Alumnus of the Year

In 1995, the Jefferson College Faculty Senate Executive Council initiated a program to recognize an outstanding alumnus at commencement each year.

The Outstanding Alumnus is a person who graduated from Jefferson College with a certificate or associate degree, has achieved distinction in his or her chosen field of employment, has been involved in community service, and is not presently a trustee or an employee of Jefferson College. We sincerely congratulate all of the past recipients listed below. 

Annie J. Mbale - 2025 Alumna of the Year

Annie J. Mbale is a proud Jefferson College alumna whose remarkable journey from Rumphi, Malawi, to the heart of Missouri is a testament to resilience, vision, and the power of community. She graduated in 2014 with an Associate of Arts degree, earning an Honors Certificate and consistently making the Dean’s List. Annie quickly distinguished herself as a campus leader – serving as president of the Student Senate, receiving the Student Ambassador of the Year award, and being named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Missouri Academic Team. Her exceptional commitment to leadership and academic excellence earned her the Missouri Community College Leader award. 

After Jefferson College, Annie continued to rise at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where she was a student of the Pierre Laclede Honors College. She served as president of the International Business Honor Society’s Student Government Association, vice president of Model United Nations, and president of the Pan African Association. 

After completing her Master’s, she became project manager for both World Trade Center St. Louis and the Mosaic Project. She says working with international students at UMSL helped shape her commitment to supporting immigrants in St. Louis through the Mosaic Project. 

Annie is deeply invested in her community – serving on the Government Relations Committee for Greater St. Louis, Inc., as a board member and strategy consultant for the African Chamber of Commerce St. Louis, and as a mentor with Rung for Women and the Regional Business Council. She is also the founder of A Community for African Female Entrepreneurs, an initiative designed to empower the next generation of changemakers. 

Annie’s story is one of humble beginnings, bold dreams, and a tireless commitment to lifting others. She lives in St. Louis with her husband Tyrice Jenkins and their two children. 

She often reminds others: “I am the proof that where you start doesn’t determine how far you can go.”