Board of Trustees
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M. Anne Murphy ’78
Chair
Anne, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), began her fundraising career as a student intern at Stephens College, and then went on to New York to earn a master’s degree in fundraising management at the New School. Upon graduation, she worked as a staff consultant for Girl Scouts USA and on the campaign staff for the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Centennial campaign.
Eventually, Anne’s career led her back home to Houston, where she worked for the University of Houston Foundation, the March of Dimes, University of Houston Downtown and Dini Spheris before becoming vice president of development for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.
Anne has served in several leadership roles in the philanthropic sector, including the national foundation and local board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), where the M. Anne Murphy Award for Outstanding Professional Advancement is given out each year in her honor at National Philanthropy Day.
In 2015, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from AFP. She has spent over 30 years teaching fundraising courses and serves on the advisory board at Rice University, Center for Philanthropy and Leadership. She also serves on the executive committee of Giving USA Foundation and the fund development committee of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council.
While at Stephens, Anne served as president of the 1978 senior class and her sorority. She was on the committee that initiated the student annual fund campaign in 1977 and the tradition of presenting the president with a gift at graduation; the first gift was marbles in 1978. Anne previously served as president of the Alumnae Association Board and received the 2016 Stephens Alumnae Achievement Award.
Vice Admiral Nancy E. Brown ’73
Vice Chair
After completing over 35 years of service Vice Admiral Nancy E. Brown retired from her position as the Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, The Joint Staff. Since retiring on 1 October 2009, she has served as an Outside Director of Systematic Software Engineering, Inc, on the Board of Advisors for Enlightened, Inc, The EDGE, and Kingfisher Systems, Inc., Vice Chair of the Broad of Directors of the United States Naval Institute, Chair of the Board of Directors of Homeward Deployed and an Executive Committee Member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). She also served as the Vice Chair of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois and was instrumental in organizing and executing their first flight to Washington, D.C. She currently works as an independent consultant for various C4I focused companies.
Raised in Marion, Illinois, she is a 1973 graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Following graduation, she joined the United States Navy. Highlights of her assignments include attending the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where she earned a Master of Science Degree in Communications Systems Management; the Naval War College and was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies; and the Senior Course at the Army War College, Carlyle, Pennsylvania.
In August 1993, VADM Brown assumed command of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Cutler, Downeast, Maine. After completing her command tour, she was assigned in August 1995 to the National Security Council staff at the White House. In July 1997, VADM Brown assumed command of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic, Norfolk. Completing her major command tour in June 1999, VADM Brown returned to the White House as the Deputy Director, White House Military Office. In October 2000, she reported to the Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Director and Fleet Liaison, Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control (N6B). In August 2002 she assumed duties as Vice Director for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (J6), the Joint Staff. In August 2004 she deployed to Iraq becoming the first Multi-National Force–Iraq C6 headquartered in Baghdad and returned to the Joint Staff in April 2005. In August 2005 VADM Brown assumed the duties as J6 Director for both North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. In August 2006 she assumed her last active-duty position as the Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4 Systems), The Joint Staff.
Vice Admiral Brown's decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Legion of Merit (with Gold Star), the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with two Bronze Stars), the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal (with two Bronze Stars). She has also been recognized by the Diversity Journal in 2007 as one of their 5th Annual Women Worth Watching, in February 2009 by Fast Company The Most Influential Women in Tech, the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2017 Southern Business Journal Leaders Among Us and the 2019 Distinguished Graduate from Stephens College.
Ana Ximenes, '83
Secretary
Ellen Vollrath ’86
Treasurer
Ellen is a budget analyst for the Eurasia Foundation, an international not-for-profit organization. She previously worked as the director of treasury at International Relief and Development after serving as the director of grants and accounting services for the American Bar Association.
She earned a B.A. in political science with a minor in history from Stephens.
Ellen participated in Stephens’ Women in Civic Leadership Series along with classmate Jenifer Brandeberry ’86 in 2011. Since graduating, Ellen had been active in the Stephens Alumnae Club of Greater Washington. She received the Stephens Alumnae Service Award in 1996, and served as an alumna trustee (1990-93), a member of the Alumnae Association Board (1990-94) and a regional representative on the Former Alumnae Association Board.
