2025 Echo 25 Recipients

Growing up as a child of Nigerian immigrants, Ope Amosu personifies the Afro-American crossroads. His upbringing in Houston, Texas, was similar to many of his peers from immigrant families, with heavy doses of Nigerian culture influenced by forces quintessential to the Bayou City. These varied experiences that would eventually drove Ope to cultivate his heritage-driven hospitality venture, ChòpnBlọk.

After high school, Amosu left Houston for Truman State University. The experience was a stark contrast to his hometown, placing him in an economically disadvantaged area miles from the nearest airport and mall. Simultaneously, his parents permanently relocated from Houston back to Nigeria, leaving a significant gap in the Nigerian heritage that had been a huge comfort throughout his life. Despite these challenges, Amosu’s time at Truman proved fruitful, solidifying his passion for business and culminating in a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. However, the experience of being separated from his culture stayed with him.

Amosu began his career at Grimco, Inc., a wholesale sign company based in St. Louis, allowing him to stay close to his college sweetheart and now wife, Janelle, who is from the area. The role later facilitated his return to Houston, enabling him to achieve another goal: graduating from Rice University’s prestigious MBA program. At Rice, he focused on energy and entrepreneurship, deeply engaging with campus life. Upon completing the program, Amosu secured a position in General Electric’s executive leadership development program, which led to a new chapter in Philadelphia—a vibrant city rich in cultural diversity.

As a self-proclaimed “food hobbyist,” Amosu immersed himself in Philadelphia’s vibrant food scene, admiring how various cultures fused traditional cuisines with contemporary flair. This experience sparked a desire to make his West African heritage more accessible to a broader audience. Global work placements further enriched his cultural understanding, and a serendipitous encounter with an Italian street kitchen on January 18, 2017, crystallized his vision for a dining concept unlike any other in the United States, thus ChòpnBlọk—an accessible West African inspired brand—was born. Amosu wasted no time in bringing his idea to life, balancing his corporate career by day with hands-on experience as a Chipotle prep cook by night, honing the skills essential to his entrepreneurial journey.

Rather than open a restaurant right away, Ope prioritized building a strong foundation for ChòpnBlọk’s success. While maintaining his corporate role, he hosted a private dinner series over three years, gathering feedback and data for the concept. Despite lacking a storefront, the concept gained a devoted following, attracting media attention and reinforcing its potential. Nearly four years after his first pop-up dinner, Ope retired from corporate life to focus solely on opening the restaurant’s first storefront in POST, Houston’s food court, in November 2021 followed by its first brick-and-mortar location in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood in October 2024. Serving as the architect of the brand’s rapid expansion, Ope is a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist—earning an “Emerging Chef” nomination in 2024 followed by a “Best Chef: Texas” nomination in 2025—as well as a member of the 2025-2026 TasteTwenty lineup, which serves as JBF’s annual selection of “ones to watch” in the industry. He is the founder of Chopd & Stewd Festival as well as a rising culinarian with features spanning  Bravo TV’s Top Chef, The New York Times, The New Yorker,  Food & Wine, PBS’ No Passport Required, Hulu’s Taste The Nation and more.

Michael graduated from Truman State summa cum laude in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He then moved to Washington, DC, where he obtained a master’s degree in government and began his career in politics. After a year on Capitol Hill, he spent the next decade as a political and election analyst at a consulting firm called Blue Compass Strategies, where he helped Democratic-affiliated issue-advocacy groups navigate the ever-changing terrain of both federal and state politics. In 2023, he additionally began freelance writing for an online publication called the Liberal Patriot, and last year, he joined them full-time as their Chief Political Analyst. Michael is a Kansas City native and currently living in Atlanta with his fiancée, Meagan.

Renee Baharaeen is a producer for CNN’s Special Events Programming unit. During her eight years in journalism, she has been a part of the team that produces some of the biggest events for the network including town hall, debate, and election coverage. Prior to her time at CNN, she served as a Staff Assistant and Coordinator at the White House. She is originally from Kansas City, MO.

