For Paul Holewinski, championing the University of Missouri-Kansas City means looking beyond the university’s campus. It means asking how UMKC can be a stronger institution while also being a better neighbor and community partner.
As treasurer and chair of asset management for the UMKC Board of Trustees and president and chief executive officer of Dickinson Financial Corporation, Holewinski brings a perspective shaped by leadership, stewardship and a deep commitment to Kansas City.
That perspective is evident in the Trustees’ involvement in the recent repositioning of 10 university-owned properties, one is a vacant lot, in the Rockhill Crest neighborhood south of the Volker Campus. For Holewinski, the project is more than a real estate transaction: it is an example of how thoughtful stewardship can advance the university’s mission while strengthening the community around it.
A Good Neighbor
UMKC’s agreement with CORE Urban Renew calls for nine century-old homes to undergo comprehensive renovations and return to owner-occupied use. The project was shaped, in part, by conversations with neighborhood leaders, whose input helped inform the university’s request for proposals.
For Holewinski, the Trustees’ role was to help find a solution that considered everyone with a stake in the properties.
“The Trustees worked with the university to create the homes repositioning plan, which considered the needs of the stakeholders, the university, the Trustees and the neighborhood,” he said.
The result, Holewinski said, is a community-focused approach that improves the condition of the properties, strengthens the neighborhood and allows UMKC to focus its resources on its core academic mission and the Trustees’ Scholars program.
CORE’s preservation-minded proposal was an important part of that equation. Rather than replacing the homes or changing the character of the neighborhood, CORE proposed restoring the properties, modernizing their systems and returning them to use as homes for the next generation of Kansas City homeowners.
“That combination of experience, local focus and neighborhood sensitivity gave us confidence that CORE was the right partner for this project,” Holewinski said.
Stewardship with a Purpose
Real estate has long been part of the Trustees’ responsibility as stewards and strategic advisers to UMKC. But Holewinski sees that responsibility as bigger than managing property.
Holewinski believes that as the landscape of higher education changes, the university has an opportunity to think differently about how its assets can serve its future.
“The goal now is to ensure these assets continue to benefit the university, its surrounding neighborhoods and its students under a different financial model,” Holewinski said.
That philosophy is playing out in the homes project. What had become a challenging group of properties for the university to manage directly can instead become an asset that benefits both the neighborhood and UMKC.
And there is another important outcome: the properties can generate income that supports students.
“The mission of the Board of Trustees is to strengthen Kansas City’s future by advocating for and supporting UMKC and its students,” Holewinski said. “This project lands on the sweet spot of that mission.”
Investing in Students
For Holewinski, the connection between asset management and students is not abstract. The Board of Trustees’ work is ultimately about creating opportunities for students, including through the Trustees’ Scholars program. It’s why Holewinski finds his service meaningful.
“Through the Trustees’ Scholars program, I can also see the direct impact our work has in making Kansas City better,” he said.
Beyond financial support, Trustees’ board members invest their time, experience and relationships in the students they serve, creating opportunities for mentorship and connections that can extend well beyond graduation.
For Holewinski, that student focus helps define what it means to be a champion for UMKC.
His ‘Why’
Holewinski’s decision to serve UMKC ultimately comes down to his belief in what the university means to Kansas City.
“I said yes because UMKC is one of Kansas City’s most important assets,” he said.
The university educates the region’s workforce, supports research and innovation, anchors neighborhoods and creates opportunities for students to lead. It is also close to home for Holewinski, giving his commitment a personal connection to the city and community he knows.
“I have always viewed UMKC as one of Kansas City’s crown jewels,” Holewinski said. “Every great city needs a great university, and for Kansas City, that university is UMKC.”
Serving as a Trustee gives Holewinski the opportunity to help strengthen an institution he believes is essential to the city’s future. That means bringing his experience and perspective to decisions about the university’s assets, helping UMKC navigate a changing higher education landscape and looking for opportunities where the university’s success and Kansas City’s success reinforce one another.
Building What Comes Next
The revitalization of these first homes is already underway. CORE Urban Renew is currently working on five properties, two of which have been sold to new homeowners.
Throughout the work, UMKC and CORE have maintained communication with neighborhood. Holewinski said neighborhood leaders have been pleased not only with the progress, but with the construction crews’ mindfulness of the impact their work has on surrounding residents.
For Holewinski, that response is important because trust is an essential part of the university’s long-term relationship with its neighbors.
“My hope is that this project becomes a visible example of UMKC listening, responding and acting as a long-term partner in the neighborhood,” he said.
That is the larger vision behind his service: an institution that is strong academically and financially, connected to its community and committed to creating opportunities for students.
Holewinski believes that universities have a significant physical presence in their communities, and the way they manage that presence can either build trust or create tension. In this instance, UMKC chose a path that balances institutional needs with neighborhood priorities.
“If successful, the project should strengthen trust, improve the condition of the housing stock near campus, attract new homeowners and demonstrate that UMKC’s success and the neighborhood’s success are connected,” he said.
Holewinski believes in UMKC because he supports what it can mean for Kansas City, and he is willing to put his time, experience and leadership behind that belief. His ultimate goal is to help ensure the university is positioned to serve students, strengthen neighborhoods and contribute to the city for generations to come.