Sabrina McDonnell

2022 Community Leader of the Year

Sabrina McDonnell was fresh out of college when she walked into Columbia’s First National Bank. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she applied for and received a teller position. Cashing checks at a drive-thru window was a modest start, but surprises were to come fast and plenty for the young woman from Auxvasse, Mo.

Now a distinguished leader at Simmons Bank, a $21 billion financial institution operating in 7 states. Sabrina splits her time between the corporate office in Little Rock, Arkansas and Columbia, Missouri, where she previously served as an executive for Landmark Bank. Sabrina has spent her entire career in financial services and community banking, holding a series of positions with Landmark including executive leadership of Private Banking, Wealth Management, Operations, Technology, Strategic Planning, Risk Management, and Human Resources. Formerly she was President & Chief Operating Officer for First National Bank & Trust Company in Columbia.

Prior to her current role with the Board, Sabrina served Mizzou as Alumni Association Finance Chair and as an Advisory Board member for the Consumer and Family Economics Department in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. Sabrina has also served on The State Historical Society of Missouri Board of Trustees and as a Chapter Advisor and College District Officer for Delta Barons Delta.

An active community volunteer and leader, Sabrina has served in Columbia as President of Women’s Network and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Heart of Missouri United Way, and the Missouri Bankers Association Service Corporation. Sabrina was the recipient of the Missouri Bank Leadership Award in 1992, the United Way Jack Mathews Award in 2008, and the Athena Award in 2010.

Sabrina received her undergraduate degree from Drury University and her MBA from the University of Missouri. She also completed the Graduate School of Banking at Wisconsin. Sabrina is married to Eric McDonnell, an Athletic Trainer for Mizzou. They are parents of two children, Madison, a graduate of the University of Arkansas, and Grant, a junior at Mizzou.