Spirit of Ruth Recipients

Congratulations to our Spirit of Ruth Recipients!

The Spirit of Ruth honor recognizes a Sigma Alpha Sorority alumna who embodies the spirit of Ruth through active involvement, agriculture. Each recipient of this award demonstrates the ideals of Sigma Alpha by living our four pillars professional life. Join us in congratulating our 2020 recipients!

Kimberly (Stassen) Neumann Kim (Stassen) Neumann earned her bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from North Dakota State University in December of 2009. She was activated on March 24, 2007 into the Upsilon Chapter and is an active member of the NDSU Sigma Alpha Alumnae Chapter. In 2018, she was the second member to be inducted into the NDSU Sigma Alpha Alumnae Hall of Fame. Kim served as a Chapter Consultant on the National Leadership Team from 2011-2014 and then served as the National Sorority Board’s Vice President from 2015-2019. Alumna of the Upsilon Chapter at North Dakota State University

Kim is a loan officer at AgCountry Farm Credit Services. She is also a part of the Women’s Group which brings educational and networking opportunities to AgCountry’s female customers. She is a Director on the American Berkshire Foundation Board and is serving as the Treasurer of the Redwood County Corn and Soybean Growers Association Board. Kim and her husband, Brad, live on Brad’s family farm near Wabasso, MN. She loves hanging out with her friends and family, enjoys traveling with Brad and, in her spare time, likes to read and paint.

Kim will be receiving her award at the St. Louis Leadership Seminar.

Rachel Hickerson Alumna of the Alpha Iota Chapter at California State University - Chico Rachel Hickerson has been in the meeting industry for close to 20 years in various roles and titles held. She joined Advocacy and Management Group (AMG) in 2013 where she brought her years of association conference and meeting management experience to a busy Association Management Company, focusing on overall execution of meetings and conferences. Most recently, she has taken on the task of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and manages multiple CME events a year. Rachel has a BS in Animal Science with a minor in Business from CSU Chico and most recently, earned her CMP in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with multiple animal rescue groups and is the current President of the MPI Sacramento Sierra Nevada Chapter.

Rachel will be receiving her award at the Reno Leadership Seminar.

The Spirit of Ruth honor recognizes a Sigma Alpha Sorority alumna who embodies the spirit of Ruth through active involvement, leadership and commitment to the field of agriculture. Each recipient of this award demonstrates the ideals of Sigma Alpha by living our four pillars - Scholarship - Leadership - Fellowship - Service - in her personal and/or

Caitlin Cox Alumna of the Beta Kappa Chapter at the University of New Hampshire

Caitlin Cox is a Conservation Representative of Strategic Philanthropy for Disney Enterprise Social Responsibility at the Walt Disney Company. She supports governance, processes, communications and impact measurement for Disney Conservation Fund programs aimed at saving wildlife, inspiring action and protecting the planet. Caitlin hails from the wonderful state of New Hampshire and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriscience Communications from the University of New Hampshire, where she was also a founding sister of the Sigma Alpha Sorority Beta Kappa chapter. She began her professional career in 2010 as an education professional intern at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where she inspired Guests to conserve nature and learn about wildlife. She also worked with the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Environmental Integration team on a variety of projects, including the development and launch of environment and conservation initiatives at the Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China. Caitlin joined the Disney Conservation Fund team in 2017 and lives near Orlando, Florida.

Caitlin will be receiving her award at the Atlanta Leadership Seminar.

Monica (Pase) Maxwell Alumna of the Chi Chapter at West Virginia University

Monica is an alumna of the Chi Chapter of West Virginia University. She served as the President and Vice President of the chapter and as recruitment chair, secretary, and vice president of the alumnae chapter. Monica completed her bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Science in 1996 and immediately went to work in the field, working as a research assistant, a veterinary assistant, and then an animal husbandry technician before an animal research facility manager. Monica grew up in Kingwood, becoWV, but has made Morgantown, WV her home (Go Mountaineers!), where her family raises Boer goats, cattle, rabbits, and chickens on their small farm. She serves as an adult volunteer for her local 4-H club and is an active member of the Monongalia County Fair board. She enjoys planning the livestock events for the fair and working with the 4-H and FFA children in the barn. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, reading, pottery, farming, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and their two dogs.