Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
The Northwest Foundation Inc. has appointed seven new members to its Board of Directors to guide the University’s advancement and increase private support. The new members, who joined the Board in July, are Jenny Burkhead, Jim Davis, Kevin Fullerton, Gina Gruhn, Dr. Nancy Headrick, Dr. Kerry Roe, and Darin Stephens.
The 2024-25 Northwest Foundation Board is led by President Mike Johnson from Kansas City, Missouri; President-Elect Sarah Williams from Gladstone, New Jersey; and Immediate Past President John Smith from Liberty, Missouri.
The Northwest Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that develops and stewards philanthropic resources for the benefit of Northwest Missouri State University and its students. It is governed by a 36-member volunteer board and staffed by members of Northwest’s Office of University Advancement. Board members may serve up to two three-year terms.
Jenny Arthur Burkhead resides in Kansas City, Missouri. She has worked in real estate for over 40 years and is currently a salesperson and broker with Jenny Burkhead Group and Keller Williams. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and office administration at Northwest in 1977. She is active in various organizations including the National Association of Realtors and Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City.
Jim Davis lives in Maryville and has served as chief financial officer and executive vice president at Nodaway Valley Bank since 2000. Originally from King City, Missouri, he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1998 and an MBA in 2000 from Northwest. He participates actively with the local Lions Club and Countryside Christian Church.
Kevin Fullerton resides in Mission, Kansas. He is the owner and creative director of Springboard Creative, a branding studio founded in 2006. Previously an art director at various Kansas City advertising agencies, he also taught as an adjunct professor at the Kansas City Art Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and graphic communications from Northwest (1988).
Gina Gruhn lives in Morristown, New Jersey. She was most recently employed with Optum as senior vice president for strategic partnerships. A native of Osceola, Iowa, she earned her bachelor's degree in finance from Northwest (1993) and an MBA from Baker University (1999). She is active within her parish community.
Dr. Nancy Headrick resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Retired after over 30 years in education roles such as director of Teaching to Lead teacher preparation program with the Southern Regional Education Board, she holds degrees from both Northwest (1978) and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Dr. Kerry Miller Roe lives also resides Kansas City where she works for Scholastic Inc., managing professional learning for the Midwest region after retiring as an elementary school principal with Park Hill School District (2020). She holds multiple degrees including a doctorate from Baker University.
Darin Stephens lives Independence Missouri where he owns Red Brothers Outdoors specializing hunting accessories optics optoelectronics development Previously worked Bushnell Outdoor Products NASA Goddard Space Flight Center He holds bachelor's physics degree obtained North West
For more information about these new board members or about foundation itself visit ### ###
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