Leadership
Letter from the Chair:
This has been a year of transition for many of us including the Missouri Colleges Fund. As a society, we are learning what the world looks like after a pandemic that impacted us so much. Higher education is changing and adapting to students’ needs and desires. And most of us are working with tighter budgets, fewer team members, and higher expectations.
Our President, Susan Stegeman, understands the challenges that face higher education. She has brought new ideas and energy to the organization resulting in an increase in donations this past year to support our member institutions. Missouri Colleges Fund has worked with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) on grants to support the Fund including a STEM matching grant of $16,000 and a $10,000 capacity grant that allowed us to update marketing materials and our website.
We’ve implemented two Show-Me Scholarship Challenge Match campaigns with support from the Council of Independent Colleges. Other highlights include another Capacity grant to develop this new website, the creation of Advancement Roundtables with our member institutions, adding scholarship recipient thank you videos for our donors, providing a way for donors to give online on our website, reducing operational expenses, and having several members attend the Midwest Roundtable on Talent to discuss ideas to better support our institutions and students.
Thank you to the Board for their support and guidance as we work to raise more funds for our Missouri private higher education institutions. We look forward to continuing our mission to acquire resources to help educate students and offer even more scholarships for our future leaders. Thank you to our donors, whose gift strengthens the ability of our member institutions to educate talented students regardless of their financial circumstances. We appreciate your support of the Missouri Colleges Fund.
Sincerely, Kris Lensmeyer
Board Chair
Board of Directors Executive Committee:
Board Chair
Ms. Kris Lensmeyer
Fresh Ideas Food Management
Chair Elect
Mr. Steve Sowers
President, Commerce Bank
Secretary-Treasurer
Dr. Keith Ross
President, Missouri Baptist University
Past Chair
Mr. Ken Theroff
President, Central Bank
Mr. David Disney
Retired, J. E. Dunn Construction
Dr. Roger Drake
President, Central Methodist University
Ms. Louise Hune
Retired, Jefferson City Medical Group
Ms. Susan Stegeman,
CEO, Missouri Colleges Fund
Members:
Mr. Stephen S. Adams, III
Iron Steed Harley Davidson
Dr. Jeff Frederick
Interim President, Drury University
Ms. Stacey Button
President, REDI & Director of Economic Development, City of Columbia
Dr. James Burkee
President, Avila University
Dr. Sandra Cassady
President, Rockhurst University
Mr. David Cliburn
Broker, Wallstreet Group
Mr. Joseph Davies
Vice President, Central Bank of Boone County
Mr. Don Fox
Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Advisors
Mr. Donald Lofe, Jr.
President, Westminster College
Dr. Mark Lombardi
President, Maryville University
Dr. Robert Matz
President, Hannibal-LaGrange University
Dr. Richard Melson
President, Southwest Baptist University
Dr. Jeremy Moreland
President, William Woods University
Ms. Sarah Mullen
Lewis & Rice, LLC
Dr. Stephanie Niles
President, Cottey College
Dr. John Porter
President, Lindenwood University
Dr. David Russell
President, Columbia College
Dr. Lauren Schellenberger
President, Culver-Stockton College
Mr. Shane Smeed
President, Park University
Ms. Susan Chambers
Interim President, William Jewell College
Ms. Marcia Youker
Director of Business Development, J. E. Dunn Construction
Missouri Colleges Fund has established itself as a prominent organization in the state of Missouri due to its unwavering commitment to supporting higher education and creating opportunities for deserving students. The organization works closely with member colleges and universities to support students who may not have the financial means to pursue a college education and provides them with scholarships that help to remove financial barriers and enable them to achieve their academic and career goals.
Through its efforts, Missouri Colleges Fund has become a trusted partner in the community and a leader in providing access to higher education for all. The organization’s strong network of donors and supporters is dedicated to investing in the future of Missouri’s workforce and economy, making it an invaluable asset to the state.
It is evident that Missouri Colleges Fund’s mission is centered around ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their financial situation. By providing scholarships, the organization is helping to bridge the gap between those who have the means to attend college and those who do not. This is a crucial step towards creating a more equitable society, where every individual has an equal chance to succeed.
