.
Sylwia Dabrowska
Truman State University (‘08)
In Fall 2009, Sylwia started law school at the University of Iowa.
Jennifer Davis
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘07)
Jennifer is finishing her first year at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. This summer, she is doing an internship with Massachusetts Juvenile Court Judge Jay Blitzman.
Lovey Davis
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘02)
Lovey not only attended the inauguration in Washington, D.C., she was one of only 500 people who met and shook hands with First Lady Michelle Obama in the Blue Room at the White House. Lovey is a claims adjuster for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, in St. Louis. She plans to complete her MPPA at UMSL in May.
Shante Davis
University of Missouri –St. Louis (‘05)
Shante is a 2007 of UMSL and is working as a grant writer and researcher at Almost Home, Inc. She sits on two boards, and is also busy planning for an upcoming wedding and baby #2.
Jenny Barker Devine
University of Central Missouri (‘99)
Jenny is graduated in May, 2008, with a Ph.D. in history from Iowa State University. She is an assistant professor of history at Illinois College, a small liberal arts school in Jackson, Il.
Antionette Dickens
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘07)
Antionette is attending graduate school at UMSL where she is pursuing a masters in communications. She is also a graduate assistant for the Office of Student Affairs.
Robin Dieken
University of Missouri (‘08)
Robin graduated in May, 2009, with a bachelor’s of social work from Mizzou and plans to take a year off before going back to graduate school. In the meantime, she promised her daughter a dog after graduation.
Miranda Dorn
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘06)
Miranda teaches 9th grade English and 11th and 12th grade creative writing at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School. She is also pursuing a master's degree at UMSL.
Olivia Drumm
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘01)
Olivia is currently in her second semester of graduate school at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas where she is pursuing a MS in Art Therapy.
Lindsay Epstein
Missouri S&T (‘03)
Lindsay is working her dream job: building satellites, rockets and manned space flight in the DC area. She is also working on a master’s in space studies from American Military University.
Caroline Erickson
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘07)
Caroline just started a new internship at the Office on Women's Health in the MO Dept. of Health and Senior Services. Her primary job is to encourage campuses to host events for "Denim Day," which is National Rape Awareness Day. This summer she is volunteering in Honduras for a few weeks.
Carissa Ewing (Sims)
Southeast Missouri State University (‘02)
Carissa lives in Kansas City with her husband and is a recruiter for a non-profit hospital. She is contemplating graduate school.
Casey Exendine
University of Central Missouri (‘06)
Casey is employed by the Missouri House of Representatives, working as a legislative assistant for State Rep. Will Kraus (R-Raytown).
Jamilah Fagbene
Lincoln University (‘04)
Jamilah is a confidential assistant to the Under Secretary for Rural Development at the USDA. She earned a master’s in public administration from American University in December 2008.
Lacey Filley
Lincoln University (‘06)
Since March of 2009, Lacey has been the Group Sales Manager at Big Surf Waterpark at the Lake of the Ozarks, where she lives with her husband and son Ty. Lacey volunteers her extra time with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and ACS CAN, the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization.
Mayra Flesner
University of Central Missouri (‘04)
Mayra is finishing her last year at Saint Louis University Law School, where she is the past-president (and founder) of the Hispanic Law Students Association. She was an intern at the Public Defender in Troy MO over the summer, and is currently working at the SLU Law Clinic in immigration.
Ashley Gilpin
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘08)
Ashley is a political consultant for the Missouri Democratic Party, working on Gov. Jay Nixon’s Legislative Victory Fund Campaign to recruit and assist democratic candidates for the 2010 election.
Leddy Glenn
University of Central Missouri (‘01)
Since 2006, Leddy has worked for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) in Kansas City. She is currently the coordinator of education and outreach services. In this role she gives professional and community education presentations, and supervises the youth educators who go out into the schools to talk with pre-k to 12 graders about various topics related to sexual violence.
Jessi Glueck
Southeast Missouri State University (‘07)
Jessi is the assistant manager at the Barnes & Noble cafe in Cape Girardeau. She also works part-time as a substitute librarian for the Riverside Regional libraries in Southeast Missouri, and as the manager of the local ice cream shop. She is getting married in October (’09) and has contemplated going back to school to get certified to teach full-time.
Claire Gorman
University of Central Missouri (‘05)
Claire earned her juris doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Fl. in May.
