Fall 2009 Conference Speakers
Todd McCubbin, MEd ‘95
Executive Director, Mizzou Alumni Association
Todd McCubbin directs the operational and financial activities of the Alumni Association. He is
responsible for increasing Association membership, managing the budget and the relationship with
the Association’s governing board and its committees, overseeing alumni and student programming
and events, managing relationships with divisional and affinity alumni organizations, and
representing the Association on campus. He manages the integration of the Association's activities
with other campus advancement efforts.
McCubbin received his bachelor's degree in Journalism from Truman State University in 1993 and a
master's degree in Education from MU in 1995. In addition to his career in advancement, McCubbin
serves on the Board of Directors for Boone Family Resources and the Missouri/Illinois Region of the American Red Cross. He
is active with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) and the
Daniel Boone Little League. Todd and his wife, Debra, have two daughters, Avery and Mya, and a son, Tate.
Michael J. O’Brien
Dean, MU College of Arts & Science
Michael J. O’Brien is the dean of the College of Arts & Science at Mizzou. His main areas of
research focus on the integration of evolutionary theory into archaeology. Some of the earlier work,
undertaken in the late 1980s and early 1990s, involved creating a groundwork for that integration.
This built on the earlier work of Bob Dunnell, Bob Leonard, and Tom Jones. No one thinks or works
in a vacuum. In addition to Dunnell, Leonard, and Jones, I’ve benefited from collaborative
interactions with Mike Schiffer, Stephen Shennan, Mark Collard, Tom Holland, Marcel Harmon,
Todd VanPool, José Luis Lanata, Carl Lipo, and especially Lee Lyman, whose ideas on evolution
and archaeology (not to mention the history of American archaeology) are so intertwined with his
own that it’s impossible to state with any certainty exactly which one thought of what.
On the personal side, Dean O’Brien has three great kids—Nathan, Kimberly and Aaron, all of whom actually took
anthropology in college—and two lazy cats, neither of whom took anthropology.
Ellie Miller, BSBE ‘04
Account Executive, Procter & Gamble
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Chair, Griffiths Leadership Society
Ellie Miller is an Account Executive for Procter & Gamble in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She manages P&G’s hair care portfolio
for the Wal-Mart business in the United States. The portfolio includes five brands: Pantene, Herbal Essences, Head &
Shoulders, Aussie, and Infusium. Prior to this role, Ellie worked on P&G’s hair color business and in Minneapolis, Minnesota
on the pharmaceutical business.
Ellie currently serves as the Outreach Department Chair for her church, is a steering committee member for Paint the Town
Red, a local fund-raiser for the American Heart Association, and serves on the Young Professional Arts Society council. She is
also involved as a member of the Long Range Planning Committee for the Mizzou Alumni Association, in addition to being
the current Chair of Griffiths Leadership Society.
Ellie graduated from Mizzou with a degree in Biological Engineering in May 2004. While a student, Ellie was a member of
Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, the Alumni Association Student Board, and Homecoming Steering Committee. She is currently
pursuing her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas.
Kellie Bray, BSAg ‘98
Government Affairs Leader, CropLife America
Vice Chair, Griffiths Leadership Society
Kellie Bray is a Government Affairs Leader with CropLife America in Washington, D.C. CropLife
America is the nation’s largest trade organization for agriculture and pest management, representing
developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of virtually all the crop protection products
used by American farmers and growers.
From 2001 to 2008 Bray served in various roles with the National Association of Professional
Insurance Agents including Director of Federal Affairs and Assistant Vice President of Federal
Affairs. Previously, Bray served as the PAC Coordinator for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association from 1999 to 2001.
Bray serves in many volunteer capacities including Sigma Kappa Sorority as a Collegiate Province Officer, chapter advisor and
national trainer; Griffiths Leadership Society as Vice Chair; and as a member of Women in Government Relations. Bray
served on the Mizzou Alumni Association Governing Board from 2007-2009.
Bray is a native of Cameron, Missouri and received a Bachelor’s Degree in General Agriculture with a minor in Political
Science from the University of Missouri.
Jacqueline McEntire Clark, BA ‘84
Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Ash Grove Cement Company
President, Mizzou Alumni Association
Jacqueline, APR, is Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Ash Grove Cement
Company, the largest U.S.-owned cement company, which is headquartered in Overland Park, Kan.