While at Stephens, Ellen played on the golf team, was part of Searcy Honors House Plan as a freshman, and was a re-founding member and president of Omega Psi social sorority. She also participated in Japan Travel Seminar, Model United Nations, Oxbridge Study Program and China Travel Seminar. As a senior, she received the John Dekker Social Sciences Award.
She and her significant other, Musonda Chisambisha, have a cat named Lusaka.
Ellen enjoys traveling, crossword puzzles, reading, socializing with friends, cultural events, thinking about playing golf and cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, as well as the Green Bay Packers.
Gayle Flannery Bentsen ’67
Gayle, a former board member (1996-2004, 2006-2015), served as a regional co-chair of the College’s first comprehensive campaign with her husband, Lloyd. She also has served on the Alumnae Development Board. She received the Stephens Alumnae Achievement Award in 2009.
Gayle is a founding member of Victory, a group of American Cancer Society volunteers who sponsor the Cattle Baron’s Ball in Houston; a public member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee for six years; and a former advisory board member of the UTMB Galveston School of Nursing. With her husband, she co-chaired a Project Orbis Gala to fund eye care in less-developed countries.
Gayle completed her second term as a member of the board of trustees at Mitchell College in New London, Connecticut. She also was involved with capital campaign work at Mitchell. Gayle received a Distinguished Service Award from Mitchell and is a trustee emerita. The Bentsen Learning Center was named in honor of her family.
She received an A.A. and studied fashion merchandising at Stephens. Gayle also studied interior design at the University of Texas.
She and her husband have two children, Lloyd IV and Ryan, and one grandson, Lloyd Bentsen V.
Sara Herrnstadt Crosby ’76
Sara received her B.F.A. in Theatre from Stephens and enjoyed a varied acting career based out of New York City. Her roles brought her to Off-Broadway, television and film as well as regional theaters. Most notably, she starred in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap for the Barter Theatre at George Mason University opposite Kevin Spacey and Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre as Wilhelmina in The Passion of Dracula. On television, she appeared on All My Children.
In 1984, Sara left N.Y.C. for Chicago, where she began the Graduate Social Work program at Loyola University Chicago. Since graduating in 1986, Sara has worked as a psychotherapist with individuals, couples and groups in the Chicago area and Madison, Wisconsin. She has given many workshops on several issues, including women’s issues, prejudice and discrimination, and suicide prevention, to name a few.
In 2001, Sara co-founded the award-winning Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA). She is the lead facilitator and a director for DAPA at the Pavilion Plays for Living Theatre Company. Sara also sits on the board of directors for Breathe Bravely, a cystic fibrosis advocacy organization, and is a social justice and diversity consultant and educator. She is the 2013 Champion for Children Award winner for South Dakota Voices for Children. Sara is a licensed clinical social worker and lives with her husband, Daniel, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they raised their three children.
Laura A. Gross
Laura A. Gross joined Warner Bros. in 2003 to establish the WB International research and media team. In 2011, she was promoted to handling global responsibilities, adding the United States and Canada. In her position, she has built a global consumer insights and research team that manages groundbreaking and innovative consumer research, analytics, and modeling across digital and packaged movies and TV products. Her team partners with all aspects of the business — theatrical, TV, games, content sales, marketing, sales, finance, strategic planning and executive management.
She pursued her graduate studies at New York University and has a B.S. degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
Shatenita Whitfield Horton '06
Rajah Maples-Wallace '97
Rajah Maples is founder and owner of Rajah Maples Media Productions in addition to serving as a former Executive Producer, Evening Television News Anchor, Broadcast Journalist, and News Manager for KHQA Television in Quincy, Illinois. She started reporting as an intern at KHQA. She later worked as a producer's assistant at "The Today Show" and WNBC in New York City where she worked with and learned from Katie Couric, Ann Curry, Meteorologist Joe Witte, and other news talent. She reported and anchored at KMIZ (ABC-17) in Columbia, Mo. in addition to more training at KOMU. Rajah also has served as news director of KWWC radio.
