UMKC celebrated the promotion and tenure of more than 30 faculty members Sept. 20.
“Achieving promotion and tenure requires significant focus and dedication. In addition to the rigorous academic review required to be promoted and or tenured, you persevered through the challenges that the pandemic has brought over the past few years,” Jenny Lundgren, UMKC provost, said. “You shifted to remote learning, and sometimes shifted back again, modified curricula, reconfigured research studies and performances, and supported students in distress – all while handling the disruption in your personal lives. Your accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable.”
Lundgren noted the depth and commitment to their students and academic disciplines were admirable.
“We are fortunate that you have invested your time and talent here at UMKC. Your achievements are your own, but your colleagues, students, and the world benefit from them.”
Lundgren announced that the UM System Board of Curators approved two UMKC faculty members for the System’s highest academic honor. Max Vitiello, Ph.D., from the Department of History in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, was appointed Curators’ Distinguished Professor. Tina Niemi, Ph.D., Earth and Environmental Sciences in the School of Science and Engineering, has been appointed as Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Other faculty awards and honors – such as new Curators’ Distinguished Professors, and Trustees’, Governor’s and Chancellor’s awards for research, teaching, mentoring, community engagement and commitment to diversity and inclusion – will be presented at a separate event in the spring semester.
The promotion and tenure process at UMKC involves a lengthy and rigorous review of academic performance in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. Each of the academics recognized at the celebration has demonstrated to their peers and to the administration that they have met high standards for sustained contributions and outstanding performance.
UMKC 2022 Promotion and Tenure
Alison Graettinger, School of Science and Engineering, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Oh Ha, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Erin Hambrick, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Bryan Hong, Bloch School of Management, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Ryan Mohan, School of Science and Engineering, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Mostafizur Rahman, School of Science and Engineering, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Roozmehr Safi, Bloch School of Management, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Joanna Scott, School of Dentistry, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Fengpeng Sun, School of Science and Engineering, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Sarah Cox, School of Pharmacy, promotion to associate clinical professor
Elizabeth Englin, School of Pharmacy, promotion to associate clinical professor
Kristin Lee, School of Nursing and Health Studies, promotion to associate clinical professor
Juliana Redford, School of Dentistry, promotion to associate clinical professor
Linda Seabaugh, School of Dentistry, promotion to associate clinical professor
Holly Hagle, School of Nursing and Health Studies, promotion to associate research professor
Paul Barron, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to associate teaching professor
Bryan Boots, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Lena Hoober-Burkhardt, School of Science and Engineering. promotion to associate teaching professor
Preetham Goli, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to associate teaching professor
Bill Keeton, Bloch School of Management promotion to associate teaching professor
Julie Kline, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Melisa Schulte, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Amy Simmons, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, promotion to associate teaching professor
Pat Welsh, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Larry Wigger, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Michael Wizniak, Bloch School of Management, promotion to associate teaching professor
Cynthia Flanagan, promoted to librarian II
Stuart Hinds, University Libraries, promoted to librarian III
Tracey Hughes, University Libraries, promotion to librarian III
Mardi Mahaffy, University Libraries, promotion to librarian IV
Sandy Rodriguez, University Libraries, promoted to librarian IV
Lindy Smith, University Libraries, Promoted to Librarian III
Marie Thompson, University Libraries, Promoted to Librarian III
Cydney McQueen, School of Pharmacy, promotion to clinical professor
Eileen Cocjin, School of Dentistry, promotion to clinical professor
Cydney E. McQueen, School of Pharmacy, promoted to clinical professor
Erica Ottis, School of Pharmacy, promotion to clinical professor
Andrew Smith, School of Pharmacy, promotion to clinical professor
Rebeca Weisleder, School of Dentistry, promotion to clinical professor
Brenda Bethman, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, promotion to teaching professor
John Eck, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to teaching professor
Beth Elswick, UMKC Conservatory, promotion to teaching professor
Phillip Gonsher, Bloch School of Management, promotion to teaching professor
Brian Hare, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to teaching professor
Margaret Kincaid, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to teaching professor
Kevin Kirkpatrick, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to teaching professor
Rana Lehr-Lehnardt, School of Law, promotion to teaching professor
Brian Frehner, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, promotion to professor
DeAnna Hiett, UMKC Conservatory, promotion to professor
Zhu Li, School of Science and Engineering, promotion to professor
Tim Lynch, School of Law, promotion to professor
Cynthia Petrie, School of Dentistry, promotion to professor
Melisa Rempfer, School of Social Work and Psychological Sciences, promotion to professor
Tom Rosenkranz, UMKC Conservatory, promotion to professor
Zach Shemon, UMKC Conservatory, promotion to professor
Mikah Thompson, School of Law, promotion to professor
Michael Wacker, School of Medicine, promotion to professor
Ye Wang, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, promotion to professor