#BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors
President
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.
President
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.
Vice President
Christine Metz Howard, Director of Strategic Communications, KU International Affairs
Christine brings to the board nearly 20 years of communication experience. She currently serves as director of strategic communications at KU International Affairs. Starting her career as a journalist, Christine wrote for community newspapers in Colorado and Oregon before moving to Kansas to work for the Lawrence Journal-World in 2007. In 2014, she moved on to higher education and has previously served in communication roles for the KU School of Music and KU News Service. A passionate believer in the power of mentorship, Christine was a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sister Program for more than 10 years. Christine, a Pennsylvania native, loves living in Lawrence and is consistently amazed by its residents’ strong sense of community and commitment to building a better city. In her downtime, Christine enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening and spending time with her husband Cody and five-year-old daughter Julia.
Christine Metz Howard, Director of Strategic Communications, KU International Affairs
Christine brings to the board nearly 20 years of communication experience. She currently serves as director of strategic communications at KU International Affairs. Starting her career as a journalist, Christine wrote for community newspapers in Colorado and Oregon before moving to Kansas to work for the Lawrence Journal-World in 2007. In 2014, she moved on to higher education and has previously served in communication roles for the KU School of Music and KU News Service. A passionate believer in the power of mentorship, Christine was a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sister Program for more than 10 years. Christine, a Pennsylvania native, loves living in Lawrence and is consistently amazed by its residents’ strong sense of community and commitment to building a better city. In her downtime, Christine enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening and spending time with her husband Cody and five-year-old daughter Julia.
Secretary
Shelly Triplett, Development Administrator. Communications and Donor Relations department, KU Endowment
Shelly joined the Lawrence community a few years ago and is becoming more comfortable with her empty nest lifestyle. Shelly was a golfer at the university of Kansas and a member of the Big 8 champion Women’s golf team. She was a stay at home mom for 20 years in Topeka and volunteered for various preschool, elementary and secondary parent roles. She is the mother to son, Lukas, a recent graduate of Missouri State University and daughter, Chessa, also a recent graduate from the University of Kansas. Realizing that much of her free time was spent doing things her family wanted, Shelly has found a desire to give back by volunteering for a charity near to her heart. Losing her best childhood friend to domestic violence has sparked a need to give back in her memory. She is excited for the opportunity to serve on the Be More Like Claire board, looking forward to forming new relationships and hoping to share what she is learning through her current role with KU Endowment as a Development Administrator in the Communications and Donor Relations department.
Shelly Triplett, Development Administrator. Communications and Donor Relations department, KU Endowment
Shelly joined the Lawrence community a few years ago and is becoming more comfortable with her empty nest lifestyle. Shelly was a golfer at the university of Kansas and a member of the Big 8 champion Women’s golf team. She was a stay at home mom for 20 years in Topeka and volunteered for various preschool, elementary and secondary parent roles. She is the mother to son, Lukas, a recent graduate of Missouri State University and daughter, Chessa, also a recent graduate from the University of Kansas. Realizing that much of her free time was spent doing things her family wanted, Shelly has found a desire to give back by volunteering for a charity near to her heart. Losing her best childhood friend to domestic violence has sparked a need to give back in her memory. She is excited for the opportunity to serve on the Be More Like Claire board, looking forward to forming new relationships and hoping to share what she is learning through her current role with KU Endowment as a Development Administrator in the Communications and Donor Relations department.
Treasurer
Ben VanLandingham, Tax Director at Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP
Ben is Claire’s oldest brother. He holds a B.A from Santa Clara University, a MAcc from the University of Kansas, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. During the day, he advises clients on tax planning strategies and at night he avidly watches any televised sporting event he can find. Even cricket. After spending several years in the Bay Area, he wanted to be closer to family and so recently returned to the Midwest to live in St. Louis... and coming soon to Kansas City! Ben joined the #BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors in hopes of continuing his sister’s legacy of community service. He will not, however, continue his sister’s legacy of being a good dancer. You might recognize him as the emcee of our annual fundraiser, the Give Back Bash.
Ben VanLandingham, Tax Director at Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, LLP
Ben is Claire’s oldest brother. He holds a B.A from Santa Clara University, a MAcc from the University of Kansas, and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. During the day, he advises clients on tax planning strategies and at night he avidly watches any televised sporting event he can find. Even cricket. After spending several years in the Bay Area, he wanted to be closer to family and so recently returned to the Midwest to live in St. Louis... and coming soon to Kansas City! Ben joined the #BeMoreLikeClaire Board of Directors in hopes of continuing his sister’s legacy of community service. He will not, however, continue his sister’s legacy of being a good dancer. You might recognize him as the emcee of our annual fundraiser, the Give Back Bash.
Claudia Quigg
National Training Faculty, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Claudia is passionate about children and families and has committed her work to them through education and nonprofit service. Founder of Baby TALK (a nonprofit model now used in over 35 states, serving families of very young children), Claudia has taught Early Childhood Education at Millikin University and written prolifically about families, including 4 published books and a weekly syndicated newspaper column as well as a weekly Illinois NPR segment. She is Shannon’s cousin and loved Claire from the day she was born.
National Training Faculty, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Claudia is passionate about children and families and has committed her work to them through education and nonprofit service. Founder of Baby TALK (a nonprofit model now used in over 35 states, serving families of very young children), Claudia has taught Early Childhood Education at Millikin University and written prolifically about families, including 4 published books and a weekly syndicated newspaper column as well as a weekly Illinois NPR segment. She is Shannon’s cousin and loved Claire from the day she was born.
Whitney Webber
Sales and Marketing Manager for Sports Turf Managers Association
Whitney joins our board with over 8 years of event planning and management experience. She first connected with Shannon during the planning of Claire’s celebration of life services in Lawrence. Whitney felt a strong connection to Shannon and was honored to help support her during that time. She joined the event planning committee for the first annual Give Back Bash and had a blast working with the #BeMoreLikeClaire team planning this fantastic event. Whitney works for the Sports Turf Managers Association as their Sales and Marketing manager and is a proud wife to Aaron and mother to Grace. Previously, Whitney has served on the Board of Directors for the Douglas County AIDS Project and the Cottonwood Salute planning committee.
Sales and Marketing Manager for Sports Turf Managers Association
Whitney joins our board with over 8 years of event planning and management experience. She first connected with Shannon during the planning of Claire’s celebration of life services in Lawrence. Whitney felt a strong connection to Shannon and was honored to help support her during that time. She joined the event planning committee for the first annual Give Back Bash and had a blast working with the #BeMoreLikeClaire team planning this fantastic event. Whitney works for the Sports Turf Managers Association as their Sales and Marketing manager and is a proud wife to Aaron and mother to Grace. Previously, Whitney has served on the Board of Directors for the Douglas County AIDS Project and the Cottonwood Salute planning committee.
Executive Director, Founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
Shannon VanLandingham
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