Brittany Beck is an educator, researcher, and program leader who has taught AP Biology, Biology, and Student Government in New York City public schools for fifteen years, fourteen of them at a large Brooklyn high school where she also serves as Coordinator of Student Activities.

Her honors include New York Academy of Sciences’ inaugural STEM Teacher of the Year (2025), Math for America Master Teacher Fellow (2015–present), a TERC Climate Change and Equity Education Fellow (2025), a Scientist in Residence Teacher Mentor (2021-present), New York State Master Teacher (2020–2023), FLAG Teaching Award finalist (2023) and semifinalist (2022), and NYC Big Apple Teaching Award finalist (2017, 2018). She was also a Decision Education Fellow (2022–2024), Evolution Education Fellow at the University of Virginia (2018–2021), and a Fulbright Japan Teacher Exchange participant in Hawaii, Japan, and Maine (2019, 2022, 2023).

As a Teacher Leader with New Visions for Public Schools since 2017, she helped write the high school biology curriculum adopted by more than 400 NYC schools beginning in 2024–25. Beck has advised student-led research on microplastics, hydroponics, evolutionary biology, and climate change, presenting with her students at local, state, national, and international conferences for over a decade.

Originally from Pleasant Hill, Missouri, she earned a B.S. in Biology in 2009 and an M.A. in Education in 2010 from Truman State University, later completing coursework for a Master of Public Affairs at Indiana University. While at Truman, Beck was involved in science clubs and worked at Washington Street Java Co; her fondest Truman memories involve her membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha and being the Teaching Assistant for Dr. Victor Hoffman’s Organic Chemistry labs, which she credits as being the reason she fell in love with teaching science.

Katherine (Vest) Beeman is the Director of Archives at the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Curator of the Old Ursuline Convent Museum. She attended Truman
State University starting in the fall of 2013 and was a member of the Student Activities Board (SAB) and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Katie graduated from Truman in the spring of 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in history. She went on to get her master’s degree in public history at the University of New Orleans. She has worked as an Archivist since 2017, became a Certified Archivist in 2020, served as president of the Greater New Orleans Archivist Society, and has presented on numerous panels and at conferences.

Carter Datz (class of 2018) is a passionate music educator, composer, arranger, producer, and performer. He grew up and was educated in Columbia, Missouri, where he studied piano and trombone, among many other instruments. At Truman State University, he earned his B.A. in Music Composition, his M.A. in Choral Conducting, and his M.A. in Music Education. Since then, his award-winning compositions and arrangements have been performed all over the world, including his piece “Love Takes Work” published by Hal Leonard. Carter is currently employed as the choir director at Wentzville Liberty High School in Lake St. Louis. He enjoys writing music with and for his incredible students. In his free time, he enjoys traveling internationally, singing in the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and playing Lego Star Wars with his beautiful wife Josephine, who he met at Truman.

Danny D’Nagy is a manager at Raymond James Renewable Energy Investments, where he focus on structuring renewable energy tax equity and preferred equity transactions. His team specializes in utilityscale and distributed generation opportunities across solar, wind, battery storage, and renewable natural gas. Since inception, they’ve closed over $500 million in tax equity deals with institutional partners.

Prior to Raymond James, he was the first employee at TReK Capital Partners, helping to build and scale its tax credit syndication platform before the team joined Raymond James. From 2021 to 2023, he worked on Wolfe Research’s Institutional Investor-ranked Housing & Building Products equity research team. He holds a BS in Accounting and Finance from Truman State University and is a CFA charterholder.

Outside of work, he is probably one of the best foosball players you’ll ever meet — and one of the worst golfers. Long-term, he hopes to connect with like-minded partners to launch a business of his own.

Ashim is a Software Engineer II at American Specialty Health, where he develops accessible digital health and wellness software solutions. Originally from Nepal, he moved to the United States in 2017 as an international student to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Truman State University, graduating in 2020. He later earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Trine University in Indiana in 2025. Ashim works remotely and has called Kirksville home for the past eight years.

