Apra Missouri/Kansas Chapter Board of Directors
President
Marissa Todd
Prospect Research Analyst, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Contact
Marissa has been working in non-profit and higher education fundraising for over a decade. Although she has dabbled in prospect development since 2008, she really found her passion for the profession at her first Apra conference in 2014. Since then, Marissa has focused on developing and growing small shops, first in higher education and now at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She is very involved with Apra, serving as president of the Missouri-Kansas Chapter, a member of the Apra Chapters Committee and the 2018 Nominations committee. She has also presented at several conferences and loves to share her passion for prospect development with anyone who will listen.
Marissa earned her BA and JD from the University of Missouri and her MBA from Stephens College. In her free time, Marissa likes to experiment with cooking and wine, devour books and cheer on her favorite sports teams. She also likes to plan adventures with her husband, Michael, and snuggle up on the couch with their cats, Artie and Faurot.
Vice President/Secretary
Julie Craig
Senior Director of Prospect Management & Research, Kansas State University Foundation
Contact
Julie’s career in development launched when she obtained a position supporting development staff at the Kansas State
University Foundation in 2004. The opportunity allowed her to support her alma mater as a recent graduate and to discover an
interest in Prospect Management & Research.
Two years later, she joined the department and became a member of Apra-International. In 2008 Julie and her husband,
Rodney, moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family. She launched the first satellite office for the foundation, and in her spare time,
was able to experience many firsts including mountain hiking, white water rafting, indoor skydiving and zip lining. She worked
remotely for four years before moving back to become Director of Advancement Services at the KSU Foundation. Just six months
after starting her new position, their daughter, Allison, arrived. A couple years later, they welcomed twins, Evelyn & Olivia, to the
family.
Julie and Rodney are high school sweethearts who practiced their parenting skills on beloved dogs, Bandit and Shadow. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, recreational activities and traveling.
Treasurer/Membership Director
Jenna Majzoub
Prospect Management Specialist, Saint Louis University
Contact
Following a career in education, Jenna took a lucky bounce into a second career in the field of advancement research. She has degrees in English and education.
On the rare occasions when her Treeing Walker Coonhound will let her enjoy some peace and quiet, you will find her trying to make some headway on her ever-growing reading list or trying to keep up with the seemingly endless maintenance her 110+ year-old home requires. Otherwise, you can find her taking her dog on walks though their neighborhood, where he has many more friends than she does. She has been roasting her own coffee for over ten years, and she always takes the beans to the “second crack.”
Communications Director
Caitlin Sturgeon
Research Analyst, Washburn University Foundation
Contact
Caitlin was hired as the research analyst at Washburn University Foundation in July 2013. Previously she worked for several
years at the Foundation as a student phonathon caller and student research assistant. She graduated from Washburn in May
2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and history with a minor in women's and gender studies.
From her first day as a professional researcher Washburn made sure she was a member of Apra-International and the local
chapter. Apra allowed Caitlin to quickly learn about the field and gives her the necessary tools to do her job effectively.
Program Director/Conference Chair
Brinkley Cox
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Contact
Brinkley started her passion for research as a History major at Loyola University Chicago where she graduated in 2011. She then moved back to her home town of St. Louis and immersed herself in several non-profits including Opera Theatre Saint Louis, the Missouri History Museum, Humane Society of St. Louis, and Yogabuzz. After two years as an administrative assistant at the Washington University School of Medicine, Brinkley discovered her future career of “behind-the-scenes” fundraising, data management, and prospect research and knew it was the perfect place for an extroverted introvert. In 2015, she found her dream job at the Missouri Botanical Garden working to build the Garden’s first moves management system in an effort to fund environmental missions around the globe.
On her off time Brinkley is a certified yoga teacher, avid runner, and glamp hiker. She finished her first half marathon on October 1st at the MO’ Cowbell Marathon Weekend and continues her challenge to hike all of Missouri’s major state parks with her 10 years young Schipperke, Rudy and Fiancé, Justin. When she’s not out in the woods she’s in the garden of her new home in Crestwood, pulling weeds and trying to get hostas to grow in this ridiculous Missouri weather. Brinkley will next be presenting at the 2017 Blackbaud Conference on pipeline fundraising in October, helping plan the Apra MO/KAN Conference in March 2018, and marrying her best friend in April 2018.
Professional Development Director
Amanda Wagoner
Funding Coordinator, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Contact
Amanda joined The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital team in 2012 as funding coordinator. She offers strategic and thoughtful information in collaboration with gift officers at all levels to identify and engage major gift and planned giving prospects, as well as act as a liaison to concierge services at the Hospital. The Foundation supports patients and research at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish West County, as well as students at the Goldfarb School of Nursing.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. A highlight of her early career was conducting research – and literally getting in the weeds – as a student intern at Organic Gardening magazine. After that, she started her nonprofit career at the Saint Louis Science Center, where she engaged in annual fund letter writing, special donor communications and event support. Her passion for work that changes lives continued at MediaCross, where she focused on research and writing for government campaigns and service for B2B accounts.
Outside of work, Amanda loves to do anything that involves spending time with family, learning or relaxing through traveling, snorkeling, working out, going to the theatre and museum-hopping.
