2025 Most Influential Women: Regina Waters

Regina Waters was once told that her superpower is bringing people together to spark ideas and figure out a way forward, no matter the task. She’s never forgotten that.

“I carry that compliment with pride and strive to lead with empathy, strategy and a belief in people’s potential – qualities that continue to guide my work in education and community leadership,” says Waters, professor emerita of communication at Drury University and director of the Drury Leadership Collaborative.

Her academic career was sparked after she stepped into the classroom as a graduate teaching assistant at Missouri State University.

“That first experience teaching public speaking set the stage for a 36-year journey in higher education as a professor, mentor and leader,” says Waters, who retired from full-time teaching in 2020.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching for Waters was guiding students through academic planning, internship placements and professional preparation. She’s seen nonprofits and small businesses benefit from student-led research, communication campaigns and crisis communication plans.

“I view myself as a partner in their academic journey and seek every opportunity to spark student involvement in learning outside of the classroom via competitions, career-focused field trips, applied learning and professional networking,” Waters says.

She was a faculty adviser to student organizations, including the Association for Women in Communications and the American Advertising Foundation. Leadership at Drury included department chair, dean of the College of Graduate Studies and associate provost of Adult, Online and Graduate Education.

“I’ve aimed to influence student success by setting high standards, providing support and treating every individual with dignity,” Waters says. “At the end of the day, I hope I have influenced emerging and young professionals to commit to excellence and give themselves grace on the days they fall short.”

Waters may be retired, but she still interacts with graduate students as director of the Drury Leadership Collaborative, and she’s co-planner of Drury’s annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference, which sold almost 300 tickets in 2024.

“It is unbelievably gratifying to witness the camaraderie, optimism, grit and enthusiasm of the nonprofit community at this annual event,” Waters says. “It is truly an honor to organize and host this gathering.”

She’s poured time into Hospice Foundation for Outreach, where she’s been involved in the creation of Bucket List +1 to facilitate end-of-life conversations and the End-of-Life Care Summit. Waters has also been tapped by HFO to facilitate planning for its growth through 2031.