Alumna of the Year

Susan Plassmeyer (’86)

Susan Plassmeyer is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement Services and Administration in University Advancement at Washington University in St. Louis. Plassmeyer’s primary areas of responsibility include gift operations and reporting, a multi-year project to replace aging advancement technology, and Advancement’s financial administration and talent management. Plassmeyer also taught the financial management course in University College’s Non-Profit Management Program from 2009 to 2018. Plassmeyer joined WashU in 2006.

Previously, Plassmeyer served as the Executive Vice President for the Chicago Transit Authority and led the CTA’s construction and engineering projects, including a capital budget of $1.2 billion and annual operating budget of $130 million. She has also served on the staff of the University of Chicago and was one of the first employees at non-profit The Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest where she had responsibility for financial operations, grant writing and marketing. Plassmeyer started her career in banking at the First National Bank of Chicago (now JPMorgan Chase).

Plassmeyer has been a board member and volunteer with numerous non-profit organizations in Chicago and St. Louis. Currently, she is a volunteer for Rung for Women, which supports women as they seek career advancement. She served on the board of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, a St. Louis-based organization that provides grants and no-interest loans to qualified college students, from 2015 to 2023. She was selected as a member of the 2007-08 class of Leadership St. Louis. After graduating from Truman, Plassmeyer served for two years on the Delta Sigma Pi Board of Directors.

Plassmeyer credits strong examples from her parents and other family members and her experience at Truman as a student and as an alum in highlighting the importance of volunteer service. In 1984, she was the first student appointed to the Northeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Plassmeyer has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, several terms on the Truman Foundation Board, and on the School of Business’ Advisory Board. In 2012, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed her to a six-year term on the Truman State University Board of Governors. Plassmeyer served as Truman’s Board Chair in 2014.

Plassmeyer earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago. She also earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration from Truman State University. She is a native of Osage County, Missouri, where she grew up on the family farm. Plassmeyer now resides in University City, Missouri.

Recipients of the Alumni of the Year Award

2022: Richard (’70) & Kathleen (Gilbert) Theriault (’71)
2021: Bill “Woody” Woodall (’79)
2019: Terry (’68) & Faye (’68) Whitworth
2018: Dick Erzen (’49) & Edie (Ford) Erzen (’49)
2017:  Kenneth “Ken” Rickli (’65)
2016:  Daniel “Dan” Shepherd (’79) & Janet “Jan” (Kreimeyer) Shepherd (’76)
2015:  Steve Justice (’70, ’81)
2014:  Mike McClaskey (’85) & Janet (Yearns) McClaskey (’84)
2013:  Mary (Rhodes) Russell (’80)
2012:  Jack Magruder (’57) & Sue (Brimer) Magruder (’55, ’77)
2011:   Steve Rose (’69)
2010:  Larry Quisenberry (’66, ’75) & Sharron (Bailey) Quisenberry (’66)
2009:  Greg A. Gerhardt (’79)
2008:  Lanny Morley (’62, ’64) & Beth (Fisher) Morley (’63)
2007:  Randa Rawlins (’79)
2006:  Guy Burton (’53, ’55) & Betty (McKanna) Burton
2005:  Eugene Croarkin Sr. (’49, ’52)
2004:  Dwain Horn (’50)
2003:  Calvin Roebuck (’57)
2002:  Linda Miller (’70)
2001:  Dean Rosebery (’41) & Amy (Ayres) Rosebery (’43)
2000:  Carole Kennedy (’72)
1999:  Chuck Foudree (’66)
1998:  B.D. “Bud” Hunter (’50)
1997:  Joseph Hasenstab (’60)
1996:  Steve Gaw (’78) & Fannie (Bowdish) Gaw (’84)
1995:  James C.C. Chen (’86)
1994:  Ruth Warner Towne (’39)
1993:  Frederick “Fritz” Lauer (’50)
1992:  Ray Bentele (’60) & Mary (Cox) Bentele (’60)
1991:  Larry Moore (’67)