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.

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.