She's received awards from the Iowa Broadcast News Association, Illinois Broadcast Association, and Missouri Broadcasters Association. Rajah appeared on CBS' "The Early Show" in June 2008, reporting on Mississippi River flooding. Her stories have been distributed through CBS Newspath, CNN Newsource, and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Rajah covered many high-profile news events including protests in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014. She's also covered the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump and the race for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District. Rajah also has reported on many Tri-State dignitary visits, including President Barack Obama, Prince Albert of Monaco, Stephen Covey and Mike Huckabee, and Emmy-award winner Ed Asner.
Rajah served as a legal correspondent for KHQA, working extensively with police departments, prosecutors, defense attorneys, crime victims, victims’ families, and defendants. Her fair, accurate, and compassionate Cold Case storytelling is sought after throughout her viewing area. Rajah has taught News Writing, Speech, and other college communication classes. She is a requested speaker for various community events. You may even spot her singing the national anthem before your favorite sporting event.
She serves as a board member for the Quincy Humane Society, the International Radio and Television Society in New York City, and on the Board of Trustees for Stephens College - a private women's college in Columbia, Missouri- the second-oldest women's educational establishment that is still a women's college in the U.S.
She received her bachelor's degree in mass communication from Stephens College, and her master's degree from the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia where she continued her doctoral studies in media effects and media law.
Rikki Takeyama Menn, '09, '10
Kay Nadel '65
Kay Chaney Nadel ’65 joins the Stephens College Board of Trustees as both an alumna and as a former Director of Alumnae Programs.
After receiving her A.A. at Stephens, Kay earned a B.S. in Education and a Masters in School Administration from the University of Missouri. Soon after she was invited back to Stephens to develop an alumnae program to support the admissions process. In its first year, 800 alumnae from across the country were recruited, trained and activated to aid prospective students in their route to Stephens. Kay and her team developed a 100 member Columbia, Missouri leadership program, the first ever Stephens’ Student Annual Fund Campaign, and an Alumnae Career Resource Program.
The success of these programs brought speaking engagements, invitations to consult with other colleges, published articles, and a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) national award.
With proven need, Kay created new and specialized non-profit divisions for two for-profit marketing firms. Based on market research, problems were analyzed, objectives set and programs developed to increase enrollment, identify/develop new funding sources and improve brand recognition; all to meet the unique and specialized world of 501-C3 designated organizations.
Three years later, Kay started her own firm, KC Harris & Associates, later renamed Chaney-Nadel. With offices in Kansas City and New York clients included Girl Scouts of the USA, The Girl Scout Cookie Sale, Boys & Girls Clubs, The National Center for Learning Disabilities, Westchester Classic PGA Golf Tournament, as well as multiple colleges and universities.
As an avid golfer and listening to her entrepreneurial spirits, Kay founded Chaney Fine Golf Jewelry. As CEO she purchased raw silver and gold, oversaw the design of original art pieces, contracted with mold makers and
coordinated production by bench jewelers. Kay personally handled the marketing and advertising of Chaney’s beautiful but subtle golf motif jewelry. Chaney jewelry was featured in Golf for Women, Golf Digest & Golf Digest Women, and was showcased at the LPGA Tournament at Pumpkin Ridge (staffed by Stephens College alumnae), at the PGA Show in Orlando and the Asian Golf Show in Singapore.
Throughout her career and varied professional interests, design always played a role. Specifically Interior Design. In 2000 she turned to interior design full time. Her work includes whole house renovations, residential and contract interior design. Her design styles maximize use of natural materials, open spaces, green plants & trees and few conversation-worthy accessories and antiques. Her work was featured nationally on Property Man, Fox Network Television in 2017.
In addition to her professional career, Kay has volunteered her time to boards and chaired many benefits while maintaining her involvement with Stephens and her interest in women’s issues. These included the Westchester County New York ARC who honored her and her late husband, Edwin. In 2008, they were featured in The New York Times for their community work. The article was called “The Key to a Retired Life…Get Involved.”
Anita K. Parran ’73
Anita, a native of St. Louis, makes her home in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is principal for KK Charles Communications, LLC, an international award-winning firm she founded in 1998 that specializes in public and media relations, professional writing and special events management. The company provides communications consultation services for a select clientele of small-to-medium size nonprofits and for-profit entities.
Anita earned a B.A. in Journalism from Stephens College and an M.A. in Business Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. She also earned the Certified Communications Professional (CCP) designation from the Matrix Foundation University of Washington School of Communications.
