Thayer native honored by William Jewell College

LIBERTY, Mo. (October 9, 2013) -- Debbie (Gillespie) Mitchell, a 1975 graduate of William Jewell College, was honored during homecoming ceremonies in late September. Mitchell received the Jewell Humanitarian Award, recognized for living a life that reflects the high humanitarian service standards espoused by Jewell's vision statement: "Serving others to create a more compassionate and just world."

In August 2012, Mitchell, a Thayer, Mo., native, began serving as a justice advisor for the Rule of Law program in Afghanistan, counseling Afghan lawyers on the laws and constitution of Afghanistan. Additionally, she prepared lawyers and judges for the period following the deployment of U.S. troops from the country and coordinated classes for defense lawyers. Mitchell also taught English to her Afghan colleagues, and is currently working on a book that recounts her experiences.

A prolific writer, teacher, lawyer and musician, Mitchell has been elected Municipal Judge for the City of Sedalia since 1996. In addition to writing a column for the Sedalia Democrat, Mitchell teaches as an adjunct professor at State Fair community College and serves as a music director at Broadway Presbyterian Church in Sedalia.

About William Jewell College

William Jewell was named among "America's Best Colleges" in the 2014 guide published by Forbes Magazine, ranked 146 among the country's top tier of 248 national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report, listed among The Princeton Review's "The Best 378 Colleges" for 2014 and selected as one of the country's top service-oriented institutions of higher learning by Washington Monthly. Only about 15% of the country's four-year colleges and universities are considered for these top-tier rankings. William Jewell is the only national liberal arts college in the Kansas City region.

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