Ms. Clark directs Ash Grove’s public and government affairs as well as its corporate
communications, political action, community relations and crisis management programs. She serves
on the KC Alumni Chapter Board of Directors, the Mizzou Legislative Network Committee and the
Griffiths’ Leadership Society for Women. She is the co-founder of the KC Tiger Ball, an event that
has raised more than $300,000 for student scholarships. Jacqueline earned a master’s degree in public
affairs with honors from Park University’s Hauptmann School of Public Affairs.
Angela Bendorf Jamison, BS Ag ‘85
President & Owner, Communicopia Marketing Services Inc.
Angela Bendorf Jamison lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, Warner, and
nine-year-old daughter, Camryn. As an inflammatory breast cancer survivor, Angela has learned
to live each day to its fullest potential and enjoy the little things that come her way.
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Angela is president and owner of Communicopia Marketing Services Inc, a firm she founded in 1998 to provide clients with
public relations and marketing communications. She has 24 years of hands-on marketing communications experience working
as a newspaper editor, public relations practitioner, corporate communications manager and small business owner.
Angela earned a degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Missouri in 1985. While at Mizzou, Angela was the
General Services director for the Missouri Students Association, an ambassador for ASUM (Associated Students of the
University of Missouri), on the Alumni Association Student Board, a Summer Welcome orientation leader and member of Chi
Omega sorority. During her senior year, she was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society.
In 2009, Angela’s friendship with 10 of her best friends was chronicled in The Girls from Ames, written by Jeffrey Zaslow,
coauthor of The Last Lecture. The book, which rose to #3 on the New York Times best-sellers list, is a testament to the deep
bonds of women as they experience life’s joys and challenges. The book begins at a 2007 reunion hosted by Angela in her
Wake Forest home.
Frederick vom Saal
Curators’ Professor, Biological Sciences
Dr. Frederick vom Saal currently holds the position of Curators’ Professor in the Department of
Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri. vom Saal received his BA in Psychobiology
from New York University and MS and PhD in neurobiology from Rutgers University.
The focus of his current research is on the effects of fetal exposure to low doses of natural
estrogens and to estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals. In these studies, doses are used that
have been shown to be in the hormonally active range based on in vitro studies using intact cells
in human serum. Pregnant mice are fed physiologically relevant rather than toxic doses of
estrogenic chemicals, and effects on differentiating reproductive organs are examined for
evidence of imprinting of selected genes involved in organogenesis. In addition, reproductive
organ function and behavior in the offspring are examined during later life.
Results show that fetal exposure to low doses of natural and synthetic estrogenic chemicals (as much as 600,000-times lower
than doses used in traditional toxicological studies) lead in males to a permanent increase in prostate size, changes in enzyme
activity and steroid receptor numbers in a number of organs, a decrease in sperm production, and increased aggressiveness,
while in females, changes in neuroendocrine and uterine function as well as behavior occur. These findings provide the first
experimental evidence that exposure to environmentally relevant doses of man-made estrogenic chemicals found in plastics
and pesticides during fetal life can irreversibly alter the course of fetal development.
Debbie Jones, BA ‘74
IT Manager, Ford Motor Company Kansas City Assembly Plant
Programming Chair, Griffiths Leadership Society
Debbie Jones is currently the IT Manager for the Ford Motor Company Kansas City Assembly Plant.
Her team supports both office computers and plant floor automation for Ford's highest production
assembly plant – building Ford Escapes, Mercury Mariners, Mazda Tributes, and Ford F-150s. She
was the first female Plant IT Manager within Ford. She has spent her entire career in information
technology; much of it in automotive or airplane manufacturing.
Debbie was a founding member and the Secretary of the Motor City Tigers (Detroit area Mizzou
alumni group). She has been a Griffiths member for 3 years and is currently the Programming Chair.
She has participated in 3 breast cancer fund raising walks of 60 miles each and has raised $15,000 for breast cancer causes over
the last 4 years.
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Debbie has a B.A. in Math and Computer Sciences from Mizzou and an MBA from the University of Puget Sound. She is a
certified PMP (Project Management Professional) and a 6-sigma Level 2 Master Black Belt.