An ardent and committed servant leader, Anita is the public member on the Missouri Board of Pharmacy. In 2018, she was elected co-chair of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Board of Directors and serves as the national membership committee co-chair. This year, Anita was elected president of the Board of Directors for the AWC Advancement Fund. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, Southland Progress Committee, and Executive Committee/Secretary for the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists (KCABJ). Anita is a member of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Kansas City Press Club, National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Kansas City Freelance Exchange, American Association of University Women (AAUW), VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Beta Omega Graduate Chapter.
Anita received the 2015 Velma E. Woodson Outstanding Leadership Award from the NAACP Kansas City, Missouri Branch for being a committed volunteer for government, civic and community entities. The same year, Anita was honored to join the Kansas City Globe’s Society of Influentials. In 2014, she was selected as one of City’s Most Influential Women by the KC Business Magazine, an honor she received in 2007 as a member of the magazine’s charter class. In 2006, she received the National Headliner Award from the Association for Women in Communications, and the same year was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists.
Anita’s life partner is Clinton Adams, Jr., Esq. who has a daughter, Courtney M. Adams. Anita enjoys membership in two book clubs, Women of Words (WOW) and Characters; mentoring young women, traveling, and convening a networking group of women called The Usual Suspects.
Leigh Anne Preston '85
New to retirement, Leigh Anne brings more than 35 years of experience including as a staff member on Capitol Hill, a trade association executive, small international business owner, and elementary school teacher.
Additionally, she has served as a board member on several high-profile nonprofits including numerous three-year terms on the Henderson, Ky., based Raymond B. Preston Family Foundation (RBPFF) board since 1990 and has engaged, participated in and delivered training for board members since that time. She helped facilitate the transformation from being a reactive donating organization to a strategic impactor. She has served a term on the Woodcock Foundation working with churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky to identify qualified college scholarship recipients. Preston is actively involved with Impact 100 Louisville, a group of women working to award large grants to transform lives through the Louisville nonprofit Community.
As a small business owner, she travelled extensively to present her popcorn product lines in Asia and the Middle East and was successful in designing.
bulk and long-term contracts with sought after customers. Her company helped bring microwave popcorn to Israel and was the largest supplier of bulk popcorn to S. Korea.
At the end of her consulting contract following the sale of her business, she was sought out by the Louisville Classical Academy where she taught many special area classes over ten years including: elementary global studies, science, Civics, Ancient Greek Mythology, Kentucky history, PE and art.
Preston served on the board of directors of Field & Main Bank in Henderson, KY from 2016-2021, and continues to serve on the Field and Main Bancorp board and Governance Committee.
She graduated from Stephens College in 1985 with a BA in Business and Minor in French. She did her junior year abroad at the American College of Paris. She served as president of the Stephens Alumnae Club of DC and helped start the endowed scholarship that continues today. She is the youngest of four daughters, three of whom graduated from Stephens. She currently lives in Louisville, KY with her husband Jeff and 17- and 19-year-old daughters.
Michael Quevli '84
Michael has been with Blackbaud since 2008 and brings 27 years of experience in prospect development. As a principal fundraising consultant with Blackbaud he has worked with a wide variety of non-profits assisting them with the implementation of predictive custom modeling, wealth screening and prospect research. Michael began his prospect development career at AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) as a prospect researcher. In 1997 he joined the Keck School of Medicine and became the director of prospect research shortly thereafter and managed a staff of four. In 2005 he joined P!N/Kintera and worked with hundreds of clients on implementing their wealth screening service. He was instrumental in transitioning P!N clients to the ResearchPoint platform and introducing them to the world of predictive modeling. Michael served nine years on the Apra International Board and was president in 2012 and served on Apra Board of Trustees still 2022. He also served on the CARA board and on the Stephens College Alumnae Board for three consecutive terms. Michael is the recipient of the 2004 CARA Service Award. In 2007, he was the first male to receive the Stephens College Alumnae Service Award and recently received the Apra Distinguished Service Award in 2018.
Vicki Russell
Vicki worked for Tribune Publishing Company in various capacities from 1977 until she retired in late 2016. The Fulton Sun (12 years) and then the associate publisher (21 years) and publisher (five years) of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Aside from decades of management experience, Vicki was the driving force behind numerous new initiatives and publications at both newspapers. She served on the Tribune’s corporate board of directors for more than 20 years.
