President Biden Appoints Two UMKC School of Law Alumnae
Two UMKC School of Law Alumnae have been appointed by President Biden in key leadership roles as Regional Administrators for Region 7, which serves Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations.
Andrea Spillars and Meg McCollister have both been selected for positions in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively.
Andrea Spillars has been appointed as the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 7.
Spillars (J.D. ’89) brings decades of experience in managing crisis to her role at FEMA. She had a lead role in the Missouri state response to natural disasters as the Deputy Director for the Department of Public Safety, including the devasting Joplin tornado in 2011, the prolonged flooding in 2011, drought relief efforts in 2012, and historic ice storms in 2009. She also led the state’s successful effort to establish an interoperable public safety communication system.
From 2015 to 2017, Spillars served as Senior Advisor and Legal Counsel in the Missouri Governor’s Office, and ultimately as Counsel to the Governor. She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Missouri Board of Law Examiners.
McCollister has been appointed the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7. She will lead the implementation of the Biden-Harris environmental agenda by addressing environmental justice, climate change, and building resilience for regional industries.
McCollister graduated from UMKC School of Law in 2011 with a Juris Doctorate and an emphasis in Urban, Land Use and Environmental Law. She has nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving candidates for public office, and leading public policy campaigns for environmental justice.
Bringing their expertise and passion to their practice, Andrea Spillars and Meg McCollister join a long line of leaders in key public service roles. Congratulations!