Reynolds College Blog

Criminology graduate advocates for justice and community

by

When Haley O’Brien first visited Missouri State University in fall 2020, she knew she had found her home.

“I grew up in Marion, Iowa, but I knew I wanted to study out of state,” she said. “When I walked onto [the Missouri State] campus, I fell in love with the environment.

“The handwritten acceptance letter I received also made me feel like I was more than just a number here,” she added. “It felt like a community.”

And so, from the middle of Iowa to MSU, O’Brien has spent the past four years carving out her path in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Her passion for advocacy and restorative justice, combined with her education at MSU, shaped O’Brien’s journey. She now feels equipped to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

O’Brien graduated in December 2024 with a degree in criminology, a minor in sociology and certificates in victim advocacy, criminal courts and family and juvenile support services.

[Read more…] about Criminology graduate advocates for justice and community

From nurse to advocate

by

With a new degree in hand and a passion for change, Missouri State University alumna Cheri Montgomery is committed to improving accessibility and empowering people with disabilities.

Spurred on by her desire to advocate for the disabled community, Montgomery enrolled in MSU’s master’s program in communication in 2022 and graduated in spring 2024.

Montgomery had previously worked as a nurse specializing in special needs/disabled pediatrics for about 20 years, but she could not continue and decided to pursue graduate studies instead.

“I had to stop working as a nurse because my condition changed from walking to needing a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery cited high-performing students, a convenient location, affordability and the institution’s commitment to quality education as factors influencing her choice to attend.

Also, having children who graduated from MSU made her a longstanding supporter of the university.

Commitment to inclusion

Since graduating in the spring, Montgomery has dedicated herself to advocating for people with disabilities.

“My history is with pediatric disability, so I’m staying committed to advocating for an inclusive society,” Montgomery said. “There are no reasons for anyone to be left behind.”

Photo of Cheri Montgomery
Cheri Montgomery

Currently, she works with Rides 4 Ability, a company that provides non-emergency transportation for those with or without disabilities, particularly in rural areas. The organization serves people of all ages, helping them get to medical appointments, meetings, grocery stores and more.

“I do administrative work like updating contracts and applying for new ones. We’re currently applying to establish a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” Montgomery said.

She enjoys the services of Empower: abilities, a Springfield nonprofit offering services that empower people with disabilities to thrive in the community.

“This organization helps disabled people in various ways such as house modifications — building ramps and installing grab bars in bathrooms and showers. They helped me find employment with Rides 4 Ability,” Montgomery said.

She described a current initiative of Rides 4 Ability that trains individuals to evaluate restaurants, providing them $15 for their efforts.

The evaluations cover aspects like wheelchair accessibility of doors and bathrooms, respectful treatment by wait staff and the presence of accessible sidewalks to the restaurant.

“They’re compiling a database of disability-friendly restaurants in Springfield. This effort will enhance the dining experiences of individuals with disabilities, enabling them to enjoy meals with friends and family,” she said.

Montgomery has received her training and awaits the opportunity to participate in the survey. [Read more…] about From nurse to advocate

Lights, camera, Chiefs!

by

A focus on maximizing opportunities and networking has led Austin Wood from Missouri State University football games to working for the Kansas City Chiefs franchise as part of its video production team.

Wood, who majored in digital film and television production in the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film, began working for the Chiefs in 2022.

Working with the Chiefs’ video team

After graduating from MSU, Wood collaborated with Caleb Stillians to co-produce the hunting documentary series, “Rise Up” in Alaska, which paved the way for his position with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Caleb is a hunting guide in Alaska and we decided that pairing our skill sets could make something beautiful. What came out of it were two seasons of the show that propelled us into new opportunities,” Wood said.

“He got more brand deals and I got my position with the Kansas City Chiefs. My work on the show stood out to them and the rest is history.”

Now as part of the Chiefs team, Wood said he mainly works on “The Franchise,” a seasonal documentary that records and highlights the team’s stories. The series captures the essence of what the Chiefs are as a franchise and showcases the winning culture of the organization.

Austin Wood on football field
Austin Wood at Super Bowl LVIII on the field of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo credit: David Gray.

“The beauty of the show lies in the off-field features, where we go to the homes of players and staff to interview them and tell their story. We even go on a duck hunt with them out in the country,” Wood said.

He also films every home game and many away games all over the country.

“Before every game, I spend time brainstorming, editing and preparing. There’s always a lot to do, but I’m always grateful to work for a team in Kansas City — the town I was born in — that just won back-to-back Super Bowls and is making history every day,” Wood said. [Read more…] about Lights, camera, Chiefs!

MSU alumna Sarah Russell navigates new technology in her marketing role

by

For alumna Sarah Russell, a communication studies degree from Missouri State University opened doors to a variety of career opportunities.

Russell, who graduated in 2008, has found a niche in digital media and marketing.

She currently serves as vice president of marketing at Education Dynamics, an educational marketing firm.

As a college student, Russell was interested in marketing and public relations, but she chose to pursue a broader communication major. She believes this choice gave her a solid foundation in corporate communications, marketing, media and her most recent focus area, artificial intelligence (AI).

“When I began my career in the late 2000s, AI wasn’t even a blip on my radar, but I already had an interest in the technical aspects of marketing and advertising,” Russell said.

“After establishing my career at an advertising agency that specialized in performance marketing, I became drawn to the emphasis on analysis, optimization and direct results, which are the foundations of AI and marketing.”

In her role, Russell will continue to explore ways to leverage AI for predictive analytics, data segmentation and analysis, as well as forecast trends and behaviors. [Read more…] about MSU alumna Sarah Russell navigates new technology in her marketing role

Criminology alum Alison Gatzemeyer helps fight crime as intelligence analyst

by

For Alison Gatzemeyer, the opportunity to explore various courses at Missouri State University and complete an internship while she was a student led her to discover a career path as a crime intelligence analyst.

After graduating in December 2022 with a degree in criminology, psychology minor and a criminal investigation certificate, Gatzemeyer landed a crime analyst position at the Kansas City Missouri Police Department (KCPD).

Gatzemeyer said her job involves critical thinking, puzzle solving and making connections to criminals, associates, properties, financials and other areas. The goal is to identify patterns in ongoing investigations by reviewing criminal history, evidence or data.

“I love being able to pull pieces of information from different places and make everything fit together. I spend a lot of time searching for what others may not be able to find, so it’s fun to figure out those missing pieces to make the big picture,” Gatzemeyer said.

“Working with detectives is so much fun!” [Read more…] about Criminology alum Alison Gatzemeyer helps fight crime as intelligence analyst