Anna Gourdin
Southeast Missouri State University (‘05)
Anna is finishing up her MPA at Southeast. During the election in 2008, she worked on the campaigns of two women candidates running for state representative in the St. Louis area.
Christin Green
Missouri State University (‘07)
Christin has been accepted to the George Washington University Public Policy graduate program where she will pursue an emphasis in gender and social issues.
Tamila Gresham
Missouri State University (‘08)
Tamila graduated from Missouri State in December, 2008, and plans to attend law school in Washington, DC. She was an at-large pledged delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Beth Groenke
Missouri S&T (’07)
Beth is attending dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Melissa Gundel (Austin)
University of Missouri (‘08)
Melissa graduated (and got married) in May and is working at a small animal practice in Stanley, KS.
Jessica Gunder (Shaw)
University of Missouri (‘03)
This summer (2009), Jessica will finish up a two-year clerkship with U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber in St. Louis. She will relocate to Washington, DC, in the fall, to work for the Department of Justice.
Erin Hamilton
University of Missouri-Kansas City (‘07)
Erin graduated in May, 2009, with a master of arts in liberal studies, with a focus on women’s studies. She works full-time as a customer service representative in a bank in downtown K.C., but her passion is helping victims of domestic violence. She works part-time at a domestic violence shelter in North Kansas City, and is an on-call resource when women land in emergency rooms in local hospitals due to abuse.
Holley Hansen
Truman State University (‘99)
Holley spent several weeks in Kazakhstan in May, 2008, doing research for her dissertation on post-Soviet elections. She spent time in Almaty (the old capital) and Astana (the new capital) and reports that the trip enhanced her fluency in Russian!
Crystal Hardy (Sellers)
University of Central Missouri (‘03)
Crystal is a teacher for the State Fair Career and Technology Center, a high school vocational technical program administered through State Fair Community College. She teaches Agriculture Education to Jr. High and high school students at two schools and is also the advisor for the FFA.
Traci Harr
University of Missouri-Columbia (’07)
Traci is managing a major grant at the University of Missouri to discourage children and teens in the community from smoking, and to promote smoking cessation policy in the area. She is also in her first year of the Truman Master’s of Public Affairs program.
Rachel Harris
Southeast Missouri State University (‘08)
Rachel was nominated and selected to be a part of a contingent from Southeast who traveled to Washington, DC over spring break, 2009, to attend seminars at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The group hosted a conference in April, 2009, where they presented their own original research. Rachel is getting ready to start an academic distinction project within the Political Science Department, and plans to take the LSAT in June.
LaShonda Harvey
University of Missouri–St. Louis (‘99)
LaShonda was recently recognized as the Ultimate Sales Professional by Hampton Hotels. LaShonda is the director of sales for the Hampton Inn Gateway Arch, where she directs all of areas of the hotel’s sales office, including guest services, sales and marketing, and hotel administration. She is also a regular volunteer with Our Little Haven, which offers residential care for abused, neglected, drug exposed and special needs children, ages birth through five years.
Rebecca Henderson
University of Central Missouri (‘04)
Rebecca is preparing for the Florida bar exam and volunteering at Hillsborough County Animal Services (the local animal shelter). After she passes the exam in July, she will be licensed in three states: Missouri, Illinois and Florida. She is also in the process of applying to volunteer with the Tampa Guardian ad Litem Program.
Paula Hodges
Truman State University (‘05)
Paula is the Statewide Political Director for America Votes-Missouri. She continues to make her home in Jefferson City with her husband.
Allison Howard
University of Missouri (‘04); Amethyst Award Winner 2007
Allison is finishing up her third year of medical school at Mizzou. She is getting married in August, 2009, and wants to be a radiologist.
Alana Inman (Murray)
Missouri State University (‘98)
Alana is the principal assistant for Boards and Commission at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City.
Debbie Irwin
University of Missouri–St. Louis (‘99)
Debbie is starting the part-time law program at Saint Louis University in the fall. She is the statewide foreclosure prevention coordinator for Beyond Housing in St. Louis.
Joy Jackson
Truman State University (‘00)
Joy is still practicing law in Columbia and recently got licensed to practice in Arkansas, as well as Missouri and Illinois. She and her husband added a second child—Jackson Patrick Concannon—to their family in April last year. He joins his older sister, Sophia.
