Callie is one of the lucky few people who grew up in a city that perfectly fits their talents. Born and raised in Columbia, Missouri, she spent her early years exploring her passion for music as a competitive dancer. As a second-generation advertiser, she first learned about the industry from her mom, but it wasn’t until later that she realized breaking into the field would be the perfect opportunity to combine her analytical mind with her creative disposition.

After earning her way into the Strategic Communication program at Mizzou, she began giving back to the community that raised her by working with local music venues and restaurants to improve their marketing efforts. Last summer, she started working as a content strategist for Lift Division, where she optimized websites, created blogs and drafted white papers for their clients. She is an active member of the AAF at Mizzou and also manages social media for Jina Yoo’s bistro downtown. To decompress, she likes to go see live music and pretend like she can still dance.

This toasted ravioli fan is as much in love with sharks as she is deathly afraid of crocs. When further questioned, it was confirmed she really meant those toothy, four-legged reptiles and not the fashion-friendly footwear. When she’s landlocked, she’s probably outside running wherever the wind takes her, eating copious amounts of chocolate chip banana bread, or watching the latest shark movie with her roommate. Her mood at any moment can be classified as “spontaneous dance party,” and if she had two pet dogs, she would probably name them Princess and Honey. As for her conniving, vicious cat, his name would be Napoleon.

Last year, she was accepted into the J-School’s accelerated master’s program and will be graduating this year with her bachelor’s degree and next with her master’s degree. She’s always putting her resume where her heart is and currently interns in the Marketing & Communications department of Heart of Missouri United Way. She was also recently involved with the steering committee for Caring for Columbia.

If you ever see her on the street, make sure to give her a high-five. She deserves it. And in that moment, when each of your palms fiercely strike together in euphoric unity, she’ll let you know you deserve one too.

This Memphis native knows a thing or two about the human experience. In the past 12 months alone, she’s visited seven countries stretching across two continents, lived on a Native American reservation and spent her winter break in Detroit tutoring middle schoolers. A self-proclaimed foodie, Brooke believes the best part of travel is searching out that Bourdain recommended place that only the locals know. Every place she visits has helped her pinpoint her own place in the world and the work she wants to create.

A Type-A to the bone, Brooke is a notoriously resourceful problem solver and multitasker. This past summer she interned for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. In this role she worked on media relations, CSR audits and content creation for the company’s web and social platforms. Additionally, Brooke currently serves as the American Advertising Federation president, where she plans and leads biweekly club meetings and visits to agencies. She also claims Memphis barbecue to be superior to all others, but we’ll let you decide on that one.