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Gina Meier-Hummel has followed her calling to serve others for nearly 40 years.
Growing up in Topeka, Meier-Hummel (s’92, s’97) credits her high school counselor for encouraging her to go to college. Most of her family worked in the construction industry, so higher education hadn’t been in the plans. Gina took the leap of becoming a first-generation college student.
“I knew that I wanted to do something different with my life,” she says. “I felt very privileged because I had such a blessed life, so I felt the need to give to others. Even though I didn’t quite know how I would do that.”
When she first arrived at KU, Gina was interested in becoming a teacher. As fate would have it, one of her education classes was with her future husband, Mark. She remembers one assignment in which the class was asked to form groups and select students for their potential classroom.
“I selected all of the children who had grown up in vulnerable situations – and my soon-to-be husband thought that was a cue,” Meier-Hummel says. “It really was speaking to my heart that I wanted to serve vulnerable children and their families in some way. So, when I learned about social work, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life.”
Gina completed her undergraduate degree (1992) in social work at the University of Kansas and holds a master’s degree (1997) in clinical and administrative social work. When it comes to serving at-risk youth in Lawrence and across Kansas, there are few more experienced and successful.
Meier-Hummel is in her seventh year as the Executive Director of O’Connell Children’s Shelter (OCS). The organization provides residential care for youth in foster care in its five group homes, delivers prevention programming and offers family therapy support to families across Kansas.
In September, Gina and her team hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for “Elsie’s Place,” a new facility on the OCS grounds that will offer family support services, job-readiness resources, an intake center, crisis beds and dedicated space for staff training. In addition to a new facility, the Hope Grows Here campaign will also fund renovations to the five existing group homes and the HOPE Center.
“Over the years, we have cared for approximately 15,000 young people on this ranch,” Meier-Hummel said at the ceremony. “That’s children between the ages of 6 and 22 years old, and all of them are Kansas children. That is something that all of you should be proud of.”
Meier-Hummel started her career in Lawrence as a Child Protective Services investigator, which played an integral role in the privatization of child welfare services in Kansas. She went on to serve in influential roles such as the Director of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Commissioner of the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and the executive director of The Children’s Shelter, Inc.
“Sometimes the difference you make is small, and sometimes the difference you make is big,” she says. “When I’ve been able to advocate in a big public policy arena to get laws enacted that keep children safer and keep families together – like signing “Family First” into law – that is a big deal. But, equally important, in the last seven years that I’ve been at O’Connell, we’ve made sure that every young person who’s come through our doors has graduated high school. All of it is important.”
As her career continues to grow, she looks back on her time at KU’s School of Social Welfare with fond memories. She describes her experience at KU as exceptional and recalls many instances when her instructions stretched her thinking and encouraged her to view humanity in new ways.
KU also placed her directly into a job after graduation.
“In social work, you do an internship – and this is pretty amazing – after I finished my undergraduate degree, I literally completed my internship and walked into my first job the very next day at DCF (Department for Children and Families) in Child Protective Services. My internship really led to my career path.”
She’s never forgotten the invaluable experiences she had as a student and is committed to giving back in the same way. Gina is an adjunct professor at Washburn University – and a field instructor for nine social work practicum students from both Washburn and KU. She remains passionate about helping young social workers enter the field with proper training and mentorship to keep her profession strong.
“I feel so fortunate that I’ve been able to advocate for families and children in so many avenues,” Meier-Hummel says. “But, also, that I’ve gotten to supervise and administer so many social workers and people who’ve given so much to their community.”
Gina and her husband Mark, a Captain with Douglas County Fire and Medical, have three children and have been married for over 30 years.
If you would like to learn more about the O’Connell Children’s Shelter, visit OConnellChildrensShelter.org.
Montenegro and Croatia
Once we departed from Greece, we set sail to Kotor, Montenegro. We stepped off the ship, engrossed in the beautiful views of rugged peaks mirrored in the bay. Along with our Jayhawk friends, we were whisked away on tuk tuks to explore the town along the Adriatic. We noticed fortified walls we later stepped through to be warped into Kotor’s Old Town. Our young tour guide navigated us along curvy roads past striking views as he entertained us with stories about Kotor’s deep history. We learned about the three sisters who were in love with the same young sailor and saw our guide’s home. Interacting with a local in this capacity was so enjoyable because we got a glimpse of what life looks like in Kotor. We arrived at Porto Montenegro, a secluded portside filled with luxury boutiques, waterside cafes and superyachts. After 30 minutes of speed shopping, we got back on the tuk tuk and took an alternate way back to the ship so that we couldexperience the most sought-after lookout point in Kotor. We followed our tour with a stroll through Old Town, past medieval buildings and charming squares with a freshly baked pastry in hand. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon took the cake of our time in Kotor!
Our final destination before disembarkation of our ship in Venice was Split, Croatia. As the morning subsided, Split was bustling with energy. Split showed elements of both modern life and Roman ruins. The Riva Promenade couldn’t be missed as we ventured further into the city. The lines of palm trees and benches to rest on and admire the views of the port while savoring Krofnes, fluffy-filled Croatian donuts, were just what we needed after an adventure-filled week. Our favorite details of Split were the hidden courtyards and lively markets.
Our Jayhawks Give Back program is presented in partnership with Andrew Wymore, Senior Realtor with ReeceNichols.
Jayhawks Give Back celebrates ’Hawks who are making a difference in ways big and small. Each quarter, we’ll feature a member of the KU family and their story. If you know a Jayhawk who should be featured in Jayhawks Give Back, let us know!