Kristin Jackson
Missouri State University (‘03)
For three years, Kristin served as a legislative assistant for Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), and staffed the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee (the Americas section of the House Foreign Affairs Committee). She is currently living in Madrid, Spain and studying Spanish so she can achieve her long-term goal of promoting micro business development in Latin America.
Sarah Jackson
University of Missouri (‘03)
Sarah has (temporarily) left her life in Washington, DC to pursue a masters degree in Public Service & Administration (MPSA) at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station. She plans to graduate in May 2011.
Bridgett Johnson
University of Missouri–Kansas City (‘06)
Bridgett is the president of student government at UMKC and served on the search committee for the campus’ new chancellor.
Jessica Johnson
Missouri State University (‘07)
Jessica completed an internship at the Department of State and graduated with her Master's of Public Administration from Missouri State University in summer 2009. In August, she started working as a Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) with the Library of Congress. The purpose of the PMF Program is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
Yorba Johnson
Truman State University (‘05)
Yorba is a third grade teacher at Meramec Elementary School in Clayton, Mo. This is her fourth year of teaching, and her second year in Clayton.
Aruna Josyula, M.D.
University of Missouri–Columbia (‘98)
Aruna is a resident in family medicine in Austin, Texas.
Mary Jane Judy (Groff)
University of Missouri (‘02)
Mary Jane is an attorney in the real estate practice at Polsinelli Shughart PC in Kansas City. She is currently vice chair of the Missouri Liquor Control Board of Review, and is fairly active in Jackson County politics.
Lina Kahn
Truman State University (‘06)
Lina is in her second semester at University of Maryland where she is working toward a master's degree in public policy. She is also interning at a research organization in DC called the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Nadia Kamanzi
Missouri State University (‘08)
Nadia will be attending grad school at the University of Northern Iowa in the fall to study Public Policy.
Arzu Karimova
University of Missouri–St. Louis (‘05)
Arzu is living and working in Chicago, studying statistics, and running marathons.
Kathie Kearbey
Southeast Missouri State University (‘99)
Kathie is a vocational advisor for the Ticket to Work Program. She is also the treasurer and historian of the Missouri Disability Vote Project. Kathie goes to Jefferson City about four times a year, and often takes others with her to see the capital for the first time. “I take other people and teach them the wonders of our capital and introduce them to the legislative process,” she says. “I take at least one new person a year to the capital and it changes their lives too.”
Abrahama Keys
University of Missouri–Columbia (‘04)
Abrahama is the coordinator of the membership department at the St. Louis Science Center. She also continues to be passionate about politics.
Emily Kiddoo
Truman State University (‘06)
Emily is finishing her first year of law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This summer (2009) she will be an intern with U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber in St. Louis.
Ashley Kremer (Phillips)
Truman State University (‘05)
Ashley graduated from law school at Mizzou in May, and took the Missouri Bar exam in July. Starting in August, she will be an associate at Grimes, Fay & Kopp– a general practice law firm in Columbia. Her practice will emphasize family law, and she is especially interested in advocating for women and children. In her free time, Ashley chases her son Liam, who will be a year old in August.
Michelle Landers
Truman State University (‘08)
Michelle recently testified before the Senate Progress and Development Committee in support of Sen. Joan Bray’s equal pay bill (SB50). She recently joined a local service sorority at Truman, Tau Lambda Sigma, and volunteers at Manor Care Retirement Center and Adair County Victims Services in her free time. She is contemplating graduate school or working in state government when she graduates next fall (2009).
Laura Lasher
Truman State University ('08)
Laura graduated from Truman State University with her master's in accounting in May 2009. She recently received word that she passed all four parts of the CPA exam. She works for KPMG, a big-four accounting firm, in St. Louis where she now lives.
Brianna Lennon
Truman State University (‘06)
Brianna is pursuing a law degree at Mizzou Law School and a master’s in public policy at the Truman School of Public Affairs. This summer, she will be working as a research fellow at the National Council on Teacher Quality in Washington, DC.
Mary Grace Lewandowski
University of Missouri–St. Louis (‘00)
Mary Grace welcomed a new addition to her family in September, 2008: Jakob "Jake" Walter Brinkman. Mary Grace is a planner at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (AL).
Sarah Linneman
University of Missouri-Kansas City (‘08)
After the 2008 Leadership Academy, Sarah spent a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to taking classes, she had an internship teaching environmental science to high school students in the township Khayelitsha. Currently, Sarah is finishing her junior year at UMKC and seeking for internship and job opportunities in Kansas City.
