Meet Troy Nash, industry leader, Kansas City native and four-time UMKC alumnus
Troy Nash (J.D. ’97, M.A. ’05, M.A. ’11, MBA ’13) will serve as director of the Lewis White Real Estate Center. Nash brings more than two decades of leadership in public-private partnerships, economic development and community engagement.
Nash first joined the University of Missouri-Kansas City as a student in 1994 and returned in 2023 as a faculty member at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. He previously served as executive vice president and principal at Newmark Zimmer and is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a former Kansas City councilman.
Nash joins the Lewis White Real Estate Center as UMKC welcomes a bold new chapter in its history. With bold plans himself, Nash is ready to propel Bloch forward as a leader in commercial real estate education.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision is to position the Lewis White Real Estate Center as the Midwest’s leading platform for real estate entrepreneurship and innovation. We’ll honor its legacy of academic excellence while expanding into emerging areas, like AI-driven market analysis and community-based development. Students will learn to model deals, assess risk and forecast market trends using cutting-edge tools. The goal is to prepare students not just to enter the industry, but to reshape it.
What immediate steps are you taking to engage with students, faculty and the real estate community?
We’re launching Real Estate Leaders of Tomorrow, a new series designed to connect students with industry leaders, expand internship pipelines and integrate case-based learning into the classroom. I’m also meeting with faculty and civic partners to align our programming with market needs and community aspirations.
We will convene thought leaders on pressing issues: housing affordability, climate resilience, urban revitalization and ethical development. UMKC should be the voice that asks not just, ‘Can we build it?,’ but ‘Should we build it and for whom?’
How is the Lewis White Real Estate Center advancing Bloch’s vision for inclusive prosperity?
Entrepreneurship is a powerful engine for prosperity. By embedding entrepreneurial thinking into our curriculum and partnerships, we help students launch ventures and lead developments that uplift neighborhoods, expand access and create long-term value for communities. That is how we align with Bloch’s mission, by turning ideas into impact.
What personal and professional significance does this role hold for you?
This appointment is deeply personal. I grew up in Kansas City housing projects. Those early experiences shaped my understanding of the built environment, not just as a physical space, but as a determinant of opportunity, dignity and health. Professionally, this role represents the convergence of my life’s work: real estate development, public service and education. It’s a chance to empower students with the tools to lead, innovate and build communities that reflect both entrepreneurial spirit and community purpose.
Why did you choose UMKC?
UMKC believed in me when I was just a kid with ambition and no roadmap. Bloch gave me the academic rigor, mentorship and flexibility to pursue law, business and public service, all while staying rooted in Kansas City. It’s more than a school to me; it’s where my journey began and where I now help others begin theirs.
About the Lewis White Real Estate Center
The Lewis White Real Estate Center employs an interdisciplinary approach to teaching real estate through the application of cutting-edge techniques and entrepreneurial thinking processes that are essential for success in the context of today’s increasingly dynamic real estate world.
The Lewis White Real Estate Center enables UMKC students and the Kansas City community to study all aspects of commercial real estate, including real estate finance, appraisal, development and asset management. Programs include a Master of Science in entrepreneurial real estate and a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in real estate.
Oct 30, 2025
15 alumni and one family will be honored on April 17
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Class of 2026 Alumni Award recipients include a radiologist who was the Chiefs Fan of the Year, a CEO of a nonprofit and a family with multigenerational Roos.
Each year, UMKC recognizes a select group of alumni for their inspirational accomplishments. The event is the university’s largest event supporting student completion grants, which help cover financial holds that could otherwise be a barrier to students graduating.
The Class of 2026 awardees will be honored at a celebration on April 17 at the Student Union. View sponsorship opportunities and purchase tickets here.
University-Wide Alumni Awardees
Alumna of the Year
Amy K. Patel (BLA ’10/M.D. ’11) is a board-certified radiologist who specializes in breast imaging. Patel is the medical director of the Breast Care Center at Liberty Hospital and associate professor of radiology at the UMKC School of Medicine.
Patel is a staunch advocate for patients receiving access to standard radiological care, particularly in the realm of annual mammography screening beginning at age 40. She assisted in the passage of a 2018 bill in Missouri ensuring annual screening coverage for 2D and 3D mammography beginning at age 40 for women at average risk, a 2020 bill ensuring coverage for above-average-risk women in accordance with American College of Radiology recommendations and was involved in the 2023 passage of diagnostic breast imaging legislation eliminating co-pays and deductibles.
As a result of her advocacy efforts, she was the 2021 recipient of the Kansas City Medical Society's Patient and Community Advocate Award. She was also named a 2022 Lamar Hunt Legacy Honoree and the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs Fan of the Year due to her community impact to close the gap between breast care disparities and her love for the Chiefs.
Spotlight Award
Daniel R. Wildcat (Ph.D. ’06) is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma and a leading voice in Indigenous culture and environmental issues. A longtime educator at Haskell Indian Nations University, Wildcat has spent over four decades advancing Native knowledge systems through teaching, research and public engagement.
Wildcat founded the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group and co-led national climate workshops with leaders like Winona LaDuke. His work has been supported by agencies including NASA, National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency and he currently leads a $20 million NSF-funded initiative to establish the Rising Voices, Changing Coasts Research Hub at Haskell Indian Nations University.
The Bill French Alumni Service Award
Jerry (H.A.) and Patty Reece (M.A. ’71) have long been supporters and advocates for UMKC. They jointly funded a $500,000 endowed scholarship to benefit future teachers in the UMKC Institute for Urban Education program and recently served as honorary co-chairs of the 2024 Crescendo Gala in support of the Conservatory.
A UMKC Trustee since 2004, Jerry Reece became a member of the board of the UMKC Foundation in 2019 and served as Chair from 2022 to 2024. With former UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton, he served as co-chair of the Institute for Urban Education Advisory Council, supporting the creation of a high-quality teacher workforce prepared for and committed to serving urban-based schools. In May 2025, he received the prestigious Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education.
Beyond her work with UMKC, Patty Reece has been a committed volunteer for the arts, historic preservation and conservation in both Kansas City and the Flint Hills in Kansas. She served Symphony in the Flint Hills during its formative years as chair of a broad range of committees, as well as Chair of the board. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, serving on various committees and as past board chair. In 2015, the couple founded “Volland Foundation, A Place for Art and Community,” in the Flint Hills near Alma, Kansas, where she continues to serve as board president and director.
Defying the Odds Award
Tiffany S.W. Hamilton (BLA ’03, M.A. ’09) is the chief executive officer of the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester in New York, where she leads one of the region’s most influential nonprofits. Under her leadership, the organization serves thousands across Westchester County through programs in affordable housing, childcare, youth empowerment, economic advancement and wellness.
Hamilton is a first-generation college graduate who attended UMKC on a full academic scholarship in computer science while raising her four-year-old daughter. Sixteen weeks before graduation, she made a bold decision to shift her major from computer science to liberal arts, choosing purpose over predictability and setting the course for a life dedicated to education. She began her professional career at UMKC, where she served as a recruiter, assistant director of admissions and, ultimately, director of multicultural student affairs. In these roles, she helped countless first-generation and underrepresented students navigate college and find community. Her deep commitment to inclusion and student success led to her appointment as assistant dean of students for student success, where she expanded pathways for academic persistence and belonging.