Anji Phillips
Doctoral Candidate, Communication
Student Member, Griffiths Leadership Society
Anji completed her undergraduate work at Bradley University in 1994 with an emphasis in radio and
television. She worked in the field after graduation as a disk jockey, was talent in two Super Bowl
commercials, and performed various communication related work. Anji then merged her
communication and computer skills and spent time in manufacturing. She was a programmable logic
controller specialist where she would troubleshoot downed automation lines, she implemented ISO,
managed quality and improvement for a corporation, and trained employees and customers on-site at
Caterpillar and Bridgestone-Firestone as examples. She received her master's degree in 2007 from Illinois State University. She
is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri. Anji has taught various
communication courses at Bradley, ISU, and Mizzou including: writing for the mass media, media literacy, speech, mass
communication, introduction to electronic media, and field and studio production courses. Her research interests include the
intersection of mass communication and politics with a particular focus on audience and voter effects.
Nancy Flournoy
Professor & Chair, Department of Statistics
Nancy Flournoy is a professor and chair of the Department of Statistics at the University of
Missouri. She earned her bachelor and masters degrees in biostatistics from the University of
California, Los Angeles. Flournoy received her PhD in biomathematics from the University of
Washington.
Flournoy is on the Advisory Council for the University of Missouri NSF Advance grant as well as
on the STRIDE as a mentor. She has received a number of awards including the Elizabeth Scott
Award which is sponsored by the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS). In
2007, Flournoy received the F.N. David Award, also by the COPSS, for her research contributions, devoted teaching,
passionate mentoring to young statisticians and leadership in the profession.
Megan Phillips, BA ‘92, B.E.S. ‘92, JD ‘96
Law Clerk, Missouri Court of Appeals
Alumnae Member, Griffiths Leadership Society
Megan Phillips is a law clerk for the Missouri Court of Appeals. She began her career in large
law firms in Paris, France, and St. Louis, Missouri, and has also worked in non-profit women’s
advocacy, the family court system, and academia. Megan is President of the Missouri CASA
Association, a member of the boards of the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St.
Louis and the Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation, and a volunteer faculty member
for the Missouri Girls State leadership program. Previously she served as President of the
Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis and a member of the board of the National
Conference of Women’s Bar Associations. She earned her J.D., B.A. in Sociology, and B.E.S. in
Educational and Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri, where the College of
Education honored her with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.
Jo Lena Johnson, BA ‘92
Communication & Leadership Facilitator, Absolute Good
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Alumnae Member, Griffiths Leadership Society
Jo Lena Johnson lived in “The City of Angels” and spent several successful years in marketing & radio before focusing her
efforts on purpose-driven work as a Leadership Trainer & Communication Facilitator. She created “U.R. Absolute Good”
Marketing, Promotion & Events in 1998 and had as many as 50 young adults on her team as promotional and administrative
staff. In 2002, she began managing the “Life Skills Management Division” of Absolute Good, traveling throughout North
America and the United Kingdom, conducting corporate, leadership, professional development, and diversity trainings. Her
extensive and intuitive skills as a coach have helped many achieve personal, professional and teams goals. She has served as a
facilitator for over 60,000 adult learners and students.
She has also served as a business development consultant for several non-profit organizations, corporations and community
organizations throughout the country. She really enjoys the knowledge gained from & with those whom she encounters and
feels honored to spend time in large group settings, private workshops & retreats, and simply enjoying day to day activities.
Quality time with interesting people, friends and family is what she treasures most. Ms. Johnson is a seeker of truth, loves to
read, is passionate, and is committed to principle based works. In late 2008 she began conducting the “Mission Possible
Communication Series” and spent the summer of 2009 researching, formulating and honing her latest endeavor…a large-scale
restoration project intended to support people in the five main areas of life. She is setting up her “St. Louis Satelitte Office”
and will inaugurate “Mission Possible Press” with volumes of small books, several life enrichment magazines and “words of
wisdom” from some of the United States most brilliant minds. She wears many hats and no matter what her role – organizer,
producer, trainer, or facilitator, she is a leader 100% of the time.
Ms. Johnson received her bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies from Mizzou in December 1992. She currently resides
in the Washington, D.C. area.
Peter Millier
Director, Campus Facilities-Landscape Services
Pete Millier is the Director of Campus Facilities-Landscape Services and the Mizzou Botanic Garden.
He has been with the University since 2005. Pete came to the University from California State
University, Fresno where he managed the grounds department and the campus arboretum.
