Staff Leadership Day

Mari Torres, M.S. Ed.

Training and Curriculum Specialist for Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) in the Division of
Student Success

Mari Torres serves as the Training and Curriculum Specialist for Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) in the Division of Student Success. She has been working at WashU for four years, originally beginning in the Campus Life office. She has a bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne
University in Communication Studies and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Higher Education Administration. Mari was in the Emerging
Leaders Cohort for Leading in Uncertainty Fall 2025.

Dontrel Smith

Development Officer, Individual Giving

Dontrel Smith is a Development Officer in Individual Giving at Washington University in St. Louis with a passion for helping people discover greater clarity, purpose, and impact. Through meaningful relationship-building, he connects donors with opportunities that align their values with the University’s mission, ensuring their generosity influences generations to come. A lifelong learner and transformational leader, Dontrel believes that a shift in perspective can unlock new possibilities, strengthen leadership, and inspire lasting change.

Jacklyn Mayer

Program Manager – Training and Support Services

Jacklyn Mayer has worked in Protective Services for 9 years, starting as an unarmed Public Safety Officer and moving up to a Captain, in charge of Training and Support Services. She has worked as a Field Training Officer, Emergency Medical Technician – B, Firearms Instructor, and
RAD Women Self-Defense Instructor. Jacklyn currently leads Field Trainers and Instructors in creating and growing department training programs to focus on safety, communication, and life perseveration.

Nate Quest

Associate Director MSF, Graduate Programs Student Affairs

Nate is a St. Louis-area native and a WashU undergrad alumn, and has been at Olin working with its Specialized Masters Programs for over 13 years. He also oversees a small but amazing team of academic advisors for the Master of Finance & Accounting programs at Olin. Prior to
returning to WashU, Nate spent 7 years in the nonprofit sector in St. Louis. When he’s not at work, you can find him at home with his wife and three kids, two dogs, and a bird, or outside running, hiking, or going on an adventure with my family.

Abby King

Administrator, Department Operations

Abby King (she/her), has worked at WashU Medicine for over a decade. After 11 year in the Program in Occupational Therapy, she is now a Program Manager focusing on the faculty coaching programs for the Office of Faculty Promotions and Career Development. Abby is a 2025 graduate of WashU’s Emerging Leaders Program and a lifelong learner. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance, two certificates from WashU’s Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS) school – one in business and one in creative writing – and is currently seeking a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management through CAPS. Outside of work and class, Abby likes to spend time with her husband and three daughters, read, bake and see shows at the Muny or the Fox.

Caralee Rushton

As the Wellness Coordinator at WashU, I coordinate the Wellness Champion Program with over 200 dedicated volunteers. My role involves engaging and onboarding Wellness Champions, organizing recognition and networking events, and providing professional development opportunities. I also create learning tools to help Champions promote wellness initiatives to their workgroup and provide guidance throughout the process. Additionally, I facilitate the Champion Fund which provides Champions an opportunity to apply for funding to support well-being projects in their departments.

Charmaine Parker-Lewis

serves as Assistant Director of Environmental Services (EVS) at
Washington University, where she is recognized for her dedication to operational excellence, employee engagement, and team development. As a passionate advocate for
workplace wellness and professional growth, Charmaine’s leadership philosophy centers on empathy, authenticity, and empowering others to reach their full potential. By fostering meaningful relationships and cultivating environments where individuals can thrive, she inspires collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Her passion for people and unwavering commitment to helping others succeed make her a valued leader in the Enterprise Operations Departments.

Dr. Fahd Amahd

Mentoring and providing support to colleagues and trainees is an enormous part of my job. I provide clinical research mentorship to numerous faculty and trainees/students at all levels. I also recognize I am also always learning an a mentee myself, looking to improve myself by learning from others, regardless of their training or experience level. I’ve learned the ups and downs of mentoring, better understood my own limits, and taken great joy in seeing mentees succeed. To provide better support for my colleagues, I have taken on a role as Director of Wellness for pediatric emergency medicine. I have also received formal training as a health and wellness coach, which is different skillset from mentoring, and which I integrate into my regular work.

Tanya Sawyer

I am a Grant Manager for Office of Sponsored Research Services. December was officially 20 years at Washington University. Wellness Champion seemed like a great way to motivate not only myself but others to have a good lifestyle.

Arinda Nenninger

Manager of Special Projects in the Department of Medicine Business Office, coordinates wellness initiatives for DOM, hosting quarterly meetings for the Department’s Wellness
Champions that provide opportunities to share information and collaborate.

Nicole Hudson

Nicole Hudson’s career has ranged from government to Broadway with a focus on communications and organizational strategy particularly when it comes to complex, people- centered puzzles with big impact. Nicole joined WashU in 2018 after serving as a Deputy Mayor for the city of St. Louis.

Sarah C. Murphy, MA

Sarah C. Murphy, MA, has been part of WashU’s community since birth, when her mom worked in Admissions. Since then, she has embraced education as both a lifelong journey and a career. In
her role with Culture and Team Development, Sarah specializes in creating group processes and skill-building curricula that support people in closing the gap between where they are and where they want to go.

Meg Krejci, MBA

Meg comes from a background in Accounting, Manage Information Systems, and International Business. As a result of life stressors, she sought out training in mindfulness through Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the Center for Mindfulness – UMass Medical School. Inspired by her experience, Meg founded and directs Masterpeace Studios; a nonprofit organization servicing the St. Louis and Midwest region teaching skills of mindfulness for health and well-being. For over 25 years, Meg has been guiding individuals of all ages in stress reduction strategies in numerous sectors including education, healthcare, and corporations. In 2016, Meg joined Washington University in St. Louis as a Mindfulness Consultant. There she offers the Moveevidencedfulness program
which is modeled on this evidenced-based curriculum. Meg is passionate about sharing the benefits of practicing mindfulness to help individuals and teams reduce stress and anxiety, improve health and mental well-being, and achieve greater adaptability and appreciation in life.

Monica Robinson, M.A.

Monica Robinson serves as a Learning and Development Consultant at Washington University in St. Louis. In this role, she is the program lead for the university’s New Employee Orientation (NEO), designing and delivering training programs that equip faculty and staff with resources for professional growth. Monica is dedicated to fostering a warm, welcoming, and respectful campus environment that supports multicultural
understanding and community engagement. Known for her substantive, engaging, and non-judgmental facilitation style, Monica specializes in simplifying complex topics to create meaningful, transformative learning experiences. She holds a Master of Arts in Non-Profit Management (Human Resources
concentration) from Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack University NY. Monica is highly certified in industry-standard tools, including Crucial Conversations, Hogan Assessments, Diversity and Inclusion (Cornell University), and the Institute for Social + Emotional Intelligence (ISEI)®. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys life in St. Louis with her husband Steven, her daughter Brianna, and their Portuguese water dog, Cali Fornia.