Directory

Cole Bower is a rising junior from Kansas City, MO, triple-majoring in Constitutional Democracy, Political Science, and Economics. He was a member of the Kinder Institute’s Residential College and Society of Fellows and is the treasurer of Mizzou College Democrats. He currently works as finance director for a competitive State Senate race in Boone County, and previously managed a successful State House campaign in south Columbia. In his free time, Cole enjoys cheering on Mizzou basketball and playing Frederic Chopin’s music on piano. Upon graduation he plans to pursue a full-time career in Democratic politics.

Originally from St. Louis, Julia Bursby is a sophomore double-majoring in Political Science (Pre-Law) and Constitutional Democracy (Social & Political Thought). While at Mizzou, Julia has taken part in several extracurricular activities, including becoming a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and serving as an MSA Senator. Apart from her studies, Julia enjoys painting, soaking in the sun, watching movies, and listening to her favorite bands (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and CAKE). Ultimately, she hopes to take a few years off in between undergrad and law/grad school to join the Peace Corps, before pursuing her passions for advocacy, history, and law.

Drew Dahlgren is a third-year student at Mizzou from Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is majoring in Constitutional Democracy, Religious Studies, and Political Science (Pre-Law), with a minor in History. On campus, he is a member of the baritone section of Marching Mizzou and Chairman of the Washington Society, a student organization for political and philosophical discussion. Drew has taken an interest in studying the intersection of religion and politics in America and abroad, and he hopes to attend law school to pursue a career in constitutional law.

Laura Frymire is a rising senior at the University of Missouri who grew up in Columbia with seven siblings, three of whom have also attended or are currently attending Mizzou. Laura is double-majoring in History and Political Science, minoring in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and pursuing Honors, Multicultural, and American Constitutional Democracy Certificates. She spent half of her undergraduate career as a research assistant to the previous Director of the Honors College, Dr. J.D. Bowers, while he worked on his latest book about the Maronites, an endangered linguistic minority in Cyprus. She studied abroad during Spring 2022 at the Academic Language Institute in Alicante, Spain, and spent the Summer 2022 internship cycle at the State Attorney General’s Office in Jefferson City. After graduation, Laura plans to attend law school and pursue a career in transactional, corporate law. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Jacqueline Glenn is a third-year honors student from Edwardsville, Illinois, pursuing a double-major in English and Constitutional Democracy, where her emphases are Black Literature and Law & Institutions, respectively. She loves all things pertaining to civil rights. Aside from the Society of Fellows and Kinder Scholars, Jacqueline is a member of Phi Mu sorority, a Student Ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences, and serves as a Team Leader for Jumpstart Mizzou. After graduation, Jacqueline hopes to attend law school and eventually practice some sort of human rights law.

Emily Hickey is a senior from St. Louis, Mo., double-majoring in English and Journalism (Strategic Communications). Around Mizzou, she’s involved with the MU Tour Team and has served on the executive board of the Alumni Association Student Board. She loves to travel—she has interned in Washington, D.C., through the Kinder Scholars Program, and has studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland—and if you couldn’t tell by what she’s studying, also loves to read and write. She’s an editorial intern at The Missouri Review, and hopes to pursue work in education, publishing, and writing her own stories one day. In her free time, she can be found tirelessly searching for the perfect iced vanilla latte.

Morgan Hurt is a junior at Mizzou, pursuing degrees in Geography and Constitutional Democracy, with Certificates in Geospatial Intelligence and Geographic Information Science (GIS). She is very involved with department activities, serving as president of the Geography Club and treasurer of Mizzou’s chapter of the Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society. Morgan currently lives in Columbia, Missouri, but was born in Texas and spent a good chunk of her childhood in Oklahoma. In what little free time she has, Morgan enjoys reading, running, and watching The Office. After graduation, she plans to enter the field of GIS in either the public or private sector.

Jack Kunkel was born and raised in Eureka, MO, a small town outside of St. Louis. Throughout his life, he has placed great emphasis on academics and the pursuit of knowledge, well reflected in his college career. Jack is currently a rising junior, pursuing a triple major in Journalism (Strategic Communication), Constitutional Democracy, and Political Science, as well as a minor in History. Through his time at the University of Missouri, Jack has been inspired to pursue a career helping others, which he got a head start on during his time in Washington, D.C., as part of the Summer 2022 Kinder Scholars Program.

Oli McCann is a rising senior from Liberty, Missouri, majoring in Constitutional Democracy and English. Aside from participating in the Kinder Scholars program, she is also a 2023-2024 Kinder Fellow, a member of the Kinder Institute Undergraduate Society Leadership Council, and the Membership/Communications Coordinator for the Mizzou chapter of It’s On Us. She is an avid reader of Stephen King books, an avid watcher of Christopher Nolan movies, and an aspiring political speechwriter.

