A multi-school strategy expands rural education, training and career pathways to address statewide healthcare shortages
In many parts of rural Missouri, a doctor’s office can be hours away, and a growing number of regions have no hospital at all. These healthcare gaps aren’t just inconvenient; they’re dangerous. Whether it’s chronic disease, childbirth or emergency care, rural residents face worse health outcomes simply because there aren’t enough physicians nearby. UMKC is working to change that.
The new, $14.5 million education building on UMKC School of Medicine’s St. Joseph Campus, unveiled in August 2025, represents the university’s major investment in expanding and supporting rural healthcare.
“Almost any disease you can list has a higher prevalence and a worse outcome in a rural area,” said Mike Wacker, Ph.D., senior associate dean for rural and medical pathway programs at the School of Medicine. “There just aren’t as many physicians, or healthcare facilities, for people to go to.”
According to the American Medical Association, 136 rural hospitals closed between 2010 and 2021, and about 65% of rural areas have a shortage of primary care physicians. To address this rural healthcare shortage, the School of Medicine has created opportunities to guide future physicians toward serving rural communities by establishing a premedical school program, a satellite education site and a rural residency program. All are aimed at preparing students for a career in rural medicine while immersing them in rural settings.
The School of Medicine opened the St. Joseph Campus in 2021, with the first cohort of 14 students graduating last December and participating in the first Match Day for the campus this March. In 2022, the St. Joseph Campus launched its Rural Pathway Program, designed to offer guidance, clinical exposure and academic support to rural-dedicated students preparing for medical school. And to round out the pipeline, UMKC is now in its inaugural year of a 1+2 Maryville Rural Track Program for residents interested in rural practice after their residency.
“UMKC has spent the past decade formulating a wholehearted commitment to addressing rural care,” said Dean Alexander Norbash (B.A. ’85/M.D. ’86).
A University-Wide Approach to Rural Health
Rural healthcare expansion is a collaborative effort at the university. The School of Pharmacy paved the way, adding rural program locations in Columbia 20 years ago and Springfield 10 years ago.
“Our satellite campuses provide access to high quality pharmacy education for those that otherwise wouldn't be able to move to Kansas City,” said School of Pharmacy Dean Russell Melchert, Ph.D.
Southwest Missouri has already seen dramatic improvements in pharmaceutical shortages in the area thanks to the School of Pharmacy’s presence in Springfield.
“We've graduated 206 pharmacists through that expansion and nearly 80% of them are practicing pharmacy in Missouri, and of those, almost 64% are practicing in southwest Missouri,” Melchert said. “So, the impact of our expansion has been tremendous.”
The UMKC School of Dentistry also recently announced a proposal to build a rural satellite campus at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, adding to its efforts already in place with over a dozen rural rotation sites throughout Kansas and Missouri available to fourth-year dentistry students.
“The students always value this opportunity,” said School of Dentistry Dean Paul Luepke, DDS, M.S., FACD. “They get to work in maybe a different population than they're accustomed to. And that's the idea, getting them used to this so that they can envision themselves being in that kind of a community.”
The School of Medicine also recently expanded its physician assistant program to a second location — in Columbia, Missouri — this January, bringing another healthcare degree option to students in mid-Missouri.
Building a Rural Pipeline: Rural Pathway Program
The new Rural Pathway Program, led by Kathleen Spears, Ph.D., the school’s associate dean for student success, is a year-long program supporting about 10 participants annually. The initiative is comprised of undergraduate students and post-bac professionals from rural areas, primarily in Missouri, who hope to apply to medical school and return to their communities to practice.
“The pathway program is designed to find those people who have that passion and give them the support they need to be successful in healthcare,” Spears said.
According to Spears, students from rural areas are more likely to understand the unique needs of those communities and return to serve them after medical school.
“You have to be a part of the community to understand what's going to happen when certain decisions are made,” said Andrew Sass (Pharm.D. ’15), a second-year M.D. student at the St. Joseph campus who entered UMKC as a result of participating in the Rural Pathway Program. “Since you are boots on the ground, you understand what's going to happen to your patients, and why they need to be advocated for.”
Additionally, the program helps students overcome access barriers, like a lack of local hospitals for shadowing physicians.
“If your nearest hospital is 50 miles away, how are you going to shadow?” Wacker said.
Pathway participants get hands-on clinical experience from day one, nightshift shadowing, monthly seminars and peer mentors from the St. Joseph Campus. Topics range from community leadership and MCAT prep to financial aid education.
Despite having nearly a decade of healthcare experience from his pharmacy career, Sass was nervous about making the transition to medical school, but felt like UMKC provided the resources he needed.
“If the Rural Pathway Program wasn't here, or UMKC didn't put the medical school in St. Joseph, I wouldn't be able to do this,” Sass said.
Similarly, Mikalah Brock, another program graduate, returned to her hometown of Maysville, Missouri, after earning an engineering degree. She joined the pathway program to prepare for medical school and is now enrolled at UMKC’s St. Joseph Campus.
“This rural community is my home,” Brock said. “These are my people, they're very important to me in my life and I would like to give back to them.”
Brock plans to finish medical school in 2028, and her choice to attend UMKC was an easy one.
“I was really serious about wanting to go to a rural campus,” she said. “And the program showed me how much UMKC was also invested in developing rural students."
A Permanent Home for Rural Medical Education in St. Joseph
When UMKC opened the St. Joseph Campus, it partnered with Mosaic Life Care to train students in rural care settings. Students attended classes at Mosaic until this past August, when the new education building opened across the street from the hospital.
“If we want to have any kind of relief for the physician shortage, we have to train people who are passionate about the communities they serve,” Spears said.
That commitment came full circle this past year, as the first St. Joseph cohort graduated and matched into residencies across the state.
“A third of the class specialized in family practice, and many of those expressed interest in coming back, specifically to Mosaic, if not the northwest,” Wacker said.
While the need for family medicine physicians is especially high in rural areas, Wacker also celebrated the students matching into a wide range of specialties.
“These areas don't need just primary care,” he said. “They need every specialty. So, we're excited by the diversity of matches,” which, in addition to family medicine and internal medicine, included radiation oncology, psychiatry, emergency, otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, orthopedic surgery and interventional radiology.
Training Doctors to Stay: A New Rural Residency Model
Additionally, when it comes to residency programs, UMKC is developing solutions to help promote the rural healthcare path to new doctors.
UMKC’s new 1+2 residency program allows recent medical school graduates to spend one year at the University Health Lakewood Medical Center in Kansas City followed by two years at Mosaic Medical Center in Maryville, Missouri, so they can gain experience in a large hospital setting as well as a rural one.
“Primary care doctors in rural areas are called upon to do more,” said Lane Wilson, M.D., family medicine residency director for the 1+2 rural family medicine residency. “Training in a broad scope is super important for family docs in rural areas so they can offer a comprehensive range of services.”
Looking Ahead
With a pipeline that includes early support, rural training and dedicated residencies, UMKC is taking long-term steps to address the rural shortages.
“It is my hope that our St. Joseph medical school will flourish and help populate rural Missouri with outstanding practitioners,” Norbash said. “I genuinely hope that our model is one that is successful and is duplicated. Hopefully, someday in the not-too-distant future, I see rural satellite medical schools in all four corners of the state of Missouri, producing outstanding graduates who choose to stay in our beautiful state, and serve our beloved citizens. If our vision were realized, we would be able to educate and graduate the physicians we need to completely address our physician shortage in rural locations.”
