Guiding UMKC students through a professional-athlete perspective
The KC Current brought their expertise and leadership to campus as player Haley Hopkins met with the Kansas City women’s soccer team for a hands-on mentorship Q&A, giving student-athletes the rare chance to chat with professionals who have excelled at the highest level.
The session showcased the strength of the KC Current and UMKC partnership, creating opportunities for students to grow through real-world guidance, academic encouragement and honest conversations about balancing education and competitive athletics. For the Roos, it offered a clear, inspiring glimpse into the pathways this collaboration opens for their future on and off the field.
As one of the National Women’s Soccer League’s most innovative and community-driven organizations, KC Current is both a global and national leader in advancing women’s sports. Most notably through the development of the first ever stadium built exclusively for a women’s professional team. The organization’s investment in state-of-the-art facilities, player resources and community partnerships has set a new benchmark for what women’s sports can and should look like. For UMKC student-athletes, engaging with a club that is actively reshaping the landscape of professional women’s soccer highlights the power and potential of their own paths. It reinforces that the Current’s impact reaches far beyond the pitch, inspiring young athletes while elevating Kansas City as a hub for progress and long-term growth in women’s athletics.
During the conversation, Hopkins shared her personal journey. From youth soccer and college experiences to navigating the realities of competing in the NWSL. Their openness about training habits, mindset and managing life outside the game gave the women’s soccer team players practical tools they can apply to their own development.
Students asked questions about everything from managing pressure and building confidence to preparing for opportunities at the next level. Hopkins’ candid responses resonated with the team and sparked meaningful conversation.
Maddie Muhr, a senior majoring in health sciences, reflected on her experience with the mentorship with KC Current and shared how special the opportunity has been.
“I feel lucky to have this opportunity,” Muhr said. “I haven’t heard of any other program that gets to be so closely tied with another amazing program like the KC Current. It’s amazing to see the strides they make on and off the field and being able to meet them and grow alongside them is super cool.”
For Muhr, the partnership goes far beyond observing professional athletes; it has been a chance to engage with role models who embody discipline, resilience and leadership.
What has resonated most with her are the lessons that extend beyond athletics.
“Regular training is showing up, getting your work done,” she said. “But when players come here and talk to us, they are teaching us life lessons that go beyond the field, beyond the game and training, and that is what’s really going to stick with you after college. College is such a short time, and what I learned today is really going to be valuable post-college and in life in general.”
The mentorship event reflects the mission behind the partnership: pairing professional insight with academic support to expand opportunities for student-athletes. By creating space for authentic dialogue between collegiate players and professionals who’ve been in their shoes, both organizations are fostering long-term growth, confidence and leadership development.
Audrey Brown (B.S. '24, B.A./M.S. '25) came to Kansas City from Los Angeles in search of a strong academic program and a vibrant city environment where she could continue playing soccer. What she found was not only a supportive community, but also a rare opportunity to connect with professional athletes in a meaningful, personal way. Brown shared that the most valuable lesson she has gained from the experience is perseverance.
“There are ups and downs, but these Current players always push through,” Brown said. “Their story really inspired me.”
To Brown, the chance to meet and learn from multiple professional athletes is not something she takes for granted. This mentorship experience has provided insights she could never get through coursework alone.
“Most people go their whole lives without meeting a professional athlete,” Brown said. “And we’ve gotten to meet multiple and talk with them and hear their stories. A lot of the information I learned today wouldn’t be given to me through school or even training, because I’m not speaking to professional athletes who were previously college athletes.”
She added that she feels deeply grateful for the opportunity.
“It’s not something everyone gets. I have friends who are also soccer players, and none can say they’ve had this experience.”
For the UMKC women’s soccer team, having access to role models like Hopkins and Ivory reinforces the importance of education, resilience and preparing for life beyond the field. Their stories showed students that pursuing a degree while being college athletes strengthens their toolbelt for their futures.
“It’s great for our student athletes to have all kinds of mentors, including professional mentors at the Kansas City Current,” said Ursula Gurney, deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator for UMKC Athletics.
“It allows them to have different perspectives, to see life and potentially their professional life through many different lenses. It also allows them to get outside the walls of the university, past Durwood Field, to learn and grow from everything our city has to offer. It’s been fantastic for them as they’ve learned and grown on the soccer field and are producing better on the field, but also in the field of life.”
The KC Current-UMKC partnership continues to grow, offering student-athletes ongoing opportunities for mentorship, inspiration and community connection. As the Roos gear up for future seasons, sessions like this one highlight the shared commitment of both programs to empower the next generation of leaders and game-changers in Kansas City.
Oct 02, 2026
Felix Sabates leaves a lasting legacy at UMKC and the Sabates Eye Centers
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is honoring a pioneer in ophthalmology and a longtime champion of the School of Medicine, Felix Sabates, Sr., M.D. (1930-2026).
Sabates’ connection to UMKC began at the inception of the School of Medicine in 1971. Working alongside founders such as E. Grey Dimond, Sabates formed a cutting-edge ophthalmology department at UMKC. After retirement from the school, he was honored with professor emeritus status.
School of Medicine Dean Alexander Norbash has known the Sabates family since he was a teenager. Norbash and Felix’s son, Nelson (B.A. ’83/M.D. ’86), went to school together from high school all the way through medical school at UMKC. Norbash said the elder Sabates had a rare combination of skills for a healthcare provider.
“Felix was three sides to an amazing triangle,” Norbash said. “He was simultaneously a creative physician-scientist helping to develop the then-new subspecialty of retinal surgery, an astute and brilliant clinical ophthalmologist, and a visionary and successful entrepreneur.”
Born in Cuba, Sabates earned his medical degree from the University of Havana Medical School in 1955 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, for postgraduate training. His fellowship at the Retina Foundation in Boston enabled him to train under the renowned retinal surgeon Charles Schepens, regarded as the father of modern retinal surgery. This put Sabates at the forefront of the developing subspecialty.
After the fellowship with Schepens, Sabates accepted a position to lead retinal care services at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1961. A few years later he moved to Kansas City to establish his private practice, which would eventually become Sabates Eye Centers, now with clinics all over the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Sabates established the practice at the Kansas City General Hospital (now University Health), a safety-net hospital for the area. According to Norbash, safety-net hospitals are frequently under-resourced, while providing care to individuals with complex healthcare needs who are limited financially.
