For Faculty, By Faculty.
The Provost’s Office founded the Diane Filion Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) in response to a growing desire by faculty to have an enriched set of training and development opportunities to support them in their academic pursuits.
Aligned with UMKC's Strategic Plan, CAFE also supports the university's history of excellence as a leading urban research university, nurturing a culture of lifelong learning, pioneering teaching, engagement, and transformative scholarship.
CAFE is dedicated to supporting faculty through professional learning, networking, and mentorship. Throughout the year, selected faculty fellows provide a variety of programming that fosters faculty success through four pillars of excellence — teaching and learning, research and creativity, service and engagement, and faculty life and leadership.
Leading initiatives for the Faculty Life and Leadership pillar, Lorie develops and coordinates programming and resources for faculty at all stages of their academic career. FL&L programs include New Faculty Orientation, Get Launched, the Leadership Development Program, the Chairs' Forum, and other opportunities directed from Faculty Affairs throughout the year. In addition, Lorie offers values based coaching sessions to assist faculty in cultivating balance and confidence in their careers.
As an Instructional Designer, Laura supports engaging, inclusive, and learner-centered experiences. With a background in theatre and a strong foundation in instructional design in higher education, Laura brings a unique perspective that emphasizes storytelling, audience awareness, and creative problem-solving. She is passionate about partnering with educators to explore innovative, research-informed approaches to teaching and learning.
Ash is a dedicated instructional designer who empowers UMKC faculty to implement engaging, evidence-based teaching strategies that elevate learning for all students. With a rich background as both an instructional designer and a former psychology professor, Ash brings a unique blend of expertise and empathy to their work. They are passionate about helping faculty discover the ideal balance between the art and science of teaching—offering tailored, innovative, and time-saving approaches that make a meaningful impact in the classroom.
Coordinating program support for CAFE initiatives, Jenny collaborates with CAFE leadership, UMKC faculty, and community partners to deliver impactful workshops, research showcases, and community engagement events. Drawing on her diverse professional experience and deep commitment to public service, she brings creativity, collaboration, and innovation to CAFE programs, strengthening connections for UMKC and our community.
Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) provide semester- or year-long opportunities for collaborative inquiry, reflection, and experimentation. Each year, we announce faculty learning communities across a range of topics related to teaching, student success, and UMKC's strategic plan.
CAFE Focus: Chairs' Forum
Located on the third floor of Newcomb Hall, CAFE event spaces are designed with faculty in mind!
Host a research presentation, collaborate on a project, or just hang out in UMKC’s beautiful and spacious Faculty Commons. This is a space that is hardly ever reserved for exclusive events because we are committed to the Commons concept: this space belongs to the whole Faculty.
Faculty are welcome to use the Faculty Commons informally or in small groups at any time—for writing groups, research meetups, happy hours, or casual gatherings—without a reservation, as long as the space remains accessible to others.
The CAFE Conference Room may be reserved for faculty professional learning workshops, committee meetings, or other CAFE-related activities.
While not a guarantee of room availability, please check room availability on the CAFE Calendar before submitting your reservation request.