Today, as a nonprofit CEO, she applies that same vision to strengthen communities and empower women and girls. A proud member and current president of the Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tiffany also serves on the boards of Nonprofit Westchester and the Urban League of Greater Kansas City.
Legacy Family Award
For two generations, the Spartan-Haerer family has used its UMKC education to advance their careers and the region. Steve Spartan (B.A. ’70, M.A. ’75, M.A ’76) attended school and worked at UMKC from 1965-1976, receiving a bachelor’s in economics, a master’s in psychology and a master’s in social psychology. While attending UMKC, Steve met his wife, Karen Spartan (B.A. ’70) (maiden name Haerer) who attended school and worked at UMKC from 1966-1975, receiving a bachelor’s degree in economics.
While the couple was attending UMKC, they encouraged their siblings to seek higher education as well. Steve’s sister, Joanne Zicarelli (maiden name Spartan) attended UMKC in 1972-1973. Karen’s sister, Susan Deatherage (B.A. ’79) (maiden name Haerer) attended school and worked at UMKC from 1968-1979, receiving a bachelor’s in economics. And Steve’s sister, Christina Seneff (B.A. ’80) (maiden name Spartan) attended UMKC from 1976-1980, receiving a bachelor’s in psychology.
Fast forward nearly 20 years and the next generation followed in their footsteps. William Haerer (B.A. ’95) (son of Susan Deatherage) received a bachelor’s in psychology. Vanessa Spartan (B.A. ’06) (daughter of Steve and Karen Spartan) attended and worked at UMKC from 2003-15, receiving a bachelor’s in urban planning and design. Anastasia Spartan worked and completed graduate courses at UMKC. Paige Zicarelli (Pharm.D. ’17) (daughter-in-law of Joanne Zicarelli) received a Doctor of Pharmacy.
In total, nine family members are UMKC alumni. Many gave back during their time at UMKC and the years following including working in staff positions, serving on boards and committees, as well as adjunct teaching positions. The Spartan-Haerer family exemplifies a multi-generational dedication to higher education, public service and community engagement, a testament to the power of education passed from one generation to the next and the lasting influence UMKC has on students and families alike.
School Alumni Achievement Awardees
Conservatory: Kameron N. Saunders (BFA) | Professional Dancer for artists including Taylor Swift and Choreographer
School of Dentistry: Jennifer Pieren (M.S. ’11) | Adjunct Faculty, Youngstown State University
School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences: Jennifer Collier (Ed.S. ’08, Ed.D. ’18) | Superintendent, Kansas City Public Schools
Henry W. Bloch School of Management: Kevin Lewis (MBA ’04) | CEO and President, Board of Directors, Henderson Engineers
School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Joseph W. McBride (B.A. ’86) | Senior Manager for Parking and Ground Transportation, Kansas City Aviation Department
School of Law: Puanani Norwood (J.D. ’15) | Office Managing Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
School of Medicine: Steven Miller (B.A. ’82/M.D. ’83) | Retired Executive VP and Chief Clinical Officer, Cigna Inc.
School of Nursing and Health Studies: Michele Baker (BHS ’18) | Policy Coordinator, Global Climate and Health Alliance
School of Pharmacy: Tripp Logan (Pharm.D. ’02) | Community Pharmacist, Logan & Seiler, Inc
School of Science and Engineering: Salil Talauliker (M.S. ’01) | Managing Partner, Creative Capsule
If you are unable to attend the event but would like to donate to student completion grants, you can make a contribution online on the UMKC Alumni Association website.
Oct 30, 2025
The KC Streetcar connects campus and community
The KC Streetcar is now open for riders at the University of Missouri-Kansas City stop at 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard!
Fittingly, opening day of the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension on Oct. 24 was World Kangaroo Day because UMKC Roos and the city were hopping with a string of celebrations.
The morning started with a Kansas City celebration at the university’s neighboring Country Club Plaza stop, complete with a UMKC-wrapped Roo blue and gold streetcar spotlighting students and alumni. KC Roo pushed the ceremonial switch to start the first car bound south to the southernmost stop to UMKC with Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Tom Gerend, executive director of KC Streetcar Authority inside for the inaugural ride.
"This is a historic day for not only UMKC but all of Kansas City," Agrawal told media who gathered at UMKC for the morning-to-evening festivities.
Read More About UMKC KC Streetcar
Expanded Opportunities
The expanded KC Streetcar line opens up a world of possibilities for students, faculty and the broader community. The KC Streetcar is free to ride and connects UMKC to a vibrant corridor stretching through the Country Club Plaza, Midtown, Downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads Arts District, the Power & Light District and all the way to the River Market.
For UMKC students, this means even easier access to job and internship opportunities to complement the world-class education they get at Kansas City’s only Carnegie Research 1 university. They also can use the streetcar to get to housing, restaurants, nightlife, museums and cultural events.
"The streetcar is now going through the heart of Kansas City and to the largest university in Kansas City: the University of Missouri-Kansas City," Gerend told a crowd of hundreds who gathered even in a steady drizzle to celebrate the opening. "I want to thank all of you from downtown to UMKC to everyone all over the city who believed we could make this happen."
Next Stop: UMKC
UMKC Volker Campus isn’t just for students and employees. It’s a destination for all UMKC neighbors in Kansas City to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to cheer on NCAA Division 1 athletes, get support for your business, catch a show or just take a stroll through campus, there’s something for everyone at Kansas City’s top university.
Elected leaders and city officials provided remarks and attended festivities, including UMKC alumni Sharice Davids (BBA '07), U.S. representative for Kansas; George Guastello II (BBA '82, MBA '84), president and CEO at Union Station Kansas City; and Jan Marcason (MBA '99), city councilmember of Kansas City.
"This expanded streetcar is going to connect River Market all the way down to UMKC, where I graduated from," Davids said. "I do have to say as a former UMKC student, I absolutely would have loved to jump on this thing from Broadway Café and get to class. When I was walking to class and getting where I needed to go, I can tell you this would’ve made life so much easier. Passengers get to ride for free, and it’s going to make life a bit easier for folks to get to jobs, to school and to visit local businesses."
Celebrating on Campus
UMKC students, faculty, staff and visitors celebrated the opening at Student Union, where they were given UMKC streetcar T-shirt and totes and donuts and cider while the Mob Band played. Partygoers posed for pics with streetcar cutouts.
It's A Wrap!
UMKC has a streetcar decked in Roo blue and gold inside out, designed by UMKC Strategic Marketing and Communication. The exterior shows off our UMKC students and alumni: Pharmacy student Calvin Flemons is the one in the white coat; Bryson Gosch, Men's Soccer player is kicking a ball; Laney Mabry (BBA '25) is wearing a Roos shirt; and Hannah Ruf (BBA '25) is the one in grad cap among. The UMKC logo is accompanied by the words "World Class. Right Now." and celebrates UMKC's Carnegie Research 1 designation.
A Roo with Heart
The UMKC stop includes a KC Heart sculpture designed by UMKC urban planning and design student, Ben Walters. Walters designed the streetcar-inspired heart for the 2024 Parade of Hearts. It was generously donated by his employer, Synetic Technologies, to live permanently at the KC Streetcar stop!