As UMKC looks to expand its rural impact even further, faculty and students are already seeing the payoff — rural residency programs taking root, permanent medical school home in St. Joseph and rural students finding their path to medicine.
“We have started something that’s going to pay big dividends to this region,” Wacker said.
Help expand access to rural health care.
Support scholarships, training programs and facilities that prepare the next generation of physicians to serve Missouri’s rural communities.
Feb 25, 2026
With more than 100,000 followers across social media platforms, Marteen Redman documents studio journey to inspire next generation of architects
When UMKC architecture student Marteen Redman settles into her workstation in the Katz Hall studio, she has to prepare one extra thing before she goes heads-down on her latest architecture project: a makeshift tripod so her phone can stay propped up, documenting every moment. Redman often shares her architectural journey with her 102,000 TikTok followers and 26,000 Instagram followers. What most people don’t see, however, is the unique path that led her to architecture.
Before enrolling at UMKC, Redman was pursuing a tattoo apprenticeship. The experience helped her discover how much she enjoyed creating and visualizing designs. Around the same time, she found another surprising source of inspiration: architect Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother. His character sparked her interest in returning to school to pursue a creative field. Having already earned her associate’s degree, she wanted a program that felt both challenging and meaningful.
“Architecture stood out as the perfect way to combine my passion for design with a strong academic and professional foundation,” Redman said.
So, why UMKC?
“I chose UMKC because Kansas City is a major hub for architecture, with many respected firms located in the area,” she said. “Studying at a university with strong ties to the local architectural community allows me to stay close to home while preparing for my future career.”
It’s safe to say Redman is happy with her decision.
“The most exciting part of studying architecture so far has been how much I’ve learned about design and the way I approach it,” she said. “My studio professors Christopher Spaw and Dominic Musso have challenged me to think about architecture from perspectives I had never considered before. Spending extended time in the studio has also allowed me to build strong relationships with my classmates, creating a collaborative and supportive learning environment that has made the experience even more rewarding.”
The numerous hours spent in the studio also led Redman to start filming her architecture journey. What started as a simple way to document her work and create a personal portfolio eventually led to her online presence significantly growing, with some of her videos receiving over 20,000 likes and 100,000 views.
“I never expected the account to grow as quickly as it did, but it has opened opportunities to collaborate with architectural firms, companies and professionals in the field,” said Redman. “I now create content centered around my projects, studio life and design process. Being able to get paid to share my architectural work feels like a privilege, and I enjoy knowing that the content not only supports me but also inspires and educates others who are interested in architecture.”
Redman mentioned that one of the most rewarding parts of the experience has been receiving messages from students who are interested in pursuing architecture.
“Being able to share the realities of architecture school and help others understand what the path looks like has been incredibly fulfilling,” Redman said.
When asked to share some of the advice she often shares with future architects, Redman honestly answers.
“My biggest piece of advice for students considering architecture is to understand how much time and dedication the program requires, especially outside of scheduled studio hours,” said Redman. “I didn’t fully realize how many hours would be spent working on projects in the studio, but that extra time is where my passion and motivation have really grown. If you are passionate about learning, open to being challenged and willing to put in the work, architecture can be an incredibly rewarding path.”
Despite only being in her first year, Redman is grateful for the numerous opportunities studying architecture has provided.
“I am extremely happy with my decision to study architecture, and the studio has truly become my second home in the best possible way,” Redman said.
Feb 18, 2026
For 24 hours, Roos everywhere unite to power student success at UMKC
UMKC Giving Day brings our community together for 24 hours to raise critical funding that directly supports students and expands opportunities. Rally behind the programs and causes that matter most to you and choose exactly where to direct your gift. Every contribution you make drives progress and helps build a brighter future for our Roos.
Since launching in 2020, Giving Day has grown from 70 donors raising just over $6,700 to more than 1,100 donors contributing more than $1.2 million in 2025. Giving Day returns March 3 to 4 with causes that uplift every corner of our campus community. No matter your connection to UMKC, you play a vital role in fueling the momentum that moves our university forward. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, retirees and friends of the university are all invited to take part in this celebration of generosity and Roo pride.
“Our students are at the heart of everything we do,” said Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “Giving Day raises the funds that make transformative opportunities possible for our students, and it’s inspiring to see our community come together to support their success.”
Become an Advocate
Are you ready to join fellow Roos in supporting your favorite cause and spreading the word?Advocates use their voices to inspire others and help raise funds for UMKC. A gift of any amount can help turn today’s support into tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
All first-time UMKC donors who give at least $5 will receive a pair of Roo blue knit unisex socks. Donors who contribute $250 or more will receive a limited-edition UMKC‑branded mini Bluetooth aluminum speaker as a thank‑you for their generosity.
Registered advocates can also earn rewards for helping drive support. Those who generate at least five gifts or raise $100 or more will receive a limited‑edition plush Roo keychain, and anyone who generates a gift of $25 or more will be entered into a drawing for a UMKC and Kansas City-themed gift basket. The registered advocate who raises the most dollars and the advocate who secures the most gifts of $25 or more by noon on March 4 will receive a UMKC swag bag.
Advocates can amplify their impact by sharing causes with their networks, creating matching gifts or challenges and telling their own stories through personal videos that encourage others to give.
“Our community shows up for UMKC in extraordinary ways,” said Amanda Davis, UMKC chief advancement officer and president of the UMKC Foundation. “When Roos unite around the causes they care about, the impact reaches far beyond these 24 hours.”
Campus Participation
Roos Choose launched in 2023 and has become a signature Giving Day tradition, putting the power directly in the hands of our campus community. By voting from a list of causes, participants can use their voice to champion and help direct critical support where it matters most. The cause with the most votes will receive an additional $500 bonus to support its mission.
“As students, we see firsthand how support makes a difference,” said Andrew Tracey, UMKC Student Government Association president. “Giving Day makes you feel connected to something bigger, and it lets us play a role in creating opportunities for each other.”
Students, faculty and staff can vote, sign up as advocates and sign thank‑you cards for first‑time donors at the Student Participation Station from noon to 2 p.m. on March 3 and 8 to 11 a.m. on March 4 in the Student Union across from the UMKC Bookstore.
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Feb 17, 2026
Anne Alaniz’s vision is reshaping access to care for an entire region in Malawi, Africa
Growing up, Anne Alaniz, M.D., considered childbirth a matter of life and death.
In the rural village in Malawi where she spent her childhood, women sometimes left for the hospital and never returned. By the age of 10, Alaniz had been taught how to care for her younger siblings in case her mother died during delivery.
Today, as a UMKC-trained gynecologic oncologist practicing in Houston, Texas, Alaniz is working to change that reality for the women and children of Malawi through Pothawira International, a healthcare organization she founded with deep roots in Kansas City. And she has the support of other UMKC School of Medicine doctors, especially alumna and faculty member Stacey Algren (B.A. ’00/M.D. ’01).
A Path Paved by Education
“Watching my dad, the inspiration to become a physician started there,” Alaniz said. “My dad worked in the medical field as a clinical officer, which would be like the equivalent of maybe a nurse practitioner here. But over there, they basically function like family-practice doctors, because in Malawi the doctor patient ratio is like one to 50,000.”
That inspiration turned into action after a chance meeting with a U.S. emergency room physician, Donna Ivey, who had come on a mission trip to Malawi, located in southeastern Africa. Ivey offered to bring Alaniz to the United States to complete high school and pursue a medical career.