“Starting his practice at a safety-net hospital is a testament to Sabates’ work ethic, vision and compassion for serving the underserved while building a world class ophthalmology department,” Norbash said. “It’s a very unique legacy.”
Mark Steele (B.A/M.D. ’80), associate dean and executive chief clinical officer at University Health, has had a first-hand look at Sabates’ “immense and lasting impact” on both University Health and the UMKC School of Medicine.
“Dr. Sabates was extremely passionate about and an unwavering supporter of both institutions during the early years of their development and through their evolution up until his retirement in 2016,” Steele said.In the 1970s, Sabates was appointed founding chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the new UMKC School of Medicine, transforming an emerging, part-time eye program into a fully accredited academic department.
Sabates was proud of his Cuban heritage and adored his family. He was a devoted husband to Carmen Corripio Sabates; a dedicated father to Carmen Maria, Felix Jr. and Nelson; and beloved grandfather to Alexandra, Victoria, Catherine, Nelson Jr., Olivia and Spencer.
His son Nelson is carrying on the Sabates legacy at UMKC and beyond. Nelson is professor of ophthalmology and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at UMKC’s School of Medicine – just as his father was a half century ago - as well as the president and chief executive officer of Sabates Eye Centers.
Norbash said it is heartwarming to have Nelson as a friend and colleague, seeing first-hand the influence Felix has had on UMKC as well as on his son.
“It’s been great for me to see Nelson adding luster and growing the department and service created by his father,” Norbash said. “Two generations elevating the stature of the department while increasing the amount of research and growing the recognition, all while expanding the number of clinics. You go all over Kansas City, and you’ll see a Sabates Eye Center.”
A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 2, in Key Biscayne, Florida. A celebration honoring Felix and Carmen will be held Friday, Oct. 30, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sep 29, 2026
Chancellor shares major university milestones and ambitions
University of Missouri-Kansas City Chancellor Mauli Agrawal delivered his annual State of the University address on Sept. 24, highlighting the momentum that has positioned UMKC for what he called an "era of big leaps." From record research growth and transformational campus projects to student success and bold new initiatives, Agrawal outlined how the university is building on years of progress to reach new heights.
“UMKC has been riding high on a huge wave of momentum for the past few years,” Agrawal said. “But I wonder each year, how do we go even higher? What should be the driver? The goal should be simply the chase of excellence, the mindset that each of us does our job a bit better than we did yesterday. “That’s how we have been gaining momentum – and that’s exactly how and why we are ready for what I believe will be an era of big leaps for UMKC.”
Research
Research remains one of UMKC's fastest-rising areas of excellence. UMKC’s projected research expenditures for the upcoming year are about $95 million, an increase of 20% over last year's record of $79 million and a dramatic jump from the $55 million recorded when UMKC received Carnegie R1 research status. The university also doubled its grant success rate, increasing from 17% to 33% of submitted proposals, while continuing to grow invention disclosures that help move discoveries toward commercialization.
The chancellor specifically highlighted a few faculty members driving that momentum:
Peter Koulen, director of research at the UMKC Vision Research Center, who was recently named a Curators' Distinguished Professor. Koulen has secured more than $65 million in research funding from major agencies, including the National Institute of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.
School of Nursing and Health Studies researcher Joey Lightner, whose work earned a Fulbright Award and a new $3 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant.
Jeff Johnson of Henry W. Bloch School of Management, who studies the effects of small glitches in video calls. In research published in Nature, Johnson and colleagues found that brief freezes or distorted images can subtly reduce social connection and make people appear less trustworthy, credible or likable — even when communication remains clear.
Valeria Pfeifer, assistant professor in the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, whose published study suggests our daily conversations are shrinking, with people speaking 300 less words each day. Her work received widespread international and national media coverage.
Transformative Projects Reshaping Campus
Major construction and renovation projects are changing both the look and functionality of UMKC's campuses. Just one day before the address, the university broke ground on a $41 million Conservatory expansion designed to provide modern spaces that match the quality of its nationally recognized performing arts programs.
Rendering of UMKC singage in the works to make campus easy to find and UMKC community to take memorable photos.
The renovated Atterbury Student Success Center will have a grand re-opening on Oct. 20 and will serve as the new hub for student services and a front door for prospective students and families. The largest facilities project in university history, the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building, is expected to open in February 2027. The building will house dental clinics, advanced medical simulation labs, the UMKC Health Equity Institute and other academic and research programs that support both education and community health.
Community Engagement and Impact
UMKC continues to strengthen partnerships throughout the region and create new ways to deepen ties with the community. The university recently launched its Corporate Concierge Services, a new initiative designed to help businesses and organizations in the community connect more easily with UMKC for expertise, programs, talent and resources. “As the community’s higher education anchor, we are here to serve not just our students, but also our community,” Agrawal said.
The upcoming launch of the Chancellor Distinguished Lecture Series will bring world-renowned thinkers to campus while creating opportunities for community engagement and public dialogue. The inaugural speaker on Nov. 5 will be Nobel Prize-winning physicist Kip Thorne, who also served as executive producer and consultant for Christopher Nolan’s popular movie “Interstellar.”
Kansas City Athletics is also making big moves in the community, with NCAA Division I basketball returning to Municipal Auditorium this fall.
Student Success
For the first time in more than a decade, UMKC is celebrating year-over-year enrollment growth. Undergraduate enrollment increased nearly 3%, while the university is on pace to enroll more than 1,000 transfer students for the first time since Fall 2020. First-generation students continue to make up a majority of the undergraduate population, and first-year freshman retention is projected to exceed what was seen last year.
Agrawal also showcased several examples of students whose accomplishments embody the “why” of UMKC.
Sarah George, a B.A./M.D. student at the School of Medicine. George is one of only seven recipients of the prestigious 2026 Remington R. Williams Award and is founder of UMKC’s first medical student-led Days for Girls chapter.
Andrew Bonnett, a fourth-year School of Dentistry student. Bonnet was celebrated for showcasing resilience and perseverance as he returned to the classroom after undergoing cancer treatment.