Learning in Action
UMKC engineering students tour KC Streetcar constuction in April 2023.
UMKC students were active participants throughout the planning and construction of the $352 million KC Streetcar Main Street extension through experiences including:
Construction site tours with the builders
Internships with Kansas City firms working on the KC Streetcar
Senior capstone classes collaborating with the KC Streetcar Authority and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Built by Roos
UMKC urban planning student Elliot Smith was one of many students who worked on the Main Street extension via an internship.
This streetcar extension did not just arrive at UMKC, our Roos helped shape it. UMKC students and alumni played key roles in the design, engineering, urban planning, marketing and logistics that brought the Main Street Extension to life.
KC Streetcar History
Want to know more about Kansas City's streetcar history? UMKC professor David Trowbridge has a virtual audio tour of sites along the KC Streetcar route available on the Clio History App.
Oct 24, 2025
App developed by UMKC history professor now includes immersive virtual tours
Imagine if all you could discover the history behind buildings and other landmarks as you move through a city, or with the touch of a button, you could experience a guided walking tour that included first-hand accounts. Thanks to the work of over 500 museums, historical societies, universities, libraries and other organizations around the country, that’s now a possibility in the free mobile application, Clio.
“Clio picks up your location when you're in the app,” said David Trowbridge, a professor of history at UMKC and the app’s developer. “There's an arrow that will guide you and tell you how many feet you need to go. You can take a walking tour, browse nearby landmarks or even create and save your own itinerary based on a growing library of over 35,000 landmarks throughout the U.S.”
The beauty of an app like Clio is that it makes what is old feel new again. With the expansion of the KC Streetcar, continuing south to the UMKC Volker campus from downtown Kansas City, Trowbridge added a new tour about the history, both around and of the line itself, of cable car travel in Kansas City.
“Our new streetcar history trail starts at the River Market and ends at UMKC,” Trowbridge said. “We have original audio with interesting KC people along the route, so you can hear the owner of the Steamboat Arabia museum as you pass the museum or leaders of Kansas City Public Library as you approach the library. There are local historians, KCUR’s Steve Kraske, some KC leaders and even an Academy Award winner as narrators.”
Trowbridge launched the tour quietly in February of 2025, months before the streetcar extension opened. By the time the UMKC stop opened to the public, the tour already had more than 1,500 listeners.
David Trowbridge, developer of Clio
Clio began as a local history project at Marshall University, where Trowbridge was teaching at the time.
“I was just trying to figure out a way to really reach my students,” Trowbridge said. “They had a very strong sense of place, of things in their hometown, things in their county. So, I said ‘Let's start with that. Tell me the history of a place that matters to you.’”
Students embraced the challenge, and before long, draft articles that began with online research inspired students to visit libraries and archives, make phone calls, and record interviews of people in their community.
“When students found one source, it led them to another and they cared so deeply about getting the history right that they often edit their Clio entries after the semester ends,” Trowbridge said. “Can you imagine a school project you want to keep working on the project when the class is over?”
Eventually the project outgrew his technology skills, but Trowbridge and his students wanted to keep it going.
“At that time, I barely used a smart phone, but when I saw the way my students dug in to the project, I knew I had to keep building,” he said.
Trowbridge formed a non-profit so that Clio would always be free and open, and soon, what began as a class project turned into a website and app used by other historians to share the history of their communities. He named the platform Clio in honor of the ancient muse of history. Funded by donations and grants, the app grew from the entries of one class to more than 38,000 entries all across the nation, including 1,400 walking tours that allow users to experience the history around them in real time. No cell phone to download the app? No problem. Anyone with internet access can browse the entries in a web browser as well.
As museums and historical sites around the country were working to deliver their experience in a virtual world, Trowbridge worked to build a free platform that was intentionally designed for museums and sites.
“I looked at the virtual tours that were being created during the pandemic, and they were pretty good,” Trowbridge said, “but I knew we could build something a little better that could work both virtually and in-person.” The solution was a 360° immersive experience, complete with museum maps and interactive content that allowed you to see extra materials and videos from museum experts, something you do not always experience at museums when you visit in-person. Trowbridge uses a LiDAR scanner connected to a 360° camera to build an interactive map and then records and embeds text, video, photos and links related to each artifact and exhibit.
Even after this huge addition to the app, Trowbridge isn’t going to stop there. In addition to expanding into STEM and Art exhibits, next steps for Clio include geofencing, so users can get push notifications about entries when they’re out and about on vacation or in their hometown.
“One of the major points is the serendipity factor,” Trowbridge said. “You can’t search on Google for what you don’t know. It works a lot better if you just open up the app and it shows you what's nearby.”
If you are interested in exploring Clio for yourself, it is available in app stores and online at theclio.com.
Oct 23, 2025
Explore Kansas City along streetcar south expansion
The KC Streetcar now runs to UMKC. With its terminal stop at our front door at the UMKC Volker Campus, it’s now even easier for Roos to take advantage of all our hometown has to offer and for our community to visit Kansas City’s university. Plan your next adventure with these iconic spots.
UMKC at 51st & Brookside
Home to Kansas City’s top university! We may be biased, but this area is our favorite, and we can’t wait to share it with the rest of the community. Grab a coffee or slice of pizza, take a walk on the miles of trails, stock up on your weekly essentials, earn your degree or catch a UMKC Roos athletic event or performance all in one spot.
UMKC Volker Campus
Kansas City Roos Athletics
National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
Whole Foods
Pizza 51
Crow’s Coffee
Ding Dog Dogs
Harry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail
Plaza at Cleaver II & Main
The Country Club Plaza offers some of the region’s best shopping and dining, with everything from affordable to luxury and trendy to timeless. Grab a bite to eat or spend the day window-shopping in this historic district. Or take a jog or stroll around Mill Creek Park, highlighted by its beautiful and oft-photographed fountain.
Country Club Plaza
Mill Creek Park
Art Museums at 45th & Main
Spend a rainy day at two of Kansas City’s most iconic museums or meet up with a friend from the Kansas City Art Institute! On a nice day, enjoy a picnic on the lawn of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and watch out for community events you won’t want to miss.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Arts
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kansas City Art Institute
Southmoreland at 43rd and Main
Power up with a coffee, tea from Starbucks or QuikTrip.
Starbucks
Ragazza Food and Wine
QuikTrip
Westport at 39th and Main
Enjoy some of Kanas City’s most iconic nightlife at 39th and Main, near Westport. Shop, eat and play in this historic district, just a quick ride from the UMKC Volker Campus.
Madrid Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Soli Deo - Coffee + BakeryCheval Hand Crafted Cocktails
Pryde’s Old Westport
Mills Record Company
Westport Nightlife
Armour at 35th and Main
Plan your next book club meetup at Bliss Wine and Books or Mother Earth Coffee, both a quick, tree-lined walk from the Armour and Main streetcar stop.
Mother Earth Coffee
Bliss Wine and Books
Mainstreet Tavern
Union Hill at 31st & Main
At 31st and Main, you’re just a quick walk from Martini Corner, one of Kansas City’s hidden gems for a cup of joe or a bite to eat.