“She brought me a little bit early so I could do one year of high school here and live with her while I kind of adjusted to what was a huge transition from growing up in a small little village where electricity, running water and plumbing was not existent, to coming to what was the first world country,” Alaniz said.
During that year, Alaniz also observed Ivey in the ER, gaining her first exposure to healthcare in the United States.
“I witnessed what was like the miracle of medicine in the United States,” Alaniz said. “I couldn’t believe there were medications, they would put chest compressions and bring people back from the dead. It was nothing I'd ever seen before.”
An Epiphany That Defined a Mission
While attending Dallas Baptist University as a pre-med student, Alaniz remembers returning to Malawi during a break in school to visit family and join her dad in the clinic again, this time observing through new eyes.
Alaniz remembers the patient that changed everything for her during this visit. A mother had walked 10 to 15 miles to the clinic with her 5-year-old suffering from dehydration after drinking contaminated water, but there was nothing the medical team could do.
“Watching a 5-year-old die from dehydration was unbelievably devastating to me,” Alaniz said. “And then I watched my dad take the baby and put it on the mother's back. And she now had to walk 10 to 15 miles back home with a dead baby on her back. I remember that baby was my epiphany.”
After that trip, Alaniz said she entered medical school with a clear goal: to build a healthcare center for women and children in Malawi.
Building a Dream
During medical school at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Alaniz and a group of medical school friends raised $3,000 through a garage sale and a donor match, which was enough to purchase the property that would eventually become Pothawira, which means “safe haven” in Chichewa, the native language of Malawi.
But it was during 2008, her third year of residency at UMKC when a moment of serendipity helped propel the project forward. While completing a C-section on a patient, the attending doctor asked Alaniz what she wanted to do after residency.
“I have this property in Malawi, and I would love to start implementing a children's healthcare center there some day,’” Alaniz remembers telling the doctor.
The patient’s husband was in the room and happened to be involved with Global Orphan Projects, which is based in Kansas City and establishes clinics and homes for orphaned children in countries such as Haiti and Malawi. He spoke with Alaniz after the surgery, and from there helped connect her with partners who could help bring the clinic to life.
With support from Global Orphan Project and additional donors, Pothawira took root within six months of this chance encounter. First with a school, orphan homes and an outpatient clinic, and a few years later, Pothawira added a birthing center. Construction of a surgical center is now underway.
“One of the things that we realized is that while we were able to offer these women routine deliveries, when an emergency happens and they need a C-section, there was no place to send them except this tiny, little district hospital where they have a very small operating room, no cautery and no electricity,” Alaniz said.
The addition of the surgical center will be transformative for the Salima district of Malawi, which has a population of 560,000 and only one operating room. When construction of the surgical center is complete, the district will have four ORs.
Support Rooted at UMKC
Pothawira’s growth has not happened in isolation. From the earliest days, Alaniz’s vision has been supported by a network of UMKC-trained physicians, including Algren, who trained Alaniz during her OB/GYN residency.
While at UMKC, Alaniz regularly shared her long-term vision for improving women’s health in Malawi with Algren and other faculty members. That openness led to years of continued support. Since 2017, Algren has volunteered with Pothawira almost every other year, traveling to Malawi for approximately two weeks at a time to provide obstetric and gynecologic surgical care.
During those trips, Algren and the team work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, typically performing as many as 70 surgeries under extreme conditions, often with limited supplies, inconsistent electricity and shortages of basic resources.
“Sometimes we have to be creative,” Algren said. “We don't have the instruments or supplies we need. So we end up maybe stretching ourselves a little bit more to do cases that we would send to somebody else here, just because there is nobody else.”
On multiple occasions, blood shortages became so severe that Algren donated her own blood so patients could undergo surgery — then operated on them herself.
“To literally give, and then two hours later, operate, and you see your blood hanging, going into the patient — that's kind of weird,” Algren said. “That's wild.”
Taking the Mission to New Heights
That steadfast commitment extends beyond the walls of the clinic, even to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Each year, Alaniz leads a fundraising climb of Africa’s highest peak to support Pothawira’s growth. This year’s climb helped fund the construction of the new surgical center.
Among the climbers were Algren, Mary Thaxton, a former UMKC resident and classmate of Alaniz, and Jimmy Sandham, a former Pothawira orphan who came to the United States for high school and college.
Sandham recently earned his bachelor’s in healthcare administration and is headed back to Malawi in March to become the new surgery center’s manager.
“Jimmy was also given the gift of education, and that's why education is really important for us,” Alaniz said. “Somebody gave me the gift of education, so if there's anything that I can do other than just provide care, it is educating children of Malawi so they can be my successors.”
Although Alaniz visits Malawi two to three times a year, she has made education and training a priority to ensure care continues when visiting teams are not present.
“Now that we have more space, we're really going to ramp up the educational piece and try to teach them to be able to do the surgeries themselves,” Alaniz said. “Because ultimately, the goal is even when we're not there, we want them to be able to do it.”
As a gynecological oncologist, Alaniz has also been enhancing the clinic’s overall efforts toward women’s healthcare with increased oncology treatments, cervical cancer screenings, preventative vaccinations for cervical cancer, maternal care and more.
“Taking care of women while they’re younger and in their reproductive years so they get to live longer and get to continue taking care of their children is what we’re striving for,” Alaniz said. “I want our orphanage to close because women are living longer and can take care their own children, because children should grow up with their family in their home.”
Since establishing a medical presence in the country, Pothawira has already contributed to a dramatic improvement on the life expectancy in Malawi. According to the World Health Organization, the life expectancy has increased by nearly 18 years since 2000, from an expectancy of approximately 45 to 63 years.
Knowing the impact this work is having on this country has been rewarding for both Alaniz and Algren and has reminded them of their original purpose as physicians.
“It kind of renews your passion in medicine because it can get a little daunting practicing today,” Algren said. “And there, we just treat people.”
Alaniz also remains thankful for the connections she made in Kansas City and the impact it has had on Pothawira.
“I'm forever grateful for my experience in Kansas City with UMKC,” Alaniz said. “I'm definitely a product of them. And being able to go out into the world and participate in this way has been really incredible.”
Feb 17, 2026
UMKC Alumni Association honors the Spartan/Haerer family with 2026 Legacy Award
Each year, the UMKC Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni achievements with an awards celebration. UMKC is honoring the Spartan/Haerer family with the 2026 Legacy Award.
Two generations of the Spartan/Haerer family have spent more than a collective half a century at UMKC working and earning degrees. It started with Steve Spartan, Ph.D. (B.A. ’70, M.A. ’74, M.A. ’76) and Karen (Haerer) Spartan (B.A. ’70). They met on campus while working at and attending UMKC, both graduating with bachelor’s degrees in economics. Both first-generation Roos, they encouraged their siblings to choose UMKC as well. Thanks to Steve and Karen Spartan, Joanne (Spartan) Zicarelli (attended ’72-’73), Susan Haerer-Deatherage (B.A. ’79) and Christina (Spartan) Seneff (B.A. ’80) followed in their footsteps.
Many of their children and relatives would join the Roo mob, too. William Haerer (B.A. ’95), son of Susan Deatherage; Vanessa Spartan (B.A. ’06), daughter of Steve and Karen Spartan; Anastasia Spartan (attended ’08), daughter of Steve and Karen Spartan; and Paige (Messina) Zicarelli (Pharm.D ’17), daughter-in-law of Joanne Zicarelli, are all alumni of UMKC.
