As we prepare to gather for our annual luncheon, we’d like to introduce you to four women leaders in our community who are creating a stronger future for all. The panel discussion will be moderated by Melissa Brunner, News Director at WIBW.
Tracy Khounsavanh Killough
Director of Community Engagement, Advisors Excel
Tracy Khounsavanh Killough is the Director of Community Engagement at Advisors Excel, where she builds partnerships with local nonprofits and uses philanthropy and volunteer engagement to create positive community change. Committed to strengthening communities, her collaborative approach draws on her experience with the Governor’s Grants Program, where she led statewide victim advocacy and criminal justice initiatives, secured grants, and aligned diverse stakeholders.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the Topeka Community Foundation, and is a member of the Grants Committee, which she previously chaired, as well as the Local Impact Investment and Board Development Committees. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for Washburn University’s Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, a graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka and past chair of its Advisory Board, and a proud Washburn alumna.
Dené Mosier
President/CEO, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
Dené Mosier has led the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center since August of 2015. Under her leadership the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center has achieved a 70 percent increase in attendance and become a beloved institution, offering hands-on exhibits and educational programs that inspire creativity and curiosity in children. She has led the organization in eliminating all original construction debt, launching a mobile museum, creating programming for children facing life threatening illnesses through the Medical Warriors program and establishing the Play Free program, a prison partnership that allows children to meet their incarcerated mothers or grandmothers at the museum to play.
She is passionate about providing opportunities for all children to learn and grow through play and exploration, and is dedicated to making the museum a welcoming and inclusive space for all families.
In addition to her work at the Discovery Center, Dené is actively involved in national advocacy on behalf of children and families. She was selected as a 2025 Aspen Fellow by the Aspen Institute, the first Kansan ever selected for the prestigious national fellowship. Currently, she holds the position of Chair of Strategic Initiatives on the Executive Committee for the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) Board of Directors. She has previously served as Vice President of Initiatives for the ACM.
Locally, she serves on the Visit Topeka Board of Directors, served on the Momentum 2027 Steering Committee and serves on the Momentum 2027 Leadership Cabinet.
Molly Howey, CEcD
CEO, Greater Topeka Partnership
Molly Howey serves as CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership, the collaborative organization for Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas that houses economic development, the chamber of commerce, downtown and tourism. She previously served as the president of GO Topeka, the economic development organization within the Greater Topeka Partnership where she led a bold strategy to drive regional growth through business recruitment, retention, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and talent attraction for the last 14 years.
Since joining GO Topeka in 2011, Howey has played a central role in transforming the region’s economic landscape. Her leadership has supported the creation of more than 2,000 high-quality jobs and over $2 billion in capital investment.
An active leader in the economic development field, Howey serves on the boards of the International Economic Development Council, Team Kansas and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. Her contributions to both the community and the profession have earned her numerous accolades, including YWCA Woman of Excellence, Topeka’s 20 Under 40, Leadership Kansas, Consultant Connect’s Top 50 Economic Developers in North America, Ingram’s 50 Kansans You Should Know, and Ingram’s Kansas City Women of Excellence. She is also a proud Washburn University Fellow.
Kathy Mosher
CEO, Astra Mental Health & Recovery
Kathy Mosher, LCP, MBA, is Chief Executive Officer of Astra Mental Health & Recovery. Astra was established on January 1 after a merger between Family Service & Guidance Center and Valeo Behavioral Health Care. Astra employs nearly 700 staff members and serves approximately 11,000 individuals and families each year.
Kathy brings more than 20 years of experience as a mental health care provider and administrator. Her career includes positions at the Menninger Children’s Hospital, Four County Mental Health Center (Independence, KS) and as a team leader at Family Service & Guidance Center. In 2014, she left FSGC to become CEO of Central Kansas Mental Health in Salina, KS, before returning in March 2022 to lead Family Service & Guidance Center.
Kathy holds master’s degrees in business administration (Baker University) and counseling psychology (University of Kansas) along with a bachelor’s degree in psychology (Washburn University). She is married and has two grown children.
We invite you to celebrate the power of collective giving and visionary leadership at the Women’s Fund Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. For more details and to RSVP, visit topekawomensfund.com/events.