Palle

“Human service has always been my personal and professional focus, and I strive to be a servant leader. I am a social worker by profession and those values are an integral part of who I am: service, the dignity and worth of every individual, social justice, human relationships, integrity and competence. If there is something that needs to be done and I have the ability to do it, I am not hesitant to pursue it.”
Palle is widely respected throughout our community for her history of building relationships and broad community support, both through her work and her volunteer endeavors. For 27 years, she served as president and CEO of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Abuse (MOCSA), and she has also served in a part-time consulting role with the Institute for Human Development at UMKC. In retirement, she has continued to serve in a range of leadership roles with community and professional organizations, including numerous positions with the United Way and the University of Kansas. She has served as chair of the Society of Fellows executive committee at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and is a docent at the Kemper Museum for Contemporary Art. She is an active board member and past board chair of KC Mothers in Charge, recently spending untold hours working on a major grant proposal for this organization which works with families who have lost a loved one to homicide. She has received numerous community awards for her work, including the Karen Herman Award from the Women’s Foundation, the Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association Distinguished Alum Award and the Edward Smith Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership from the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership.