BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr Ann Hope, also known as Murph, is the founder of Youth RISE. Holding a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Criminal Justice, as well as a PhD in Public Policy and Administration, Murph volunteers as the Executive Director for Youth RISE, as well as a sergeant for the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. On top of serving as an executive director, Murph currently heads the graduate development program, as well as the high school boys, middle school boys, and elementary program. Murph's experiences as a former child care counselor, Varsity boys high school head coach, and college instructor have amplified her ability to specialize in relating, communicating, and connecting with adolescent youth and develop a proven record of positive influence in the community. Murph still currently plays competitively for WPSL team, Sunflower State FC. Murph's passion revolves around resiliency and her faith, strongly believing that it is important to recognize that everyone makes mistakes and faces barriers; however what matters most is what we do after those mistakes and to ask how we can get around those barriers. Murph holds a National C coaching license and the Urban Coaching Diploma. Murph enjoys her very limited free time playing soccer, church, spending time with her family, Sodoku, and any kind of art or creativity projects.

Sabrina currently serves as the board treasurer and has been involved with Youth RISE since 2012. She holds a USSF "D" coaching license, as well as an NSCAA Level 2 Goalkeeping diploma. A graduate of William Jewell College, Sabrina earned bachelor's degrees in both mathematics and psychology, and she was also a member of the women's soccer team. Professionally, Sabrina owns and operates The Exercise Coach-Liberty, a high-tech personal training studio franchise. 

Laurie A. Myers, Ph.D. is the Chief Operating Officer of Cingulate Inc. and a founding member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Myers is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive who has worked in key leadership positions of increasing responsibility across a broad range of areas, including research and development and marketing and commercialization. Her therapeutic expertise includes neurology/psychiatry, cardiovascular disease/thrombosis and osteoarthritis. Prior to joining Cingulate, she held roles in drug development and marketing for leading global pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, DuPont, Pfizer and Sanofi (including predecessor companies). Laurie was selected for the Health 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award recognition, to be conferred at the 2022 Health 2.0 Conference USA in April where she spoke about “The Societal Impact of Untreated & Undiagnosed Mental Illness”. She was previously named to the Top 100 Brand Champions by Pharma Voice.

Laurie understands the societal value of volunteerism as it supports the confidence, the empowerment and mental health of our youth.  She is actively involved in the local community and in support of organizations working to address the social and academic needs of at-risk youth in Kansas City, she joined the Board of Directors of Youth R.I.S.E Kansas City in 2021.
 

Bill Carroll has been a member of the Youth RISE family for approximately six years, joining as a volunteer assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the program. Bill has his E coaching license and two national goalkeeping coaching certifications. He joined the Youth RISE Board of Directors in January 2022. Bill often assists with transportation of the program youth, as well as overseeing the two Youth RISE vans operation and maintenance. Bill also mentors several of the youth in the program.
Bill works for AT&T as an Asset Protection Lead Investigator in the Kansas City region. Bill is originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement from the Univ of Tennessee – Chattanooga in the mid-1980s, while playing goalkeeper on scholarship at UTC in the NCAA Div. 2, Southern Conference. Bill worked as a Special Agent for the US Customs Service, Office of Investigations for 20 years before beginning his career with AT&T in 2010. He was assigned to the Detroit Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for the first two years of his career in Federal Law Enforcement then transferred to Kansas City, where he remained until retirement 2007.

Bill lives in Blue Springs with his wife, Michelle. They have a daughter, Alyssa, who is a senior at Rockhurst University studying Psychology and Criminal Justice. She and Michelle will assist with various Youth RISE needs, when available.

Sandra has served as a Board Member since 2018. Graduated from Missouri Valley College with a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems. Sandra holds a USSF 'D' coaching license and volunteers as the head coach for the girls' program at Youth RISE. In her professional career, she is Customer Success Manager at a cybersecurity company. She enjoys playing soccer, traveling, family time, and visiting the beach in her free time.

Joey has a MS in Applied Statistics at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2019 and a BS in Mathematics and Statistics with a Minor in Physics from University of Missouri-Kansas City/Rockhurst University. Joey has publications in experimental design function in R-Studio with 5 functions as well as 5 citations from talks and conference poster talks/showings. He is also a member of MU Sigma Rho. Joey is a former college and minor league soccer player. Played with Avila University, Rockhurst University, Tampa Bay U21s (used to be called Clearwater Chargers), and Joplin Demize. Currently, He serves as a Senior/Lead Data Scientist for Knowesis Inc., President of Sunflower State FC, President of Port City FC, and runs an internship program with SSFC and PCFC. In the small amount of free time his hobbies include playing soccer with Dockside FC, spar MMA and BJj, cooking,  and spending quality time with friends and family.

Serves as board member

Mallory has actively been serving her youth community for over 13 years. Coach Simons is beginning her first year as Assistant Coach for the Fort Osage Girls soccer program. Coach Simons has three years of experience as assistant coach for Van Horn girls soccer and one year as head coach for Women’s Soccer at Lutheran High School. Mallory attains US Soccer “D”  National license and has been coaching youth competitive soccer since 2012. She is co- founder of YouthRiSE KC, an at-risk youth soccer program.  Mallory played 3 years of college soccer at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.  Mallory also played soccer for Fort Osage High School and was a 3 year varsity letter winner. Mallory currently holds a position with Fort Osage High as ISS/Recovery Room interventionist. 

Aaron is a current board member for Youth RISE.