The Russell Restaurant & Catering Company
Gates Bar-B-Q
Martini Corner
WW1 Museum & Memorial at 27th & Main
Hop off the streetcar at 27th and Main and access the world-renowned National World War I Museum and Memorial with a perfect view of downtown Kansas City. Within a ten-minute walk you can enjoy local shops and restaurants, spend some time at the Federal Reserve’s Money Museum, or take a 1.5 mile stroll to the UMKC Health Sciences District.
UMKC Health Sciences District
WWI Museum and Memorial
Federal Reserve Money Museum
Succotash
Oct 23, 2025
7 takeaways elevating Kansas City’s Carnegie Research 1 University
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal addressed the campus and community at the 2025 State of the University, celebrating UMKC’s momentum and unveiling bold new initiatives.
Agrawal celebrated the university’s record-setting achievements and unveiled an ambitious plan for its next era—one marked by continued enrollment growth, national research recognition, new facilities and an unprecedented fundraising campaign.
“We are at a historic inflection point,” Agrawal said. “Years from now, we will look back on this moment as the one that launched the next wave of transformation for UMKC, Kansas City, our state and beyond.”
1. The Blue & Bold Campaign: A $700 Million Investment in the Future
The chancellor capped off his address by launching Blue & Bold: The Campaign for UMKC, the largest fundraising effort in university history, with a goal of $700 million.
The campaign will add $100 million to student endowments to expand scholarships; invest in new and renovated facilities; increase endowed faculty positions; and support innovation, research and community programs.
“Blue & Bold is more than a campaign,” Agrawal said. “It’s a commitment to possibility—a belief that UMKC’s best days are still ahead.”
2. Powering the Region Through Research Innovation: An Institute for Advanced Materials and Applications
Earlier this year, UMKC joined the ranks of the nation’s top research universities, achieving the coveted Carnegie Research 1 classification and placing it among the top 6% of four-year institutions nationwide. Research expenditures have surged 216% since 2015, from $27 million to a projected $79 million in 2025.
“When we achieved Carnegie Research 1 status, it marked a historic milestone, but not a finish line,” Agrawal said. “It’s a new standard we now have to meet and surpass every single day.”
Agrawal announced a new Institute for Advanced Materials and Applications, and also spotlighted Critical Materials Crossroads, which recently was selected by the National Science Foundation Regional Engines Innovation program as one of 15 finalists out of 285 universities competing for a 10-year, $160 million grant. The next step is a National Science Foundation site visit in January.
Critical materials include minerals like nickel and lithium that are essential to modern life, used in products such as computer chips, batteries, medical equipment and turbines for planes. Yet the United States must import most of these minerals from places like China and Korea. It is a national-security risk, and the UMKC-led project could help alleviate that situation.
The proposed Critical Materials Crossroads project could generate $17 billion in economic impact and create more than 10,000 jobs in the Kansas City region by establishing a U.S.-based refining and research hub for essential materials like nickel and cobalt.
“This is the time to be ambitious,” Agrawal said. “We must aim high. We must be bold.”
3. New Degree Programs, Including AI
Innovative new degree programs are another way UMKC aims to attract new students. This year, the UMKC freshman class size increased again, meaning that three years in a row that UMKC has broken the record for the largest incoming class of first-time college students in the university’s history. Total first-time-to college enrollment has grown 28% in the past decade, during a time when many universities are seeing declining enrollment and even closure in the face of a shrinking population of high school graduates nationwide.
In the past year, in response to workforce needs, UMKC has added a Bachelor of Architecture, an Online Master of Legal Studies and a Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics. These new programs are exceeding enrollment expectations. This coming year, UMKC will seek approval to add bachelor’s and master’s degrees in AI.
Another innovation on the drawing boards is a three-year bachelor’s degree. Select disciplines, pending approval, would develop reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees that will help lower costs and debt for students.
4. A New Merit Scholarship
UMKC continues to strengthen its Culture of Care, expanding financial and academic supports designed to help students persist and succeed.
The university introduced the Blue and Gold Distinguished Award, a new scholarship that will provide $7,500 annually to high-achieving students from Missouri and Kansas, helping families reduce college costs and ensuring access to a world-class UMKC education.
5. Transformative Campus Projects on the Horizon
KC Streetcar will arrive at UMKC’s front door with its new stop opening on Oct. 24. In addition, three major capital projects will reshape the university’s physical footprint and student experience:
Olson Performing Arts Center Expansion—$35 million, breaking ground in 2026
Atterbury Student Success Center Renovation—to be complete in 2026
Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building—$145 million, the largest capital project in UMKC history, opening in 2027
These projects will provide new state-of-the-art facilities for the arts, healthcare education and student success.
6. Introducing Roo Ventures
UMKC is launching Roo Ventures, a new commercialization and entrepreneurship hub that connects researchers, students and industry to bring innovations from campus to the marketplace.
“Roo Ventures will help our faculty and students form startups, license technologies, find investments and forge partnerships that turn UMKC discoveries into Missouri jobs, economic growth and national competitiveness,” Agrawal said.
7. A New Notable-Speaker Lecture Series
Starting next year, UMKC will launch a new tradition that brings some of the world’s most accomplished thinkers—Nobel laureates, Pulitzer winners and innovators—to our campus. The series will renew and reinforce UMKC’s role as a gathering place for ideas and meaningful dialogue, a place of light.
“Here is a teaser: we will start next year with a Nobel laureate in physics who has advised several famous Hollywood productions on black holes and time travel,” Agrawal said.
Agrawal closed his address with optimism and gratitude, urging the UMKC community to continue pushing forward together.
“This is our time. This is our moment. Our movement. Together, we will write it—and we will live it.”
Oct 17, 2025
Blue & Bold aims to empower students, advance research and elevate communities
The University of Missouri-Kansas City has launched the largest fundraising campaign in its 92-year history, a transformational initiative to improve lives through education, research, economic development and community engagement.
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal joined students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and partners to kick off the campaign today at the State of the University with a celebration on campus.
“While our goal is ambitious, it will help us keep growing and thriving at a time when we’re already riding an incredible wave,” Agrawal said. “I’m inviting you to help turn today’s momentum into tomorrow’s breakthroughs to strengthen not just our university, but also our community and our world.”
With a goal to raise $700 million, the comprehensive campaign, Blue & Bold, is focused on funding three priorities to elevate UMKC’s mission in service to the region and globe: scholarships and student support; innovation, technology and entrepreneurial education as a national top-tier Carnegie Research 1 institution; and community engagement through services including healthcare, workforce development and other critical needs. The campaign has raised $335,869,017.02, nearly halfway towards its goal.
“UMKC is extraordinary. It's a place where care and generosity are woven into the culture, and where service and scholarship extend beyond the campus,” said Amanda Davis (MPA ’07), UMKC chief advancement officer and president of the UMKC Foundation. “Blue & Bold demonstrates what is possible when philanthropy combines with a deep commitment to vision and hard work.”
Learn more about Blue & Bold: The Campaign for UMKC at go.umkc.edu/bold
Blue & Bold will invest a minimum of $250 million in the infrastructure of UMKC campuses, building and renovating to ensure the university’s talented students and faculty have access to facilities that spark brilliance and change. Examples include the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building on the Health Sciences Campus, which is set to be completed in 2026. This funding also will go to the expansion of the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center and a newly renovated Atterbury Welcome Center, both in the heart of the Volker Campus.
