Dawn Thurnau manages marketing and product development for the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet). Her team is dedicated to enabling innovation and opportunity through the use of technology. They have created turn-key programs for K-20 educators, libraries, and community organizations as well as developed partnerships to extend resources to reach underserved communities.

She has led initiatives including development of coalitions to pool and extend commodity checkoff dollars, launching a lifestyle program through a local health care system with goal-based incentives, and creating the MOREnet Immersive Learning Lab, a makerspace where educators can explore new educational technology and collaborate to create classroom activities using these tools.

With experience in agriculture, health care, and education, her volunteer activities often include rural economic development and youth leadership opportunities. She enjoys outdoor adventures, college football, and a variety of international cuisine. Thurnau has a bachelor’s in agriculture education from the University of Missouri and a master’s in agriculture policy from William Woods University.

D’Mitri Farthing, Jr. is the first person to serve as the Digital and Economic Opportunity Specialist for the State of Missouri’s Office of Broadband through the Economic Development Council. In this role, he managed the State’s implementation of the Digital Equity Act (DEA) as a member of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act team, which lead to him authoring Missouri’s first ever Digital Opportunity (Equity) Plan. He has managed federally funded grants and their implementation in the state to increase digital economy for all, focusing on the most disadvantaged Missourians. Farthing was instrumental in creating collaborations between public and private sectors to ensure higher return on investment with the resources allocated to Missouri.

Farthing is currently wrapping up a competitive two-year fellowship program through Govern for America with the goal of addressing our nation’s biggest challenges. He earned his BA in Science, Technology, and Society from Colby College and Masters in Global Technology and Development from Arizona State University.

Noah Washburn serves as the Statewide Extension and Engagement Specialist for the Office of Engagement, University of Missouri System. Before coming to Missouri, he was the County Director and ANR Extension Agent in Rhea County for the University of Tennessee Extension. Before the Tennessee opportunity, he worked for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture as the Program Director for LeadAR, Arkansas’ statewide leader development program. Noah previously served as the 4-H Youth Development Program Director, where he provided leadership to the State 4-H program.

His previous work experience includes three years as an Associate District Director in the Ouachita District, Arkansas (southwest 25 counties), where he provided administrative leadership in the areas of Agriculture, 4-H, and Community and Economic Development. Prior to this administrative role, Mr. Washburn served four years in Union County, Arkansas, as a County Extension Agent-Staff Chair. Before moving to Arkansas, he worked fourteen years with the LSU AgCenter as a Parish Chair and Ag/4-H Agent in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.

Washburn holds a Bachelor’s and master’s in animal sciences from Louisiana Tech University. He is currently completing requirements for a doctorate in Leadership from the University of Central Arkansas.

Robin Westphal has served as Missouri’s State Librarian for 6 years. Prior to that she served as library director in both Johnson City (TN) and Chillicothe (MO). Robin also has experience working in a school library and a law library. As state librarian, Robin has held critical roles on both the Missouri Bicentennial Commission and Census 2020 Advisory Board. She also serves on the executive board of the Western Council of State Libraries. She has oversight of several different initiatives aimed at digital equity in the state of Missouri, including a variety of training and evaluation resources to address the accessibility gap.

In addition to involvement in professional organizations, Robin served on many community boards, including YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council and Country Club, serving as president for both the Chillicothe Rotary Club and Chillicothe RII Board of Education.

Robin has two grown daughters; she and her partner, Ryan, love to travel and are always thinking about the location of their next adventure. Westphal obtained a B.S. in Political Science from Kansas State University and a master’s in library science from Emporia State University.