It’s no revelation that many faculty members at MU are encouraging and motivational many students here at Mizzou. But, there are some among the university’s community that give back tremendously to the students on a solely volunteer basis. Anne Deaton, wife to Chancellor of the University of Missouri Brady Deaton, holds many positions on campus that allow her to work full time as a volunteer and engage many students within their areas of discipline.
After working 12 years in the Missouri state government as the Deputy Director of the Division of Aging, she began working closely with the Dean of the School of Nursing. They made plans for what has become known as Tiger Place, a residential independent home for seniors run by the private sector in close collaboration with the School of Nursing. She was then awarded an adjunct appointment – an honorary position awarded to qualified individuals who make significant contributions to certain academic activities, at the School of Nursing, the College of Education and the Department of Human Development and Family studies.
Her Campus: How do you connect to the students here on campus?
Anne Deaton: Being a spouse of the Chancellor of the University of Missouri offers me a unique opportunity to connect with the students, faculty, staff, and alums in very meaningful and fun ways. Additionally, because the Chancellor and I have been members of the Columbia community for 23 years, I can sometimes serve in a “bridge” role connecting members of the Mizzou family to the community. I also love serving in a mentoring role with students, and from each student I have gained inspiration and confidence in the upcoming generation’s ability to tackle local, national, and global challenges with good results.
HC: What’s an example of such an experience with a student?
AD: A few years ago, I really enjoyed helping found MU’s student chapter of American Association of University Women which focuses on socio-economic and legislative issues that impact girls and women of all ages. Taaj Reaves is the president of the chapter today and it is growing in membership and activities.
HC: How do students reach out to you?
AD: Sometimes I’ve come to know students because they have contacted me and asked to discuss a unique project idea or to discuss international service experiences. (Many of them know that Brady and I met 47 years ago working in poor communities in Quito, Ecuador!) Sometimes these mentoring relationships with students have lasted years and sometimes they are briefer contacts. But they are all meaningful to me and I trust they are to the student as well.
HC: What has motivated you to become such an avid volunteer?
AD: In college and throughout my life, I have always been active in issues relating to social justice, diversity, community development, and international understanding and I love working today with students that are concerned about the same. Sometimes these discussions about leadership and “making a difference” happen in more intimate settings in the house when we host students at dinner, receptions, or the Chancellor’s Leadership class. The Chancellor and I had tremendous undergraduate and graduate student experiences ourselves. We had so many mentors throughout our college career who encouraged us to “stretch” to “go for it” to “go out and see the world in meaningful ways” to “speak out and have the courage of our convictions when there was a cause we deemed worthy of our time and energies.” We vowed to “give back” if we were ever in the position to do so. That’s why our dedication to students comes from the heart and brings us great joy and we feel so privileged to be in service at Mizzou.
Photo:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/multimedia/photo/2012/04/13/dr-anne-de…