Tiko Tamiru, a business student at the Bloch School. Tamiru was recognized for combining academic excellence with entrepreneurial success, building a growing business while maintaining a perfect GPA.
“Nothing makes my day more than visiting with one of our incredible students or hearing them talk about how we helped one of them achieve their dreams,” Agrawal said. “After all, that’s why they are here. To make their own big leaps in life.”
Next Big Leaps
While the chancellor’s speech focused on recent accomplishments, Agrawal spent considerable time discussing opportunities that could define UMKC's future. Chief among them is the National Science Foundation's Critical Materials Crossroads Engine award, that UMKC recently secured, worth up to $160 million. The initiative is projected to bring together hundreds of partners while helping generate economic growth, investment and jobs across the region.
Agrawal also highlighted the momentum behind UMKC's Blue & Bold campaign. Less than one year after its launch, the university is already well past the halfway point toward its ambitious $700 million fundraising goal. The campaign’s momentum reflects confidence from alumni and donors who are investing in the university's future and helping fuel its next era of growth.The chancellor also pointed to some exciting opportunities the university has coming up.
AI Academy, a credential system outside of course credit that students can use to become more familiar with AI and its responsible use. Faculty and staff will also have corresponding modules for training.
The Student Affairs division at UMKC has a plan to reimagine Residential Life, calling for a refresh to both the physical look-and-feel of buildings and programming to better serve students living on campus.
A new faculty industry sabbaticals pilot program will be implemented in Spring 2027, giving faculty opportunities to share their knowledge with area companies and refresh their expertise with industry exposure.
UMKC will seek Board of Curators’ approval for its first shorter duration bachelor’s degree in social work, to speed the time from college to career. This offering would allow students to obtain their degrees in 94 hours instead of the traditional 120.
“We cannot predict the future, but we should forever be that anchor university that this city and region can always count on, steady but always looking to innovate and lead,” Agrawal said. “And that’s why I need all of you to dream big, decide on the next big leaps and take them with confidence.”
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Sep 24, 2026
New performance, rehearsal and gathering spaces will strengthen arts education and expand community programs
The University of Missouri-Kansas City broke ground Sept. 23 on a $41 million expansion of the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, launching a long-awaited project that will transform how Conservatory students learn, rehearse and perform.
The 35,000-square-foot addition will create new spaces for music, dance and theatre while increasing the Conservatory’s capacity to serve students and the Kansas City community. Construction on Phase One is expected to take approximately 18 months.
“Today has been decades in the making,” UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal said. “We are not simply adding square footage to the Olson Performing Arts Center. We are expanding a home where talent is discovered, nurtured and shared with the world.”
The new glass- and light-filled addition will extend from the east side of the Olson Performing Arts Center toward Volker Boulevard. It will include a large music ensemble rehearsal and performance space, two dance rehearsal halls, dance support spaces, a new accessible black-box theatre and areas where students can gather and collaborate.
The expansion will complement White Recital Hall, Spencer Theatre and the McIlrath Lobby, creating a more connected performing arts district within the building. It also will strengthen UMKC’s place in a vibrant cultural corridor near The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Art Institute and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
“Our students, faculty and staff deserve space that matches their talents and excellence,” Agrawal said. “Nearly every major performing arts organization in Kansas City has roots in our faculty or alumni. These institutions were built here, and this is where the next generation of that creative workforce is being developed.”
The UMKC Conservatory offers more than 35 programs in music, dance, theatre and integrated arts. Its faculty members have earned honors including the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Awards, Guggenheim Fellowships, Fulbright Awards and recognition from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
The groundbreaking marks the culmination of decades of planning and advocacy. The Performing Arts Center opened in 1979, but the Conservatory had outgrown the facility within a decade. Over the years, academic programs have been divided between buildings, with faculty and students adapting storage areas and other spaces to meet teaching, rehearsal and performance needs.
The center was renamed the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center in 2008 in honor of the former UMKC chancellor and University of Missouri System president. Olson’s daughter, Sarah, and granddaughter, Elizabeth, attended the groundbreaking and were recognized for their family’s enduring commitment to the arts and higher education.
Olson and his wife, Vera, championed the arts throughout their service to UMKC and the UM System. After their retirement, the Olson Fund was established to support arts programming across all four UM System universities.
This year also marks a century since a historic moment in the Conservatory’s development. In 1926, the Conservatory merged with the Horner Institute for Fine Arts, founded in 1914 by Charles Horner. Horner’s grandson, Charlie, joined the groundbreaking celebration as UMKC honored 100 years of shared history and looked toward the Conservatory’s next chapter.
Longtime Conservatory supporters Warren and Jenny Erdman were among the advocates who sustained the vision through multiple campaigns and proposals.
“This moment did not come easily, and it did not come quickly,” Warren Erdman said. “It’s proof that persistence, sustained over generations, is its own kind of instrument. You just have to keep practicing to master it.”
Erdman, a former chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, UMKC Trustee Emeritus and longtime Conservatory supporter, helped lead the effort to name the center for Olson.
The project’s premier benefactor is the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, led by Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman. Hundreds of additional donors also contributed to the expansion.
For Conservatory Dean Courtney Crappell, the project represents far more than a new building.
“When our students have the right room, equipment and support, they will spend less energy working around limitations and more energy doing the demanding, imaginative work that brought them to Kansas City,” Crappell said.
The additional space will allow the Conservatory to increase enrollment in dance and theatre by as much as 40%. It also will support the new integrated performing arts minor, giving students studying subjects such as business, medicine, education and engineering more opportunities to develop creativity, confidence and communication skills through the arts.
The expansion will increase the Conservatory’s capacity for pre-college camps, after-school lessons, high school credit programs, competitions, master classes and professional development for arts educators. Conservatory Bridges, which provides intensive instruction to young performers preparing to audition for selective university programs, could grow from serving approximately 80 students to as many as 600 annually.
Students and faculty also will continue bringing the arts into hospitals, schools, libraries, parks and neighborhoods. Those efforts include the Healing and Harmony performance series in health care and hospice settings and music therapy research conducted across the region.
“The arts are how we connect with each other, and this is where that work starts,” Crappell said. “Home will be a creative, welcoming and accessible space where artists train, collaborate and belong.”
