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Appointments Project expands statewide, sees state appointments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Women’s Foundation announced Tuesday that their Appointments Project has expanded statewide, helping to place two Missouri women onto gubernatorial-appointed statewide commissions.

Gov. Jay Nixon recently announced the appointments of Dr. Sarah M. Martin-Anderson to the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and Jane E. Walton to the Missouri Interior Design Commission. The Women’s Foundation promoted both women through the Appointments Project, which recently expanded to statewide openings in Missouri.  

Doyle
Doyle

The Appointments Project aims to remove barriers for women to serve in civic leadership positions and increase the number of women serving on boards and commissions.

“We’re pleased to have our first statewide appointments through the Appointments Project in partnership with Governor Nixon’s administration,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of Women’s Foundation. “Jane Walton and Dr. Sarah Martin-Anderson are seasoned leaders with impressive credentials and they will be tremendous assets to the state of Missouri.  We’re grateful for their willingness to serve.”

 Nixon lauded the program. 

“Appointing highly-qualified Missourians that reflect the great diversity of our state is always a priority,” said Nixon.  “I thank the Women’s Foundation for working with us to identify these experienced and dedicated public servants, and look forward to continuing to appoint highly-qualified women to serve our great state.”

Dr. Sarah M. Martin-Anderson, appointee to the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, holds a PhD in Public Policy, a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology)—all from the University of California, Berkeley. Martin-Anderson moved to Kansas City in 2013 to accept an Assistant Professor position at the University of Missouri, Kansas City with the Henry W. Bloch School of Management where she researches and teaches courses focusing on health equity. She was appointed by Mayor Sly James to the Kansas City, Missouri Health Commission in December of 2014.

Martin-Anderson also serves on the boards of the Mother-Child Health Coalition, Uzazi Village, The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers and the Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund. In January, she will also assume the position of Manager of Community Engagement, Policy and Accountability with the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department. She lives in the heart of Kansas City with her husband and three children.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Women’s Foundation. The Appointments Project has transformed my ‘10 year plan’ into a ‘2 year plan’—things I imagined were out of reach became possible all because Women’s Foundation believed in me and advocated on my behalf,” said Anderson. “There is no way I would be where I am in the short time I’ve lived in Kansas City without the incredible work of Women’s Foundation.”

The newest appointee to the Missouri Interior Design Commission, Jane E. Walton, is the President and Founder of Jane Walton Consulting, LLC.  She has focused her career as a Human Resources and Organizational Development practitioner helping individuals, groups and organizations reach their goals. Her 20-plus years of experience as a company leader, HR practitioner, coach and consultant working with public and private organizations has honed her ability to pinpoint underlying problems in complex environments and develop simple, creative solutions that produce sustainable results. Walton is a published author with a master’s degree in human resources management and a certified executive coach.  She has developed and facilitated numerous organizational programs focused on leadership team effectiveness and change management.

“The transformation of Women’s Foundation over the past two years has been nothing but extraordinary!” said Walton. “When I heard about their Appointments Project I knew I wanted to get involved. I am very proud of my appointment of the State of Missouri Interior Design Commission.”

The Women’s Foundation Appointments Project serves as a talent bank, advisor, and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The foundation assists in guiding women through the process of applying for these positions and recommends applicants for appointment and hopes to see a proportional amount of women in government. 

Since its launch in the spring of 2014, seventeen women have been appointed to local and state boards and commissions in Missouri through the Appointments Project. The Appointments Project is currently active in helping recruit and train more women serve on boards and commissions for the State of Missouri, City of St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.