Cori Lock
Missouri S&T (‘00)
Cori is a software engineer on the SolutionWorks Team for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City.
Natalie Lorenz (Bachmann)
Southeast Missouri State University (‘08)
Natalie graduated from SEMO in December 2008 with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in social work. She got married in June, and will start law school at Southern Illinois University this fall.
Melinda Love
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘02)
Melinda completed her substance abuse counselor certification in July and recently accepted a position as a counselor at Preferred Family Health in Brentwood, Mo.
Meghan Lowery
Missouri State University (‘06)
Meghan passed her prelim exam for doctoral candidacy and is starting work on her dissertation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She hopes to finish her degree in mid-2010.
Lauren Maddock
Missouri S & T (’07)
This summer, Lauren is the public works intern in the engineering department in Maryland Heights, Mo. She will graduate in December, 2009.
Carrie Maher (Freese)
Missouri State University (‘01)
Carrie recently relocated from California to Chicago to start a new job with Gerson Lehrman Group, an independent primary research firm serving business and investment leaders. She is the Business Development Manager of the Life Sciences Division for the Midwest Region. Prior to the move, Carrie worked for Cerner for five years.
Mary Mann
University of Missouri (‘06)
Mary is working in San Diego as a kayak guide, and is looking into graduate schools for fall, 2010.
Nabihah Maqbool
University of Missouri (‘08)
In addition to her studies, Nabihah is serving on the Muslims Students Organization board and is trying to put together information sessions to discuss the ongoing events in Gaza. Last semester she attended a Students Against Genocide conference in Washington, DC, and recently she had an opportunity to see the MLK historical sites in Atlanta.
Amanda Marchegiani
Southeast Missouri State University (‘08)
Amanda is traveling to London, England and Dublin, Ireland this summer. She is on track to graduate in May 2010.
Carol Marshall
Southeast Missouri State University (‘00)
For the past five years, Carol has been working for the FBI as a victim specialist. She currently lives in Louisville, Ky.
Tatiana Mckinney
University of Missouri (‘08)
Tatiana is the Student Programs Fellow for the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy in Washington, DC., and will complete a Fellowship at the Center for Progressive Leadership in December 2009. She serves on the Young Women of Color Leadership Council and the Advisory Board for the Black Women's Blueprint, a non-profit organization in New York. She also blogs for Everydaycitizen.com (you can read her stuff at www.everydaycitizen.com/tmckinney).
Julie McKitrick
Southeast Missouri State University (‘03)
For the past 3 years, Julie has been working as an order fulfillment specialist at Solutia in St. Louis. She is getting married in October, 2009.
Alisha Mehrhoff
Lincoln University (‘08)
Alisha will start the JD/MBA program on scholarship at Oklahoma City University this fall. She graduated magna cum laude in May with bachelors of science degrees in History and Political Science, and currently works in the Missouri House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant for Representative Joe Smith.
Jheel Mehta
University of Missouri-Kansas City (‘07)
Jheel has been working for two years with the University News and the Model United Nations. She also does work for the women’s center. She is an intern with KCUR-NPR. She has applied to Seton Hall and hopes for a dual degree: M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy, and J.D.
Rachel Melichar
Missouri State University (‘00)
Rachel is an account executive for Elizabeth Arden Prestige Cosmetics, and works with stores in Kansas, western Missouri, NW Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma. In addition to her work, she is a National Officer for Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.
Bridget Yirakpoa Member-Meneh
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘07)
Bridget is going to school full-time and is a co-op intern at the Missouri Department of Transportation. She plans to graduate in December, 2009.
Claudia Mercado
Missouri State University (‘98)
Claudia is the assistant director of the Office of Student Activities at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL. In addition, she is nearing completion of her dissertation in educational leadership and policy at the University of Kansas. She and her partner welcomed their first child in January, 2009.
Katina Metzidakis
Sue Shear and Leadership Academy Intern (’03)
Katina graduated from Cardozo Law School (Yeshiva U in NYC) in May 2008 and now lives in Santiago, Chile with her Chilean husband, where she works in investment banking at JP Morgan focusing on equity research in the Southern Cone and Andean Region. She has also helped organize the Chilean rounds of the International Law Moot Court competition.
