The Cherry-Price Visiting Leaders Series Program

Michael Applegate is the executive officer of the Pacific Media Workers Guild in San Francisco, where she leads a union of more than 1,000 workers in media, publishing, and nonprofits. She supports members in negotiating working conditions, seeking legal solutions, and collaborating to elevate industry standards. Applegate also advocates for freedom of the press legislation and assists journalists in striving to preserve local newspapers. Her interest in labor began as a political science and organizational leadership student at Westminster. Afterward, she campaigned nationally for improved employment and environmental standards at Walmart and then worked in leadership development with the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, helping emerging leaders bridge divides and address critical issues. Originally from southern Missouri, Applegate now lives in Oakland, California, with her husband, Joshua Kling ’13, and Cocker spaniel pug, Stanley.

Alec Bise majored in biology at Westminster before going on to nursing school at the University of Missouri. His first job in health care was as an anesthesia technician in an emergency room, where he was hired after recommendations from his connections at the College. Since that time, he has worked in a variety of hospitals throughout the state. Bise currently works at University Hospital in Columbia and for Aya Healthcare. At Westminster, he was a member of the Skulls of Seven, president of Student Ambassadors, and a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity

Derick Dailey is counsel and part of the Litigation and Trial Group in the New York office of Crowell & Moring, LLP. He represents clients in state and federal investigations, attorney general inquiries, and complex litigation. Previously, Dailey served as senior counsel to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, advising on civil rights, juvenile justice, and policy initiatives for the more than 7,000-person Department of Law and Public Safety. Dailey was also an assistant U.S. attorney for Delaware, where he led the Financial Litigation Unit, handled white-collar prosecutions, managed civil rights cases, and served on the district's reentry team. He is a graduate of the Fordham University School of Law, where he remains active as a board member of the Fordham Law Alumni Association and as an adjunct law professor. Most recently, Dailey was recognized as a 2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader and by The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 – 2024, an invitation-only organization comprised of the top African-American attorneys across the United States. Dailey majored in political science and religious studies at Westminster.

David Jackson is a principal at Gamble & Schlemeier, Missouri's leading government relations firm, recognized among the nation's top 10 in 2023. Jackson began his lobbying career at 19, becoming Missouri's youngest registered lobbyist while studying business administration at Westminster College. He financed his degree through lobbying work and independent studies tied to client engagements. He later graduated as the youngest participant in the executive MBA program at Washington University’s Olin School of Business. Before joining Gamble & Schlemeier in 2016, Jackson was the managing partner at the Gate Way Group, a government affairs firm with operations in multiple states. Throughout his 16-year career, he has been instrumental in driving over 100 policy changes at state and local levels, representing a range of clients, from large corporations and small businesses to non-profits and business coalitions. In 2020, Jackson took on the role of principal at Gamble & Schlemeier, where he oversees a substantial portion of the firm’s client accounts.

Mary Beth Miller received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish from Westminster College before going on to earn her PhD in clinical psychology from Oklahoma State University. She then completed postdoctoral training at Brown University in 2017. Miller is currently an associate professor at the University of Missouri, where she conducts clinical research on substance use and sleep disorders. She has been awarded eight grants from the National Institutes of Health, including a $2.5 million grant to determine the extent to which insomnia treatment reduces harm among adults with alcohol use disorders. Miller loves her job, talking about her kids, live music, and Diet Dr. Pepper.