Vicki Boyd-Kennedy
Academic Advisor
boydkennedyv@missouri.edu

Hometown: Bellevue, Nebraska

 

Education:

BS Geography, Kansas State University

MS Geography & MS Agronomy, University of Nebraska

 

What is your favorite place on campus? The Quad: It’s the heart of the campus, and I love being surrounded by beautiful architecture.

 

What is your favorite free time activity? Hanging out and practicing Spanish with my friends. Se habla Español?

Kathleen Kerr
Academic Advisor
kerrk@missouri.edu

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin

 

Education:

BA Philosophy, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
MA Magazine Journalism, University of Missouri

 

What is your favorite Place on Campus? Peace Park

 

What was the most interesting class you have taken? My senior capstone class for philosophy. Besides reading great thinkers, we also were required to engage in service learning at the Dorothy Day House, a soup kitchen and shelter, in Rochester, Minnesota.  Based on that experience, I chose to do a volunteer movement for a year after college.

 

Emily Logan
Academic Advisor
LoganEN@missouri.edu

Hometown: Linn, Missouri

 

Education:

BS Psychology, Missouri State
MS Student Affairs in Higher Education, Missouri State

 

What is your favorite place on campus? The Quad – it’s such a beautiful spot and it really makes me feel the spirit of the campus.

 

What was the most interesting class you took? Abnormal Psychology. I was fascinated by the topic. I genuinely enjoyed reading my textbook for class. My instructor worked in the field and really took a hands-on approach to the topic by exploring various scenarios and brainstorming ideas with us. While the class was not easy by any means, I loved it and it really helped me decide that I wanted to major in Psychology.

Rachael Orr
Senior Academic Advisor
cobbr@missouri.edu

Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri

 

Education:

BA Biology

MA Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis

 

If you had changed your major, what would you have chosen? I would not change my major, but instead my degree plan. I would change from a Bachelor of Arts in Biology to a Bachelor of Science and taken more math and chemistry courses.

 

What was the most interesting class you have taken? I took a geology course at the local community college as a sophomore that was challenging and fascinating. That course is the reason I changed my major from Music Education to Biology.

Pete Ozias
Academic Advisor
oziasj@missouri.edu

Hometown: Fly brat… Ohio, Alabama, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Missouri

 

Education:

BS Sociology, University of Central Missouri
MA Sociology, University of Central Missouri
EdS Counseling, University of Central Missouri

What is your favorite place on campus? Memorial Union, dig the Gargoyles & admire the sacrifice of my Grandfather’s generation.

 

What was the most interesting class you took? History of Social Thought.

 

Jennifer Schaffer
Academic Advisor
schafferjm@missouri.edu

Hometown: Fairmont, Minnesota

 

Education:

BA Journalism and Political Science, Iowa State University
MA Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

If you had changed your major, what would you have chosen? Environmental Studies

 

What was the most interesting class you have taken? In my Freshman Composition class we read works of African-American literature. When I signed up for the course I had no idea what the topic was. While this might not have been my first choice, I really, really enjoyed the course. I think there were two reasons the course was so compelling. First, I was introduced to works in literature that I had never read before and these books in particular focused on the slave experience that taught me so much. Second, the instructor was fantastic. He was not only really knowledgeable about the works we were reading, but he also really knew how to engage students in discussion and he treated us each as adults, which was really empowering for a first-semester freshman.

Justin "Shep" Shepherd
Academic Advisor
shepherdj@missouri.edu

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

 

Education:

BA Communication, University of Missouri
MEd Higher Education Administration, Texas Tech University

 

What is your favorite place on campus? The Quad.

 

What was the most interesting class you took? History 2220 here at Mizzou - America in the 1960s with Dr. Robert Collins (you can still take it!).

Joshua Smith
Academic Advisor
smithjos@missouri.edu

Hometown: St. Peters, Missouri

 

Education:

BS Justice Systems, Truman State
MS Counseling, Missouri State

 

What is your favorite free time activity? Hiking with my dog.

 

If you had changed your major, what would you have chosen? I love the educational experience I had, but the more I look back the more I wish I would have majored in Philosophy as many academic interests I have now seem to ultimately lead me back to big thinkers. It seems like a major that would have given me excellent preparation for a whole host of post-bachelor study. 

Kibby Smith
Academic Advisor
smithkib@missouri.edu

Hometown: Joplin, Missouri

 

Education:

BA English, Drury University
MEd International Teaching, Framingham State University

 

If you had changed your major, what would you have chosen? I would not have changed my major. My English major prepared me to think critically and to write clearly. In addition, I enjoyed it!

 

What was the most interesting class you have taken? I don’t remember the title of the class, but it was an English class. We read personal essays by James Baldwin, George Orwell, Woody Allen, and many other writers. This was an introduction to what is now my favorite genre: creative nonfiction.

Donna Vega
Academic Advisor
vegad@missouri.edu

Hometown: Glasgow, Missouri

 

Education:

BS Education, BGS with emphasis in History & English

 

What is your favorite place to eat in Columbia?  My favorite places to eat in Columbia are Billiards for the best burgers in town, CJ’s when I’m craving some wings, and Flat Branch for anything else.

 

If you had changed your major, what would you have chosen?   I am fascinated by people and culture, so Sociology has always interested me.

Susan McKenzie
Office Support Staff

Hometown:  Moberly, Missouri

 

Education:  Moberly Areal Community College

 

What is your favorite place on campus? Outside, anytime during spring or Summer Welcome.  The new incoming freshmen are so excited to break free and grow and you can see it in them.  The seasoned students are so cool when they’re cheering on Mizzou!  Everyone’s united and it feels great to see everyone smiling and cheering on our athletes together!  All that Black and Gold is priceless!

 

What is your favorite free time activity? I love to get out and walk, ride bikes, swim but my favorite free time activity is being with my family.  2 new grandbaby’s, both boys at 2 years old!  Family reunions, family dinners, anytime I can be with people I love!