Left to right: Joanne Zicarelli, Paige Zicarelli
Together the Spartan/Haerer family not only has nine alumni of UMKC, six of the family members also worked at the university. Their legacy and impact on campus is undeniable, but it also extends past the borders of campus far into Kansas City and beyond. In addition to UMKC, family members have had successful careers at Park University; Webster University; Donnelly College; St. Mary’s University; University of Kansas; Kansas City Kansas Community College; Kansas City Art Institute; KU Medical Center; George Washington University; the Federal Reserve of Kansas City the Veterans Administration; State of Kansas; City of Tempe, Arizona, Bonner Springs School District; BJ’s Restaurant Group; and more.
We asked Spartan/Haerer family members to reflect on their time at UMKC, careers and the impact of family values.
What originally drew your family, or you personally, to UMKC as the place to pursue higher education?
Karen Spartan: I was living at home and UMKC was an easy commute. I could access a part-time job nearby and tuition was affordable. UMKC was a developing university that had until recently been a renowned private university (University of Kansas City). It was a beautiful urban campus located near the Plaza.
Anastasia Spartan: Both of my parents attended and worked at UMKC. A position at UMKC in University Communications became available and I applied. I was living close and loved the drive, it felt like it was meant to be. While I was working, I was able to take advantage of the discounted graduate courses as well.
Vanessa Spartan: I was in my first year of college and was interested in design and social sciences. My mom came home one day and had heard about a new program at UMKC called urban planning and design. I set up a visit and met with the department’s advisor, and he opened my eyes to a career I didn’t even realize existed.
How would you describe the role UMKC played in shaping your career path or professional identity?
Steve Spartan: UMKC really laid the foundation of me learning how to observe, think and communicate, which helped me throughout my education and my career.
Karen Spartan: There was outstanding faculty committed to their departments and students. Many faculty were informed about the important issues of the day. I attended during the late 1960s and early 1970s; this was a time of social change and awakening of new hopes and latent possibilities.
William Haerer: It was deeply formative. Faculty in the psychology department reinforced discipline, accountability and understanding of people that have stayed with me throughout my career.
Your family has created a multi-generational legacy at UMKC. What do you think kept bringing family members to the university?
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: UMKC has a strong presence in our community. It was a natural choice for me because of its reputation, location and affordability.
Anastasia Spartan: My parents always pushed us to explore higher education. They spoke fondly of their time at UMKC and around the Midtown, Plaza and Brookside areas. When opportunity presented itself to attend and work where my parents and so many family members have, it just felt right.
William Haerer: My mother obtained her degree at UMKC, as did other family members. As a result, connections to UMKC run deep. It's been especially meaningful to be part of a family whose educational journeys are closely tied to UMKC.
Many of you built careers in education, public service, government and community-focused fields. What inspired you to pursue work that impacts the public good?
Paige Zicarelli: I’ve always been drawn to helping others. I have several family members in the healthcare field, and my grandfather owned a pharmacy. This career just seemed like the perfect fit.
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: I wanted a career that would serve a purpose and help make life better for others. My parents set this value by their involvement in my education and in their church, and by their pride in the service they provided in their own careers. My dad used to drive us around and show us the projects he was proud to have worked on as an electrician.
Karen Spartan: My generation came of age at a time people often referred to as the “golden years” of possibilities. However, there was also a lot of tragedy including assassinations of young national leaders and young men’s lives and futures being disrupted by the Vietnam draft. All of this occurred while I was at UMKC. It put a different meaning to what I was learning inside and outside the classroom.
What’s a pivotal moment in your career when you felt a deep sense of purpose or clarity about the path you were on?
Christina Spartan Seneff: In healthcare, real-life situations provide pivotal moments of clarity every day. Working as a member of a care team in the ICU felt very purposeful and provided a variety of emotional experiences.
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: In the 1980s, I was working at the discount window during my career at the Federal Reserve Bank. I served financial institutions by lending them funds to help farmers during planting season and to support them in their concerns for their customers as their bank failed and transitioned to new ownership. These people would be emotional and wanted to do good by their customers, and I was proud to be part of helping them to do just that.
Vanessa Spartan: Currently I work in transportation safety, which is all about preventing injury and death from traffic crashes. It can be grim work, but the partners I have the honor to work with keep me inspired. They all care so deeply about the topic, and they are working so hard, individually and collectively, to truly make a difference. In 2024, Kansas had the lowest recorded traffic fatalities in state history with tracking going back to 1947. In addition, we are on this continuous downward trendline of less lives lost each year. Knowing that I’m a central part of bringing these partners together and saving dozens of lives every year is both humbling and inspiring
Can you describe a challenge you faced in your professional life and how your upbringing or family values helped you navigate it?
William Haerer: While taking 18 hours a semester at UMKC, I also worked in the psychology field at Western Missouri Mental Health and the Kansas Institute. I recognized that I did not want to continue in the psychology field. In discussions with my mother, I told her I always enjoyed working in the food booths at the Renaissance Festival with my family. I chose to pursue my passion in the restaurant industry. This led to an exciting and rewarding career.
Vanessa Spartan: I had a short stint of living, working and going to school in New York City in my upper 20s. Ultimately, I decided that it wasn’t for me and packed up and headed back to Kansas City. At the time, this was tough for me because I typically see things through; it felt like failure. My mom’s wisdom was ‘This is your career and your story to tell. It's up to you to decide the path you want to chart going forward, so do it with confidence that you’re making the best decision for you at this moment in time.’ While I’m thoughtful in my decisions, I also know that sometimes you have to just make the decision, move forward and pivot when necessary, and it's not the end of the world when life presents you with something you weren’t expecting to happen.
Anastasia Spartan: Throughout college, and even as an adult, I struggled to find the right fit. Some might see that as a negative. I know at various times, I was frustrated and overwhelmed with myself. But my parents always encouraged me to keep seeking and would sit with me as I would rattle all my thoughts and facts and nuances. I’ve now realized how fortunate I have been to be in this position, and how perfect a fit I am for my role as a library media specialist.
Looking back on your career, what are some of the most memorable milestones or moments that stand out to you as defining your journey in the profession?
Steve Spartan: I completed several graduate degrees and a Ph.D., but more importantly I gained respect and admiration for my peers and for students I worked with throughout my career.
Paige Zicarelli: Deciding to pursue a post-graduate pharmacy residency and obtaining my current position as an ambulatory-care clinical pharmacy practitioner after aspiring to be in this role for years.
Christina Spartan Seneff: I never had a specific career goal. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in psychology and failing to find suitable employment, I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. On my mother’s advice, I entered a respiratory therapy program. I passed certification two years later and worked as a staff therapist for 10 years at the George Washington University Hospital in DC. To finally feel self-sustaining and that I was helping people was very satisfying
If you had to describe your family’s professional legacy in a single word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Steve Spartan: We have done well for others and ourselves.
Karen Spartan: Pride – in effort, decision-making and academic and career accomplishments.
Vanessa Spartan: Purposeful. Beyond this group of UMKC alumni in our family, we also have others who have really purposeful academic and career experiences.
What advice would you give to today’s students who are starting out in a rapidly changing world? And to follow that, what’s one piece of wisdom you’ve learned along the way that you wish someone had told you at the beginning of your career?
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: Focus on your education, develop mentors and friendships. Keep an open mind, be flexible and value learning.
Christina Spartan Seneff: Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Tolerate imperfection in yourself and others.
Steve Spartan: The only things you can control are your abilities and your attitude. Work on both.
What is your favorite UMKC memory?