Dianna Meyers
Missouri Univ. of Science & Tech. (‘05)
Dianna finished her ceramic engineering degree in May, 2009, and now works in IT Consulting at Accenture in St. Louis.
Rachel Meyers (Ohmer)
Truman State University (‘04)
Rachel graduated from Truman with a master’s of accountancy in 2006 and works for RubinBrown, a public accounting firm, in the assurance services department. She got married in November 2008, and lives with her husband in St. Louis.
Paula Mihalcik, PhD
Missouri Univ. of Science & Tech. (‘02)
Paula recently started a new job as the technical project manager with the Leonard Wood Institute, which helps the Army identify and utilize the capabilities of researchers to perform training-related research and development, and to provide services related to current and future Army programs. Prior to the switch, she was a research engineer with MO S & T.
Victoria Moger
Missouri State University (‘05)
Victoria has been offered a graduate assistantship at Missouri State where she plans to attend graduate school in the fall, 2009. She is currently living in Lexington, Va., managing the colonization efforts of a new chapter of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.
Liz Morrow
Lincoln University (‘01)
Liz is the registrar at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
Heather Mullanack
Missouri State University (’06)
Heather was a PAW 2008 Citizenship Day Chair and a UNA-USA Student Board member. Is moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina in May, and will get married this year (2009). She will complete work on her master’s in December.
Jessica Nelson
University of Central Missouri (‘07)
Jessica just started a new job as a deputy juvenile officer for the Cole County 19th Judicial Circuit.
Katie New
University of Central Missouri (‘06)
Katie graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCM in May, 2008, and is attending law school at UMKC.
Mary Hoemann Newell
University of Missouri (’98)
For the past six years Mary has been a law clerk for Judge Mary Rhodes Russell, first at the Court of Appeals –Eastern District and now at the Missouri Supreme Court. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, where she served as president of the Women Lawyer’s Association and Associate Managing Editor of the Missouri Law Review. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband and 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Madeline.
Alexandria Niemoeller
Missouri University of Science and Technology (“08)
Alexandria is active in lobbying efforts for the American Cancer Society. Particularly in support of the Show-Me Healthy Women program, which provide funds for cancer screenings for low-income women and minorities.
Jessica Pace
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘08)
In January, 2009, Jessica started a new job as the data and communications organizer for Missouri Jobs for Justice in St. Louis, Mo.
Rachel Padgett
Southeast Missouri State University (‘07)
Rachel graduated in May, 2008 with a B.S. in education and a teaching emphasis in social studies.
Lauren Palmer
University of Missouri (‘99)
Lauren moved from Des Moines, IA, to become the assistant city manager in Manhattan, KS. She married a fellow public servant (a GIS wiz) in August.
Jeanne Patrick
University of Missouri-St. Louis (‘04)
Jeanne graduated in May, 2009, with a degree in Secondary Education-Biology, and will start teaching at Gateway High School in St. Louis in the fall. She is also planning a wedding.
Roan Peters
University of Missouri-Columbia (‘06)
Roan recently participated in the Disney College Program for a semester at The Walt Disney Company in Orlando. She graduated in May 2009 with a B.S. in business administration, magna cum laude, a B.A. in international studies, cum laude, and a B.A. in German, cum laude. She recently started as a business support analyst with Cerner in Kansas City.
Jessica Post
Truman State University (‘01)
After an exciting election season in Minnesota, Jessica is back in Missouri and has resumed her consulting business, doing grassroots work for Anheuser-Busch. She has also been hired to write the 2010 field and staff training plan for the Minnesota State Democratic Farm Labor Caucus.
Farheen Qurashi
University of Missouri-Kansas City (‘06)
Farheen will take a year off from medical school to begin a fellowship in DC. in 2009. She will be working for the Jack Rutledge Legislative Director of the American Medical Student Association.
Sukmeke Rainey
Lincoln University (‘99)
Sukmeke is a producer for "First Business," a nationally syndicated financial television program based in Chicago (her hometown). She recently got engaged and is planning an October or November (2009) wedding.
Wendi Raulie
University of Central Missouri (05)
Wendi finished her master’s degree in December, 2008, and living (and job hunting) in Chicago, IL.
Ivana Ristovska
University of Missouri–St. Louis (‘08)
Ivana worked as a field organizer for Congressman Russ Carnahan’s re-election campaign in 2008.