Phase Two of the project will focus on renovating existing facilities, including White Recital Hall. Plans call for additional classroom and theatre space, flexible areas for performances and special events and a central hub for student resources and collaboration.
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Sep 23, 2026
As demand for registered nurses grows nationwide, UMKC prepares graduates to meet critical healthcare needs.
UMKC's School of Nursing and Health Studies Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has been ranked the No. 1 top public university nursing program in Missouri for a second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report.
“We are very proud of our BSN students, who demonstrate enthusiasm and a drive to succeed,” said Joy Roberts, dean of the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies. “Additionally, our BSN faculty are always working to help their students achieve excellence. Their creativity and expert teaching skills have made our BSN program the success that it is.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. In 2025, the median annual wage was $97,550 with 3.5 million jobs and 180,800 openings projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
For senior nursing student, Ann Marie Bucksbee, she attributes the school’s success to its sense of togetherness.
“I really enjoy the UMKC nursing program because it is such a tight-knit community,” Bucksbee said. “You really get to know all of your fellow nursing students and learn and grow alongside them.”
According to Roberts, UMKC nursing students start their nursing courses during their sophomore year, allowing them to have many more hours of clinical experience, better preparing them for the rigors of healthcare. The students’ extensive clinical immersion during their final semester provides them experience in the nursing specialty that they are interested beginning their career in.
“As the nursing shortage in the United States continues, UMKC’s School of Nursing and Health Studies has responded by enhancing our BSN program,” Roberts said, “allowing us to graduate well educated and exceptionally prepared students who are ready to meet the demand for new RNs in the Kansas City metropolitan area as well as across the country.”
Overall, UMKC ranked #137 among public universities in the national ranking and #250 among all public and private universities.
Sep 22, 2026
Bloch Launchpad will build on its professional development, leadership and experiential learning opportunities
Bob White, a longtime supporter of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation are investing $3 million to expand opportunities for students in the competitive Bloch Launchpad program.
The Bloch School has long invested in the success of business and accounting students through the Launchpad program with selected students receiving a renewable $2,500 scholarship, with a potential value of $10,000 over four years, along with the opportunity to pursue specialized pathways such as More in 4, a dual bachelor’s and master’s program, and other tracks like Banking Leaders of Tomorrow, Real Estate Leaders of Tomorrow and Accounting Leaders of Tomorrow, a new track that will begin next fall.
“Bloch Launchpad is about more than preparing students for their first job, it’s about preparing them to lead,” said Whitney Vaughn, director of Bloch Launchpad. “Our scholars are given the opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world experiences, professional relationships and meaningful leadership opportunities. My goal is to help every Launchpad Scholar discover their potential, build the confidence to pursue it and develop the skills and network they need to make a lasting impact.”
Current Launchpad Scholar Caleb Elliott’s experience is one example of how the program’s network and opportunities can shape a student’s experience on and off campus.
Bob White and Caleb Elliott
When he arrived at UMKC, he wasn’t sure what his college experience would look like. Coming to UMKC was a last-minute decision he decided to take that ultimately changed the trajectory of his college career.
Through Launchpad, Elliott found mentors, built meaningful connections and discovered opportunities that helped him grow both personally and professionally. He was also part of the first cohort of Banking Leaders of Tomorrow, which connected him with mentorship, scholarship support and a pathway into the banking industry.
“UMKC is one of those schools where, if you come here with a drive to succeed and you’re willing to put in the hard work, there are so many opportunities available to you,” Elliott said. “Launchpad and Banking Leaders of Tomorrow showed me that people at UMKC care about your success and want to help you. I’ve learned that connections really matter, and the relationships I’ve built here have made a huge difference in my college experience and my career. I took a chance on UMKC, and it definitely paid off.”
Today, Elliott gives back to Launchpad by mentoring students in subsequent cohorts and encouraging others to take advantage of the opportunities UMKC offers.
In 2019, Bloch Launchpad was established with support from the Bloch Family Foundation to empower the next generation of business leaders with portfolio-building experiences that begin in a student’s first semester at the Bloch School.
“Marion and Henry Bloch believed in the importance of creating opportunities that allow people to reach their full potential,” said David Miles, president of the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation. “This investment in Bloch Launchpad will help more students develop the skills, confidence and connections necessary for their future professional achievements and career success.”
The $3 million investment builds on a decades-long relationship between White and the Bloch School.
The connection began in the 1980s after the Direct Marketing Association, now part of the Association of National Advertisers, provided a grant for the purpose of funding a marketing emphasis within the school’s Bachelor of Business Administration degree. For seven years following the grant, White served as chairman of the program’s advisory board. He also supported Bloch students through a former scholarship program his company offered.
“The Launchpad program was suggested to me as a specific avenue for support and I liked the criteria for the program, offering scholarships with requirements for internships and other work experiences as part of the program,” White said. “Business is one of the best choices for a degree likely to have a rewarding financial future.”
In retirement, White focuses his philanthropy on educational programs that prepare students for rewarding careers likely to yield financial and job security. He made his first gift to Bloch Launchpad in 2022 and has continued to support the program each year.
White has also shared his expertise directly with students through presentations on personal financial literacy.
In recognition of his continued support, the Bloch School named its Launchpad student lounge the M&M Launchpad Lounge in his honor. The space gives students a place to rest, study and recharge on campus, with available drinks, snacks and games.
"This extraordinary gift is an investment in the potential and promise of our students,” said Leigh Salzsieder, interim dean of the Bloch School. “By supporting Bloch Launchpad, Bob and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation are helping students dream bigger from their very first semester, giving them the experiences, resources, and confidence to imagine what is possible and chart their own path forward."
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Sep 21, 2026
Four decades of collaboration between University of Missouri System and University of the Western Cape
Leaders from the University of the Western Cape visited the University of Missouri-Kansas City as part of a statewide tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of a longstanding international partnership between the University of Missouri System and the South African university.
The partnership, known as the University of Missouri South African Education Program or UMSAEP, was created in 1986 with support from the University of Missouri Board of Curators. For 40 years, the program has created opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate across institutions through research and teaching.
Since its founding, UMSAEP has supported over 1,000 faculty exchanges across various academic fields. Student exchanges were added to the UMSAEP portfolio in 2001 with the creation of the Henry Mitchell Scholarship, named in honor of a former UMSAEP committee chair and UMKC faculty member.