Paige Zicarelli: Being exposed to ambulatory-care pharmacy practice during my second year of pharmacy school in a general medicine rotation. This opened my eyes to a whole new world of pharmacy and I’m very grateful for that!
Vanessa Spartan: Late night work in Epperson House for the urban design studio courses. We were all running on fumes, but I have so many lifelong friends because of those experiences. I also had the opportunity to work in post-Katrina New Orleans with my studio class; I have so many memories from that experience. Through these times together I was exposed to different cultures, traditions and cuisines. Had I not gone to an urban university like UMKC, I may have never had these experiences.
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: Pursuing a degree in economics and math can be a bit intense. I decided to take some literature classes. I became friends with a woman in those literature classes, who had daughters about the same ages as my sons. This chance meeting, in a class not in my degree field, turned into a lifelong friendship. You never know what amazing people you will meet at UMKC.
How did UMKC prepare you for and contribute to your success?
Christina Spartan Seneff: For me, UMKC provided a positive and stimulating environment for intellectual growth. I gained self-confidence and interpersonal skills that stayed with me and serve me still.
William Haerer: It profoundly shaped how I approach leadership, communication and problem-solving.
Paige Zicarelli: UMKC provides students with amazing academic and clinical staff who set great examples for the students and challenge them. It also provides various opportunities for our clinical rotations.
How do you think opportunities for young professionals have changed since you graduated?
Karen Spartan: We are living in an ever-changing world. Careers and work skills will change multiple times in your life. Stay up to date on future trends. Continue to learn and take the opportunities to develop training and education along the way.
Christina Spartan Seneff: Right now, it feels like “tech” is king. It’s necessary now to be somewhat adept at navigating within that world.
Susan Haerer-Deatherage: Young professionals now face challenges that I didn’t experience. Yet, I have seen a tendency in young professionals to be more environmentally conscious and to be more flexible in seeking opportunities and being open to challenges.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from the older generation?
William Haerer: My mother was a single parent of two sons, who worked while pursuing her degree at UMKC. I learned from her how to balance responsibility, perseverance and determination that made it possible to envision a future of choices and opportunities.
Anastasia Spartan: Understanding is an art, character is destiny, don’t fret over the trivial.
Vanessa Spartan: Very little is a true or false dichotomy, there are many shades of gray. Ask questions and pursue improvement.
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Feb 16, 2026
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal’s paintings and photography featured in local exhibition
Starting late February, a different side of UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal will be on view at Englewood Arts, where a curated selection of his paintings and photographs will be exhibited as part of “Impressions, Seen and Felt,” on view Feb. 20 through April 18.
The free exhibition at Englewood Arts, 10901 E. Winner Road in Independence, follows Agrawal’s recent public showing of his work last spring at Second Presbyterian Church in Brookside and offers a curated look at a creative outlet he has cultivated quietly over many years.
Since coming to UMKC in 2018, Agrawal has led Kansas City’s only public research university through a period of significant growth — advancing student success initiatives, improving campus facilities and, most recently, guiding UMKC to Carnegie Research 1 status. An engineer, researcher and former academic leader at the University of Texas at San Antonio, he now oversees a vibrant academic community where the arts play a visible role in campus life.
A self-taught painter and photographer, Agrawal uses art as a personal, restorative counterbalance to his professional life in higher education and engineering. The works featured at Englewood Arts reflect that sensibility: paintings that unfold through exploration rather than rigid planning, and photographs that pause on fleeting, easily overlooked moments. Together, they trace a life shaped by movement, observation and reflection – from India to the Carolinas, Texas and now Missouri.
Ahead of the exhibition’s opening reception on Feb. 20, Agrawal sat down to reflect on how his art has evolved and why creativity matters — not just in galleries, but in leadership, learning and daily life.
This isn’t your first time sharing your work publicly, but this exhibit represents a specific moment in time for you. When you look at the work being shown at Englewood Arts, are certain pieces more representative of where you are now as an artist?
The gallery curator selected the pieces, which ended up being about 14 or 15 paintings along with a group of photographs. Some of the photographs have been shown before, but many haven’t. The gallery will be selling the photographs, and any net proceeds will go directly to the UMKC Student Emergency Fund. I’ve never sold my work before, so I honestly don’t know if even one piece will sell — but whatever does will support students, which I appreciate.
I do think my approach to art has changed over the years. Early on, I was very focused on technique — on making something look ‘right.’ Now, I’m much more comfortable letting the work go where it wants to go, rather than starting with a fixed idea or a firm plan.
I usually begin with a concept, but as the painting develops — either because the idea evolves in my head or because the painting itself seems to ask for something else — I adjust. Maybe it needs more balance, more color, or something that gives it more meaning. It’s never fully planned. It just evolves.
I’ll give you an example. I have a painting that features poppies and a hummingbird. The hummingbird was never part of the plan. I was just painting flowers, but when I stepped back, it felt like the composition needed something more. The painting was calling for it.
That led me to start reading about hummingbirds, and they’ve taken on more meaning for me. They’re really vibrant and colorful — they represent the vibrancy of life. Their wings flap at something like 60 times per second, and the movement of the wing tips makes the shape of an infinity symbol. That sense of the Infinite has found its way into some of my recent work.
Some of the pieces invite viewers to write down what they see or feel. Why was that important to you?
On a few paintings, I shared a word scramble — words that came to mind while I was painting or as I look at the work now. I asked the gallery to provide paper and pencil so viewers could write down what they see.
It’ll be interesting to see whether their impressions line up with mine. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter if they match or not. Art shouldn’t prescribe meaning. It shouldn’t tell you what to think or feel. How we experience art lies in the interaction between the piece and the viewer.
The same is true of poetry, or music. A poem or a song might resonate deeply with one person and not at all with another. That doesn’t make either response wrong. It’s interpretive. If my work has changed over time, it’s moved from technique toward meaning — toward that interpretive space.
Your professional life is highly structured and fast-paced. How does your creative practice fit into that reality?
It’s my quiet time. My meditation time. I paint mostly on weekends, but not every weekend. You have to feel it. I can’t say, ‘I have two hours, I should paint.’ If the urge isn’t there, I don’t force it.
Sometimes months go by where I don’t feel like painting at all. Then all of a sudden, I want to paint all the time — for weeks. It comes in waves. But I’m not doing this professionally. I do it because it brings calm and focus.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
Sometimes I think I’m done, and I’ll hang the piece somewhere and live with it for a while. Over time, I’ll go back and make small changes.
I recently revisited a couple of paintings that were almost 30 years old. The technique wasn’t quite right — the light source in one corner, a shadow that was off. Nobody else noticed it. My wife said, ‘Mauli, that’s been hanging there for 30 years.’ And I said, ‘Yes, and it’s been bothering me for 30 years.’ So, I fixed it.
Most of the time, finishing is about stepping back — literally and figuratively — and deciding whether to leave it alone or return to it later.
Both painting and photography depend on close observation. Has making art changed how you move through the world?
It’s all about observation — taking the time to truly see something. Not always following the beaten path.
Most of the photographs in this collection are very ordinary scenes. Places hundreds or thousands of people pass by every day. But something catches my eye — the way the sky and clouds interact with a house, or how colors and shapes come together in a frame.
A barn, for example, is just a barn. It’s falling apart, decomposing. But if you stop and really look at it, there’s beauty there — even in the rotting wood in the middle of a field. It says something about time.
Those moments are fleeting. You could walk past them and never notice, and nothing would really change. But for me, they matter. Capturing them makes a transient moment permanent.