Kelley Robinson
University of Missouri-Columbia (’07)
Kelley is working as an organizer for Planned Parenthood in Iowa. She just finished up working for the First Lady’s office on constituent outreach work, and is also working on a grant examining women networks and how they aided in the survival of Hurricane Katrina victims.
Sarah Robinson
University of Missouri–Kansas City (‘05)
Sarah is a real estate agent in Kansas City. She recently switched companies from Reece & Nichols to Keller Williams.
Shakea Roper
University of Central Missouri (‘07)
Shakea graduated with an MSW from Mizzou in May, 2009. She earned her BSW (Bachelors of Social Work) at the University of Central Missouri in May 2008.
Judith Rowland
Missouri State University (’09)
Judith spent the summer interning for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and is currently studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Northern England. She is leading a racial integration program in community schools and volunteers with the Boy Scouts. Judith will attend national competitions with the University swim team and is competing in several E.U. competitions with the University kayak and mountaineering teams. In January 2010, Judith will begin study at the University of Ghana.
Lauren Ryan
University of Missouri-Columbia (’07)
Lauren Ryan is in her second year of graduate school in San Francisco, studying to be a genetic counselor.
Mary Jo Ryan
University of Missouri ('08)
Mary Jo is currently serving as a representative for the Loretto Community at the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Branch. Her position focuses on women’s issues and she is serving on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and sponsoring girls to attend the CSW 54 conference this March. Her position also involves working with a group on the task force for Trafficked children. She recently moved to New York City for this year-long opportunity.
Amy Davis Salladay
Truman State University (‘98)
Amy is an attorney at law in Columbia, Missouri.
Zhanna Saparova
University of Missouri-Kansas City (’03)
Zhanna is the Assistant Director with the Office of International Student Services at the University of St. Thomas in St Paul, MN. She and her husband are expecting their first child, a boy, in May 2010.
Christy Schlosser
Truman State University (‘04)
Christy completed a master’s degree in public communication from American University, and now works as a market research project manager at Applied Research in Kansas City, Mo.
Kellie Schmidt
Lincoln University (‘04)
Kellie received a masters in nursing leadership in December, 2008, and is the assistant director of nursing (ADON) at a nursing home in Jefferson City.
Jesse Sendejas
University of Missouri–Kansas City (‘04)
Jesse is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Kansas City.
Jessica Polk Sentell
Missouri State University (‘08)
After finishing her MPA in May, 2009, Jessica moved to Washington, DC, with her new husband to start a Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The purpose of the PMF Program is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
Mahin Shahlari
Missouri S&T (‘07)
Mahin spent two months in Korea last summer (2008), working with the National Science Foundation, to promote scientific collaboration between the U.S. and East Asia.
Kim Shields
Missouri State University (‘00)
Kim was appointed by the President of the Missouri Bar to serve as co-chair of the Gender & Justice Committee. She is a past president and serves on the board of the Women Lawyer’s Association of Mid-Missouri.
Patrice Shumate (Hutton)
University of Missouri (‘05)
Patrice is working with pregnant and post-partum women at a nonprofit organization/residential drug rehabilitation center in Jacksonville, Fl. The organization focuses on substance abuse, mental health and HIV/AIDS: Patrice works with the moms and kids on stabilizing the family structure and overcoming addiction. She got married in April 2009.
Danielle Siembieda
University of Missouri–Columbia (‘99)
Danielle is a new media artist in the San Francisco Bay area. She is an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and is in her last year of the MFA program in digital media at San Jose State University, with plans to do Green Design. In addition, she is the managing editor for the SWITCH online academic journal about art and technology, and the “Social Media Guru” for ZER01 Art6 and Technology Network (Zer01.org). She recently got married and bought her first home in Oakland, Ca.
Candace Simpson
University of Missouri (‘03)
Candace is living in Cincinnati, Oh., and is considering a career in logistics with the U.S. Air Force.
Melissa Sinden
University of Missouri (‘01)
Melissa lives in Washington D.C. and is the Senior Director of Government Relations for the American Academy of Audiology. Prior to her current position, Melissa worked for the American Chiropractic Association.
Natalie Soltys
Truman State University (‘07)
Natalie is living in New York City and pursuing a master's in Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU.
Cynthia Tharp
Missouri S&T (‘01)
Cynthia is the Curator of Collections at the Chemical Corps Museum at Fort Leonard Wood and an adjunct professor at East Central College. She is a May 2009 graduate of the UM-SL Master’s program in History and the 2008 Alumna of the Year from Missouri S&T. In addition, she is the 2010 and 2011 Committee Chairperson for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Phelps County, MO.