The Western Cape delegation visited UMSL, Missouri S&T and Mizzou before capping off their statewide visit at UMKC. While at UMKC, Western Cape representatives visited campus facilities such as the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center and met with university leaders and faculty members to explore opportunities for continued collaboration. The group also toured several Kansas City attractions during their stay.
UMSAEP consists of three representatives from each UM campus. Mark Daly, Jerry Wycoff and Arif Ahmed are UMKC’s representatives on the committee.
“The University of Missouri System’s long-standing partnership with the University of the Western Cape provides both institutions with a trusted platform for sustained collaboration, expanding opportunities for joint research, student and faculty exchange and shared academic initiatives in the United States and Africa,” said Mark Daly, Ph.D., Senior International Officer. “It supports faculty research collaboration, joint publications and external grant development. UMKC has already benefited through projects in areas such as pharmacy, health sciences, entrepreneurship, engineering and business. Strategically, it offers UMKC a strong partnership in Africa to expand research, student mobility and globally engaged programs in areas that align with the University’s academic strengths.”
As the University of Missouri System and the University of the Western Cape celebrate 40 years of partnership, the visit highlighted both the program's lasting impact and the future opportunities that continue to connect faculty and students across continents.
Sep 18, 2026
Brad Desnoyer leads the largest organization of legal writing professionals and second-largest association of law professors
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Professor Brad Desnoyer officially began his term as president of the Legal Writing Institute, or LWI, at the opening of the organization's 2026 conference. The LWI is the world's largest organization of legal writing professionals and the second-largest association of law professors, with more than 1,700 members.
LWI is dedicated to improving legal communication by supporting the development of teaching and scholarly resources and establishing forums to discuss the study, teaching and practice of professional legal writing.“I am honored to serve LWI, an organization that believes effective legal communication is critical to the well-being of society, the judicial system and the legal profession,” Desnoyer said. “I look forward to serving academics across the country.”As president, Desnoyer leads the organization, overseeing its publications, projects, events, conferences and workshops while serving as its liaison to the ABA Council on Legal Education. “Brad just led the planning of LWI’s Biennial Conference at the University of Minnesota, which was an amazing success and one of our field’s best conferences,” said Wanda M. Temm, Eleanore C. Blue Lawyering Skills Professor and former director of the Legal Writing Program. “We are fortunate to call a national leader like Brad one of our own.”Desnoyer, who joined the UMKC School of Law faculty in 2024 and now teaches in the school’s Legal Writing Program, is also an accomplished scholar. His work has been published in the Maryland Law Review, and an upcoming article will appear in the Rutgers Law Review. He also received the LWI Emerging Scholar Award.“Brad began his term as LWI President at the start of this conference, and we are excited to see what he will do in that role over the course of this biennium,” said Kimberly Holst, a professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. “His energy and enthusiasm for this profession and for LWI were apparent in the planning and execution of this conference. He identified a relevant and engaging keynote speaker and themed the conference in a way that highlighted the challenges facing the profession but with a sense of hope and excitement for the future.”“I am so excited by Brad's enthusiasm and dedication to the Legal Writing Institute, and I expect great things from him,” said Kristen Tiscione, a professor at Georgetown Law. “I have watched him mature from a young, inquisitive faculty member into a mature and dedicated professional. His goals for LWI are laudable, giving back to the membership in terms of support for teaching and scholarship. LWI is lucky to have him.”The UMKC School of Law has other nationally ranked legal writing professors. In addition to Desnoyer beginning his presidential term, UMKC Law professors Laura Connor and Meghan Sholy-Wells, including Desnoyer, each presented at the biennial Legal Writing Institute Conference, hosted this year at the University of Minnesota.“Our tradition as a ranked, Top 25 legal writing program in the nation is both a point of pride and, more importantly, a tremendous benefit for our students as they enter the legal profession,” said UMKC School of Law Dean Mulligan. “I am so proud of Desnoyer’s national leadership with the LWI and the work of our entire lawyering skills faculty, which includes Connor, Haubenreich and Sholy-Wells as they continue to raise the bar for excellence in the field.”
Sep 16, 2026
New agreements with Kansas City Actors Theatre, Unicorn Theatre and The Coterie will create ongoing professional opportunities for graduate theatre...
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory has formalized new partnerships with three leading Kansas City theatre companies, expanding the professional experiences available to graduate acting, design and technology students while strengthening the university’s connections to the region’s vibrant arts community.
The new memoranda of understanding with Kansas City Actors Theatre, Unicorn Theatre and The Coterie establish a framework for ongoing collaboration. Although the Conservatory has worked with each organization on individual projects in the past, the agreements will allow UMKC and the theatres to plan together more consistently and create clearer pathways for students to gain professional experience onstage and behind the scenes.
Conservatory faculty members are already working with the artistic teams at all three theatres to identify potential student placements during their 2027-28 production seasons. Opportunities will primarily serve students in the Master of Fine Arts in Acting and Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technology programs and may include work in performance, scenic, costume, lighting and sound design, technology and production.
“Kansas City is an extraordinary place to train the next generation of theatre artists because our students can learn in the classroom and studio, then apply that work alongside professionals throughout the city,” said Courtney Crappell, dean of the UMKC Conservatory. “These partnerships deepen the connection between education and professional practice. They will help our students build their craft, their networks and their careers while contributing their talents to Kansas City’s theatre community.”
The agreements also advance the Conservatory’s planning for the next phase of its longstanding relationship with Kansas City Repertory Theatre. UMKC and KCRep will remain partners as their current educational affiliation agreement continues through June 30, 2029. The organizations announced in 2024 that the agreement would conclude at that time as both pursue new opportunities.
“For decades, professional partnerships have been central to theatre education at UMKC,” said Collin Vorbeck, interim chair of the Conservatory’s Theatre Division. “By formalizing our work with Kansas City Actors Theatre, Unicorn Theatre and The Coterie, we can plan further ahead and connect more students with meaningful professional opportunities across a range of theatrical styles, audiences and production environments.”