Marissa Todd
Prospect Research Analyst, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Contact
Marissa has been working in non-profit and higher education fundraising for over a decade. Although she has dabbled in prospect development since 2008, she really found her passion for the profession at her first Apra conference in 2014. Since then, Marissa has focused on developing and growing small shops, first in higher education and now at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She is very involved with Apra, serving as president of the Missouri-Kansas Chapter, a member of the Apra Chapters Committee and the 2018 Nominations committee. She has also presented at several conferences and loves to share her passion for prospect development with anyone who will listen.
Marissa earned her BA and JD from the University of Missouri and her MBA from Stephens College. In her free time, Marissa likes to experiment with cooking and wine, devour books and cheer on her favorite sports teams. She also likes to plan adventures with her husband, Michael, and snuggle up on the couch with their cats, Artie and Faurot.
Vice President/Secretary
Julie Craig
Senior Director of Prospect Management & Research, Kansas State University Foundation
Contact
Julie’s career in development launched when she obtained a position supporting development staff at the Kansas State
University Foundation in 2004. The opportunity allowed her to support her alma mater as a recent graduate and to discover an
interest in Prospect Management & Research.
Two years later, she joined the department and became a member of Apra-International. In 2008 Julie and her husband,
Rodney, moved to Charlotte, NC to be near family. She launched the first satellite office for the foundation, and in her spare time,
was able to experience many firsts including mountain hiking, white water rafting, indoor skydiving and zip lining. She worked
remotely for four years before moving back to become Director of Advancement Services at the KSU Foundation. Just six months
after starting her new position, their daughter, Allison, arrived. A couple years later, they welcomed twins, Evelyn & Olivia, to the
family.
Julie and Rodney are high school sweethearts who practiced their parenting skills on beloved dogs, Bandit and Shadow. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, recreational activities and traveling.
Treasurer/Membership Director
Jenna Majzoub
Prospect Management Specialist, Saint Louis University
Contact
Following a career in education, Jenna took a lucky bounce into a second career in the field of advancement research. She has degrees in English and education.
On the rare occasions when her Treeing Walker Coonhound will let her enjoy some peace and quiet, you will find her trying to make some headway on her ever-growing reading list or trying to keep up with the seemingly endless maintenance her 110+ year-old home requires. Otherwise, you can find her taking her dog on walks though their neighborhood, where he has many more friends than she does. She has been roasting her own coffee for over ten years, and she always takes the beans to the “second crack.”
Communications Director
Caitlin Sturgeon
Research Analyst, Washburn University Foundation
Contact
Caitlin was hired as the research analyst at Washburn University Foundation in July 2013. Previously she worked for several
years at the Foundation as a student phonathon caller and student research assistant. She graduated from Washburn in May
2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and history with a minor in women's and gender studies.
From her first day as a professional researcher Washburn made sure she was a member of Apra-International and the local
chapter. Apra allowed Caitlin to quickly learn about the field and gives her the necessary tools to do her job effectively.
Program Director/Conference Chair
Brinkley Cox
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Contact
Brinkley started her passion for research as a History major at Loyola University Chicago where she graduated in 2011. She then moved back to her home town of St. Louis and immersed herself in several non-profits including Opera Theatre Saint Louis, the Missouri History Museum, Humane Society of St. Louis, and Yogabuzz. After two years as an administrative assistant at the Washington University School of Medicine, Brinkley discovered her future career of “behind-the-scenes” fundraising, data management, and prospect research and knew it was the perfect place for an extroverted introvert. In 2015, she found her dream job at the Missouri Botanical Garden working to build the Garden’s first moves management system in an effort to fund environmental missions around the globe.
On her off time Brinkley is a certified yoga teacher, avid runner, and glamp hiker. She finished her first half marathon on October 1st at the MO’ Cowbell Marathon Weekend and continues her challenge to hike all of Missouri’s major state parks with her 10 years young Schipperke, Rudy and Fiancé, Justin. When she’s not out in the woods she’s in the garden of her new home in Crestwood, pulling weeds and trying to get hostas to grow in this ridiculous Missouri weather. Brinkley will next be presenting at the 2017 Blackbaud Conference on pipeline fundraising in October, helping plan the Apra MO/KAN Conference in March 2018, and marrying her best friend in April 2018.
Professional Development Director
Amanda Wagoner
Funding Coordinator, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Contact
Amanda joined The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital team in 2012 as funding coordinator. She offers strategic and thoughtful information in collaboration with gift officers at all levels to identify and engage major gift and planned giving prospects, as well as act as a liaison to concierge services at the Hospital. The Foundation supports patients and research at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish West County, as well as students at the Goldfarb School of Nursing.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. A highlight of her early career was conducting research – and literally getting in the weeds – as a student intern at Organic Gardening magazine. After that, she started her nonprofit career at the Saint Louis Science Center, where she engaged in annual fund letter writing, special donor communications and event support. Her passion for work that changes lives continued at MediaCross, where she focused on research and writing for government campaigns and service for B2B accounts.
Outside of work, Amanda loves to do anything that involves spending time with family, learning or relaxing through traveling, snorkeling, working out, going to the theatre and museum-hopping.
