"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
I strongly believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. Given the opportunities provided to me in my life, I believe that it is my moral obligation to strive to serve my community and ensure that our society is a more just and equitable place. None of my service is performative; and I take very seriously the duties that come with various service roles. I have the fortune of serving on a number of boards, councils, and committies at the local, state, and national level. My board service is all unified by my laser focus on addressing systemic inequities.
Select Board, Council, and Committee Service
2022-Present
Member, Board of Directors, Missouri Foundation for Health,
St. Louis, MO
Mission: "to eliminate underlying causes of health inequities, transform systems, and enable individuals and communities to thrive."
2020-Present
Member, Board of Trustees, PRB, Washington, D.C.
Mission: "PRB's demographers and global health experts work with decisionmakers, the private sector, and civil society actors around the world to inform policy development, programming, and funding decisions to improve people's lives."
2019-2024
Member, Board of Directors, PROMO, Missouri's Statewide LGBTQ+ Advocacy Organization, Springfield, MO
Mission: "PROMO is Missouri's statewide organization advocating for LGBTQ equality through legislative action, electoral politics, grassroots orgnanizing, and community education."
2019-2022
Member, Provost's Academic Advising Council, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Charge: "The purpose of the Provost's Academic Advising Council (PAAC) is to evaluate the administration and delivery of advising services to all students at Missouri State University and to make recommendations for improvements."
2017-2022
Chair, College of Humanities and Public Affairs Diversity Council, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Charge: "interact with similar groups in other colleges to enhance our awareness of diversity issues on campus for faculty and students; suggest actions that CHPA can take to make persons of color, those with disabilities, or international students more welcome -- this applies to faculty, staff, and students; suggest curricular, program changes, or help to develop diversity segments in existing classes to better express the university’s cultural competence pillar; develop diversity-related programming or events in cooperation with the Multi-cultural Resource Center and other colleges."