Mr. Millier has an undergraduate degree in Plant Science and a graduate degree in Public
Administration. Pete has worked in horticulture for over 30 years and has worked as a landscape
contractor, nurseryman, and golf course superintendent before going into landscape management.
Mitzi Clayton, BSEd ’94, MSEd ‘96
Assistant Athletics Director, Compliance
Mizzou Department of Athletics
Mitzi Clayton is in her 11th year with the University of Missouri Athletic Department, currently serving
as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance. Clayton spent three years as a compliance assistant
from 1995-97 and two years with State Farm Insurance prior to returning to MU in 2000.
Clayton oversees a variety of compliance issues including camps and clinics, interpretation requests,
rules education, legislation, and investigations and self-reporting of infractions. She also is a member of the MU Gambling
Task Force and serves as Tri-Chair for the MU/UM United Way Campaign. In 2008, Clayton was recognized for fostering
better understanding and communication between alumni and staff by receiving the MU Alumni Association Award for
Alumni Relations Excellence.
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Clayton came to Missouri on a track and field scholarship in 1990. During her five years as an athlete, she earned All-Big Eight
honors in the javelin. She was a two-time All-Big Eight Academic team member, Phillips 66 Academic first-team selection and
co-captain of the team.
A native of Lexington, Mo., Clayton received her bachelor of educational studies degree from Missouri in 1994, and in 1996,
completed her master's degree in sports management. She is married to Brian Clayton of Norbonne, Mo., and they have a nineyear old son, Bryson.
Michelle Collins
Senior, Soccer
Michelle Collins plays forward for the Mizzou Soccer Team. As a junior, Collins led the team in
assists with seven and was second on the squad with 21 points. She also added two game-winning
goals.
Collins grew up in Naperville, Illinois and lettered every year in high school. She is currently
pursuing a degree in speech pathology at Mizzou. She chose Mizzou over the University of
Wisconsin (where her father played football), Illinois State and Northwestern.
Alicia Hatcher
Senior, Gymnastics
Hatcher joined the Tigers as a two-time Junior Olympic national qualifier. She earned Missouri State
championship titles in 2002 and 2004 and placed third in 2003. As an athlete at Mizzou, Hatcher has
received academic and athletic Big 12 accolades. She was also recognized as the Varsity M
Association Athlete of the Year while on the Mizzou Gymnastics Team.
Originally from Blue Springs, Hatcher is finishing her degree in journalism at Mizzou. In addition to
her leadership on the Mizzou gymnastics team, Hatcher was a member of the Student Athlete
Advisory Board and Mystical Seven.
Krishna Lee, BSBA ‘09
Track & Field
Krishna Lee was a member of the Mizzou Track & Field Team until 2009 when she graduated from
Mizzou with a degree in Business Administration. As a student athlete, Lee received numerous
awards for her performance including All-Big 12 academic and athletic honors.
Lee holds the school record for the hammer throw and indoor shot put and was an NCAA regional
qualifier three times. She qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials and was named an All-American
in 2008 for the indoor shot put. Lee is from the Kansas City area.
Anna Schwartz, ARNP, PhD, FAAN
Associate Research Professor, Arizona State University
President, Coleman Health
Anna is an author, researcher, educator, and advanced practice nurse practitioner. She currently serves
as an associate research professor at Arizona State University. Dr. Schwartz is president of Coleman
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Health where she directs Horses Providing Hope and Healing, a nonprofit horse therapy program for cancer survivors and atrisk youth.
Dr. Schwartz’s career achievements include research to improve the quality of life of cancer patients through physical activity
and symptom management. The National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Nursing Research, Department of Defense, and
the Oncology Nursing Foundation have funded her research. She recently published Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for
Patients and Survivors, a culmination of years of research that gives cancer patients a scientifically based program for physical
activity and symptom management. She has been published in more than twenty-five journals and publications and has
authored
or
co-authored
seven
book
chapters.
Dr. Schwartz was an elite competitive cyclist, setting three world records. She has coached more than 120 cyclists and
triathletes to national and world titles. In 2003, she came out of cycling retirement to become a member of the 2003 Tour of
Hope Team that rode from Los Angeles to Washington, DC in seven days to raise awareness about cancer research. She
currently lives in Cave Creek, Arizona, where she raises quarter horses and Navajo-Churro sheep.
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