The partnerships reflect deep ties between UMKC and Kansas City theatre. UMKC theatre graduate students Judith Yeckel and Vicky Lee founded The Coterie in 1979. Patricia McIlrath, the longtime chair of theatre at UMKC who founded the Missouri Repertory Theatre, now KCRep, also mentored artists whose work helped shape Kansas City’s theatre landscape, including the development of The Coterie and Unicorn Theatre.
Each new partner offers students a distinct professional setting. Kansas City Actors Theatre is an artist-led company that centers local professional actors, designers and technicians. Unicorn Theatre is known for contemporary work and new voices. The Coterie is a professional theatre nationally recognized for serving young people and families. Together, the organizations will broaden the settings, audiences and artistic approaches UMKC students encounter during their training. Here is what leaders of the three theatres have to say about their partnership with UMKC:
John Rensenhouse, board president of Kansas City Actors Theatre: “Kansas City Actors Theatre is very excited to now be formalizing our partnership with the UMKC Conservatory. Since our inception we have been closely tied to UMKC, with our founders being former faculty members, and our ongoing use of the young talent in the theatre department to help create our productions. We are deeply committed to raising up the next generation of theatre professionals and keeping the Kansas City cultural scene vibrant and thriving. This is a partnership that is certain to benefit both institutions, right along with benefiting the community we serve.”
Ernie Nolan, artistic director of Unicorn Theatre: ““For almost 20 years, Unicorn Theatre has collaborated with UMKC and its theatre department. I am thrilled and honored to continue this educational and artistic legacy. There is no doubt that UMKC is an anchor institution for the arts in KC. Creating community for the next generation of theatre artists couldn’t be more Unicorn!”
Jonathan Thomas, managing director of The Coterie: “The Coterie Theatre is thrilled to be a professional theatre partner with UMKC Conservatory, as we continue to develop not only young audiences, but young creatives as well. The opportunity to provide meaningful workplace experience for the talented and aspiring artists at the Conservatory helps fulfill both our missions, and we believe it will encourage more students to join a thriving KC community.”
“These agreements are about more than individual placements,” Crappell said. “They represent a shared investment in Kansas City’s creative ecosystem. When universities and arts organizations work together, students gain experience, theatres gain emerging talent and the entire community benefits from a stronger pipeline of professional artists.”
Sep 16, 2026
Abraham Kuhl balances family law, fatherhood and a new career in the National Football League
Abraham D. Kuhl (J.D. ’08) started his legal career as an intern, assembling a desk at the Lee’s Summit law firm where he would become partner and eventually the sole owner in 2024. Now, he’s added NFL Players Association Certified Sports Agent to his resume.
For Kuhl, family and sports have always been central to his life. They have also shaped his career, first as a family law attorney and now as an NFL agent.
Growing up, Kuhl played baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse, along with boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing. He always wanted to find a way to build a career in sports, but when he began practicing law, sports wasn't an area his firm handled, so he put that ambition aside and took on the role of husband and father.
“For all of us, life is about balance and making time for the things that are important,” Kuhl said. “While being a law firm owner, NFL agent and president of the alumni association does take some time, it is never at the expense of my family. I have an extremely supportive wife, Amanda, and five children, and when 5 p.m. hits, I am either at home or coaching one of their practices or games. Being a husband and father is the role I am most proud of.”
So, why sports now?
“I would occasionally help athletes with their legal matters and had friends and family that played professional sports and worked with agents,” Kuhl said. “A friend of mine had a bad experience with his agent and I thought that one day I could be an agent and really help them. In 2024, the time felt right, so I added sports law to our practice areas at the firm. In 2025, I took the NFLPA exam and hit the ground running.”
As an NFL agent, Kuhl is the sole member of a separate entity, Kuhl Sports.
NFLPA-certified agents are fortunate to sign even one player to an NFL contract in their first year. Of the 139 agents certified in the 2025 class, only 35 have a player that signed a contract with an NFL team. Kuhl had two.
While Kuhl represents athletes at multiple levels, two have reached the NFL: Running Back Elijah Tau-Tolliver, who spent the preseason with the Baltimore Ravens, and Defensive Tackle D.J. Withers, who spent the preseason with the Dallas Cowboys.
“The attorney-client relationship is very similar to the agent-client relationship,” Kuhl said. “It’s all about trust and building relationships. Every single player at the NFL level is extraordinarily gifted. The difference between making a 53-man roster and being on the practice squad is razor-thin. I tell my players that we don’t need every single team to love you. We just need one.”
In Kuhl’s opinion, the work begins with building relationships long before a contract is on the table. It involves getting to know not only the athlete, but also their family, coaches, university staff and the people across the NFL who can help open doors.
“There is a lot more that goes into being an agent than simply picking up the phone and negotiating a contract,” Kuhl said. “You have to also serve as an advisor and mentor for these young athletes as this is unchartered territory for them.”
The skills Kuhl developed before entering the sports world continue to shape the way he builds relationships with clients today. His path to becoming an attorney, and eventually an NFL agent, began with a simple desire to help people.
Kuhl initially considered an accelerated path into law school. He ultimately took more time to make sure law was the right fit, including studying abroad in Ireland and taking a year away from school while pursuing his passion for Muay Thai.
When he was ready to return to academics, the University of Missouri-Kansas City offered him the opportunity to stay in the Midwest, close to his family, while studying at a law school with a strong family law program.
Many professors left lasting impressions on him, not only through their teaching but through the relationships they continued to build outside of the classroom. For Kuhl, that accessibility is one of the defining strengths of a UMKC School of Law education.
“The beauty of UMKC is the faculty are a phone call away,” Kuhl said. “The professors are present. They are on campus. They are at sporting events. They aren't just these mysterious figures that appear for an hour in the front of class then disappear.”
That connection also extended into the practical experience Kuhl gained as a student. Rather than simply preparing him to understand the law, UMKC gave him opportunities to begin putting it into practice.
Through the UMKC Family Law Clinic, Kuhl tried seven cases while still in law school, gaining courtroom experience with faculty guidance. He also published two articles in the Journal for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and clerked for Jackson County Commissioner Sherrill Rosen, an experience that ultimately connected him with Jim Young, the founder of the Lee’s Summit law firm where Kuhl would begin his career.
Today, Kuhl continues to practice family law. While the firm's name has changed, Kuhl said its mission has remained the same: serving families.
