People

Community Engagement Statement From the words of Coretta Scott King, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

Spring Schmidt serves as the CEO and President of the Missouri Public Health Institute, guiding the organization in its mission to strengthen Missouri’s public health system. She leads efforts to build capacity, reinforce infrastructure, and foster meaningful collaboration among local, regional, and statewide partners. A former local public health administrator and long-time practitioner, Spring has […]

Aja La’Starr Owens is a change agent who has dedicated her life to utilizing creative arts to promote healing in the community. In her current role as St. Louis Senior Implementation Manager, Aja is responsible for developing and leading community engagement strategies within the St. Louis region to support the organization’s mission of achieving zero health […]

Patricia Bosman, President and CEO of The Haven of Grace, embodies the transformative leadership qualities of a Titan. Her commitment to empowering women and families experiencing homelessness has turned The Haven of Grace into a beacon of hope and stability in St. Louis. By combining compassion with strategic vision, Bosman has led the organization to […]

Erica Williams is the Founder and Executive Director of A Red Circle, a nonprofit that works for community betterment in North County through a racial equity lens. A Red Circle operates programing in education, community wellness, and the arts. Erica is a native of north St. Louis County. She grew up in the Normandy and […]

Dr. Cheryl Harris is a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience who has served in the capacity of principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, classroom teacher and as a reading specialist. Dr. Cheryl L. Harris is currently the Director of Federal Programs and Procurement for Normandy Schools Collaborative, an urban school district located in […]

Sal Valadez promotes workforce development and education among underserved immigrant and ethnic communities, and developed a coalition of nonprofits and health providers to address their unmet health care needs. Community Engagement Statement Community engagement and collaboration, inclusive of immigrant, ethnic, historically disadvantaged, underserved, and underrepresented communities, is at the core of who I am. Building […]

Community Engagement Statement Community engagement is important to me because it allows me to contribute to the growth, confidence, and long-term success of our youth. By showing up consistently and leading with purpose, we help shape the next generation of leaders and strengthen the communities we serve.

Rachel Powers is a proud St. Louis native and has spent her career elevating the voices of communities to recognize and actualize their power to make change. In her previous role, she served as Communications Manager for Noble Schools in Chicago, Illinois. There, she managed external and internal communications, public and media relations, social media, […]

David Pole, PhD, joined the staff of the Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement in August 2025 as the community-engaged education manager. He has worked in health care and health promotion in the private, public, and higher education sectors. Most recently, he was a faculty member at Saint Louis University, focusing on interprofessional practice and education […]