As an engineer and scientist by training, does your analytical instinct show up in your creative work?
It does. My favorite period in art history is Impressionism. I’m still amazed by how artists used tiny brush strokes and colors — dots that don’t look like much on their own — and your mind assembles them into something whole. Water shimmers. A tree appears at the edge of a lake. It’s abstract, but your brain fills in the gaps. It’s a mind trick.
I used to try to do that more directly. But my training as an engineer made me want everything to be precise. Straight lines. Perfection. Over time, I’ve learned to let that go. When you look closely at paintings in a museum, nothing is perfectly straight. A tree isn’t a straight line. It’s all over the place – almost alive.
I’ve gotten better at not letting precision pin me down.
Many people know you primarily as a university leader. What do you hope viewers understand through this exhibit?
It’s not really about what they should understand about me. It’s what they might understand about themselves.
All of us are multifaceted. At UMKC, I play a leadership role, and I expect excellence from my team. But once I find people who share that commitment, I think of them as friends. I care about who they are beyond their job titles.
We’re too eager, as a society, to put people in boxes. Chancellor. Painter. Engineer. But none of us are one-dimensional.
When I taught first-year biomedical engineering students, I used to show them images of my patents — and then images of my artwork. They were like, ‘What is this?’ And I’d challenge them: the core inventive part of your brain is the same, whether you’re creating technology or art. You need to work to develop both. The more you embrace your creative side, the better you’ll be at everything else you do.
I was told early in my academic career that I’d burn out if I didn’t have another outlet. For me, painting is that outlet. Sometimes I go to my basement studio with a cup of coffee, turn on music and disconnect from everything else. It’s my happy place. And sometimes, we all need that.
Kansas City has a strong arts and cultural community. How has living here influenced you?
I love how deeply Kansas City is invested in the arts — both the visual and performing arts. I don’t think people realize how rare that is. In many major metropolitan cities, you sit in traffic for hours to get to a museum or theater. Here, we have access, depth and quality.
When my wife Sue and I moved here, I didn’t expect that. It was a great surprise. It’s an incredibly inspirational place to be. We’re very lucky.
“Impressions, Seen and Felt” opens with a public reception 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.20, at Englewood Arts, and will remain on view through April 18. Works for sale benefit the UMKC Student Emergency Fund.
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Feb 16, 2026
RooMentum Pathways expansion reflects UMKC’s growing role in building the region’s future workforce
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is expanding its investment in regional workforce development in Kansas by adding Kansas City Kansas Community College as a new partner institution in the university’s RooMentum Pathways program.
RooMentum Pathways creates a seamless transfer experience for students at partner community colleges, providing clear academic pathways, advising support and guaranteed transfer options for students who plan to continue their education at UMKC. By reducing barriers and increasing access to four-year degrees, the program helps students move more efficiently from education to high-demand careers that fuel the regional economy. UMKC Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Doug Swink said the expansion of RooMentum to include KCKCC strengthens the university’s commitment to supporting education access and workforce development for the region.
“RooMentum reduces barriers to completion while preparing graduates to contribute immediately to the Kansas City economy,” Swink said. “We are grateful for KCKCC’s partnership in aligning the workforce pipeline with high-demand careers,”KCKCC joins Johnson County Community College and Metropolitan Community College as RooMentum partners in Kansas and Missouri. The expanding program reflects UMKC’s continued commitment to building strong, cross-state education and workforce pipelines that meet the region’s evolving talent needs, including in Kansas, and aligns with broader initiatives such as Critical Materials Crossroads, a National Science Foundation-finalist effort to strengthen innovation, industry collaboration and workforce readiness in advanced and emerging sectors. In addition to the RooMentum Pathways program, UMKC also participates in industry partnerships, like Amazon’s Career Choice program, to align education with workforce needs across the region. By investing in multiple career advancement pathways, cross-state collaboration and workforce-aligned education, UMKC is helping ensure students in Kansas are prepared to meet the demands of the economy today while driving future growth of the Kansas City region.Students in the RooMentum Pathway program have access to advising and degree planning services at UMKC even before they transfer, ensuring every credit counts toward earning a bachelor’s degree. In addition, once students complete an associate degree, they will be guaranteed to receive a merit-based scholarship of $2,500 or $3,500, reserved for transfer students. “We are proud to partner with UMKC in creating more seamless transfer pathways for our students,” said Brady Beckman, director of Student Success and Retention at KCKCC. “Together, we’re building a stronger bridge between our institutions and opening doors to new opportunities for KCKCC graduates.”
Feb 11, 2026
UMKC Student Emergency Fund helps students overcome unexpected financial hurdles and stay in school
For many college students, persistence and hard work aren’t enough to guarantee stability. Even with scholarships, jobs and careful budgeting, one unexpected expense can put years of hard work at risk.
The Student Emergency Fund at UMKC exists for those moments. A broken lease. A delayed paycheck. An emergency expense that can’t wait. When these short-term financial crises could otherwise force a student to pause or abandon their dream, the emergency fund helps students navigate those emergencies so they can stay focused on their education and continue building their future. Anna Zimmerman is manager of the UMKC Financial Wellness Center. Her office provides individualized financial coaching to students. She’s seen the fund help students in a broad array of situations including security deposits for safe living arrangements, car repairs, emergency room visits, critical medications, even academic-related expenses, like board exams and musical equipment. “I love this fund because we give students the space to tell us what is happening in their lives and to share what support would be most helpful for them,” Zimmerman said. “In some cases, students only need $100 or $200 to stay in school. In other cases, it can be more. In every case, students come to us with legitimate concerns and fears.”
A Lifeline During Sudden Setbacks
Track athlete and master’s student Shavelle Shaw (B.B.A. ’24, B.A. ‘24) is no stranger to adversity or perseverance. Shaw came to UMKC from Jamaica to pursue an ambitious path: dual degrees in business and computer science while competing as a student-athlete on the track team. She balanced coursework, training, leadership roles and campus jobs until an unexpected housing crisis threatened to derail everything. Just weeks into the semester, Shaw learned her landlord was turning her home into a short-term rental property. She would have to leave her apartment with little notice. Shaw had academic and athletic scholarships, and was working, but all of that simply wasn’t enough to get her through this unexpected obstacle. All her careful planning and budgeting was turned on its head because of a circumstance that was both unforeseeable and outside her control. As an international student far from home, the uncertainty was overwhelming. Thankfully, Shaw learned about important resources that could help. She reached out to Roland Hemmings, assistant director of student support services. “He didn't even hesitate to try to help me. He was just on it,” Shaw said. Hemmings led her to Taylor Blackmon, basic needs coordinator at UMKC, who helped Shaw access emergency resources. She was connected to immediate support, including temporary housing solutions and access to the Student Emergency Fund, giving her stability when she needed it most. “One thing I love most about UMKC is they have a lot of resources,” Shaw said. “There are so many hidden resources that I, myself, didn't even know about before. I definitely have found a community here, which is really helpful to just getting through finding that path to success.” Shaw thrived in her undergraduate program, working multiple jobs on campus, completing an internship with Community America and working for the bank as a seasonal loan servicing specialist, all while competing for the UMKC track team. But as it often does, life dealt another blow. Shaw’s car quit working and expenses for the track team hit around the same time. She was lucky enough to have a roommate who could give her a ride on occasion, but the Uber fees piled up when she couldn’t. Limiting Shaw’s ability to earn income, her student visa limited the number of hours she was allowed to work. “Everything was just starting to rack up,” Shaw said. “I realized even if I maxed out my hours on campus, I would still not be able to clear the balance, so I reached out and requested some funds, and thankfully I got them.”
