Growing up in East Prairie, Missouri, a town of just 3,400 people, Treece was the first in her family to attend college. She saw education as her ticket to a better life. "We had struggled so much when I was younger that I wanted to be there for my brother and my sister and myself," Treece recalled.

Southeast Missouri State University proved to be the perfect fit. Close enough to home but far enough to spread her wings, SEMO provided Treece with opportunities to reinvent herself and explore new horizons. She embraced campus life, joined a sorority, led the Sun Dancers, and took on various leadership roles.

Treece credits her time in the Greek community at SEMO for developing crucial skills that set the foundation for her career success. "I learned how to be a leader, but also how to be a follower," she explained. “I learned what I was good at. It’s important to know when to step back, and when to raise your hand when you can help out.” Her university experience taught her valuable lessons in prioritization, time management, and working with diverse groups of people.

After graduation, Treece began her career with Walgreens, where she would spend 33 years climbing the ranks. Starting as a management trainee, she quickly moved up to become a store manager, district manager, and eventually Vice President of Asset Protection and Comprehensive Loss.

Treece attributes much of her success to the foundational skills and experiences gained at SEMO. "I owe it all to what SEMO gave me, but also how I applied what was given to me," she reflected.

For current students and recent graduates, Treece offers this advice: be curious, ask questions, and always seek feedback. "Every job that you go into, you're going to learn along the way," she says. "It's actually how you ask the questions. Do it from a place of positive intention, from growth, and ask for advice and feedback."

Treece's journey from a first-generation student to a senior executive exemplifies the potential that lies within every student. Her story serves as a testament to the value of a college education, regardless of one's background or the institution attended.

As she puts it, "It's what you do with what you're given that makes a difference to who you will be and what you will give to the world." For Kim Treece, Southeast Missouri State University provided the foundation for a remarkable career.