Dear Colleagues,
We recently had the honor of hosting the Griffiths Leadership Society, via the Mizzou Alumni Association, for a tour of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building. This occurred in March during Women's History Month.
Established in 2005, the Griffiths Leadership Society connects an influential and dynamic group of women through mentorship and networking. About 275 women are part of the society. The Mizzou Alumni Association hopes to promote the growth and education of women and to create a nationwide network of women leaders with ties to MU. Members include both undergraduates (juniors, seniors and grad students) and alumnae, all connected by their ties to Mizzou. The society is named in honor of alumna Martha Wright Griffiths, BA '34, a trailblazer and tireless advocate for women.
We learned that this group gathers twice a year for leadership conferences in Columbia focused on personal and professional development. Amy Knopps, associate teaching professor in the MU School of Music, served as the group's spokesperson and shared that the tour was the final event for their Spring Conference, with 35 women in attendance expressing interest in the NextGen Precision Health Initiative. Two attendees are undergrad students and the other women in the group mentor these collegiate members.
While we took them around the building to see the art and science collaborations, research labs, and the many beautiful spaces designed to promote team science, I was struck by how passionate they were about the NextGen Precision Health Initiative being at the University of Missouri. This group is Tiger proud!
Thank you to the Griffiths Leadership Society and all women who provide mentorship and education to fellow women and students to become leaders in the world that are connected to MU.
Sincerely,
Rick Barohn, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
University of Missouri
rbarohn@health.missouri.edu