Heather Lasher Todd
Truman State University (‘01)
After living in Washington, DC for several years, Heather and her husband moved back to St. Louis in December. She is now the Communications Director for the Missouri Budget Project. Heather’s sister, Laura, was a 2008 Shear Fellow.
Amanda Trainor
Southeast Missouri State University (‘04)
Amanda works for the Railway Supply Institute in Washington, DC, and goes to Capitol Hill on a regular basis promoting a balanced transportation policy and economic recovery for the railroads. She has also joined an organization called Women In Transportation Services (WTS) as a way of meeting other women in the field.
Gannet Tseggai
University of Missouri (‘02)
Gannet current serves as a Regional Communications Director for the White House. Prior to joining the White House staff, she served as the Northeast Communications Director in the Chicago headquarters of the Obama campaign.
Jenna Tune
Missouri S&T (‘06)
Jenna will finish her master’s degree in geological engineering in 2009, and plans to move from her hometown of Rolla. She had a baby in December, 2008 - a boy - and reports that “being a mom is definitely my greatest accomplishment to date.”
Kathleen Turner
Lincoln University (‘01)
Kathleen is a PhD candidate in English at Northern Illinois University where she is also a teaching assistant in the English department. In addition to teaching composition and literature classes at NIU, she is also an adjunct instructor at a nearby community college. She completed a graduate certificate in women’s studies, and is currently working on her dissertation about depictions of marginalized women in film and literature.
Michelle Wade
Missouri State University (‘03)
Michelle defended her dissertation on July 1, and is moving to Maryville, Mo., where she will be an assistant professor at Northwest Missouri State University in the fall.
Traci Walker
Missouri S&T (‘99)
Since 2000, Traci has worked as a contract officer with the federal government; first in Kansas City and for the past five years, in Washington, DC. In November, she was hired as a Senior Contract Specialist in the Office of Administration, Executive Office of the President (EOP). Traci recently completed a 9-month USDA Graduate School Executive Leadership Program, and she is pursuing a master’s of science in organizational leadership from Regis University- College for Public Leadership.
Ashley Warren
University of Missouri (‘06)
In April, Ashley was elected as the Student Government President of her medical school, A.T. Still University-Kirksville. Before second year of med school starts, she is doing a summer preceptorship with an ER physician at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, MO. Ashley’s long-term plan is to do family medicine with a specialty in pediatrics in rural Missouri, ideally her hometown of Richland, Mo.
Lisa Wayne
Truman State University (‘03)
Lisa recently returned to the U.S. after being living and working in Germany and deployment in Kosovo.
Sarah Welch (Harper)
Missouri S&T (‘00)
Sarah is a project manager for the IT department at Missouri S & T, and a committee woman for the local GOP. She and her husband plan to move to Colorado at the end of the year, and she is looking for contacts in the Boulder area, especially with regards to start-ups, charitable organizations, or social responsible organizations that could use an experienced project manager.
Nicole Williams
University of Missouri (‘03)
Nicole is currently working as an intern at the Sue Shear Institute at UMKC.
Corinna Willis
Lincoln University (‘08)
Corinna was a recipient of the Ed Stegner National Resource Scholarship for outstanding achievement in Natural Resources. In addition, she was 1 of 3 Lincoln students to receive a travel grant to attend the Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Related Sciences (MANNRS) conference in Indianapolis. She is also the 2009-10 President of Kappa Alpha Mu, Alpha Gamma Chapter at Lincoln University, and shared that ALL of the officers of the organization are Shear Fellows!
Kate Winzenburger
Southeast Missouri State University (‘06)
Kate graduated from Southeast last May (2008) and is pursuing a masters in social work with school certification at SIU-Carbondale. She is a student worker at the Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cape Girardeau, and is doing a practicum at Union County Counseling Services in Anna, IL.
Shelly Wood
Southeast Missouri State University (‘07)
Shelly graduated in December, 2008, with bachelor’s degrees in social work and Spanish. She plans to apply to graduate school next fall.
Lauren Yoggerst
Southeast Missouri State University (‘04)
Lauren is finishing up her master’s degree in clinical psychology at Eastern Illinois University and is cautiously optimistic about entering the job market!