Jay Wilson
Park University
Recipient of the Dean's Award for Outstanding MPA Student 2009

“ I looked at many different MPA & MBA Programs throughout the Midwest, and quickly realized that Park University was the ideal program for full-time students and working professionals. I am proud to call myself an alumnus of Park University.”

Michelle Gaasch
Truman State University
Michelle Gaasch is a graduate student pursuing the Master of Arts in Education at Truman State University, a professional teaching degree open to those with a strong liberal arts and sciences background. Michelle has earned the 2010 Outstanding Elementary Education Graduate Student Award in recognition of her research, which focused on improving writing instruction in second grade. In addition to her highly-selective professional development school internship, Michelle developed a popular French Club for elementary students and has participated in national, state, and local conferences. She is planning on teaching next year and continuing her education to earn a doctorate degree.

Connie Martin
Rockhurst University
Connie Martin is earning a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in secondary social studies at Rockhurst University. Connie chose Rockhurst because of their Conceptual Framework which emphasizes teaching for social justice.

Connie’s goal is to help students become engaged in meaningful social studies learning as they develop the tools to become active citizens of the world. The Rockhurst Master’s curriculum provides Connie the foundation to effectively teach while fostering a caring classroom environment for her students and their families.

John Pinkston
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student in Public Affairs & Administration and Social Sciences with research interests in organizational behavior and leadership for Churches in transition.
Currently serves as President of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student Council.
John also works in department of Oral Biology in School of Dentistry helping with data base management, and program evaluation.

Lee Tessler
Washington University in St. Louis
Lee Tessler is completing his Ph.D. in Computational and Systems Biology. Lee's research focuses on developing molecular and computational methods to help diagnose diseases at early stages. Lee is recipient of the Kauffman Life Science Entrepreneurship Fellowship and President of the BioEntrepreneurship Core, a graduate student-led organization that exposes Ph.D. students to the scientific professional opportunities in the St. Louis region. After his graduate work, Lee plans to work on technology development in the biotechnology industry.

Patrick White
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Patrick White is pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. As an undergraduate in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department he was an active member of the Advanced Aero Vehicle Group helping construct two major projects for aerospace design competitions. After completing his bachelor’s at S&T with a 4.0, he was recruited by a faculty member to work on a research grant involving control systems and iterative learning controls. He is currently building a micro mechanical array, which will precisely move, sort and pick up microscopic objects, using an algorithm to maintain accuracy. After receiving his masters, Patrick plans to continue his research in Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems while getting his PhD.

Shelly Mayle
Lincoln University
My name is Shelley Mayle and I am a graduate student in Lincoln University’s Master of Education program. I currently work for Laquey R-V School District High School as a Secondary School Guidance Counselor in training. Implementing the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program which includes working with students on their personal and social development, academic development, and career development is my professional responsibility. I also coordinate the collaboration of parents, students, teachers, administrators and other helping professionals within the school setting. Getting my MEd in Guidance and Counseling - Secondary has been a great experience. The program has been challenging, rewarding and most importantly working with students and faculty has helped me gain a greater insight to the requirements of a professional school counselor. This experience has prepared me for working within the educational setting of a Missouri public school system.

Jesse Hentges
Lincoln University
My name is Jesse Hentges and I am a graduate student in the Master of Education Program at Lincoln University in Missouri. I currently work for Cole R-V, Eugene as the elementary counselor. My responsibilities include weekly guidance lessons with each elementary class and group/individual counseling as needed. Working on my MEd in Elementary Guidance and Counseling through Lincoln has been a great experience!!! The program is both challenging and rewarding. The faculty at Lincoln has helped me find my strengths as an educator, counselor and as a person. I believe that the faculty are doing an amazing job in preparing me for my career as an elementary counselor.

Joslyn Creighton
Park University
Crieghton is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs degree with a nonprofit emphasis area. Her goal is to start a nonprofit business that focuses on simple and budget friendly home improvement projects. She is working as university student services coordinator.

Mario Rudolph
Master's Student, Public Health
University of Missouri
Mario, a Thurgood Marshall Scholarship recipient, wanted to enhance his knowledge and abilities in the public health sector prior to him attending medical school. Learn more about Mario Rudolph »

Jennifer Correa
Doctoral Student, Sociology
University of Missouri
A Gus T. Ridgel Fellow, Jennifer spoke at Texas A&M University – Kingsville's Hispanic Heritage Month about her US-Mexico borderland research. Learn more about Jennifer Correa »

John Michael D'Agostino
University of Missouri-St. Louis
John is pursuing a master's degree in public policy administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  John Mike completed an internship with the American Cancer Society, serves as a coach and volunteer with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater St. Louis and currently holds a Community Building Fellowship working with the Community Partnership Project team on the healthy communities initiative in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.

Gabriel "Gabe" Hulsey
Lincoln University
Gabe Hulsey is completing his MBA with an emphasis in management at Lincoln University of Missouri.  He plans to graduate in May of 2009.  Gabe is currently the Commercial Electronic Banking Manager at Central Bank in Jefferson City, Missouri.  By attending 8-week MBA classes in the evening, he has been able to balance work, school, and home while completing his degree.

Kimberly Fitzgerald
Truman State University
Kimberly Fitzgerald is a student in the Master’s program in Communications Disorders at Truman State University. Ms. Fitzgerald is capitalizing on her knowledge of mathematics and statistics as well as her outstanding academic skills (she graduated summa cum laude from Truman with a BS in Mathematics after being inducted in Phi Beta Kappa) to pursue a research project titled "Contributing Factors in Children at Risk for Speech/Language Delays." In the course of her and her research partner's work, which was recently presented at the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual convention, more than two hundred children were screened throughout the state, including children in the Head Start program in Northeast Missouri.  Ms. Fitzgerald is also involved in clinical work at the Truman State University Speech and Hearing Clinic as well as with the First Steps program in Northeast Missouri.  Ms. Fitzgerald plans to continue her graduate studies in a doctoral program in Communication Disorders.