Our Staff
Our Board of Directors
Jolene Schulz, Co-President
Retired Teacher and Administrator, Columbia Public Schools
Gary Smith, Co-President
Retired Director of Admissions, Registrar, Director Emeritus – University of Missouri
Elizabeth Mendenhall, Vice President
CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty
Jerry Benedict, Secretary
Retired Orthotics and
Prosthetics Professional
Mendy Diel, Treasurer
Vice President of Commerce Trust
Joy Bess, Member
K-12 Social Studies Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools
Kevin Crane, Member
Retired County Prosecutor
& Circuit Court Judge
Tara Cox, Member
HR Professional, University of Missouri, retired HR, City of Columbia
Zachary Dowdle, Member
Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at William Woods University
Jonette Ford, Member
U.S. History and English teacher at Douglass High School
Krista Frohling, Member
Dean of the College of Art, Design, and Media at William Woods University
Kevin Gibbens, Member
Retired President and
CEO of Landmark Bank
Nancy Thomas, Member
Retired Realtor, Genealogist
David Wilson, Member
Co-Founder of Ragtag Cinema
and the True/False Film Fest
Our Endowment Trust Board
Keith Whitney, Trust Chairperson
Vice President, Private Banking at Simmons Bank
Jolene Schulz, Ex-Officio
Retired Teacher and Administrator, Columbia Public Schools
Gary Smith, Ex-Officio
Retired Director of Admissions, Registrar, Director Emeritus – University of Missouri
Melissa Applegate, Trustee
Retired Restaurateur
Rachel Blackmore, Trustee
Director of Election Services at KNOW ink
Patsy Ponder Dalton, Trustee
Retired Boone County Commissioner & Marketing Executive
Mendy Diel, Ex-Officio
Vice President of Commerce Trust
Andrew Grabau, Trustee
Executive Director of the
William Guitar Little Foundation
Marie Nau Hunter, Trustee
Interim Director, Museum of Art & Archeology, University of Missouri
Toni Messina, Trustee
Retired Public Communications Director, City of Columbia
Joan Menser, Trustee
Retired Co-Owner,
Buchroeders Jewelers
Betsy Odle, Trustee
Corporate Secretary,
Bruce Odle & Associates
Nikki Reese, Trustee
Coordinator Marketing & Events,
The District