She has been quite active in professional, business and civic organizations. Her newspaper industry roles include: Current chair of the Missouri Press Foundation Board of Directors, past chair of the Missouri Press Service Board of Directors, past president and long-time member of the Missouri Press Association, and founding committee member and first board chair of the Missouri Society of Newspaper Editors.
Vicki serves on the corporate board of The Callaway Bank and on the Boone County Community Trust Board of Directors. She is a past board chair of the Fulton Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. She is also a past board chair of Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) and has chaired the boards of many civic, arts and charitable organizations.
Her leadership was recognized in 2016 by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network with the Athena Award and by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation as the Community Leader of the Year. She was also inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame.
She was chair of the Stephens Board of Trustees from July 2015 through June 2018, has served on the board for more than 12 years, and has helped with various fundraising campaigns since 1995.
Vicki received a B.J. (1972) from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she also attended graduate school and worked as a graduate teaching assistant.
Her late husband, Henry J. (Hank) Waters III, was a Stephens trustee for many terms.
John Sebree
John Sebree has been CEO of Missouri REALTORS® since September 2014. Prior to his move to Missouri, John served as senior vice president of public policy for Florida REALTORS®. Prior to joining the team at Florida REALTORS®, John worked in the government affairs division of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) in Washington, DC for thirteen years. Prior to NAR, John worked for two years for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs.
John is a native of Kentucky. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Northern Kentucky University where he was student body president. John earned an M.B.A. from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. John is also the current chair of the Hawthorn Foundation, a highly diverse group of Missouri leaders in business, education, economic development, health care and labor dedicated to making the state of Missouri stronger.
John resides in Columbia, Missouri, but enjoys travel and spending time with family and friends on his farm in Williamstown, Kentucky.
Valerie Shaw ’00
Valerie retired from a 36-year banking career at Commerce Bank in June 2016. She served as the executive vice president and retail director for Commerce Bank. In this capacity, she oversaw the retail sales, service and operations for 14 branches in the Central Missouri Region (in the Missouri counties of Boone, Moniteau, Audrain, Randolph and Marion). Valerie was also responsible for branch security, facility management and 17 ATMs. Prior to her move to Columbia, she worked at Commerce Bank in Hannibal, Missouri, from 1980 to 1990.
Valerie earned a Master of Business Administration from Williams Woods University in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Stephens College in 2000. As a non-traditional student, she worked full time while working toward her degrees at both Stephens and William Woods.
Her volunteer activities include treasurer, Columbia Branch of the NAACP; treasurer, Second Missionary Baptist Church; member (president 2019-20), Columbia Kiwanis Club; member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; charter member and past treasurer, and Central Missouri Chapter of The Links, Inc.; Financial Secretary. She also has assisted with numerous committees for school bond issues, selection committee for the Battle High School site selection, Bias Free Columbia Committee, and several sewer bond issue committees, among others.
Valerie has received numerous distinguished awards, including the 2017 George F. Hixson Fellowship award from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, the Keeper of the Flame 2016 President’s Award for Outstanding Community Service from Columbia NAACP, the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Association, the 2013 President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership from the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, and the 2010 Professional Excellence Award from the Columbia Daily Tribune.
She has two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Valerie enjoys traveling, watching Missouri Men’s Basketball, spending time with family and friends, and public service volunteer work. She has a passion for traveling and has visited Ghana, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, China and England, to name only a few.
Dylan Shelofsky ’13
Dylan is a fourth-grade teacher at Metropolitan Arts Academy, an arts magnet school in the Westminster Public Schools district in Denver. She also is the leader of arts integrated education.
While at Stephens, Dylan worked with fellow board member Sara Herrnstadt Crosby ’76 to start the first collegiate affiliate of Plays for Living. She was also a proud three-year member of Stephens’ own Velvetones and traveled to Spirit Lake, Iowa, and New York City with the group. She was a part of the Warehouse Theatre Company and loved her time at Okoboji Summer Theatre. She earned her B.F.A. in Theatre from Stephens in 2013.
