Angel McGee
February 26, 2019
Angel McGee (2018)
Angel McGee is the Manager of Communications and Outreach for the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy, a non-profit organization partnered with the Kansas City Royals. It is focused on empowering underserved youth through baseball and softball, as well as providing academic and social opportunities for scholar-athletes.
She previously served as the Royals’ Event Presentation and Production intern during the 2016 season and joined the organization in 2013 as a Mascot Assistant while also working part-time as a member of the Game Crew. Simultaneously, she worked with the Kansas City Chiefs as a Play 60 Youth Outreach Guide and Play 60 School Assembly host. She has also served as a Field Coordinator with the Chiefs’ Game Entertainment department for the past five seasons. Along with her community involvement, she volunteers as a Scholarship Reviewer for the KC Scholars program and is a Chamber Ambassador for the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
What year did you graduate and what was your concentration?
I graduated in May 2012 with an emphasis in Journalism and minor in Spanish.
What extra-/co-curricular activities did you do?
I served as Vice-President and President for the Association of Black Collegians (ABC) from 2010-2012 and was the Sports Director for News36 (now TMN-TV) during my junior and senior years. I also volunteered for the Women’s Resource Center and worked for Truman Tel-Alumni, a student-staffed phone-a-thon team under the Office of Advancement.
Angel and her friend Chris representing ABC at an Activity Fair on campus (2011).
Did you go to grad school?
Nope, but I’ve considered it.
What was your first job after graduation?
I was a Sports Marketing and Management intern for MOKAN, an AAU basketball organization based in Leawood, KS.
What are you doing now?
Currently, I am the Manager of Communications and Outreach for the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy, a youth non-profit organization under the Kansas City Royals. I am responsible for the development and implementation of community outreach strategies that support the Academy’s mission using marketing and communications initiatives, including corporate, community and school partnerships, social media, events and Academy programming.
Angel working with students at a KCUYA event (2018).
How has your Liberal Arts/COMM education helped you?
Wow! Where do I begin?!
My COMM education has helped me tremendously, from writing skills to behind-the-scenes camera production to high-level presentations and speaking engagements. It has literally prepared me for every facet of my job. There is no way that I could have succeeded to where I am now without the classes and experience within the COMM realm.
Which class did you dislike at the time you took it, but now you’re grateful you took it?
Public Speaking and Communication Theory were my least favorite courses, but have both been instrumental for all of my internships and current position. These courses covered the many elements that are a daily part of my job.
Angel celebrating at graduation (2012).
What was your greatest accomplishment at Truman?
Graduating! 
Why is Truman a good place for a student to study?
My favorite aspect of Truman was the smaller student population and access around campus. For the most part, everything was centrally located and made it easy to meet up with friends, study, or take a break. I loved the fact that I could walk from one side of the campus to the next in a short amount of time. This also means that off-campus locations are also within close proximity as well.
What would you say a COMM student should absolutely do while at Truman?
Get involved! While academics is the main priority for every student, my involvement with extra-curricular activities and student organizations gave me lifelong friendships with amazing people. It also helps create a healthy balance between school and social life—everyone needs a break at some point!
Just another day at work. Angel working at The K (2016).
What advice would you give someone who wants to go into the same line of work as you?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Internships and networking were the best tools for me, so use your resources! I wasn’t afraid to reach out to my peers within the organizations that I worked for when a position of interest came open or if they had outside contacts that could help point me in the right direction. Also I didn’t mind working or volunteering for as many hours that I possibly could to show my commitment and get the experience that I needed to succeed.
What do you miss most about campus/Kirksville?
Everything! The cost of living, accessibility around Truman and Kirksville, meeting up with friends at Pickler, the dining halls, sports events, and social gatherings—all of it. I truly loved every moment of my time at Truman.
What tag line would you create for the COMM department at Truman?
“Success is written and you define it.”
If you could come back to Truman and teach a class for a semester, what would be its title and what would it be about?
The Real World: COMM Edition. This would be a course about everything you need to know when transitioning into the post-college life and how to navigate through the journey of job searching.
Want to know more?
Angel is currently working on the KCUYA Legacy Seat Campaign for 2019. As the final construction phase for the new Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy facility in the historic 18th & Vine District in Kansas City, MO. So far, 784 stadium seats have been installed. The seats are located on the Motley Family Field (Field 2), the Salvador Perez Family Field (Field 3) and the Women of the Negro Leagues Field (Field 4).
Angel (3rd from right, front row) along with Royals players, alumni, and front office staff at the KCUYA for the Royals Field Takeover event (2018).
To fund the Academy’s mission, which is to empower Kansas City’s underserved youth through baseball and softball, academic and social opportunities to be the leaders of tomorrow, supporters can donate to name a seat through the Legacy Seat Program. The proceeds of the Legacy Seat Program will go towards the Academy’s Triple Play Fund, which gives the Academy the “Triple Play” of funding: Sustainability of Programming, Fidelity to Mission and Accountability to the Community.
If you would like to learn more about the work Angel is doing, you can go to the KCUYA website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.