The campaign will also ensure the future by adding a further $100 million to UMKC’s endowments, providing an average of $50 million in annual support to students, faculty and programs in all areas across the university.
Blue & Bold is supported by a volunteer campaign committee co-chaired by Nelson Sabates (B.A. ’83/M.D. ’86), who has served as professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology for more than 20 years at UMKC and University Health, and his wife, Rachael Sabates.
The couple and their children are also UMKC donors. In 2024, the family pledged a multimillion-dollar contribution, the largest alumni donation the UMKC School of Medicine has received, to the university’s largest capital project to date: the five-story, 160,000-square-foot Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building in the UMKC Health Sciences District.
“The Blue & Bold Campaign is about believing in what’s possible—for our students, our community and our future,” Nelson Sabates said. “Together, we’re building a university that will continue to change lives for generations.”
Bob Regnier, chair of the UMKC Foundation Board, co-chaired the last UMKC fundraising campaign more than a decade ago.
“UMKC supporters have always stepped forward with remarkable generosity and vision,” Regnier said. “Their belief in our Carnegie Research 1 university has created tremendous momentum—and we’re just getting started.”
To learn more about Blue & Bold, visit go.umkc.edu/bold
Oct 17, 2025
Construction includes largest capital improvement project to date
The University of Missouri-Kansas City has announced and begun construction on major improvements to its physical facilities to meet key strategic goals.
Projects currently under construction include:
The 160,000 square foot Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building project at 25th and Charlotte streets, the largest capital improvement project in UMKC history.
Elevating services that support prospective and current students at the Atterbury Student Success Center.
The 35,000-square-foot addition to the UMKC Conservatory's Olson Performing Arts Center.
Look here for regular construction and project updates or sign up for a regular email update to be delivered to your inbox.
Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
The final beam was placed on Sept. 17. The university celebrated this construction milestone by inviting elected officials, university leadership and students, faculty and staff to sign the beam before it was placed in the new building.
The building is expected to open in 2027.
The campus surface parking lot at 25th and Charlotte streets closed. Student permit parking is no longer allowed in lot 68, located south of 25th along Charlotte Street. Health Sciences Campus map and Shuttle (PDF).
Faculty, staff and students can park in the seven-floor Hospital Hill Parking Garage 28 on the southeast corner of 24th and Charlotte streets, just north of the construction site/former lot, or in a surface lot 67 to the east at 25th and Campbell streets. Student parking in the garage is available on floors four through seven.
Parking for UMKC School of Dentistry clinic patients as well as metered spots for other UMKC Health Sciences District visitors has been moved to surface lot 68.
UMKC IDs are required to scan in and out of the parking garage.
Project Video Feeds
Atterbury Student Success Center
In May 2025, renovations began at Atterbury Student Success Center and are expected to be complete in 2026.
The second floor of the library is now the silent study floor; this change is permanent.
The renovated space will be home to Admissions, Advising, the Center for Transfer Students and Adult Learners, Roo Advising, Career Services, Professional Career Escalators, University College and International Student Affairs. It will also include an inviting Welcome Center with a two-story atrium to host prospective students and their families.
UMKC’s robust Career Services programming will expand to add a Professional Wardrobe Studio, giving students a place to browse and try on professional clothing options as well as take headshots for interviews.
UMKC Central, a one-stop shop for students, and the Financial Wellness Center, are both moving from their current location at the Administrative Center to the newly renovated space as well.
Olson Performing Arts Center
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal shared during the 2025 State of the University that this project is expected to break ground in 2026.
The new space will increase performance, classroom and collaboration opportunities for students and the Kansas City community.
The first phase of construction is estimated at $35 million.
The first phase includes the new addition which would house a large music ensemble performance and rehearsal space, two dance rehearsal rooms and support spaces for the dance program and a new, accessible black box performance space to be used by all three programs. The addition of the black box space will create a “theatre district” complementing White Recital Hall, Spencer Theatre and the McIlrath Lobby.
The second phase involves the renovation of current facilities, including White Recital Hall. Renovations will increase classroom and theatre spaces and create a central hub for student resources and collaboration. Facility renovations will allow the spaces to be used in flexible ways, creating more opportunities for special events and performances.
Oct 17, 2025
Faculty for two-day event includes global business leaders, World Cup KC2026 CEO
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management opened its doors to some of the region’s most respected executives at the CEO Academy.
The program, founded by former chief executive officers Bill Zollars of YRC Worldwide, Greg Graves of Burns & McDonnell and Dan Hesse of Sprint, is designed to mentor and prepare Kansas City’s next generation of business leaders, and builds on the Bloch School’s longstanding commitment to leadership development and executive education.
“Bill, Greg and Dan created this academy with support from the Bloch School to pay forward the kind of support they once received from Kansas City’s business community,” said Brian Klaas, dean of the Bloch School. “The program is an extension of our mission to develop leaders who not only succeed in business but also invest in their communities.”
This year’s faculty featured returning founders alongside new voices:
Maggie Wilderotter, a veteran executive and board leader who served as CEO of Frontier Communications and on more than 35 public company boards, explored how executives can strengthen their boards to better serve their companies.
Paget Alves, chairman and CEO of Sorenson Communications and longtime Sprint executive, spoke on lessons learned from the boardroom to the C-suite.
Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026, offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Kansas City secured FIFA World Cup matches and what it takes to prepare for the world’s largest sporting event.
“This is about understanding what the World Cup is going to do for the region, and the opportunity we have to really transform Kansas City,” Kramer said. “Let's use sports to show them everything we love about living here, working here, investing here and starting a business here.”
Each session gave participants practical tools and candid advice from leaders who have navigated the highest levels of corporate leadership. Attendees praised the accessibility of the program.
“I chose CEO Academy because the day-and-a-half format fit my schedule, the speakers have outstanding reputations across diverse industries and the local setting made it even more relevant,” said Jack Beal, senior vice president of Cancer Center and system chief administrative officer of The University of Kansas Health System. “But what sealed it was the cultural fit — excellence is a core value at my company, and it’s a central theme throughout the program.”
Attendees also benefited from the deep engagement of the faculty.
“I thought they’d give a talk and head out, but they stayed involved,” said Kyle Van Slyke, chief operating officer at Musselman & Hall Contractors. “It was inspiring to see Kansas City’s top leaders so committed to mentoring and sharing their time.”
The CEO Academy continues to balance individual leadership development with community impact. Faculty members donate their time, and proceeds support scholarships and programs at the Bloch School.
Joining founders Bill Zollars, Greg Graves and Dan Hesse, this year's returning faculty members include:
Mark Donovan, president of the Kansas City Chiefs
Beryl Raff, retired CEO of Helzberg Diamonds
Dave Dillon, retired CEO of Kroger
“We are so grateful for our amazing CEO Academy faculty," Klaas said. "They all taught on a pro-bono basis, meaning that the CEO Academy generated funds for scholarships designed to make college more accessible. This program reflects Kansas City’s culture of leaders coming together to help this community.”
Oct 15, 2025
UMKC celebrates School of Medicine faculty member
The University Missouri-Kansas City honors the impact of a dedicated researcher and longtime School of Medicine faculty member, Augustino Molteni, M.D, Ph.D. (1933-2025).