After graduating from Stephens, Dylan moved to N.Y.C., where she not only lived and worked for four years — teaching elementary musical theater and voice — but also received her master’s degree in elementary arts integrated inclusive education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 2017, she moved back to her home state of Colorado, where she now lives with her husband, Zach Levenson, and their cat, Frank.
Silissa Uriarte Smith ’98
With over 20 successful years in the nonprofit, political and public sectors, Silissa’s diverse and multifaceted career includes the areas of advocacy, fundraising, community engagement and public affairs. She has worked for organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the Feminist Majority Foundation, community-based organizations, numerous progressive political campaigns, and the City of Long Beach.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Silissa has deep roots throughout Southern California. Her professional successes are the result of mentorship, hard work and an exceptional education: general education and theater coursework at Fullerton Community College, a B.A. in Political Science from Stephens College, and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University’s Brandman School. Her executive leadership training and professional development experiences include: MANA A National Latina Organization, AvanZamos Fellowship Program and HOPE’s (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality) Leadership Institute.
Silissa has served as a trustee for the College since 2015 and is a former member of the Stephens College Alumnae Association Board. She received the PLEN Leadership Award in 2015, the Stephens College Black Alumnae Association Award in 2008, the Californians for Justice, Racial Justice Hero Award in 2007, the MANA de Orange County Crystal Award for Advocacy in 2008, and the California Democratic Party JFK Junior, Community Service Award in 2003.
While at Stephens, Silissa re-energized the College Democrats chapter, was a Mortar Board member, and an editorial contributor for Stephens Life when it was the College’s campus newspaper. She served as an intern for retired Representative Vicky Riback Wilson in Jefferson City. In her senior year, she received the John Dekker Award for Social Sciences Student of the Year.
Silissa currently manages her business, 360 Collaborative Solutions, created in 2013, where she works with mission-driven nonprofits, political candidates, associations and chambers, small businesses, and local governments on advocacy, community engagement and fundraising development programs and projects throughout California. She recently added coaching to the business, where she coaches social change leaders and others making meaningful contributions to their communities. In her spare time, she serves as an active member and volunteer for the Congregational Church of Fullerton, spending time with family and friends, mentoring young professional women, butterfly chasing, camping, hiking, yoga, self-discovery and meditation.
Mary Ann Sprinkle '84
Mary Ann Sprinkle serves as Vice President of Development for the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.
Previously, Sprinkle served as the Vice President for Advancement at Emory University and as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations for the Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory University. At Emory, Sprinkle oversaw teams for all schools, colleges, and units; clinical and grateful patient programs; and regional and international fundraising. The teams were responsible for Emory’s $4 billion comprehensive campaign, Emory 2036, and its leadership phase of $2.6 billion, where they secured Emory’s largest gift—$400 million.
Prior to the appointment at Emory University, Sprinkle served as the Associate Vice President for Advancement/Chief Development Officer at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida for more than a decade. The Miller School of Medicine raised more than $1 billion for Momentum2: The Breakthrough Campaign for the University of Miami. This campaign successfully finished with a total of $1.6 billion in support for the University of Miami and, combined with the initial Momentum Campaign, raised a total of $3 billion during the tenure of President Donna E. Shalala. Additionally, Sprinkle served as Assistant Vice President for Medical Development and Alumni Relations for the Miller School of Medicine, Director of Development for the National Parkinson Foundation, and Managing Director of Development for Florida Grand Opera. Prior to her 16 years in Florida, Sprinkle’s fundraising career was largely in the Pacific Northwest.
Sprinkle graduated summa cum laude from Stephens with a BA in Psychology and holds an MS in Counseling from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. While at Stephens, Sprinkle was a member of Prince of Wales, Psi Chi and was a recipient of the Capstone Award. Later, she received the Century Candle Award and served as the first alumna Director of Admission for Stephens, after serving as a regional admission officer in the southeast, working in advancement and serving as managing editor of the national poetry magazine at Stephens, Open Places.
Angeleigha “Angel” (Mendez) Thomas ’14
Angel is an Assistant Vice President of Communications at U.S. Bank, where she develops strategic communication initiatives aimed at amplifying executive leadership visibility among both internal and external audiences.
Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Angel played a pivotal role on the media relations team for the University of Minnesota Medical School during the onset and height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also directed marketing and communications campaigns for the New Mexico State University Foundation, Helen of Troy, and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. She began her career as a television reporter and production assistant at KMIZ-TV (ABC 17 News) in Columbia, Missouri.
Angel has earned several awards throughout her career, including a bronze CASE award for “Panorama,” the NMSU alumni magazine she led as editor, and four Public Relations Society of America PRIME Awards for her work with the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. In 2010, she was selected among 1,000 students as a Gates Millennium Scholar and received a good-through-graduation scholarship to attend college funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
As a student at Stephens College, Angel was honored with multiple accolades, including three Missouri College Media Association Awards and the esteemed Sara Ann Fay Broadcasting Award. She collaborated with Columbia Access Television and the film department at Stephens College to produce a weekly television broadcast featuring the staff of Stephens Life magazine. Her academic excellence and leadership were recognized through her membership in elite honor societies, including the National Broadcasting Society's Alpha Epsilon Rho, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Mortar Board: Athena Chapter.
Angel graduated summa cum laude from Stephens College with a B.S. in Integrated Media and a minor in Business Marketing. She received her M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Marist College in 2018.
Jennifer M. Wilder '94
Jennifer Wilder currently serves as the Director of Development and Communications at Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), a national Veteran Service Organization headquartered in Maryland. Since joining the organization in 2016, Jennifer has been responsible for raising $32 million to provide service dogs and life-changing therapy for more than 5,000 Veterans coping with invisible wounds of war. That financial support and her skill in forging strategic partnerships, helped WCC grow from 5 program sites to 15 today across the country. In addition to WCC, Jennifer previously served as Director of Development and Deputy Director of Membership at Blue Star Families (2013-2015), also a national nonprofit organization focused on supporting Veterans and Military Family Members.
An Air Force spouse of 25 years, Jennifer and her family have lived in Europe, Asia and many US states. Throughout her husband’s deployments and frequent moves, she dedicated extensive professional and volunteer service in support of Military Families. While stationed in Italy with her husband, Jennifer worked for the United States Air Force to create a federal employee volunteer mentoring initiative for youth.
As Director of Aviano for America’s Youth (1996-1999), she established a model that was adopted by the Department of Defense (DoDEA) Schools as its standard for training adult volunteers to provide tutoring and career-focused mentoring to hundreds of Military Children stationed overseas. For her efforts, she was named the 31st Fighter Wing Civilian Specialist of the Quarter in 1999, and 31st Support Group Civilian Specialist of the Quarter in 1998 and 1999.
In addition to experience within the Veteran community, Jennifer has held various posts in development, marketing, communications, and volunteer management in the higher education sector. She served as Development and Communications Officer at George Mason University (2015-2016); Manager of Advancement Communications at Wright State University (2001-2004); Publicity and Policy Consultant at the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women (1999-2001); and Director of Public Relations and other roles at Stephens College (1993-1996). Her work in these areas earned many national industry awards, including a Daily Points of Light award from the Points of Light Institute—the world’s largest organization dedicated to solving serious societal problems through voluntary service.
At both Wright State and Stephens College, her department’s publications earned Admissions Marketing Report Awards and CASE Awards for Exceptional Achievement. Jennifer has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy (2000), and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri (1994).
During her education, Jennifer interned at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and later was a University of Michigan School of Public Policy Graduate Fellow and a Graduate Teaching Assistant. As a student at Stephens College, Jennifer served as editor of the campus newspaper; President of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA); and earned the Columbia Insurance Group Public Relations Award (1994); and Journalism Award (1994). Her volunteer work has included board position with Military Spouse Clubs at Kadena Air Base, Japan; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Buckley Air Base, Colorado; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Randolph Air Base, Texas; and Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. She has also volunteered with the USO, Operation Support Our Troops, local community groups, her children’s schools, and Stephens College.
Today Jennifer lives in the Washington, DC, area with her husband, Colonel David Wilder (USAF Ret.), and WCC’s Smith and WCC’s Eli—both ambassador service dogs. David is the Senior Director of Washington DC Facility Operations for Virginia Tech. Her oldest son, Jack, is currently a junior at Pennsylvania State University, and her youngest, William, is a freshman at the University of Michigan.