Robert Gayden (’12) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BrightStar Care of Greater

Waukesha & Lake County, as well as the Founder, Managing Member, and President of Gayden Capital, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. At BrightStar Care, he leads the organization’s strategy and operations, providing high-quality home care services throughout Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Through Gayden Capital, Mr. Gayden leads the firm’s efforts in deal sourcing, due diligence, capital raising, and investment policy. Before founding and leading Gayden Capital, he began his career in banking at the St. Louis and Kansas City offices of Commerce Bank.

Mr. Gayden holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Truman State University, where he was the senior captain of the varsity football team and earned All-Conference Honors as a defensive back.

He also received his MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, where he served as the President of the Black Business Association. During his time in business school, Mr. Gayden was also a Robert Toigo Fellow.

Robert currently serves as a Board Director for the Truman State University Foundation and is a member of the Investment Committee.

In his spare time, he enjoys staying active and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Gayden is passionate about giving back to his community through philanthropic endeavors pertaining to education, human and civil rights, and the arts.

Mr. Gayden lives in the West Loop of Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Dr. Alexis Warren.

Priya Gearin grew up in Peoria, IL and graduated from Truman State in 2014 where she met her husband, Conor. She completed medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, psychiatry residency at Harvard South Shore in Massachusetts, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Brown University. She currently lives in Omaha and has been an assistant professor and attending child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since 2023. She enjoys running, being outdoors, and playing with her son, and she and Conor are excited to welcome their second child later this year.

Kelly Gorman is a corporate attorney at Lewis Rice in St. Louis, Missouri. As Practice Group Leader for the Employee Benefits Practice Group, Kelly advises clients on qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, fringe benefit plans, and executive compensation arrangements—from plan design and qualification to administration and termination. Kelly was selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch in America for 2021-2026. 

Prior to joining Lewis Rice, Kelly was a judicial intern for the Honorable E. Richard Webber, a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Kelly attended the University of Missouri Law School, where she was the Associate Editor of the Missouri Law Review and elected to membership in the Order of the Coif.

Kelly graduated from Truman in 2012 with a degree in Sociology/Anthropology. She received the President’s Distinguished Leader Award and was chosen to be the Honors Convocation Student Speaker. While at Truman, Kelly was a member of Sigma Kappa, the Student Activities Board, and the Homecoming Committee.

Ashleigh Harding (’18, ’22) is the Director of Student Success at Truman State University and a current doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership at Maryville University. She holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English from Truman.

In her role, Ashleigh oversees the Center for Academic Excellence, leading retention-based initiatives and advancing innovative student success programs. She has been instrumental in creating Truman’s Embedded Tutoring Program, expanding the Bounce Back Program, and the Bulldog Scholars Program—initiatives designed to help students strengthen academic skills, recover from setbacks, and build supportive communities on campus.

Ashleigh’s career has centered on promoting access to higher education through her work with college access programs such as TRIO Upward Bound and McNair Scholars Program, College Bound in St. Louis, as well as through her experience as an admission counselor and academic advisor at Truman.

Passionate about removing barriers to education, Ashleigh is committed to providing opportunities for students and ensuring that all students are supported as they explore their interests, grow as independent adults, and prepare for graduation and meaningful careers.

Blake Hernton | Concert Black

Violinist · Violist · Composer · Conductor

Blake Hernton, professionally known as Concert Black, is a concert violinist/violist, composer, and conductor from Black Jack, Missouri (North County St. Louis). A graduate of Truman State University, he holds a Bachelor of Music (2014) and a Master of Arts in Education (2016). With a foundation in string pedagogy since the age of 10, Hernton is widely recognized across the St. Louis area for his dual career as an accomplished performer and a dedicated music educator.

Hernton currently serves as Director of Orchestras at Ritenour High School in Overland, Missouri, where he is committed to providing equitable access to music education for students from underserved communities. His teaching philosophy centers on empowering youth through diverse musical experiences, blending classical foundations with contemporary relevance.