Originally from Montgomery, Texas, Elise Milburn is a rising junior majoring in Constitutional Democracy and History, with minors in Political Science, Latin American Studies, and Spanish. Her studies focus on the geopolitical entanglements of westward expansion and colonization from the 1600s to the early 1800s. During her time as a Kinder Undergraduate Fellow, she analyzed the usage of New Orleans as a political bargaining chip that would ultimately open the West to the United States. Outside of the Kinder Institute, Elise is an active member of SALT company and Anthem church. Post-graduation, she hopes to receive her M.A. in Atlantic History & Politics before applying to Ph.D. programs on the East Coast.

A rising junior at Mizzou, Michael Rashford is majoring in Political Science and Constitutional Democracy. During his freshman year, he participated in the Kinder Institute Residential College and served as Vice President of the Wolpers Hall student government, and he was part of the Kinder Institute’s Society of Fellows program during his sophomore. In Summer 2022, Michael interned for the Missouri Solicitor General’s Office, working in special litigation. On campus, he plays on the club Ultimate Frisbee team, where he is acting Vice President, and in his free time, he enjoys running and considers himself an amateur barista. This summer in D.C. he will be interning with the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.

Erin Reynolds is a sophomore at Mizzou, majoring in Constitutional Democracy and minoring in Psychology. Erin is a member of the Mizzou Club Tennis Team and the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, as well as captain of the Mizzou Mock Trial White Team. She plans to go to law school after graduation to pursue a career criminal law.

Elisha Schoor is a transferred senior from Kearney, Missouri, studying Constitutional Democracy and Economics. In addition to being a Kinder Scholar, he participated in the Kinder Fellows program during AY 2022-23, authoring an essay that will be published in the Journal on Constitutional Democracy. Elisha is currently President of the Mizzou Undergraduate Society of History and an avid member of the Mizzou Model United Nations club. While unclear on the translation, he hopes to turn the skills learned as an undergraduate into a career serving the public. Outside of school, Elisha loves to play games with friends, listen to Star Wars books, and build virtual railroad lines.

C.J. Scott is a junior at Mizzou from Aurora, Illinois, pursuing a double major in History and Economics, with a minor in Political Science. C.J. is interested in History, Economics, Politics, and Law. On campus C.J. is a member of the Undergraduate History Society. In his free time, he enjoys gaming, reading, hiking, and watching TV and movies. After graduation, C.J. plans to attend grad school for history for a career in academia or go to law school to pursue work in the public or private sector.

Victoria Seever is a junior from Grain Valley, Missouri. She is studying to earn degrees in History and Constitutional Democracy, with a minor in Political Science. Victoria is an involved student at Mizzou, holding leadership roles such as President of the Mock Trial Team and open recruitment specialist for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. On top of her studies, she juggles three jobs, working as a tour guide for the university; as a saleswoman for Estée Lauder; and as a waitress at a sushi restaurant (she is very passionate about working jobs where she interacts with others and is able to get free food). During Summer 2022, she attended a study abroad program where she learned about ancient Greek societies. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her sister in the Pacific Northwest hiking and white water rafting, exploring new places, and trying new things.

Quinn Sheppard is a rising junior from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, majoring in Constitutional Democracy and History, with a minor in Political Science. During her time at Mizzou, Quinn has interned with The Home Project in Athens, Greece, and at the State Historical Society of Missouri. Within the Kinder Institute, she has been a part of the Society of Fellows and Residential College programs. She currently conducts research through the Honors College and is an Associate Justice for MSA. During the 2023-24 school year, Quinn will serve as Director of the Mizzou chapter of It’s On Us and be an inaugural exchange student at University College London. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and drinking coffee, and especially enjoys when she can do both at the same time.

Kiersten Traucht is a Mizzou sophomore from Marysville, Ohio, majoring in Political Science and Constitutional Democracy with minors in History and Psychology. She is a member of the University of Missouri’s Honors College and the Washington Society. She also participates in the college ministry program, The Neighborhood at Missouri United Methodist Church, and was involved in the Kinder Institute Residential College during her first year on campus. Kiersten stays busy working her job but in her free time enjoys reading and spending time with friends. The two things she won’t shut up about are Harry Potter and Social Contract theory. Upon graduation Kiersten is planning to attend law school and possibly pursue a career in the Federal Burau of Investigations.

Andrew West is a rising senior from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is majoring in Economics and is involved in the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and the St. Thomas More Newman Center. He is interested in politics, philosophy, and theology and enjoys reading, weightlifting, and running. Andrew was selected for the 2022 Federal Justice Summer Fellowship for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He intends to pursue law school after graduation.

Isaac Yontz is a rising junior from Columbia, MO, studying government and politics through majors in Constitutional Democracy and Economics. On campus, he was a 2022-23 Kinder Institute Undergraduate Fellow and is the current tournament director of the Missouri Mock Trial Association. Off campus, Isaac enjoys hiking and learning French. Isaac will be a Jumpstart Corps member, primarily serving in Washington D.C.’s 7th and 8th wards, during Summer 2023.