Julie Robertson, an academic success coach in Student Support Services at Northwest Missouri State University, has been selected to participate in the spring 2020 cohort of Leadership Northwest Missouri, an initiative to foster understanding of how Missouri communities and policy issues are interconnected. 

Robertson and other participants will engage with business, community and government leaders through panel discussions, presentations and experiences that survey needs, resources and opportunities within northwest Missouri. Participants explore topics of education, workforce development, transportation, healthcare, government, agriculture and team-building.

Robertson joined Northwest in 2017 as a financial assistance counselor and transferred to Student Support Services in 2018. Her 13 years in higher education also includes work in academic advising and residential life. Prior to arriving at Northwest, she worked as a pre-release caseworker for the Gateway Foundation Corrections Division. She has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Missouri State University and a master’s degree in higher education with a student affairs emphasis from Western Kentucky University.

Founded in 1999, Leadership Northwest Missouri, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created to bring together up-and-coming leaders from throughout the region to hone their leadership skills, explore local issues and gain a network of contacts. Using “The Leadership Challenge” model created by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, participants learn leadership skills through a blend of classroom presentations and experiential exercises. Day-long sessions are take place monthly in communities throughout the region.

Participants are selected, based on their commitment to the region and leadership potential, from the 19 counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Sullivan and Worth.

Northwest employees who are alumni of Leadership Northwest Missouri include Leslie Abarr-Cuenca, Jackie Cochenour, Dr. Alice Foose, Judy Frueh, Linda Gray Smith, Ashlee Hendrix, Allison Hoffmann, Dr. Jamie Hooyman, Mark Hornickel, Dr. Terry Long, Sam Mason, Dr. Sue Myllykangas, Evan Rand, Dana Ternus and Dr. Jerry Wilmes.