IWPA 2025 Speakers
Keynote: DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D.
Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace is president and chief executive officer of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography.
Working across the public service, academic, and philanthropic sectors, Dr. Burns-Wallace carries a career commitment to enriching and strengthening equitable economic mobility for all. With Ewing Kauffman’s vision serving as the centerpiece for the Kauffman Foundation, Dr. Burns-Wallace guided a comprehensive community engagement process to solidify the foundation’s enduring bond with Kansas City and renew its focus on college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Dr. Burns-Wallace was the secretary of administration and the chief information technology officer for the State of Kansas under Governor Laura Kelly. She was the first African American to hold either cabinet seat in the state’s history.
Dr. Burns-Wallace’s career in higher education included serving as vice provost for at University of Kansas, assistant vice provost at the University of Missouri, and assistant dean at Stanford University. She began her career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, serving tours in China, South Africa, and in Washington D.C.
While her career has taken Dr. Burns-Wallace around the world, she has never been far from the neighborhoods of Kansas City where she was raised and drew inspiration for leading a life of service. DeAngela’s most important title is mom to her son, Xavier.
Kimberly Dewitt
Kimberly DeWitt serves as the inaugural Chief Data Officer for the State of Kansas, leading the Office of Collective Intelligence to transform how data is governed, shared, and used to drive innovation across government.
With over 25 years of experience in information technology, she is passionate about fostering collaboration, advancing transparency, and creating more common data spaces for the betterment of all citizens.
Kimberly has a Bachelor’s in International Business from Park University, an Executive MBA in Executive Management from Baker, and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Public Management from KU. She also holds both PMP and CSM certifications.
Meg McCollister
Meg McCollister has a strong leadership, advisory and advocacy background, with 20+ years working in public service, including non-profits, local and federal government, and with candidates for public office. She has focused her career on public health, environmental advocacy and administration, health care access for low-income populations, and community education. She is also a proud Jayhawk!
McCollister currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Midland Group headquartered in Lawrence, KS. She previously served as the Administrator for U.S. EPA Region 7, where she was appointed by President Joe Biden.
Carol Gonzales
Carol is the Director of Finance and Administration at the Mid-America Regional Council. Prior to 2017 Carol worked for the City of Shawnee, serving as the city manager from 2005 until 2017. Carol currently serves as chair of the Johnson County Civil Service Board, president of the Shawnee Sister City Committee and is on the Growing Futures Early Education Advisory Committee. She is a soccer fan and an enthusiastic golfer. Carol and her husband Michael live in Shawnee and have three adult children.
Kim Freese
Kim Freese is a public service leader who cares deeply about serving people with substance use and mental health challenges in the community, focusing on financing this care and on policy at local, state and federal levels.
Kim has worked for 30+ years with people with substance use and mental health challenges in community-based settings serving women and their children, in prison and community based settings for people involved in the legal system, and in local, state and federal policy roles often focused on financing, parity for mental and substance use care, and systems development.
Kim is the former Regional Director in Region 7, from May 31, 2015 to June 2, 2025, serving Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri and 9 tribal nations, for the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Kim received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and her master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and is a licensed addictions counselor as well as a certified peer support specialist. At heart, Kim is a mentor and is a person thriving in long term recovery.
