Admissions Representatives
Mizzou admissions representatives are excited to answer your questions. Each rep is assigned a geographic territory, but feel free to contact anyone below. You might meet our representatives at a high school or college fair, or when you visit Mizzou’s campus. Representatives are knowledgeable about all aspects of Mizzou: majors, student clubs, costs, dining halls — you name it. They can also provide you with information about how the admissions process works and what you need to do to become a Tiger.
Benjamin Seifferlein
South Central Missouri
Hometown: Fishers, Indiana
Degree: BA ’22, Theatre with emphasis on Directing; BA ’22 Communication, Bellarmine University
- Favorite places to eat in Columbia: Flyover, Shakespeare’s Pizza, and Crumbl Cookies
- Favorite plays: A Streetcar Named Desire, Stop Kiss, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
- Favorite movie: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Abbey Hook
Transfer Coordinator, last names A-K
Hometown: Washington, Missouri
Degree: BA ’21, English, Southeast Missouri State University
- Experience in Transfer: I was a transfer student! I did one semester at Truman State University, three semesters at East Central College, and four semesters at SEMO.
- Favorite place in Columbia: Ragtag Cinema and Hitt Records! I love browsing the vinyls and then catching a movie next door.
- Favorite Coffee Shop: Shortwave—I always get an iced matcha with lavender and honey!
Chelsea Burgard
Dallas, Texas
Hometown: Ipava, Illinois
Degree: BJ '15, Journalism (Strategic Communications)
- Favorite Mizzou memory: All things homecoming! The 100th Homecoming was especially thrilling. Columbia is always buzzing with excitement and Tiger spirit! Football is also my favorite sport to watch.
- Favorite spot on campus: The Student Center and the Rec. I went to both places almost every single day and, both were always thriving with student activity.
- Favorite quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Jon Emery
Southwestern Missouri
Hometown: Nevada, Missouri
Degree: BFA ’08, Art with emphasis in Photography
- Favorite activities: Hiking, camping, traveling, reading and landscape photography
- Favorite undergrad memories: Tiger Walk, studying abroad, volunteering in the International Center and home football games
- Favorite spot in SW Missouri: Roaring River State Park
Shannon O’Hagan
International Admissions Rep
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Degree: BS '07, International Business Administration; MS '11, Student Affairs
- Favorite spot on campus: MU Student Center because it’s always buzzing with activity.
- Favorite weekend activity: Visiting the many parks and trails throughout Columbia.
- What I can’t live without: My passport.
- Favorite quote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” — St. Augustine
Allison Desira
Southeast Missouri
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Degree: BA '21, International Studies
- Favorite Mizzou dorm: Wolpers Hall. I spent my freshman year there and loved everyone I met.
- Favorite Mizzou memory: My study abroad in Seoul, South Korea. I was able to study at Korea University twice during my time at Mizzou and would go back in a heartbeat!
- Favorite spot on campus: Wolpers basement. I used the piano down there and taught myself during my down time between classes.
Samantha Holmes
Dallas & Fort Worth Texas
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Degree: BA ’15, Communication, emphasis in Mass Media
- Favorite season at Mizzou: Fall. The campus truly looks like you are in a movie, with perfect weather and the fall foliage. You also can’t forget about Tiger football!
- Favorite Mizzou memory: Getting to celebrate 100 years of Homecoming in 2011
- Fun fact: I can name all 46 U.S Presidents
John Poettgen
Northwest Missouri
Hometown: Freeburg, MO
Degree: BS ’12, Sport Management; M. Ed. ’14, Positive Coaching
- Favorite Res Hall: Gillette Hall
- Favorite Time of the Year: Basketball Season
- Favorite Place to Eat in Columbia: Booche’s
Jennifer Shaughnessy
Georgia and greater Southeastern U.S.
Hometown: Grand Ridge, Illinois
Degree: BA ’98, English Literature and Public Relations, Illinois Wesleyan University
- Favorite quote: “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” — Minor Myers, jr.
- Favorite things: Family, friends, my two dogs, music, sports, art, travel, coffee, animals and doing anything active outdoors
- Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere on a beach
Kara Cheslock
Transfer Coordinator, last names L-Z
Hometown: Columbia, MO
Degree: BA ’21 Political Science; BA ’21 International Studies- Peace Studies; MA ’22 Atlantic History and Politics
- Favorite Local Business: Skylark Bookshop
- Favorite Artist: Taylor Swift or the Lumineers
- Fun Fact: My brother was a transfer student here at Mizzou!
Gabe Scott
Central Illinois
Hometown: Florissant, Missouri
Degree: BS ‘15, Sports Venue Management; M.Ed. ‘17, Positive Coaching
- Favorite place to eat in Columbia: Sophia’s
- Greek life fact: I was one of the 10 Founding Fathers of Alpha Tau Omega in 2015 as a Freshman
- Favorite Quote: “One small crack doesn’t mean you are broken. It means you were put to the test & didn’t fall apart” —Linda Poindexter
Victoria Zeyen
Minnesota
Hometown: Hastings, Minnesota
Degree: BS '21, Documentary
- Favorite Mizzou experience: Saturdays at Faurot and winning fan of the game! Every gameday I waited hours in line with Tiger’s Lair to paint up and cheer on the Tigers from the 50-yard line.
- Favorite local eats: Minnesota’s infamous Tater Tot Hotdish & Oreo Speed Wagon ice cream from Sparky’s whenever I’m in Columbia.
- Favorite Minnesota activity: Jumping into one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes (11,842 to be exact) or snow since there is a lot of that here too!
Siobhan Conners
North Chicago
Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois
Degree: BJ '20, Journalism (Magazine Editing)
- Favorite Mizzou experience: My sorority winning homecoming my junior year!
- Best deep dish pizza: Lou Malnati’s (their Lou’s salad is also amazing).
- Favorite places to eat in CoMo: India’s House, Pizza Tree, Seoul Taco and Café Berlin
Mariya Chukas
South Chicago
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Degree: BS ’17, Business Administration, Marketing, M.Ed. ’22, Mental Health Practices in Schools
- Favorite places to eat in Columbia: Jazz, Seoul Taco and Hot Box Cookies
- Favorite sports: Football, basketball, volleyball
- Favorite residence hall: College Avenue (Fun fact: I lived there all four years!)
Tori Schlotzhauer
St. Louis, Missouri
Hometown: New Franklin, Missouri
Degree: BS HES ’15, Family and Lifespan Development
- Favorite place to eat in Columbia: Murry’s
- Favorite free-time activity: Reading — anything
- Favorite type of jokes: Anything punny
Elijah Brown
St. Louis and Kansas City Missouri
Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
Degree: BA ‘20, Linguistics; BA ’20 Romance Languages (Spanish)
- Favorite activities: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, walking on trails, and watching movies.
- Favorite Mizzou Resources: The Online Writery and the Center for Academic Success and Excellence
- Favorite quote: "Las vidas sin significado pasan de largo como trenes que no paran en tu estación." - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Tommy Rogers
Southern California
Hometown: Santa Monica, California
Degree: M Ed ’15
- Favorite aspect of Southern California: I absolutely love watching the sunrise and sunset over our beautiful beaches! I'm also a big fan of seafood (especially sushi), and I enjoy discovering new restaurants.
- Favorite book series: I enjoy reading the Ender’s Game saga. The author, Orson Scott Card, does a great job of exploring dynamic themes and creating a universe that is foreign yet very similar to ours.
- Favorite movie series: I’m a huge Star Wars fan. (Yes, I even enjoyed the prequels.) I’m also familiar with the Star Wars universe lore! I'm also a big Lord of the Rings fan!
Aaron Cook
Kansas City and Kansas
Hometown: Independence, Missouri
Degree: BS BA ’99, Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Favorite campus spot: Tiger Plaza
- Favorite campus dining hall: The MARK on Fifth Street
- Favorite random Mizzou fact: There were once two tiger mascots at Mizzou — a male and a female — but neither had a name.
Lexie Talpers
West Central Missouri
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Degree: BA ’20, Communication emphasis in Organizational Communication
- Favorite Mizzou Memory: Going to Tulsa, OK on a MAB trip to serve in a wildlife sanctuary with 10 other strangers
- Favorite place on campus: Upstairs in the student center with the couches where it's nice and quiet to do homework, study or just relax between classes
- Favorite Place to eat in Columbia: Addison’s or Just Jeffs
Kassie Rankin
Northeast Missouri
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
Degree: BS ’19, Agricultural Education & Leadership
- Favorite Mizzou class: Everyday Floral Design
- Best place to get dessert in Columbia: Flyover
- Favorite activities: I love to decorate cakes and bake any other sweet treat. I am also a giant bookworm!
Becky Doran
East Central Missouri
Hometown: Eldon, Missouri
Degree: BA '14, English
- Favorite place to eat in Columbia: Ernie’s for breakfast, Pickleman’s for lunch, Addison’s for dinner!
- Favorite Mizzou memory: Winning our flag football intramural championship in the pouring rain.
- Favorite weekend activities: Exploring small towns of Missouri, playing board games with friends, and hiking with my dogs.
Emma Briggs
Colorado
Hometown: Denver, CO
Degree: BA ’10, Politics, Philosophy, & Economics (The King’s College)
- Favorite weekend activities: Hiking in the fall, snowboarding in the winter, wakeboarding in the summer
- Favorite philosopher: Alexis de Tocqueville
- Favorite slice at Shakespeare’s: Cheese!