As a performer and collaborator, Hernton has contributed to numerous projects throughout the St. Louis music scene, offering background strings for local artists and appearing with renowned ensembles such as the Ophelia String Quartet and the BLCKBird String Quartet. He is co-founder of the Neo Philharmonic Orchestra and serves on the board of the Gateway Festival Orchestra. His performances span prestigious venues and festivals including Music at the Intersection, City Winery, The Dark Room, and The Sheldon Concert Hall.

Hernton’s compositions reflect his genre-crossing approach, weaving together Classical, Neo-Soul, Gospel, and Hip-Hop. His 2020 EP Concert Black launched a series of commissions, including works featured by Chamber Project St. Louis in their 2022 “Groove” concert and 2024’s Heir: Inheriting the Future at Washington University. In 2023, he was selected for the Mostly Modern Music Festival in Saratoga Springs, and in 2025, his original opera Black Coffee premiered through Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’s New Works Collective.

Whether in the classroom or on stage, Blake Hernton is a passionate force for musical expression, cultural dialogue, and artistic excellence. His work continues to uplift and inspire, offering a vital contribution to the artistic and educational fabric of St. Louis and beyond.

With over 10 years of professional sports experience, Angel McGee has built a diverse background in community outreach, project management, communications, civic & social impact, and strategic partnerships including nonprofit organizations. She currently serves as the People & Community Engagement Lead at ProAthlete managing the company’s employee experience, DE&I, and community engagement efforts.

Angel began her sports career with the Kansas City Royals in 2013 as a Mascot Assistant and also worked part-time as a member of the Game Crew. During her time with the Royals, she worked in the Event Presentation & Production department as well as with the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy before transitioning to Manager of Community Partnerships & Events in 2021. Simultaneously, she worked with the Kansas City Chiefs as a Play 60 Youth Outreach Guide and Play 60 School Assembly host. She has also served as a Field Coordinator with the Chiefs’ Game Entertainment department since 2014.

In 2022, she became the Director of Club Relations for the Players Alliance, an organization founded in 2020 by Black players in Major League Baseball with the mission to address baseball’s systematic equity and inclusion barriers, overseeing all communications, events, initiatives and programs with 30 MLB club partners before transitioning to her full-time role at ProAthlete. During this tenure, she helped raise over $1.4 million in player-led donations through the Jackie Robinson Gameday Pay initiative that directly supported youth programming across the country.

Her passion for advocating and promoting representation, especially for Black & brown youth, remains rooted in the Kansas City community through her roles in serving on various community and civic boards including Teach for America Kansas City, WIN for KC, Youth Guidance, PREPKC, Parade of Hearts and as Chair of the Community Advisory Committee for the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation.

A 2012 graduate of Truman State University, Angel received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications with emphasis in journalism and also minored in Spanish.  She currently resides in Lee’s Summit, Mo with her daughter, Leila.

Corey Moon is an Associate Circuit Judge in Missouri’s 2^nd Judicial Circuit and serves as a Captain in the Missouri Army National Guard. He is a leader in many professional and community organizations and committees. Moon previously served as the elected prosecuting attorney of Knox County, assistant prosecuting attorney in Lewis and Macon Counties, and as a general practice trial attorney with The Benson Law Firm, LLC, De Coster Law, LLC, and The Meisner Law Firm, LLC. He graduated from Truman State University in 2011, earning a bachelor’s degree in justice systems and political science. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2014. He is from Canton, Missouri. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, including wife, Leslie, and daughter, Bria.

After graduating with a degree in Health Science in 2012, Jenny earned her Master of Science in Anesthesia at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She began her career as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, MO. As an anesthetist at a Level I Trauma Center and a member of the cardiothoracic team, Jenny provided anesthetic care for a wide range of patients and procedures, from pediatrics to open-heart surgery.

After relocating to the Kansas City area, Jenny joined the faculty at UMKC as an adjunct professor. In 2024, she was appointed Director of Didactic Education for the Master of Science in Anesthesia program at UMKC. She also continues to practice clinically as a CAA at Liberty Hospital and Saint Luke’s Health System.

