Class of 2025: Audrey Stowe

FROM STRATEGY TO SUNSETS, THIS DOUBLE MAJOR (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MARKETING, AND JOURNALISM WITH AN EMPHASIS IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION) PROVIDES SOME INSIGHTS, INSPIRATION AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ROAD BEHIND HER AND WHAT'S AHEAD.

What are you most passionate about?  

There are so many answers to this question, but probably the most consistent driver in my personal and professional pursuits, is the feeling of purposefulness. Every decision I have made, every organization joined, and every relationship fostered has related back to being purposeful. I know that I have so much to give to those around me, and I want to continue to find spaces where I cannot only grow myself but can take others with me. I want to be in rooms and at tables where change is happening, and my first question is “What can I do to help?”  

I am also passionate about telling meaningful stories that connect people. I believe in the power of words to shift perspectives and inspire action. We are all connected, and sometimes it takes a campaign, a conversation, or a carefully chosen word to see that.  

What is something you’ve changed your mind about and why?  

I used to think leadership was about having all the answers. Now, I think it’s about asking the right questions.  

Pretend it’s 10 years from now, what are you going to tell yourself that you’ve done?  

I hope I can look back and proudly say that I’ve stayed curious – never settling, never losing my wonder for the world or the people in it. I hope I have continued to travel widely, not just to collect passport stamps, but to listen, to learn, and to better understand how different perspectives shape the way we live, think, and connect. I hope I’ve had the chance to create work that matters, work that tells real stories, that moves people, that makes them feel seen.  

More personally, I hope I’ve spent the last 10 years mentoring young women, the way I was mentored. I want to be the person who says, “You can do it, too,” when someone else needs to hear it. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll say I have plans to be back at Mizzou, walking across the Quad on my way to teach a class or speak to students who remind me of who I was. 

What cause or philanthropic effort have you decided is important enough to always do?  

The advancement of female leadership and access to education is a cause I will always champion. I have seen how powerful it is when women are given the tools, confidence, and space to lead. Through my roles as Panhellenic President and Chapter President of Alpha Delta Pi, I’ve worked to create more inclusive, empowering environments where young women can grow into the best versions of themselves. That work won’t stop when I graduate – it's a lifelong commitment. 

And on a lighter note, I fostered a dog for the first time this year – a sweet, slightly chaotic rescue who reminded me that small acts of care can still change lives. Whether it’s through mentorship or giving a dog a second chance, I want to keep showing up for the things (and beings) that need a little extra support. 

You have skydived. Why did you do it?  

I try to live my life like a bucket list, and sometimes, it gets a little too real. I finally decided to go for it because it represented everything I was working toward: trusting myself, leaning into fear, and letting go of control.   

I’m not an adrenaline junkie (I don’t even love rollercoasters), but I was starting to feel like if I didn’t do it now, it might never happen at all. So, I drove four hours to feel completely weightless for 60 seconds, and it reminded me why I continue to say yes to the unknown.  

In your travels, where is your favorite place and/or a place you see yourself going back to over and over again?  

I find something to love about every place I’ve visited. Lisbon, Portugal feels like sunshine in city form. It’s colorful, warm, and full of life. Munich, Germany feels so romantic. I could walk around for hours admiring the architecture. However, Dublin, Ireland is just effortlessly charming. I loved the cozy pubs, the music echoing from each corner, and the flowers hanging from every windowsill. And the endless fish and chips? Yeah, I’ll be back...probably more than once.  

You’re a reader, what is your favorite book of all time?  

Love this question! I’m a chronic reader. I believe there should be books in every room. There are two books that feel like a conversation with my own heart: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Both came to me at the exact moments I needed them. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea is whimsical and heartwarming, but underneath that, it’s about acceptance, courage, and finding family in unexpected places. It’s the kind of story that makes you believe in good again.  

The Midnight Library, on the other hand, made me pause and reflect on all the paths I’ve taken, and the infinite ones I haven’t. It helped me see the beauty in uncertainty and the importance of choosing to keep going, even when life feels heavy. 

A special shoutout goes to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I’ll always dream of being the fifth March sister. 

What are you afraid of?  

Staying the same. I’m a big believer that there’s always more out there if I have the courage to go find it. I actually got a tattoo to symbolize it this year. I’m afraid of not growing, not evolving, not asking bigger questions or trying harder things.   

What’s your favorite brand and why?  

National Geographic – always. I used to flip through the magazines, completely mesmerized. It was the first time I realized how vast and beautiful the world really is. It’s the reason the first career path I considered in elementary school was photography, why I thought in high school that I would narrate documentaries, and it certainly planted the seed for majoring in Journalism in college. Nat Geo sparked my love for travel and storytelling, two of the biggest pieces of my life.  

Even now, I see it as more than a brand. It’s a reminder there is still so much left to discover on this earth, and there are people like me who are out there doing it.  

Pretend it’s 100 years from now, what do you want people to remember you for?  

I hope they say I showed up for people, especially in the moments when it mattered most. That I used whatever platforms I had to lift others up, to open doors, and to make space where there wasn’t enough. If, 100 years from now, someone says I helped make the world a little more connected, a little more kind, and a little fuller of possibility – that would be more than enough. 

Has Mizzou changed you and if so, how?  

Mizzou has shaped me in ways I’ll be reflecting on for the rest of my life. It gave me a platform to lead boldly, the freedom to explore my interests, and the support to grow through every challenge.  I found my voice here, and more importantly, the confidence to use it. 

You're a double major, business and journalism. Would you do that again? Which is the better college?  

I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Business taught me how to think strategically, and journalism taught me how to connect emotionally. I truly got the full picture. And as for the better college? I’ll never pick favorites, but let’s just say... one gave me strategy, the other gave me sunsets over the Quad. You tell me.