Molteni was a distinguished professor in the departments of Pathology and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. Known for his dedication to research and education, he leaves behind a legacy of discovery, collaboration and mentorship that continues to shape the School of Medicine community.
Molteni joined UMKC in 1996 after devoting two decades at Northwestern University’s School of Medicine. At UMKC, his research into the pathological and molecular basis of pulmonary disease and hypertension led to groundbreaking collaborations with faculty across disciplines. His work was supported by more than $16.9 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Veterans Administration, the American Heart Association and other organizations.
Over the course of his career, Molteni authored 176 scientific publications, 21 book chapters and more than 400 abstracts. His pioneering work on hypertension contributed to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program, which received the prestigious Albert E. Lasker Award in 1980.
Beyond his research, Molteni was deeply committed to mentorship. As a member of the School of Medicine’s Student Research Committee, he helped connect hundreds of students with research mentors, guiding them in projects that shaped their medical and academic paths. In 2016, he received the School of Medicine’s highest honor for mentorship—the Betty M. Drees, M.D., Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award.
“Dr. Molteni was cherished by one and all,” said School of Medicine Dean Alexander Norbash (B.A. ‘85/M.D. ’86). “His dedication to science and his enthusiasm for educating our medical students was unparalleled. Dr. Molteni believed in the power of mentorship and helped create numerous careers benefiting society and science. He was an example and inspiration. He will be sorely and visibly missed.”
Molteni’s passion for research and mentorship positively impacted his fellow faculty members as well.
“What I’ve learned from Dr. Molteni in my years working with him is to have a lifelong passion for research and a lifelong passion for mentoring students,” said Paula Monaghan-Nichols, Ph.D., professor and associate dean at the School of Medicine.
We remember Molteni with this video produced a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiEP3maMt0s
Oct 09, 2025
Fall 2025 marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is celebrating its largest incoming class of first-time college students in university history. First-time enrollment has increased each of the last three years at UMKC, and this year grew by 2% over the prior year.
“This momentum is a testament to the energy and excellence of UMKC,” said Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “Students know UMKC offers nationally recognized programs, powerful community connections and opportunities that reach far beyond the classroom. We are proud to welcome our largest class yet.”UMKC is the university of choice for top-achieving students in Kansas City and beyond. As the city’s only Carnegie Research 1 institution, UMKC ranks among the nation’s top-tier research universities while remaining Kansas City’s largest fully accredited, comprehensive university.Students benefit from programs that make students career-ready across nine of the top 10 U.S. News & World Report jobs. In addition, UMKC has gained national recognition in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S. For the second consecutive year, UMKC earned No. 1 in Student Experience, No. 1 in Social Mobility and No. 2 in Best Value among public universities in Missouri and Kansas.
Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
Located in the heart of Kansas City, UMKC provides unmatched access to professional opportunities and cultural life. This fall, a new KC Streetcar stop at UMKC will connect students to internships, jobs and entertainment throughout the city.The Fall 2025 class also reflects UMKC’s strength in opening doors for new generations. More than half (59%) of first-time college students are the first in their families to attend college. Transfer enrollment grew 5%, while new graduate domestic enrollment surged almost 9%. Overall, total UMKC enrollment grew 1 percent, to 14,904 students.“At UMKC, we’ve embraced a student-centered approach,” said Kristi Holsinger, senior vice provost for student success. “Our strong enrollment growth reflects the innovative steps we’ve taken to reach and support students through creative marketing and recruitment strategies, deep partnerships with community organizations and high school districts, expanded scholarship opportunities and applied learning experiences that take full advantage of our great city. Combined with the strength of our academic programs and our newly achieved R1 research status, placing us among the top research universities in the nation, these efforts demonstrate our commitment to ensuring students not only choose UMKC, but also thrive here.”To further support outstanding students, UMKC has added the new Blue and Gold Distinguished Scholarship Award, for students enrolling for Fall 2026 and beyond. This $7,500 annual award recognizes Missouri and Kansas students with exceptional academic records, expanding the university’s already robust merit-based scholarship portfolio.With record-breaking enrollment and growing investment in student success, UMKC is building extraordinary momentum.
Schedule a Visit. Apply Now.
Experience Kansas City’s only Carnegie Research 1 university for yourself. Schedule a campus visit and one-on-one program consultation today.High school seniors should apply early for admission. Competitive scholarship applications are due March 1, and FAFSA submissions should be completed by the Feb. 1 priority deadline.
Oct 06, 2025
HerCafe is Kansas City’s first mobile matcha cart
If matcha is your go-to drink, chances are you’ve heard of HerCafe. The first mobile matcha cart in Kansas City, HerCafe is known for its fun seasonal matcha flavors and for bringing community together one cup at a time.
Lines often form before their pop-ups even begin, a testament to the buzz they’ve built. Founded by University of Missouri-Kansas City student Yasmen Hassen and her friend Lujyn Elsayed, HerCafe continues to grow in popularity across the Kansas City community. Most recently, they popped up at the Roos Mobb event alongside other UMKC alumni-owned businesses. We got the tea from Hassen on how she whisked HerCafe into reality.
1. What made you decide to start HerCafe?
My business partner, Lujyn Elsayed, and I were previously baristas at coffee shops and have a love for creating and curating drinks. We both were headed to a retreat in summer 2024 and were tasked to make drinks for everyone. The response was incredible. Everyone loved them and kept saying, ‘These are so good, you should start something!’ At first, we didn’t take it too seriously, but eventually we thought, why not give it a try and see what happens? Our first opportunity came when our local mosque was hosting a bazaar and needed a vendor. We decided to give it a shot, and the rest is history!
2. With so many beverage options on the market, why matcha?
We both really love matcha. When we started HerCafe, matcha was just starting to get popular. Some people knew what it was, and you could find it at most coffee shops, but it was still kind of underrated and an acquired taste for most.
We wanted to create something that felt intentional and community-driven and knew we could do that with a matcha cart. With the setup, we hand whisk every order so that it’s not just about the drink but the experience you have while waiting in line. Cultivating the feeling of community with everyone in the same space. That whole ethos goes hand in hand with the traditional way matcha is made intentionally and how it brings people together, so we went with matcha instead of the typical coffee-cart route.
3. HerCafe just turned one, congratulations! What has been the biggest challenge of starting a business while still being a student?
It was definitely a lot. I was a junior when I started HerCafe, while also serving as Student Government Association president and working at Lockton (where I still work). I was wearing so many hats, and it took some adjusting. But for me, I always like to pour into things I am super passionate about, and all those things were aligned with my purpose.
Even though my schedule was packed every single day, I genuinely enjoyed everything I was doing. Whether it was Lockton, HerCafe or student government, all of it centered around community. Knowing that I am serving a purpose and serving my community is what keeps me going and makes it all worth it.
4. What advice do you have for a student who is thinking of starting their own business?
Just do it! It’s so scary and intimidating, but you never know until you try. See what happens. There is so much opportunity and talent in the world, don’t let your fears hold you back from exploring and trying new things that you are passionate about. If you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work, and success will be that much sweeter knowing you believe in yourself. Also, take it one step at a time. Be sure that you are not only dedicating time to your work, but are also making time for yourself.
