2019 Alumna Leader of the Year
2010 Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Alumna, former member of GMLF Board of Directors and current Advisor to the Board Tina Olson was honored on September 30 as the 2019 Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Alumna of the Year. GMLF Board President Kim Becking, Executive Director Jan Grossmann, and board member Suzanne Rothwell presented the honor during the 3oth Anniversary Celebration and Reunion for mid-Missouri alumnae held at Columbia College.
Dr. Olson was selected by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation Board of Directors for the many outstanding contributions she has made as a board member, as a member of the Central Region Planning Team, as a member of the Woman of the Year Planning Team, and as an Advisor to the Board of Directors. President Kim Becking shared her thanks for the human resource advice and planning Tina had provided to the Board during the recent Executive Director search for GMLF.
In addition, Tina has generously underwritten the costs for the Strengths Based Leadership books for GMLC Class participants and continues to assist the regional session planning team, serving as a speaker each year during the first day of the session connecting the dots .
Tina joined the faculty at Columbia College as an instructor in Fall 2017. Prior to joining the faculty, Tina taught in a Master of Strategic Leadership program as an assistant professor and oversaw the program as the program director. Courses taught included leadership theory, strategic human resource management, organizational behavior, design thinking, and the graduate capstone course.
Tina received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Iowa, her Master of Education from Washington State University, her Master of Business Administration from Stephens College, and her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Maryville University in St. Louis. Tina has been certified since 1996 as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP (Society for Human Resource Management-Senior Certified Professional). Prior to her teaching career, Tina’s career was in human resource management. She continues to consult with organizations and is active in her local human resources chapter.
Tina served in numerous community volunteer roles through the Heart of Missouri United Way, Women’s Network-A Division of the Chamber of Commerce, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Rotary, and the Youth Empowerment Zone. Tina served as a district representative for the State of Missouri Society for Human Resource Management State Council and is the previous president of her local HR chapter.
When Tina isn’t volunteering with GMLF, working or studying, she enjoys running, outdoor activities, cooking, reading, and socializing with friends and family. She likes going to movies, watching documentary films, and is a self-proclaimed foodie. Her dog, Eden, is her faithful four-legged companion.