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.