5. How has your experience at UMKC impacted the success of HerCafe?
I’m a business major at the Bloch School with an emphasis in marketing, but I’ve also taken a lot of entrepreneurship classes. Through those courses, I’ve been able to connect with so many amazing people. The Kansas City business community is small, everyone knows everyone, and being at UMKC really opened those doors for me.
Just the other day, a friend texted me about an opportunity for HerCafe, and I was like, this never would have happened if I wasn’t part of this community at UMKC and the Bloch School. I definitely wouldn’t have had those same opportunities elsewhere.
UMKC has given me access to resources and people I can lean on whenever I’m unsure of the next step. I know I can reach out to a mentor at the Regnier Institute, talk to a professor or reach out to someone in Bloch Launchpad to help guide me on operating a business. The Alumni Association has also been a huge support, thanks to my involvement in student government. I was glad I was able to build those relationships, as I would not have had the opportunity to pop up at Roos Mobb without them.
UMKC has played such a big role in HerCafe’s journey, and I know it will continue to be part of my story even after I graduate. That’s something I’m really excited about!
6. If UMKC were to have its own HerCafe drink, what would it be made of?
Definitely a blueberry lemon bar matcha with blueberry puree and honey lemon cold foam! The blue and yellow UMKC colors would look beautiful together. It would be a complex and layered drink, which reflects the different pathways UMKC has to offer. The drink also has something for everyone to enjoy whether it's the tartness of the lemon or the sweetness of the blueberry. I’d top it off with a mini lemon bar from a local Kansas City bakery to highlight the connection between UMKC and the Kansas City community.
7. What were you most excited about popping up at the Roos Mobb event?
I was really excited to meet all the different alumni-owned businesses. Being in a space with so many people who’ve had a similar college experience or career path was amazing. It was super inspiring for me to be around people I look up to and admire. I was also excited to continue to cultivate that sense of community by popping up alongside them at the event.
Follow HerCafe on Instagram to keep up with their pop-up schedule.
Oct 06, 2025
Whitney Terrell, MFA, illuminates Kansas City’s history with empathy and humor
Why is a 20-year-old book still making notable rounds in book clubs? It could be because it’s an engaging story told through the lens of Kansas City history. It’s most certainly because Whitney Terrell’s writing draws in readers even when the subject is difficult.
A native of the greater Kansas City metro area, Terrell wrote “The King of Kings County” as a fictionalized retelling of the development of racial covenants, clauses in deeds to prevent people who were not white from buying property, that still affect the demographic make-up of Kansas City today.
If “The King of Kings County” is your next book club pick, here are questions answered by Terrell himself you can bring to the discussion:
What inspired “The King of Kings County,” and how closely is it tied to Kansas City’s real history?
The book is set in Kansas City, though I fictionalized certain areas; like renaming Johnson County as Kings County. I’ve written multiple novels about the city, and I wanted to explore how housing policies shaped its racial and economic landscape. The J.C. Nichols Company’s use of racial covenants played a huge role in segregating neighborhoods, and that history is central to the story.
On racial covenants and suburban development, why was it important to be direct about these issues?
That’s the point of writing fiction: to say what people don’t say out loud, especially in the Midwest. We’re taught to be polite, but novels are where you confront the uncomfortable. I tell my students: politeness is great in life, but it’s terrible for a narrator. This book was one of the first mass-market works to openly discuss Kansas City’s racial housing policies.
How does the book resonate today?
The themes are still relevant. Since the book’s release, Kansas City has seen shifts: Black leadership in key roles, urban redevelopment in areas like the Crossroads. But there’s tension between that progress and the pull of old power structures. The debate over the downtown stadium is a perfect example.
For readers outside Kansas City, will the book still resonate?
Absolutely. Racial covenanting and suburban segregation aren’t unique to Kansas City; they’re national issues. Readers from Milwaukee to Houston will find parallels in their own cities. The book was reviewed widely. Gillian Flynn, who is a friend (and fellow Kansas Citian), wrote a really nice review in Entertainment Weekly and it’s accessible even if you’re new to Kansas City’s history.
What should book clubs keep in mind when reading “The King of Kings County”?
It’s a serious book, but it’s also funny. The main character is a morally questionable developer, but he’s engaging. Fiction isn’t black-and-white like online debates. It’s messy, human and complex. I hope readers set aside political biases and dive into the story and its characters.
Oct 01, 2025
Honorees at the signature Bloch School event include experts in DNA science, financial planning and community-building efforts
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management Regnier Institute is honoring trailblazers who have reshaped science, society and finance at its 39th Annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony on Dec. 3 at the H&R Block Headquarters.
At Entrepreneur of the Year, UMKC will recognize four entrepreneurs and induct one honoree into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The newest inductee will join a legacy of visionaries whose stories inspire students and visitors alike at the Bloch School.
Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneur of the YearJ. Craig Venter | founder, chair and CEO of J. Craig Venter Institute
Venter, Ph.D., is a biologist and entrepreneur known for sequencing the first draft human genome and creating the first synthetic cell. Venter founded the J. Craig Venter Institute and has launched multiple biotech ventures with a current focus on advancing women’s health through genomics and artificial intelligence.
Kansas City Entrepreneur of the YearBloch Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame InducteePeter Mallouk | president and CEO, Creative Planning
Mallouk is president of Creative Planning, a wealth management firm overseeing more than $309 billion in assets. Mallouk is also a philanthropist focused on financial education and youth opportunity through organizations such as KC CAN! and Pathway Financial Education. Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social EntrepreneurshipFather Justin Mathews | CEO of Reconciliation Services and founder of Thelma's Kitchen
Mathews is a nonprofit executive, Orthodox Christian priest and social entrepreneur. As CEO of Reconciliation Services and founder of Thelma’s Kitchen, Mathews leads efforts to heal economic and racial divides in Kansas City. Mathews also co-founded the Social Venture Studio, a four-month accelerator program for social entrepreneurs located in the Crossroads Arts District.
Student Entrepreneur of the YearShapree' Marshall | CEO and founder of A Traveled Path Homes
Marshall is a real estate entrepreneur and advocate working at the intersection of housing, healthcare and community development. As CEO and founder of A Traveled Path Homes, Marshall provides safe, stable housing for traveling healthcare professionals and essential workforce residents. Marshall launched the company in 2022 and has since secured a multi-year state lodging contract and national partnerships.
Prior to the awards ceremony, attendees will learn about UMKC students’ business ventures at the Student Venture Showcase.
The Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony not only honors individual achievements but reflects the university's enduring commitment to building Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through the Bloch School and the UMKC Innovation Center, the university provides education, mentorship and resources that help startups launch, scale and thrive. “At Bloch, we believe entrepreneurship is a mindset: one that challenges convention and builds something better,” said Dean Brian Klaas. “Our honorees embody that spirit.” From early-stage funding to global expansion tools, UMKC empowers entrepreneurs to turn ideas into impact, fueling economic growth and community transformation across the region.
Henry W. Bloch, co-founder of H&R Block and one of Kansas City’s most influential entrepreneurs, maintained a lifelong connection to UMKC that went far beyond philanthropy. Though he only attended the university briefly when it was known as the University of Kansas City, Bloch saw immense potential in its business school and became its most passionate champion. His vision led to the creation of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, a hub for entrepreneurial excellence in the region.
