Most families approach college one at a time, but the Connellys are doing it together at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Wendy Connelly is enrolled in the Executive Master of Business Administration program while her children, Leo and Gryffin, are carving out their own experiences as high-achieving undergraduate business students.

Wendy’s return to school came after raising her two children and then earning a master’s degree in divinity. She co-founded a nonprofit and worked in the corporate world before deciding to reenter the classroom.

She looked for something that would both challenge and engage her.

“I knew pursuing another master’s degree was something I would value,” Wendy said. “UMKC was top of mind for me, and it was the only place I applied.”

She found what she was looking for in the Executive MBA program at UMKC, where a cohort-based structure brings students together through shared coursework and experiences.

“A former governor and a U.S. senator joined our public policy class,” Wendy said. “The next month our entire cohort traveled together to Washington, D.C., and next year we will study abroad. The program offers unique access and opportunities, and it has created a strong sense of community.”

Not long after Wendy began her program and Gryffin toured UMKC as a first-time college student, Leo — already a college student — made the decision to transfer to UMKC.

“Leo was excelling at her first school and was on the Dean's Honor Roll,” Wendy said. “But Leo learned more about UMKC after Gryffin's visit and was impressed with what UMKC offered. Without telling us and after reviewing materials about the Bloch School, Leo applied for a transfer within a few days of Gryffin's visit.”

Leo then met with Scott Ezzell, director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment at Bloch, and Gene Pegler, executive director of student affairs at Bloch, and they mapped out her classes together.

“At the Bloch School, we recognize that choosing a college is one of the most significant decisions a student will ever make, and we treat that journey with the personalized attention it deserves,” Ezzell said. “We work hard to see each prospective student as an individual, taking the time to understand their unique aspirations, backgrounds and specific needs for support. Our goal is to serve as a comprehensive resource from the first point of contact and ensure that once a student is admitted, they are seamlessly plugged into the vital resources that drive success.”

As a current UMKC student and mom to two college-aged kids, Wendy has experienced it from both sides, and that level of personalized support stood out to her.

“That's the kind of attention that sets UMKC apart,” Wendy said.

When asked about what this experience means to her, Leo said: “It’s nice to have support from my family, especially when we’re all pursuing business together.”

Now a sophomore, she is involved in Bloch Launchpad, an immersive professional development and leadership program that brings students together for weekly sessions with guest speakers and offers unparalleled access to Kansas City’s business community. Leo is also a recipient of the Chancellor’s Transfer Award.

“I’ve really enjoyed Launchpad,” Leo said. “They bring in different lecturers each week, and we do a lot of team activities.”

Outside of business, Leo is also pursuing a minor in film — an interest she’s had since childhood.

“I’ve been really into art since I was a kid, and I thought pairing my management degree with a minor in the arts could help me become an art director,” Leo said.

Gryffin, the youngest, was drawn to the Bloch School for its More in 4 program.

“Gryffin had applied both locally and far and wide, and turned down huge scholarship offers elsewhere,” Wendy said. “For him, there was no match anywhere to the accelerated More in 4 program, where he could earn both his Bachelor and Master of Science in Accounting in four years.”

For Gryffin, the More in 4 program allows him to stay ahead early in his college experience.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to start my career earlier than most,” Gryffin said, “and it opens more doors for me by giving me a few extra years of experience.”

He’s currently exploring interests in investment and financial analysis, while also having shared his musical talents at the UMKC Conservatory’s annual jazz festival with his high school.

With three family members already navigating Bloch together, the Connellys’ connection to UMKC runs even deeper. Wendy’s husband, Mark Connelly, Ph.D., M.S., is a professor at the UMKC School of Medicine and a clinical health psychologist at Children’s Mercy.

"Education and a love of learning have always been core values in our family,” Wendy said. “Beyond his work as a professor, our kids watched Mark complete another degree last year.”

That shared mindset on the value of education has made their overlapping time at Bloch feel natural. For Wendy, there’s also a sense of reassurance in seeing her children navigate the same environment.

"Since preschool, we’ve had a send-off tradition: ‘Wisdom in your head, love and courage in your heart, hands to serve others’,” Wendy said. “My hope is that wherever they go, they’ll always think not only about their own growth but also about how they can use it to serve others. UMKC shares that focus and provides opportunities for them to grow in service and community leadership.”

Side by side, the Connellys are making their way through Bloch and setting the foundation for what comes next.

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