Leadership Over Lunch: In the City for Good

Join us for the next installment of our Leadership Over Lunch webinar series. In this session, you'll learn how three RU alums navigate their day-to-day work lives in the nonprofit industry. The panelists will speak to topics such as: how does one get involved in their local community, how did these individuals choose their nonprofits to work/volunteer for, what effective volunteering looks like, and more! 

The panel will include:

• Chandra Clark, '11 MEd - Executive Director for VHL in Boston, MA
• Ana Melgoza, '96 - VP for External Affairs for San Ysidro Health (SYHealth) in San Diego, CA
• Chris Stibbs, '16, '18 MA - Director of Philanthropic Engagement for Newhouse in Kansas City, MO

The panel will be moderated by Dr. Julia Vargas, Director of Center for Service Learning at Rockhurst University.

Register to Join Us Today.

This webinar is free to attend with an option to make a donation as part of registration. The webinar will be hosted on the Zoom platform. Users can create a Zoom account for free at Zoom.us

Questions? Contact Riley O'Dell at riley.odell@rockhurst.edu.

About Our Panelists

Chandra Clark, '11 MEd

Connect with Chandra on LinkedIn

Chandra Clark is the Executive Director of the VHL Alliance. The VHL Alliance (VHLA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, education, and support to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those affected by von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome. In her role, Chandra is responsible for leading VHLA’s vision of curing cancer through VHL while providing ongoing global support for patients through increased awareness, education, and advocacy.

For the past 18 years, Chandra has served in nonprofit leadership by developing innovative programs and creatively cultivating opportunities in the community to support the advancement of underserved populations. Her passion lies in advocating for equity in healthcare, education, and economic access to improve the health and well-being of under-resourced communities. Chandra’s diverse professional background includes business and talent development, fundraising, marketing, and external relations with experience in collaborating with corporations and organizations to develop and implement multi-level projects, partnerships, programs, and community initiatives.

Prior to joining VHLA, she served as the Director of Community Outreach for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City where she successfully launched the organization’s first Community Outreach department, postsecondary education initiatives, and workforce development programs for youth which gained national exposure. Her previous professional experience also includes serving in nonprofit leadership at Kauffman Scholars, Newhouse Shelter, and as President and Founder of M.O.D.E.L, a faith-based organization.

Chandra holds a Master of Education degree from Rockhurst University, a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is a graduate of the Central Exchange Emerging Leaders Fellowship program. She has been honored to receive awards and recognitions including NextGen Leaders from the Kansas City Business Journal, Young Athena Leadership Award from the Kansas City Chamber, Rockhurst Faber Young Alum of the Year from Rockhurst University, Top Connector in Education and Entrepreneurship from the Kauffman Foundation and Most Influential Women in Kansas City Business from the Kansas City Business Journal. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, writing, reading, and sharing invaluable moments with her 20-year old daughter Jada. 

Ana Melgoza, '96

Connect with Ana on LinkedIn

Ana R. Melgoza, MPA, is Vice President of External Affairs for San Ysidro Health (SYHealth).  Ms. Melgoza is committed to SYHealth’s mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities served with access for all. Throughout her 16 year tenure, SYHealth has grown exponentially and today has 108,000 lives in their care.   As part of the Executive Team, Ms. Melgoza oversees government relations/advocacy, public/private/non-profit partnerships, private fund development, outreach, social media, media relations, and corporate communications.

She is a graduate of the National Urban Fellows Program, earning her Masters's Degree in Public Administration from the Baruch School of Public Affairs in New York City.  Ms. Melgoza majored in Global Studies and received her BA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City in 1996 where she spent her senior year as a National Security Education Scholar at the University of Buenos Aires and at FLACSO, a United Nations think tank in Argentina

Ms. Melgoza is an alumna of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Leadership Institute and a graduate of LEAD San Diego.  Ms. Melgoza serves as Commissioner for Healthy Chula Vista Advisory Commission where she was the inaugural chair and was appointed in 2021 to represent District 1 in the San Diego County Health Services Advisory Board.  This year she was honored with the Health Equity SHEro for her advocacy and exemplary representation of service to all especially our underserved families by County Vice-Chair Nora Vargas (the first woman of color elected to the SD Board of Supervisors).  She was also recognized in 2015 by State Senator Ben Hueso as Woman of the Year, 40th District and in 2016 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher as Woman of the Year, 80th District and in 2019 by Assemblymember Shirley Weber, For Outstanding Service to the Community in Health in the 79th District during Hispanic American Heritage Month.

Chris Stibbs, '16, '18 MA

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

From a young age, Christopher learned about the power of advocacy and impact, which led him to a career in the philanthropic community. From the moment he entered the sector, Christopher knew he had found his home. In his current role as the Director of Philanthropic Engagement for Newhouse, Kansas City’s oldest domestic violence agency, Christopher brings passion, energy, and creativity to his work, using the power of storytelling to connect donors, volunteers, and community members to the mission of Newhouse.

Some of Christopher's current community impact initiatives include his work on the Champions Board for Teach for America, the Core Planning Team for TEDxKC, Kansas City's largest, self-organized TEDx event, his work with AFP Global and the local Kansas City chapter, and his involvement with the Loop KC, a group of similar yet unique minded individuals who are creating genuine friendships and igniting the next generation of business leaders in Kansas City. Christopher is a two-time graduate of Rockhurst University, with a Bachelors's in Psychology & Criminal Justice, and a Masters's in Management. When not working, Christopher loves exploring Kansas City, being around friends, and playing sand volleyball.

Dr. Julia Vargas - Moderator

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn

Dr. Julia Vargas is the Director for the Center for Service Learning at Rockhurst University. In this position, she connects Rockhurst faculty and students to the community through service-learning courses and campus-wide community service programs.  Prior to joining Rockhurst, Julia directed professional development and youth leadership programs for nonprofit organizations including the Missouri Community Action Network, National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Kansas City, and the LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC).

Julia continues to support the nonprofit sector through board service and teaching in the Nonprofit Leadership Studies Program at Rockhurst University. She serves as a board member for the Guadalupe Center Schools, Missouri Connections for Health and Revolución Educativa (RevEd).