To sponsor Entrepreneur of the Year, contact Director of Major Giving Matt McDonough, mmcdonough@umkcfoundation.org, or Director of Development Tom Jones, thomas.jones@umkcfoundation.org. All proceeds from sponsorships and donations directly benefit the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as student and community programs.
Register to attend Entrepreneur of the Year.
Oct 01, 2025
Mural by Luis Quintanilla captures an enduring, pre-World War II point of view and gets new life through the Kansas City Monuments Coalition
Every year, hundreds of students, faculty, staff and visitors pass the vibrant murals of Luis Quintanilla, the Spanish expatriate who spent part of his exile from Spain creating the work for the University of Kansas City, which would become the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
After more than five years of searching for funding, the world’s premiere fresco restoration artists have given these murals new life, thanks to the KC Monuments Coalition and the Mellon Foundation.
UMKC celebrated the restoration, performed by the premiere fresco restoration artists flown in from Spain, with a lecture from renowned Hispanic Society historian Patrick Lenaghan, Ph.D., about Don Quixote as the story appears in art by Quintanilla and other modernist Spanish artists.
“I’m so happy to see these murals are getting a new life, both physically and the renewed public interest,” Lenaghan said. “They’re works of art that are just a part of a building until you stop to look at them.”
After the lecture, visitors we treated to a more casual conversation between Lenaghan and Christine Kierig, a Ph.D. candidate specializing in exiled Spanish modernists who was present during the restoration.
The murals, and Kierig’s research about them, are one of more than a dozen projects preserving history throughout Kansas City as part of the funding from the KC Monuments Coalition.
“We’re so happy this process started, because it's been a few years since it was even proposed that these murals needed restoration,” said Viviana Grieco, Ph.D., a professor of history at UMKC and one of the principal investigators on the restoration. “It’s nice to finally have boots on the ground, as it were.”
The other principal investigators include Alberto Villamandos, Ph.D., who is a world languages and cultures professor at UMKC, and Christopher Wolff, UMKC campus historian.
When the UMKC team came to select restoration artists, they knew Iñaki Gárate Llombart and Beatriz del Ordi, both Spanish fresco restoration specialists, were the artists for the job. The pair, who are from Spain, were selected in part for their experience working on the only other known Quintanilla murals on public display.
“You have to be careful, respectful, always with feeling,” Llombart said. “It doesn't matter if it's made 40 years ago or thousands. You treat it as unique piece of art.”
It’s an intense process to restore a fresco mural. It starts with extensive photography, lighting and even tapping the mural surface to reveal all the spots that need to be retouched. There are in-depth notes for the photos that go back to Spain for the last member of the team, Guadalupe Carramiñana, to do the required documentation. Then, the murals are cleaned with water and a special Japanese paper to remove dirt and grime from the years of exposure to elements. Finally, the filling and the painting can begin, but only in the spots that are damaged. The photos help not only with documentation, but with meticulous color matching to the original work.
“It's tricky because you have to do that according to criteria,” Llombart said. “The reintegration, just light straight lines, very close together. From a distance, your eye cannot tell the difference in our work and the original. If you look closer: ‘There are the lines, so it has to be a restoration.’”
That is, they want to remain honest about what is original and what has been touched up, to respect Luis Quintanilla’s work.
The murals are open to the public on the second floor of Haag Hall. The rest of the funding from the Kansas City Monuments Coalition will go to streamlining the current ADA-access to the murals and a touch screen of historical facts, interviews and stories, which were previously unavailable to the curious passerby.
A Local Connection
Julián Zugazagoitia, director of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, has a compelling connection to the murals — one he only discovered when he saw them firsthand.
Zugazagoitia had lived in Kansas City for five years before he climbed the marble steps to the second floor of Haag Hall to investigate the legacy between his family and Kansas City. Quintanilla and Zugazagoitia’s grandfather, also named Julián Zugazagoitia, were friends and soldiers in the Spanish Civil War, fighting the fascist regime of General Francisco Franco.
Quintanilla and Zugazagoitia had been in prison together in Spain in 1934, where the artist sketched his friend and compatriot.
“I’d seen an exhibit in New York that included the drawing of my grandfather,” Zugazagoitia said. “Not long after, Quintanilla’s grandson sent me an email to tell me about the murals. It was in the back of my mind, but I had not made it over to see.”
A Presidential Request
Quintanilla came to UKC in 1940 to serve as its first artist-in-residence at the invitation of UKC President Clarence Decker. At 34 years old, Decker was the youngest-serving president of the country’s youngest university. He suggested Quintanilla paint a mural in Haag Hall using the theme, “Don Quixote in the Modern World.”
It was a bold move for the college president, considering Quintanilla’s political past.
“The national mood in 1938 was certainly one of unease,” says John Herron, now a former UMKC dean and history professor. “The effects of the Great Depression were still apparent, and the growing militarism and unrest in Europe did little to calm fears. Americans, for the most part, wanted nothing to do with a second world conflict and were eager to stay out of European politics.”
Decker, a vocal proponent of the arts and culture, used his role at the university to cultivate relationships with many politically informed artists.
“Decker offered visiting appointments to a number of artists, poets and writers, and worked actively to make Kansas City a kind of avant-garde center in the American Midwest,” Herron said. “Decker understood the hostility many artists and scholars, especially Jews, faced abroad. He remained a proponent of bringing these artists to Kansas City whenever possible.”
Quintanilla's Vision
At the time of Decker’s invitation, Quintanilla was living in New York as part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Committee for Displaced Scholars and Artists program that brought oppressed and imprisoned artists from Europe to the United States. His art had recently been shown at the 1938 World’s Fair in New York.
Quintanilla envisioned four panels using Don Quixote’s story as an allegory of the horrors and oppression of fascism in Europe. The artist used members of the university faculty and staff as models. His own family appears in one panel.
Zugazagoitia, who was aware that Quintanilla used family and friends as models in his work, expected to find his grandfather’s face looking back at him from the walls. This was not the case, but what he discovered was even more powerful.
“When I saw he had dedicated the mural to my grandfather I was stunned. To see his name — my name — in the corner … It took a while for me to process, but it fulfilled a notion of destiny for me. Finding his name confirmed that Kansas City is where I should be.”
Modern-day Revelations
Beyond his personal connection, Zugazagoitia was reminded how significant it is to be an immigrant. He sees the murals as a reminder of what it takes to make your way in a foreign place.
“It underscored for me how important it is to reinvent yourself in a new country,” he said. “It seems the perfect time to be talking about this.”
Zugazagoitia emphasizes how important it is to preserve these murals. Besides recognizing the work for its artistic and historical merit — it is one of only two Quintanilla murals that were not destroyed during the Spanish Civil War — he believes living with art changes those who are exposed to it.
“Our experience is better because it exists. We are privileged to live in an environment that nourishes us, even if we don’t notice,” he said. “It makes these stories meaningful and present in our lives.”
This article originally appeared in the 2018 issue of Perspectives, the UMKC alumni magazine.
The work of the Luis Quintanilla’s Murals Restoration Project is done in partnership with the Kansas City Monuments Coalition. KCMC is a collaborative initiative that supports preservation and commemorative organizations across the city and is funded by a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Aug 21, 2025