#BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors
President
Rebecca Gant, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Intern Minister, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, KCMO
Rebecca brings a diverse set of skills to our Board. She has experience in strategic planning, mission and vision work, leadership development, board management, budgeting and group facilitation. She is a good writer and can see through the clutter and get to the point. She has been a teacher, challenge course facilitator, Girl Scout camp director, church board president and volunteer, and is currently studying to be a Unitarian Universalist minister at Meadville Lombard in Chicago where she will graduate with her M.Div. in May of 2020. Her no-nonsense strength is paired well with her kind and giving heart.
President
Rebecca Gant, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Intern Minister, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, KCMO
Rebecca brings a diverse set of skills to our Board. She has experience in strategic planning, mission and vision work, leadership development, board management, budgeting and group facilitation. She is a good writer and can see through the clutter and get to the point. She has been a teacher, challenge course facilitator, Girl Scout camp director, church board president and volunteer, and is currently studying to be a Unitarian Universalist minister at Meadville Lombard in Chicago where she will graduate with her M.Div. in May of 2020. Her no-nonsense strength is paired well with her kind and giving heart.
Vice President
Jennifer Shewmake, Special Initiatives Team Leader for the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
For the past 20 years, Jennifer has managed projects in the areas of crime victim assistance, youth life skills/work readiness training, and public health, primarily focused on children and families from underserved populations. For the past 8 years she has served as the Special Initiatives Team Leader for the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center. Prior to this, she worked for several local and national non profit organizations from Houston, TX to Washington, DC., in addition Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont where she served as the Global Social Enterprise Manager and staff representative to the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Board … and, of course, learned to love New York Super Fudge Chunk!
Jennifer Shewmake, Special Initiatives Team Leader for the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
For the past 20 years, Jennifer has managed projects in the areas of crime victim assistance, youth life skills/work readiness training, and public health, primarily focused on children and families from underserved populations. For the past 8 years she has served as the Special Initiatives Team Leader for the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center. Prior to this, she worked for several local and national non profit organizations from Houston, TX to Washington, DC., in addition Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont where she served as the Global Social Enterprise Manager and staff representative to the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Board … and, of course, learned to love New York Super Fudge Chunk!
Secretary
Audra Fullerton, Director of the Peaceful Families Program, Topeka Correctional Facility
Audra is a trained musician with experience as a professional musician and music educator. She has 15 years of non-profit management experience in areas of performing arts management and domestic violence public education and outreach. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, justice for incarcerated peoples, and Waldorf education. She is currently the Director of the Peaceful Families Program, a trauma-recovery and violence reduction class provided by the Family Peace Initiative at the Topeka Correctional Facility (Kansas’ only state prison that houses women). She appears periodically in Shannon’s basement karaoke lounge.
Audra Fullerton, Director of the Peaceful Families Program, Topeka Correctional Facility
Audra is a trained musician with experience as a professional musician and music educator. She has 15 years of non-profit management experience in areas of performing arts management and domestic violence public education and outreach. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, justice for incarcerated peoples, and Waldorf education. She is currently the Director of the Peaceful Families Program, a trauma-recovery and violence reduction class provided by the Family Peace Initiative at the Topeka Correctional Facility (Kansas’ only state prison that houses women). She appears periodically in Shannon’s basement karaoke lounge.
Treasurer
Kim Booth, Business Manager for International Programs, KU
Kim has worked in various management and accounting roles at the University of Kansas for the past 27 years, currently serving as the Business Manager for International Programs. She has also had leadership and volunteer positions at Plymouth Congregational Church, Douglas County Head Start, Special Olympics, Douglas County Extension, Douglas County Red Cross, and has walked in the Komen Foundation 3 Day walk for 10 years to raise funds for breast cancer research. Kim enjoys hanging out with friends and was recently surprised to enjoy camping in “Millie,” her new camper.
Kim Booth, Business Manager for International Programs, KU
Kim has worked in various management and accounting roles at the University of Kansas for the past 27 years, currently serving as the Business Manager for International Programs. She has also had leadership and volunteer positions at Plymouth Congregational Church, Douglas County Head Start, Special Olympics, Douglas County Extension, Douglas County Red Cross, and has walked in the Komen Foundation 3 Day walk for 10 years to raise funds for breast cancer research. Kim enjoys hanging out with friends and was recently surprised to enjoy camping in “Millie,” her new camper.
Members At Large
Suzanne McAlister
Suzanne has worked in account management and project and program management for over 20 years. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the Provost at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she is also the secretary of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee and the Higher Learning Commission Re-Accreditation Steering Committee. Suzanne is passionate about civil and social justice, women’s rights, and advocating for the LBGTQ community. Suzanne loves to make soap and candles when she’s not holding her black and tan miniature dachshund, Pearl.
Suzanne has worked in account management and project and program management for over 20 years. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the Provost at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she is also the secretary of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee and the Higher Learning Commission Re-Accreditation Steering Committee. Suzanne is passionate about civil and social justice, women’s rights, and advocating for the LBGTQ community. Suzanne loves to make soap and candles when she’s not holding her black and tan miniature dachshund, Pearl.
Darcey Soto
Darcey brings her education in social welfare (BSW and MSW degrees) and twenty five years of professional and volunteer experience to our board. Working primarily with children and families as a case manager, parenting skills educator and advocate. As a stay at home mom to three great kids, Darcey has had the privilege of serving the Lawrence community in a volunteer capacity for nearly 20 years. She has served as a board member with the Lawrence Schools Foundation (8 yrs), Ten thousand Villages (4 yrs.) and The Lawrence Police Foundation (2 yrs). She also operated a successful eBay resale business for several years and renovated (“flipped”) eight homes. She loves reading, writing and listening to music and attending concerts. At the request of everyone who has ever heard her sing, she will not be bringing her vocal “talents” to Shannon’s Basement Karaoke Lounge.
Darcey brings her education in social welfare (BSW and MSW degrees) and twenty five years of professional and volunteer experience to our board. Working primarily with children and families as a case manager, parenting skills educator and advocate. As a stay at home mom to three great kids, Darcey has had the privilege of serving the Lawrence community in a volunteer capacity for nearly 20 years. She has served as a board member with the Lawrence Schools Foundation (8 yrs), Ten thousand Villages (4 yrs.) and The Lawrence Police Foundation (2 yrs). She also operated a successful eBay resale business for several years and renovated (“flipped”) eight homes. She loves reading, writing and listening to music and attending concerts. At the request of everyone who has ever heard her sing, she will not be bringing her vocal “talents” to Shannon’s Basement Karaoke Lounge.
Executive Director, Founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in being a leader and developing future leaders as a non-profit volunteer. Along the way, she has served as a leader, trainer, facilitator, and educator while organizing programming, planning events, and developing expertise in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family, music, friends, wine, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue Claire’s legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in being a leader and developing future leaders as a non-profit volunteer. Along the way, she has served as a leader, trainer, facilitator, and educator while organizing programming, planning events, and developing expertise in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family, music, friends, wine, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue Claire’s legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.