Why Emergency Support Matters
Financial emergencies don’t wait for a convenient time. Through the individualized financial coaching her office provides, Zimmerman sees first-hand that for students already stretching their resources, even a short disruption can have long-term consequences. For those students, the support is as emotional as it is practical. “These students are resourceful,” Zimmerman said. “They’ve done their research, they’ve budgeted and they still run into situations that would throw anyone’s financial plans off. Our emergency fund tells them, ‘We see how hard you’re working. We’re glad you’re here. Let us take a turn.’” Zimmerman said while the emergency fund is an incredible resource, there are times when the need exceeds the funds available. “In these cases, a student has shared an immediate need, we’ve reviewed and confirmed that need is legitimate and yet we don’t have the funds to fill the request,” she said. That’s where donors make a big impact. “We are so incredibly grateful to the donors who share our desire to support these students and hope to be able to continue and expand this work to meet the evolving needs of our student community,” Zimmerman said.
“These students are resourceful. They’ve done their research, they’ve budgeted and they still run into situations that would throw anyone’s financial plans off. Our emergency fund tells them, ‘We see how hard you’re working. We’re glad you’re here. Let us take a turn.’” —
Anna Zimmerman, manager, UMKC Financial Wellness Center
An Investment in Student Success
For Shaw, timely support meant staying enrolled, continuing her training and moving forward to graduate with two bachelor’s degrees. She is now completing her Master of Finance degree at the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Recently, her laptop that she needs for school broke. While it’s still stressful, Shaw now knows she doesn’t have to sweat the small stuff. The student emergency fund is there to help.
“To have a resource like that available makes me feel secure,” Shaw said. “I'm going to try all of my other options first, but worst-case scenario, I have this to rely on.” Shaw is on track to graduate with her master’s degree in May. She remains deeply involved in campus leadership and is committed to paying forward the support she received, including referring other students she knows to support resources like the emergency fund. “There are students out there who are trying their hardest to find ways to make ends meet,” Shaw said. “They're extending themselves to find that finance or just the funding in general, and sometimes just that little help goes a far way.” To the donors who make the emergency fund possible, Shaw has just one message. “I would just say thank you,” she said. “I have someone who is supporting me, someone who is investing in my education and just having that thought goes a long way.”
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Feb 06, 2026
Program advances School of Science and Engineering’s goal to lead AI-driven innovation in healthcare, cybersecurity and intelligent systems
The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s plan to launch a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree this fall, pending approval from both the state and the Higher Learning Commission.
Housed in the School of Science and Engineering, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is a 30-credit hour program designed to meet growing workforce demand for advanced artificial intelligence expertise across industry and research sectors. The program will offer courses covering foundational and advanced topics in artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing.
UMKC has already established itself as a leader in artificial intelligence education and research, with AI‑focused initiatives implemented across academic units. This new program builds on that foundation, positioning UMKC at the forefront of AI‑driven innovation.
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced plans for the new master’s degree in AI as well as a Bachelor of Science in AI at his State of the University address in October 2025. The bachelor’s degree is in the early stages of planning.
“This new master’s degree in artificial intelligence reflects our responsibility as a university to lead – not follow – during moments of profound change,” Agrawal said. “Employers across every sector are seeking professionals equipped with the skills, judgment and creativity needed to harness AI’s powerful potential. This new degree positions UMKC graduates at the forefront of innovation, ready to succeed in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy.”
The new Master of Science in AI program will be open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field such as data science, information technology, software engineering, informatics and mathematics.
With artificial intelligence emerging as a transformative field in the computing industry, demand for AI-related occupations (especially software developers, database architects and engineers) continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers’ employment is projected to increase 17.9% from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing average job growth. LinkedIn also ranked “Artificial Intelligence Engineer” and “Artificial Intelligence Consultant” as the two fastest-growing roles in 2025.
The new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program is developed to prepare students for high-demand careers in fields like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, cybersecurity, robotics and intelligent systems. Drawing on UMKC’s strengths as a Carnegie Research 1 institution, the program will leverage the school’s research expertise and industry partnerships to provide students with a curriculum that incorporates applied experience with real-world challenges.
While UMKC currently offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with an emphasis in artificial intelligence, the new degree boasts a much more robust AI curriculum. The existing emphasis incorporates AI-focused electives within a broader computer science curriculum. However, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program is fully dedicated to AI with both required and elective courses centered on artificial intelligence topics, such as artificial intelligence ethics.
Graduates of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program will be prepared for roles such as machine learning engineer, computer vision engineer, robotics engineer, data engineer and software engineer, as well as emerging positions including AI ethics officer, data-centric AI specialist and prompt engineer. Some graduates are also expected to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, contributing to workforce development, innovation and economic growth in Kansas City and across Missouri.
Feb 05, 2026
Jerry and Patty Reece have contributed decades of service and philanthropy, elevating education, arts and community impact
Each year, the UMKC Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni achievements with an awards celebration. Jerry (H.A.) and Patty Reece (M.A. ’71) are the Class of 2026 Bill French Alumni Service Award recipients.
The Bill French Alumni Service Award honors individuals whose loyalty, service and advocacy have significantly advanced the University of Missouri-Kansas City. For decades, the Reeces have embodied that spirit through leadership, philanthropy and personal engagement to strengthen the university’s mission and expand its reach throughout Kansas City and beyond.
As a couple, Jerry and Patty Reece have contributed their time, talent and resources to advance student success. They served as honorary co-chairs of the 2024 Crescendo Gala benefiting the UMKC Conservatory, helping raise a record-setting $1 million for student scholarships. The Reeces also established a $500,000 endowed scholarship to support students in the UMKC Institute for Urban Education, a nationally recognized program preparing teachers committed to urban schools.
Jerry Reece is an honorary alumnus of UMKC and has served the university in leadership roles for more than two decades. A UMKC trustee since 2004, he joined the UMKC Foundation Board in 2019 and served as chair from 2022 to 2024, providing steady leadership during a period of organizational transition. Alongside former Chancellor Leo Morton, he co-chaired the Institute for Urban Education, also known as IUE, Advisory Council, helping raise more than $7 million to expand scholarships and strengthen the teacher pipeline for Kansas City’s urban schools. In May 2025, he was honored with the Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education.Patty Reece, a graduate of the UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, has devoted her life to education, the arts and conservation. Her early experience teaching in Kansas City’s diverse urban schools shaped a lifelong commitment to educational equity and teacher preparation. Those values motivated her long-standing support of the Institute for Urban Education. For more than 15 years, she has remained personally engaged with Reece Scholars, offering encouragement and guidance as they prepare for careers in the classroom. Eight Reece Scholars are now serving as full-time teachers.
“In every sense, Jerry and Patty represent the spirit of the Bill French Alumni Service Award,” said Sara Helfrich, dean of the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences. “Their steadfast support and prominent advocacy for the UMKC continue to elevate the university's stature and foster enduring connections within our community. I can think of no more deserving recipients of this joint recognition.”Beyond campus, they are leaders in the arts, historic preservation and environmental conservation. In 2015, the couple founded the Volland Foundation, A Place for Art and Community, in the Flint Hills near Alma, Kansas, where the couple has a ranch. The foundation supports artist residencies, exhibitions and performances and has welcomed numerous UMKC faculty, staff and students.“Jerry and Patty’s vision extends beyond Kansas City through their transformative work with the Volland Foundation, where art, community and place intersect to inspire meaningful cultural experiences in the Flint Hills,” said Courtney Crappell, dean of the UMKC Conservatory. “Whether locally or regionally, the couple lead with generosity, grace and a belief in the power of the arts to shape lives.”Together, the Reeces exemplify the spirit of the Bill French Alumni Service Award, demonstrating how sustained engagement, strategic philanthropy and personal commitment can elevate a university and the communities it serves.
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Feb 03, 2026
University prioritizes employee safety while securing upgraded, centrally located space for Kansas City’s NPR affiliate and Classical KC
UMKC is working on an agreement to move KCUR 89.3, the university’s NPR affiliate, into new offices on the Country Club Plaza and is negotiating final lease details, university leaders announced today.
KCUR staff and broadcast operations would make their new home on the Plaza, a short distance from its long-time location at 4825 Troost.
University and KCUR leaders have been working urgently to find suitable new office space after being notified of accelerated deterioration at KCUR’s 4825 Troost location that could have rendered it uninhabitable with minimum notice. With employee safety in mind, the university closed the building on Jan. 31.
“We thank KCUR employees – and everyone who turns to KCUR for its valuable local programming – for their patience as we worked through this unexpected situation,” said Troy Bruun, UMKC Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. “Although the circumstances were challenging in the short term, the outcome for KCUR will be a new office that will be an upgrade for its staff and a convenient location central to everything in the Kansas City metro.”
Once the Plaza lease is finalized, KCUR and its sister station Classical KC will retrofit the new space for its recording rooms and studio.
Station manager Sarah Morris says her team is excited about the Plaza location and is planning next steps now on setting up the new space once a lease is finalized.
“We look forward to working from a new space while continuing our mission of providing the very best in local news for Kansas City," she said. "I'm enormously proud of our team for remaining committed to serving our community with flexibility and grace.”
Feb 02, 2026
A Kansas native, Turgeon will bring over 20 years of head coaching experience and 10 NCAA Tournament bids to the Kansas City sidelines
One of the winningest coaches in NCAA history, Mark Turgeon has been named the head coach of Kansas City men’s basketball heading into the 2026-27 season, UMKC Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Brandon Martin announced on Sunday. Turgeon is the program’s ninth head coach since elevating to Division I in 1987-88.
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Turgeon and his wife Ann to the Roo family. It’s exciting to have them both back home in the Midwest,” Martin said. “Coach Turgeon brings a wealth of credibility and success for our fan base, alumni, donors and key stakeholders throughout Kansas City. This will undoubtedly be an exciting and rewarding era for our Roo basketball program.”
It will be something of a homecoming for Turgeon, who was raised in Topeka, Kansas, and was a four-year letterwinner for the University of Kansas men’s basketball program, qualifying for four NCAA Tournaments and making a Final Four run in 1986. Turgeon also spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Kansas and seven years as the head coach at nearby Wichita State, lifting the Shockers into national relevance.
"It is an honor to be returning home and to be trusted to build a winning tradition with Kansas City men's basketball,” Turgeon said. “It was obvious through our initial conversations that I could build a strong partnership with Dr. Martin and Chancellor Agrawal. I've always had a great love for Kansas City, and I believe that this city deserves a team that reflects its championship culture. There is so much untapped potential and with the full strength of the Kansas City community behind us, we will be able to elevate this program to new heights."
Turgeon arrives in Kansas City with one of the best resumes in college basketball. A 2024 inductee into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, he brings 24 years of head coaching experience and a career winning percentage of .634 between stops at Maryland, Texas A&M, Wichita State and Jacksonville State.
“We are thrilled to welcome a new leader for Kansas City’s Division I basketball program at such an exciting time for our university and city,” UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “Coach Turgeon brings the vision, record and competitive drive that align perfectly with our commitment to excellence – on the court, in the classroom and in the community. His hiring is part of our broader investments in elevating the university and strengthening programs that bring pride and momentum to our campus. We believe this is the start of a new chapter will raise the profile of our program and make our university community proud.”
Across his 24 seasons as a head coach, Turgeon has amassed a 476-275 overall record, which puts him in the top 30 in career wins among active Division One head coaches. He has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 10 times with a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and winning records in 21 of his 24 years on the sidelines.
Throughout his career, Turgeon has displayed a knack for attracting and developing professional-level talent. He has coached 11 future NBA draft picks including Alex Len, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Turgeon’s most recent head coaching tenure was spent at the University of Maryland from 2011-21, finishing with a winning record in all 11 seasons. He led the Terrapins through the transition from the ACC to the Big Ten, earning 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and finishing top-three in the Big Ten standings four times.
His 2015-16 squad finished 27-9, advancing to the Sweet 16 as a five-seed with wins over South Dakota State and Hawaii. In 2019-20, the Terrapins compiled a 24-7 record and won the Big Ten regular season title, compiling four wins over nationally ranked opponents throughout the season. In total, Turgeon-led Maryland squads qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times, advancing past the first round in four seasons.
From 2007-12, Turgeon manned the sidelines at Texas A&M, compiling a 97-40 overall record and finishing top four in the Big 12 in each of his final three seasons. His squads earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament all four years, advancing past the first round three times.
Turgeon took over at Wichita State prior to the 2000-01 season, and what followed was a turnaround that made the Shockers one of the biggest names in the Missouri Valley Conference. Turgeon took over a program that had just two winning seasons in the past 11 years and went .500-or-better in 6 of his 8 seasons at the helm, compiling three 20-win seasons.
Following three-straight NIT bids from 2003-05, Turgeon’s Wichita State squad broke through in 2005-06, winning the Missouri Valley regular season championship and qualifying for program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly 20 years. The seventh-seeded Shockers took down No. 10 Seton Hall and No. 2 Tennessee in the first and second rounds, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981.
Turgeon’s head coaching career began at Jacksonville State in 1998, leading an incredible turnaround between his first and second seasons. After going 8-18 in his first year, the Gamecocks went 17-11 in 1999-2000 and finished third in the Trans America Athletic Conference standings.
Turgeon earned his stripes as an assistant coach from 1987-98, spending time at Kansas and Oregon before gaining NBA coaching experience with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a member of the 1988 Kansas coaching staff that led the Jayhawks to a national title and aided Oregon to three-in-a-row winning seasons for the first time in 20 years.
At the University of Kansas, Turgeon played under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown. He was the first player in Kansas history to play in four consecutive NCAA tournaments and was a team captain during his junior and senior campaigns. Turgeon led the Jayhawks to the 1986 Final Four as well as Big Eight Conference regular season and tournament titles, earning Big Eight All-Academic Team honors in 1986 and All-Freshman honors in 1984.
Turgeon was born and raised in Topeka, attending Hayden High School and capturing state championship titles in 1982 and 1983. He was named to the All-State Tournament team in both seasons and was a First Team All-State honoree his senior year. Turgeon is a member of the Topeka Sports Hall of Fame and the Hayden High School Hall of Fame.
Turgeon earned his bachelor’s degree in personnel administration from Kansas in 1987. He is married to Ann Fowler Turgeon, and the pair have three children: Will, Leo and Ella.
The Kansas City Roos are the NCAA Division I teams of UMKC. Home to one of the most unique mascots in college athletics, KC Roo was originally designed by Walt Disney, and is one of just two kangaroo mascots at the Division I level. Kansas City has won five conference championships since joining the Summit League in 2020, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances by the Roos' men's soccer program in 2024 and 2025.
Feb 01, 2026