SHARON L. (SHERRI) KIRKPATRICK

BS, MN, PhD (International Nursing), RN, Board Chair

• Development officer and Professor Emeritus, Graceland University
• Former Vice President and Dean of Nursing
• Former Vice President Institutional Advancement
• Founder and Director of International Health Center
• Lee’s Summit, MO

JOHN P. (JAC) KIRKPATRICK

BS, ME, Board Treasurer

• International Consultant, Community of Christ
• Former International Field Administrator for Africa, Asia, Europe
• Former Chief of Technology Branch, NASA
• Lee’s Summit, MO

Cherry Newcom

BA Psychology, Board Secretary

• Children’s advocate
• Extensive international travel
• Community and church volunteer
• Westminster, CO

Paulette E. (Polly) Brown Mehlisch

BSN, MSN

• Training and Development Consultant
• D.R. Mehlisch and Associates
• Serves on numerous boards
• Durango, CO

Jenny Kumwimba Chibwe

BA Theology

• Justo Mwale Theological University
• Health care provider
• African culture and language expert
• Independence, MO

Lois M. Giddens

Docent, San Juan Capistrano Mission

• Community and church volunteer
• Extensive international travel
• San Clemente, CA

R. Michael (Mike) Keeble

CPA, MBA, EdS

• Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance, University of Kansas Medical Center
• Former fiscal officer for USAID Hungarian pediatric proje
• 30 years experience in fiscal management for governmental and private research grants
• Kansas City, KS

Kristi Kirkpatrick

BS, BSN

• Children’s advocate
• Former Director of Clinical Research, St. Louis
• Former pediatric ICU nurse
• West Des Moines, IA

 

Michael Lewis

BA, Speech Communications/Theatre, JD

• Entertainment/media attorney and business development executive
• Former divisional general counsel and chief operating officer at major motion picture studio
• Graceland University Trustee and President of Alumni Board of Director
• Los Angeles, CA

 

Michelle Mahlik

BA Sociology, MA Philosophy

• Former Philosophy Instructor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Former Child Protection Social Worker, Brown County Human Services, WI
• Former children's counselor in psychiatric hospital
• Co-owner, Duet Resource Group
• Milwaukee, WI

 

Jeffrey D. Manuel

BS Biology, M.D

• Palliative Care specialist
• Residency in Family Medicine with Focus on underserved populations
• Former Medical Intern and WorldService Corps volunteer in Malawi
• Denver, CO

Ron Mathews

BA Accounting and Business Administration

• Graduate certificate in international taxation
• Senior Manager, Tax, Tibco Software, Inc
• Established numerous international legal entities
• Palo Alto, CA

Paul Thomson

BS, MA, PhD

• Former President Truman Heartland Foundation
• Former President Blue River Community College
• Lee’s Summit, MO

Brenda Williams

BS, MA Human Development and Family Studies; MA Sociology

• Grant Manager, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
• 20 years experience in nonprofit development and grant management
• International human rights team member
• Kansas City, MO