2024 Board of Directors

Jessica Shrout – President

Jessica Shrout is the owner of Circle Three Branding: a marketing agency that helps waste and recycling companies (and a few others) tell their story. Jessica knows the secret to marketing lies within human communication as she leads brands through their journey to better connect with their audiences. Jessica is an award-winning consultant and speaks globally on branding, marketing, and communication. She earned her Masters Degree from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. She is also a Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation Fellow. In her free time, Jessica keeps bees, knits, reads, and collects books on mythology from all cultures.

WaTasha Barnes Griffin – Vice President

WaTasha Barnes Griffin is the CEO of YWCA Central Indiana. She works tirelessly to eliminate racism and empower women and families in her communities and beyond. She inspires all to turn experiences of injustice and inequality into leadership and power. WaTasha is uniquely skilled at bringing diverse groups of people together across race, gender, class, and sector in timely calls of action.

She has been recognized for her accomplishments and contributions. Most
recently, she was presented with Senate Resolution Forty-Four by Senator Tim Lanane and the Indiana State Senate. WaTasha was named the 2018 Athena International Professional Leadership recipient for Delaware County, Indiana. WaTasha is a certified family development specialist from the University of Iowa School of social work and is currently working on her master’s degree in public administration at Indiana Wesleyan University.
She is a native of Muncie and is the wife of Elder Shoka Griffin Sr., and the mother of Shoka Griffin II, and Sa’Niya Griffin.

Krista Baker – Treasurer

Krista Baker is the Administrative Coordinator and Assistant to the Director at the Ball State University Career Center. She provides administrative support to the Director and the rest of the staff.  Krista really enjoys helping others and with working with her team, it has allowed her to assist the team so they may connect and empower students. Krista has worked for Ball State for ten years now, six of those years with the Career Center. Krista received two Associates degrees from Indiana Business College and is currently working towards her Bachelor of General Studies that includes four minors. Krista is a Muncie native and passionate about spending quality time with her son, family and friends.  She enjoys working out, shopping and traveling when she is able.  She is a new addition to the board as of 2021 and a member of WIBU since 2018. 

Jennifer Jas – Secretary

Jennifer Jas is the chief editing officer at Words With Jas, offering editing services for nonfiction books and business materials. She loves helping writers, authors, and world-changers ensure their messages are brilliant, engaging, and accurate. Jennifer has edited over 200 published books. Before starting her full-service editing company in 2017, she served as a freelance editor and proofreader for fifteen years while working in corporate communications. Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In her free time, she runs barefoot (as the season allows), writes haiku, and visits her two adult daughters in Denver and West Palm Beach. She is grateful to serve on the WIBU board as of 2022.

Amy Leffingwell – Past President

Muncie native Amy Leffingwell is Project Manager at Farmhouse Creative, and House Manager at Muncie Civic Theatre. Amy is passionate about the arts and is glad that she is able to be creative in both positions. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Ball State University. Amy believes advocating for her community is important. Amy enjoys volunteering at Muncie Civic Theatre, serving on the underwriting and marketing committees. In her free time, she enjoys participating in theatre and traveling with the Spirit of Oz acting troupe as the Wicked Witch of the West and Miss Gulch. She has served on WIBU’s board since 2019.

Marchal Hudson

Marchal Hudson, BS, MA, SPHR, is a Muncie native and alum of Ball State University.  She is currently employed as the Assistant Director, Unified Technology Support in Information Technology, BSU. Marchal currently serves on the WIBU and the Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity boards and she is a member of the BSU United Way Steering Committee, One Ball State Ambassadors, LEAD Program Instructors, Chic Innovate, and past Board President of United Way of Delaware County, and Motivate Our Minds.  Marchal is also a 2018 V!VA Award winner and volunteers across campus and in Muncie.  Marchal is doting grandmother, loves to travel and experience life on its happiest level.  She considers herself an optimist, a champion of service, and believes a positive attitude brings forth positive outcomes.  Marchal’s favorite quote is, “Live life before you die!”

Rigel Jackson

Rigel is a professional portrait photographer and owner of Rigel Jackson Portraits. She believes women deserve seeing themselves the way those that love them see them, beautiful. She’s originally from Mexico but has come to call Muncie home for the past 17 years. Rigel and her husband Ryan are glad to be raising five kids in this growing community.
Rigel graduated as an Industrial Engineer in Mexico but picked up a camera with the birth of her first child and has been clicking ever since. She loves spending time with her family and recording life as it happens.

Brianne Kelly

Dr. Brianne Kelly is the owner of Pivotal Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical therapy clinic focused on providing non-surgical treatment for women experiencing pelvic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and painful intercourse. Brianne has a continued commitment to providing one-on-one care focused on meeting the goals of each individual. Brianne is passionate about advocating for women’s health needs and believes people deserve autonomy in decisions regarding their healthcare.

Brianne grew up in Portland, Indiana before attending University of Evansville, where she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She and her husband, Mark, reside in Muncie with their two sons and dog, Olive. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to the beach.

Laura Medows

Laura Medows is the Vice President of Information Systems at Open Door Health Services.  She oversees the clinical and communication systems that provide Open Door with data used in performance improvement and strategic planning.  Laura finds success by impacting positive change and coaching others through the change process.  Laura has 16 years of experience working in non-profit healthcare.  She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Taylor University and is certified in both LDI and RBA process improvement.  When she isn’t working, Laura is enjoying time with her family, including her partner James, two daughters Jasmine and Cheyanne, and her son  Chad.  

Lindsey Speer

Lindsey Speer is the Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation at Ball State University. A native of Wisconsin.

Lindsey fell in love with the Ball State community during her graduate program. Having spent 14 years in the Office of Admissions, Ball State (and Muncie) has become her home and she’s a proud Cardinal! She loves the energy on campus, the welcoming atmosphere, and the opportunities available within the community. Lindsey received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Communications from Edgewood College in Madison, WI and master’s in Administration in Higher Education from Ball State. 

Lindsey lives in Muncie. In her free time, she’s active with her church, can be found enjoying the great outdoors, traveling, volunteering, and spending time with her family. She received the Young Athena award in 2014 and joined the board in 2021. 

Dorica Young Watson

Dorica Young-Watson is a certified Life Coach, Community Advocate, Trainer and Director of Community Engagement at Open Door Health Services. 

She started her higher education journey at Ivy Tech Community College and earned a Social Work Degree from Ball State University, School of Social Work.  She holds many professional certifications and was the 2019 ATHENA International Leadership awardee. 

Dorica is passionate about people having served on many youth/family focused boards and committees in Delaware County. She is a member of The Church of the Living God, Co-Chair for Juneteenth Muncie and Board President of Women In Business Unlimited, WIBU. Additionally, she is a member of an advisory board  for the Ball State University Social Work Department and a dedicated youth mentor. She is the mother of three, Jerren, Justin and Joslyn, G.G. to Javier & JNilah and is married to her wonderful husband Eric.