“The transition has been very smooth, and I give credit to that to my tremendous team, especially my paralegal, Crystal England, and office manager, Erin Rasmussen,” Kuhl said. “With our new editions, namely attorneys Luke Kuhl (J.D. ’08) and Chaz Mercer (J.D. 25), as well as paralegal Tina Kolden and office staff Sarah Kleinsmith, our firm continues to grow.”
That same commitment to the people around him has carried into his connection with UMKC. Kuhl has served on the UMKC Law Alumni Association Board, recently as president.
“I give a lot of credit to Jesse Osman as well as past presidents that I was fortunate enough to observe while on the board.” Kuhl said. “You get to meet people from different areas of law, and everyone brings something unique to the table. When I look at the presidents before me, these are people that I admire and respect. I’ve learned from them how to carry yourself, how to do this or how to do that. The beauty of a board is you have all areas of law represented, all aspects of life represented, but we are working together to build something better.”
To Kuhl, remaining connected to UMKC is another way of giving back to the institution that helped launch his career.
"Whether it is the UMKC Foundation, The Big Event, Athletics or the university as a whole, we always try to give back to the university that gave me this opportunity," Kuhl said.
His advice to current law students is to make the most of the opportunities and relationships available to them.
“Law school is so much more than your GPA,” Kuhl said. “Don’t get me wrong, your grades are important. But a lot of the legal world isn’t about necessarily ‘what you know,’ but rather ‘who you know.’ Most of my success in the legal world didn't come from what I read on a Saturday evening in the library. It came from building those connections through networking events, having an internship and just getting to know one another.”
That lesson has followed Kuhl from his days as a law student to his work in the courtroom and now in the NFL.
“I feel confident,” Kuhl said. “I feel ready in any negotiation. I feel the skills that were developed while at UMKC have me prepared to handle any situation.”
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Sep 09, 2026
'Interstellar’ science advisor will explore black holes, time dilation and the science behind the acclaimed film Nov. 5
The University of Missouri-Kansas City will launch a new tradition devoted to big ideas and the enduring power of intellectual discovery when Nobel Prize-winning physicist and “Interstellar” science advisor Kip Thorne headlines the inaugural Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 in Pierson Auditorium on the Volker Campus.
The new annual lecture reflects a central purpose of higher education: bringing people together to encounter consequential ideas, learn from leading minds and see the world in new ways. Through the lecture, UMKC will invite distinguished scholars, writers, scientists, artists and public figures to share their knowledge with students, faculty, staff and the Kansas City community.
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture during the 2025 State of the University address, envisioning it as a signature university tradition that connects UMKC and Kansas City with some of the world’s most accomplished thinkers, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and other influential voices.
“Universities are at their best when they serve as conveners — places where people gather to explore ambitious ideas, challenge assumptions and learn from one another,” Agrawal said. “The Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture will bring extraordinary thinkers to UMKC not only to share what they know, but to awaken curiosity and inspire new possibilities. That exchange of knowledge enriches our campus, strengthens our community and reminds us of the sheer joy of learning something new.”
The lecture also underscores UMKC’s role as Kansas City’s public research university and a bridge between academic discovery and the wider community. Each lecture will create an opportunity for people across the region to engage with ideas shaping the world and to take part in the intellectual life of the university.
Thorne is a fitting choice to inaugurate the lecture. One of the most consequential theoretical physicists of the modern era, he has spent his career expanding humanity’s understanding of space, time and the universe — and making those discoveries accessible far beyond the scientific community.
Thorne co-founded the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, known as LIGO, which made the first direct detection of gravitational waves. The breakthrough confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity and opened an entirely new way to observe the universe. Thorne shared the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.
His influence also extends into popular culture. As executive producer and science advisor for Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning film “Interstellar,” Thorne helped ground its sweeping story in real physics. His work on the film demonstrated how science and art can illuminate one another, transforming complex concepts into an experience that has inspired audiences around the world.
During his UMKC lecture, Thorne will guide the audience through the science behind “Interstellar,” including black holes, time dilation, wormholes and the fifth dimension. He will distinguish established science from informed speculation while revealing how scientific discovery and imaginative storytelling can work together to deepen public understanding.
UMKC is presenting the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture with the Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair, extending a longstanding university commitment to public scholarship, thoughtful dialogue and lifelong learning.
Register for the free event.
Sep 08, 2026
Seven outstanding students join the university’s prestigious scholarship program
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Trustees’ Scholars Program is one of the university’s highest honors for first-time college students. A collaboration between UMKC and the UMKC Board of Trustees, the program provides scholars with a fully funded education along with access to mentorship, professional connections and unique leadership and experiential opportunities.
Trustees’ Scholars are interviewed and selected for their academic achievement, leadership potential and commitment to making an impact in their communities. Throughout their time at UMKC, scholars are paired with Trustee mentors who provide guidance and connections as they pursue their academic and professional goals.“The Trustees’ Scholar Program is the signature program of the board,” said Cameron Garrison, board chair of the UMKC Trustees. “Nurturing the next generation of leaders for Kansas City and beyond is a key objective of the program, and one I wholeheartedly believe in. These scholars are living examples of why we do what we do as board members. They remind us of the importance of our work and make us proud of our impact and contributions to the university.”
The 2026 class includes students from multiple different states, with a wide range of academic interests ranging from biology to art history.
Alizah Alvarez Chedzoy
Alvarez Chedzoy is from Topeka, Kansas, and is studying biology as a pre-med student. She is especially excited about the research opportunities available at UMKC. Alvarez Chedzoy moved to Topeka as a sophomore and has already earned a research certificate. She is honored to receive the Trustees’ scholarship and looks forward to making the most of her next four years at UMKC.
Lydia Fantahun
Fantahun is from Maryland Heights, Missouri, and is studying biology. She hopes to become a cardiologist or ophthalmologist and continue touching lives through medicine by attending the UMKC School of Medicine.
Savannah Jackson
Jackson is from Edwardsville, Illinois, and is studying economics with plans to attend law school. Jackson is particularly proud of her time as a drum major in high school, an experience that required dedication and passion while also giving her the opportunity to mentor younger drum majors. Watching those students grow has been especially meaningful to her, and she hopes to receive that same kind of support as a Trustees’ Scholar.
