Tamala Stallings is a Graduate Research Assistant and the Coordinator for the Sue Shear Leadership Academy for the Center of Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Mrs. Stallings has served the St. Louis community for over 20 years in the health and human services sector, providing grant and program management, grant compliance, and educational and social services to children, adults, and families. Tamala has a Master’s Degree from Kansas State University and earned her MBA from Lindenwood University. She is currently working toward her doctorate at UMSL in Higher Education-Administration and will pair her years of experience with her doctoral degree to continue serving the St. Louis community advocating for educational equity and access.