About Us

Barbara Levy is a healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in healthcare management and consultation. Barbara attended the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO, graduating in 1966 as an RN and went on to receive a Business Administration degree from Lindenwold College in St. Louis, Missouri. Although Barbara and her husband did not attend Missouri University, they have spent a lot of time on campus and have a deep love for the community of Columbia. Recently Barbara has been writing and in 2013 published her first book Be Your Pet’s Best Friend and in 2014, released a children’s book, A New Spring for April. She has a deep passion for her pets, loving fifteen pets over the past 46 years. Barbara believes in The Village of Bedford Walk and the fresh approach it brings to independent senior living, especially appreciating that pets can accompany residents to the new community.

Ms. Mustard is a 6th generation Boone County resident and received a Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Missouri. Cindy has worked in social services for over 45 years and recently retired in 2011 as the Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center. Cindy is passionate about the city and she is currently the co-owner of Tiger Trolley Tours. Cindy feels that The Village of Bedford Walk will attract a population that will continue to give back to the city of Columbia and will provide the independence that retirees want and the services that they need.

Dr. Porter earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Mary’s College and his Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Iowa. For 36 years Columbia has been his home and he feels it is a great place to retire because it offers a full range of arts activities and an art league, great walking trails and so much more. Michael retired as Chair of the Department of Communication from the University of Missouri in 2014 and stays busy with extracurricular activities and other community involvement. Michael believes that one of the great advantages to moving to The Village of Bedford Walk is the opportunity to meet new and interesting people and to have the time to relax and enjoy life without all the worries and cares of home ownership.

Dr. Rosemary Porter received a diploma in Nursing from St. Mary’s and a BSN and an M.A in Nursing from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. Rosemary moved to Columbia for her job at the University of Missouri and retired as the Dean Emerita of the Sinclair School of Nursing. Today, she enjoys her time traveling and working on various boards and committees. Rosemary feels that Columbia has everything she and her husband need for a happy retired life. Rosemary is impressed with the lovely physical space of The Village of Bedford Walk as well as the idea of having a great place for people 55 and older to take time for engaging in the community and finding new friends.

Dr. Marilyn Rantz, a Professor of Nursing, has been affiliated with the MU Sinclair School of Nursing (MUSSON) since 1992. Dr. Rantz’s pioneering work in nursing home quality care spans 30 years, first in practice then as a leading researcher in the Midwest. Marilyn received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Chicago, her MA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, her MSN from Marquette University and her PhD from University of Wisconsin. In late 2012, she secured a $14.8 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for their initiative to reduce avoidable hospitalizations among nursing facility residents; the largest ever received across the entire University of Missouri-Columbia campus. Marilyn is passionate about The Village of Bedford Walk’s relationship with the Sinclair Home Care organization and the unique nurse care coordination model.

Dr. Beatrice Smith is a Midwesterner by birth and although she has traveled the world extensively and lived elsewhere, she chose to make Columbia home, since 1977. Beatrice received her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University, her Master of Arts from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Beatrice is the Dean Emerita of the college of Human Environmental Science at the University of Missouri. Today she spends her time managing her commercial real estate and is an active officer of the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre Board, and a trustee of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Beatrice feels strongly that, “The Village of Bedford Walk has a well-earned reputation for quality construction, and will be the type of place that will attract interesting, fun and vibrant adults that want to stay engaged in the community of Columbia.”

Rebecca Johnson completed graduate research training with her masters of philosophy degree from University of Edinburgh, Scotland (as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar), and her Ph.D. from University of Iowa. She is the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing & Public Policy at University of Missouri where she also holds a joint appointment as a full professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. She is the President of the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, which consists of over 60 member organizations globally, working to facilitate research, education and practice in the area of human-animal interaction. In 2005 she founded and continues to direct the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) based at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research led to her induction into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) in 2007. In 2013 she was inducted into the National Academies of Practice in Veterinary Medicine. Author of many publications in peer reviewed journals, and other publications, she had two books published by Purdue University Press in 2011, “Health Benefits of Dog Walking,” and “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound.”