Jenny is an active member of both state and national CAA organizations and serves as a board member of the Miss Missouri Organization. Jenny also enjoys photography and videography, occasionally capturing weddings or events for friends and family. She resides in Overland Park, KS, with her husband, John (’11), and their daughter.

Sarah Schlafly is a serial entrepreneur making waves in the sustainable food industry. She is the founder of Mighty Cricket, a company that transforms crickets into a sustainable and nutritionally-dense protein powder. After successfully securing $1 million in funding, Mighty Cricket is now at the forefront of the edible insect industry, pioneering new research and product development. In addition to her work in the food sector, Sarah also operates companies in the HVAC and legal services industries. She excels at operations and efficiency – scaling small companies into highly profitable businesses poised for exit.

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Dr. Renee Stites Kruep is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Literacy and English Education in the Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum at the University of Missouri. She is grateful for her formative years at Truman State University, where she earned a BA in English (2009), an MA in Secondary English Education (2010), and later returned to complete an MA in English (2016). She went on to earn her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Louis University in 2020.

At the University of Missouri, Renee teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in disciplinary literacy, English teacher education, teacher research, and literacy teacher leadership. She is also doctoral faculty in the Doctor of Education in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum program. She serves as a professional learning consultant for the Linking Science, Math, and Literacy for All Learners SEPA grant, supporting middle school teachers nationwide in disciplinary literacy and argumentation pedagogy. In addition, she collaborates with school districts as a content expert for interdisciplinary study groups.

Her professional service includes serving as a National Writing Project Consultant, a member of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for Young People’s Literature Committee, and a reviewer for several publications and awards from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE. She is also a University of Missouri Learning & Expanding Abilities for Professoriate Fellow. Her scholarship on teacher professional learning, disciplinary literacy, and cultivating communities of readers appears in The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, The ALAN Review, as well as in book chapters and presentations at national conferences including NCTE and AERA.

Renee credits the brilliant and supportive Truman faculty—including Dr. Barbara Price, Dr. Wendy Miner, Dr. Priscilla Riggle, Dr. Paul Yoder, and Dr. Sarah Moehler—for shaping both her career as a middle and high school teacher and her current work as a teacher educator. From them she learned that learning is most meaningful when it embraces the spirit of the liberal arts and sciences by challenging boundaries through joyful and engaging inquiry.

As a student at Truman, Renee served as president of the National Education Association Student Program, representing Missouri at the 2010 national conference. She was vice president of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a Writing Center Consultant, and a teaching assistant in Susan Hazen’s gifted classroom at Kirksville Middle School. These experiences were instrumental in helping her discover her passion for teaching and remain impactful in her work today.

Walter Stokely is an attorney currently practicing as the District Defender of the Kansas City Children’s Defense Team, an office within Missouri State Public Defender system. Walter’s office defends young persons accused of delinquencies in several counties in the Kansas City area. They also defend certification hearings, fighting to keep children in the juvenile system, rather than standing trial in the punitive adult criminal system.

Walter graduated from Truman in 2009 with a B.A. in Theatre, and went on to attend law school at the University of Missouri – Columbia, graduating there in 2012. Prior to the Children’s Defense Team, he worked with the Public Defender’s Jefferson City and Kansas City trial offices. He has first chaired over twenty jury trials in addition to countless bench trials and other contested hearings.

Walter lives in Kansas City, MO with his wife Kristin Stokely (previously Kristin Michael), who is also a Truman grad (B.A., Psychology, 2008), and their two children, Millicent and Corbin. They enjoy Kansas City sports, and spending time outdoors.

Allyson Summers, MPA, is a relationship builder, strategist, and lifelong learner dedicated to making philanthropy more personal, equitable, and effective. She currently serves as a Development Director at KU Endowment, where she aligns donor passions with transformative initiatives in medical education, research, and healthcare access.

Allyson holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, with a focus on fundraising and healthcare, and a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University. She brings a blend of practical expertise and values-driven leadership to every role she undertakes.

