Story by Logan Jackson
When Heather Humphrey recently received an invitation to share career advice with University of Missouri Honors College students, her first call was to her son, Jim, a sophomore business administration major at Mizzou who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate.
Jim was immediately on board.
“I was thrilled to learn that she had been invited,” he said. “I love hearing her talk about her career and what she’s accomplished because I look up to her so much. She’s an incredible role model for me, and I knew it would be cool to hear her share with other Honors College students.”
Heather was excited about the invitation, too. She earned a business administration degree from Mizzou in 1992 and was deeply involved in the Honors College throughout her time as a Tiger. Now senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Evergy, the largest electric company in Kansas, Heather said she was honored to give back in such a meaningful way.
“I was extremely impressed by the questions I received from the students,” Heather said. “They’re incredibly engaged and informed. It was such a fun conversation and a really great experience. I’m so glad that the Honors College has a program of this nature where alumni can offer advice and stay in touch with the next generation of leaders.”
Heather discussed her current role with Evergy and answered questions tied to law, the environment and business. She also shared how Mizzou, specifically the Honors College and the College of Business, helped prepare her for her career.
“Both the Honors College and the College of Business helped me find my place at Mizzou,” Heather said. “Everyone was so welcoming in each space. Those experiences were instrumental for me early on in my college experience.”
A native of St. Peters, Missouri, Heather said her Honors College experience was especially rewarding. Along with meeting peers from a variety of backgrounds, she was introduced to exciting courses and engaged faculty.
“The Honors College showed me the importance of being a lifelong learner,” Heather said. “There were a couple of classes that definitely stayed with me over the years. They had outstanding faculty who really pushed each student to think critically. I think that shows the power of the college. If you fully engage with the content, it’s the type of learning environment that you have fond memories of 30 years later.”
After earning the Honors Certificate and a business administration degree, with a focus on marketing, from Mizzou, Heather traveled two hours east to the Washington University School of Law. After finishing her law degree, Heather spent a year as a law clerk for the Honorable Duane Benton in the Missouri Supreme Court. She then took a role with a law firm in Kansas City, Missouri. She spent just over 10 years in private practice, eventually becoming an equity partner at the firm.
Heather joined Great Plains Energy Incorporated in 2007 as a managing attorney. They company later merged with Westar Energy in 2018 to form Every. Heather’s role with the company has grown tremendously since she joined in 2007. She was even encouraged early on to go back to school for an MBA, which she earned from the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
“I’ve developed a philosophy over the years to stay open to opportunities,” Heather said. “A lot of individuals follow a linear career path, and there is definitely nothing wrong with that. I’ve focused on optimizing my choices, and I’ve been willing to try something different when the opportunity has presented itself.”
In her current role, Heather leads the legal and compliance divisions of Evergy. She is responsible for all litigation, regulatory and corporate legal matters, as well as compliance and environmental functions.
Her work has served as an inspiration for Jim. While he is on his own individual journey, Jim said the support from his parents has been instrumental as he navigates his next steps.
“I remember growing up and watching my dad argue in court, and I remember hearing both of my parents talking about their work as lawyers,” Jim said. “I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to get into law, and it’s certainly nice having parents who are in that field. I appreciate their advice, and it’s nice to have sounding boards. I try to get a variety of other perspectives, too. Sometimes when you have such strong ties to a specific career path you can have some tunnel vision, so it’s been important for me to explore all options.”
Jim has chosen the finance and banking emphasis area within the business administration degree program. He’s been active within his major and the Honors College, just like his mother. Jim has primarily earned Honors credit through Departmental Courses but said he is excited to take the Theory and Practice of Tutor Writing (GN_HON 2015) next semester.
“Everyone in the Honors College wants you to succeed,” Jim said. “There’s such a great community within the college, and I really appreciate the support I’ve received from the advisors and staff. I’ve loved the smaller class sizes and the opportunity to meet talented peers from multiple disciplines.”
Jim met numerous Honors College peers during his mother’s visit to campus. He said that experience was incredibly worthwhile, and Heather added that it was a joy to see her son engage in that intellectual space.
“It’s really gratifying to see your children grow and be successful,” Heather said. “Jim is blossoming into his own person, and I loved seeing him interact with his peers. I do love that he’s at Mizzou and involved in similar activities that I enjoyed. I’m also happy that he’s forging his own path and pursuing his own interests.”