Gracelyne Logan
Logan is from Purdy, Missouri, and is studying political science as a pre-law student. She hopes to become a civil rights attorney and has long been passionate about speaking up for her fellow students. Logan said her parents have jokingly called her a “public defender” because of her willingness to advocate for others. She is proud to have made the transition from a small town to a big city while finding a community and a home at UMKC.
Sophia Menden
Menden is from Brandon, South Dakota, and is studying accounting. She hopes to work for a large accounting firm and eventually become the chief financial officer of an NFL team. While in high school, Menden and a friend started a DECA club in their small town, and she is excited to continue exploring new organizations and opportunities at UMKC.
Jaclyn Morton
Morton is from Wildwood, Missouri, and is studying art history. She hopes to become a cultural anthropologist and eventually work as a curator, using artwork and storytelling to help people connect with history and culture. Morton looks forward to beginning her college journey and building the relationships and experiences that will shape her future.
Annie Rhoney
Rhoney is from Belton, Missouri, and is studying biology as a pre-dentistry student. She hopes to attend the UMKC School of Dentistry and eventually specialize in orthodontics. Rhoney has visited UMKC many times through school field trips and chemistry classes and is excited to now call the university home. In high school, she created an after-school tutoring program and hopes the program continues to inspire other students. She is hoping to use the opportunities at UMKC to build a meaningful career and give back to her community.
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Sep 01, 2026
Construction includes largest capital improvement project to date
The University of Missouri-Kansas City has announced and begun construction on major improvements to its physical facilities to meet key strategic goals.
Jump to each project:
Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
Atterbury Student Success Center
Olson Performing Arts Center
UMKC Administrative Center
Projects currently under construction include:
The 160,000 square foot Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building project at 25th and Charlotte streets, the largest capital improvement project in UMKC history.
Elevating services that support prospective and current students at the Atterbury Student Success Center.
The 35,000-square-foot addition to the UMKC Conservatory's Olson Performing Arts Center broke ground on Sept. 24. The project will add performance and rehearsal spaces on the east side of building that will stretch toward Volker Boulevard.
The UMKC Administrative Center is under renovations, transforming the entryway and first floor into a welcoming front door to the community that celebrates our university, alumni and donors.
Look here for regular construction and project updates or sign up for a regular email update to be delivered to your inbox.
Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
The final beam was placed on September 17, 2025. The university celebrated this construction milestone by inviting elected officials, university leadership and students, faculty and staff to sign the beam before it was placed in the new building.
Construction continues to progress throughout the facility, with drywall finishing and painting underway alongside ongoing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection work. Crews are installing ceiling systems, casework and countertops, while exterior work includes east-side stone installation, metal soffit panels and continued north-side site improvements, including stair construction.
The building is expected to open in 2027.
The campus surface parking lot at 25th and Charlotte streets closed. Student permit parking is no longer allowed in lot 68, located south of 25th along Charlotte Street. Health Sciences Campus map and Shuttle (PDF).
Faculty, staff and students can park in the seven-floor Hospital Hill Parking Garage 28 on the southeast corner of 24th and Charlotte streets, just north of the construction site/former lot, or in a surface lot 67 to the east at 25th and Campbell streets. Student parking in the garage is available on floors four through seven.
Parking for UMKC School of Dentistry clinic patients as well as metered spots for other UMKC Health Sciences District visitors has been moved to surface lot 68.
UMKC IDs are required to scan in and out of the parking garage.
Project Video Feeds
Atterbury Student Success Center
In May 2025, renovations began at Atterbury Student Success Center. The grand reopening will take place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The renovated space will be home to Admissions, the UMKC School of Graduate Studies, the Center for Transfer Students and Adult Learners, Roo Advising, Career Services, University College and International Student and Scholar Services. It will also include an inviting Welcome Center with a two-story atrium to host prospective students and their families.
UMKC’s robust Career Services programming will expand to add a Style Studio, giving students a place to browse and try on professional clothing options as well as take headshots for interviews.
UMKC Central, a one-stop shop for students, and the Financial Wellness Center, are both moving from their current location at the Administrative Center to the newly renovated space as well.
Open to students in Atterbury Student Success Center:
Now — UMKC Central, UMKC Career Services and Roo Advising
Monday, Sept. 28 — Admissions
Monday, Sept. 28 — Financial Wellness
Monday, Oct. 5 — University College
Monday, Oct. 5 — UMKC School of Graduate Studies
Monday, Oct. 5 — International Student and Scholar Services
Olson Performing Arts Center
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal shared this project during the 2025 State of the University. A groundbreaking celebration took place on Sept. 23.
The new space will increase performance, classroom and collaboration opportunities for students and the Kansas City community.
The first phase of construction is estimated at $35 million. It includes a new addition with a large music ensemble performance and rehearsal space, two dance rehearsal rooms and support spaces for the dance program, and a new accessible black box performance space. The black box space would be available for use by all three programs. The addition of the black box space will create a “theatre district” complementing White Recital Hall, Spencer Theatre and the McIlrath Lobby.
The second phase involves the renovation of current facilities, including White Recital Hall. Renovations will increase classroom and theatre spaces and create a central hub for student resources and collaboration. Facility renovations will allow the spaces to be used in flexible ways, creating more opportunities for special events and performances.
UMKC Administrative Center
Construction on the front exterior and first floor of the UMKC Administrative Center began early June and is expected to be complete in winter 2027. The project will improve accessibility by removing stairs in the entryway and lobby and adding additional accessible parking spaces.
The first floor will be remodeled, including a refreshed lobby and new reception desk. UMKC Central will relocate to newly renovated space in the Atterbury Student Success Center. Its former location in the Administrative Center will be converted into an alumni reception area and office suite for UMKC Foundation.
During construction, parking will remain available behind the building on the east side, in the north lot and in the parking garage. Four accessible spaces in the east lot and one space near the south entry will remain open. The east entrance and central elevator and stairs between the second and third floors, as well as the north and south elevators and stairwells, will remain accessible.
The following areas will be closed for the duration of the project: parking in the west circle, the first‑floor west entry and the central elevator and stairs between the first and second floors.
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May 12, 2026