A proud Kansas Citian, Allyson is currently the Community Leadership Chair in the Centurions Leadership Program sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. After serving for 18 months as part of a two-year commitment, she has explored Kansas City’s complex issues, including housing, transportation, mental health, and sustainability, through immersive learning and service. Her exceptional leadership in the program earned her recognition as a member of the Centurions’ Club 40.

Allyson actively participates in the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, where she serves on both the strategic planning and fundraising committees. Her leadership roles include chairing community-focused initiatives and contributing to key committees focused on education, fundraising, and member engagement. She also served on the board and executive committee of The Bacchus Foundation, one of Kansas City’s oldest charitable organizations for young professionals.

Certified in nonprofit fundraising and executive leadership, Allyson is committed to supporting organizations and causes that prioritize equity, innovation, and service. Outside of work, she enjoys staying connected to her community and embracing her sense of adventure. She volunteers regularly, spends time with her senior boxer, Rolla, and recently joined Driving Pursuits, a women’s golf leadership program that combines networking, wellness, and fun on the course.

Josh Waymire is in his thirteenth year as Director of Bands at Valley High School. His current responsibilities include conducting the Valley Symphony Band, Marchmasters, teaching 9th-12th grade lessons, coaching chamber ensembles, teaching AP Music Theory, and serving as Music Department Lead. Prior to starting at Valley, Mr. Waymire taught in Pleasant Hope, Missouri for two years.

Mr. Waymire’s students consistently earn recognition, including selection to honor bands, best of center awards, and selections to the Iowa All State Band and Orchestra. His ensembles have received numerous division I ratings at state and local festivals. Additionally, ensembles under his direction have been selected to participate in wind band festivals at multiple colleges and universities, and have been consistently invited to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference.  In 2023, the Valley Bands were recognized as a Blue Ribbon Program by the North Central Division of the National Band Association, recognizing their comprehensive success across all areas of the program. In 2024, Mr. Waymire was recognized by Williams College with their Olmsted Award for Excellence in Secondary Teaching, following a nomination from a former student.

Mr. Waymire is an active member of SCIBA, IBA, the National Band Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda. He lives in West Des Moines with his wife Becca, and their children, Everett, Elliott, and Diana.

Naomi Williams, CHES® (she/they) is a Senior Public Health Program Specialist at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Since 2023, she has served as the outreach coordinator for the Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology and the health educator for the Get the Lead Out of Schools (GLOS) program and a HUD Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) capacity building grant. She also works on Missouri’s Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education (CSPECE) program.

They have planned and executed several wide-scale events for the department, including the annual Get Outdoors Day and fish fry. Recently, they attended the 3-day Breakthrough Leadership program for the State of Missouri.

Naomi grew up in St. Helens, Oregon and came to Truman as a first-generation college student. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and minored in Disability Studies and Psychology. She is currently attending A.T. Still University, pursuing her MPH after receiving her Public Health Workforce Preparedness certificate.

Naomi currently lives in Jefferson City, MO with her two cats, Juniper and Clementine. They enjoy baking, tea, makeup and skincare, thrifting, reading, traveling, attending concerts, documentaries, trying new restaurants, and catching up on their favorite podcasts in their spare time. She credits her professors in the Health Science program for preparing her for a career in state government and continuing her public health studies.

Alex Witt is the Senior Advisor for Accountability Campaigns at Climate Power, where she leads efforts to expose and challenge opponents of climate action. A seasoned strategist with over a decade of experience, Alex has managed major campaigns, shaped national narratives, and guided rapid-response efforts at the highest levels of politics. A Missouri native, she served as campaign manager for Trudy Busch Valentine’s U.S. Senate race and as Chief of Staff for Media and Messaging on Senator Cory Booker’s presidential campaign. Her career also includes senior roles with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Governor Ralph Northam’s Virginia gubernatorial campaign, Secretary Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential race, and the Democratic National Committee. Alex holds degrees from Truman State University and the London School of Economics and is passionate about building innovative campaigns that connect policy to people’s lives.

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