FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2010 #056
Contact: Laura Byerley
(816) 235-1592
UMKC School of Computing and Engineering Dean Kevin Truman receives prestigious award
Society of American Military Engineers' Bliss Medal recognizes excellence in educating, mentoring and motivating students
In the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week, the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) recognized University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Computing and Engineering (SCE) Dean Kevin Truman for excellence in educating, mentoring and motivating students. Truman accepted SAME's 2009 Bliss Medal on May 5 at SAME's 2010 Joint Engineer Education and Training Conference and Expo.
Throughout his 30 years as an educator, Truman has provided excellence in educating, mentoring and motivating students. He has received several teaching awards, including the Missouri Society of Professional Engineer's Outstanding Engineer in Education Award, the Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
After serving as chairman of Washington University's Department of Civil Engineering (which later became the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Structural Engineering) for 10 years and receiving an endowed professorship, Truman joined SCE in 2008. As dean of SCE, he is working to establish a reputation for academic excellence, strengthen alumni and community relations and grow research and entrepreneurial operations.
Working with the SAME Greater Kansas City Post, Truman helped found UMKC's first SAME student chapter. UMKC's partnership with SAME has grown quickly over the past two years, linking students with architecture, engineering and construction professionals; advancing students' scientific and engineering education; assisting in students' professional development; and jointly achieving the SAME's goals and objectives.
At the same time, students, faculty and staff know Truman as a leader who is conversational, considerate, fair, structured and calm under pressure. People also recognize him for his cake-baking skills, as he often shares lava cake and chocolate flan with his department.
Truman holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Washington University and a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology).
This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).

