On December 16th, Riisa Rawlins, interim CEO of the Regional Health Commission (RHC), delivered the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) Fall 2023 commencement address for the graduates of the College of Business Administration and the College of Nursing. In her address, Riisa highlighted her own personal and professional journey navigating complex health, social, and political systems, and encouraged students to lean into their “M.O.R.E.”: motivation, opportunity, respite, and engagement.
For those of you who have defied the odds, done the impossible and embody the outlier in the data – I see you. And I celebrate you.
For those of you who have been fierce supporters and relentless advocates for these extraordinary outliers, for those who have sacrificed to create room for their dreams – we thank you.
Riisa Rawlins, Interim RHC CEO
For more information about the commencement celebration, check out this article by UMSL Daily, or click the button below!
Riisa herself is pursuing a PhD in political science at UMSL, and was honored to be recognized by the university for her work in eliminating health disparities and dismantling the social and political factors that create and perpetuate unjust health care access. You can read more about Riisa’s recognition in this article by UMSL Daily, or by clicking the button below!