Grant Bledsoe, PhDTeaching Assistant Professor
Division of Biological & Biomedical Systems
School of Science & Engineering
I received my Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2004, and was awarded two B.S. degrees, one in biology and one in chemistry, in 1998. To date, I have taught a variety of courses, including general biology, microbiology, physiology, genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, introductory chemistry, and biochemistry.
Chair and Associate Professor, Race, Gender and Ethnic Studies
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Kristen Barber is Associate Professor and Chair of Race, Ethnic, and Gender Studies. She is the Martha Jane Phillips Starr Distinguished Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies at UMKC. Having earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Southern California, Barber’s research and teaching focus on issues of gender inequality through labor and consumption, with a focus on cultural representation, masculinities and privilege, and intersecting identities of race, gender, class and sexuality.
Barber is particularly interested in the political potential of norm violation. Her Rutgers University Press book, Styling Masculinity: Gender, Class and Inequality in the Men’s Grooming Industry, investigates how the woman-dominated service industry of cosmetology supports men’s purchase of beauty services and products—with an outcome that shores up inequalities amongst men as well as between men and women. Her work is published in the academic journals, Gender & Society, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Sociological Perspectives, Canadian Review of Sociology, and more. Barber has a secondary area of research that considers the impact of race, class, and gender on experiences during and recovery after disaster.
Barber is also co-author of the Oxford University Press textbook, Gendered Worlds, 4th Edition, and is currently working on a Masculinities Studies primer for the press. She has served as an Editor for the journal Men and Masculinities since 2020 and is past Editor for the Culture Section of Contexts, the public-facing journal published by the American Sociological Association. Barber has appeared as a guest expert on podcasts, in news articles, and on public radio for outlets including The New York Times, Louie Radio in Paris, and NPR’s Marketplace.
Professor
School of Dentistry
Kimberly Krust Bray is currently a Professor in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the School of Dentistry. She has 33 years teaching experience in three-degree programs including asynchronous online courses. Her doctorate is Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences, so she brings health psychology to the health professionals. She has presented widely both nationally and internationally. She is a recipient of the Elmer Pearson Outstanding Teaching Award and many class teaching award both in the classroom and clinic.
Associate Professor of Law
School of Law
Professor Julie M. Cheslik is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she teaches Property I, Property II, Land Use, and Estates and Trusts. Professor Cheslik is the emeritus Editor of The Urban Lawyer, The National Journal of State and Local Government Law, published by the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law. Her book, Missouri Legal Research, with co-author Wanda Temm, is in its fourth edition. Professor Cheslik received a B.A. degree with highest distinction from the University of Iowa where she graduated first in her class, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, and earned the Hancher-Finkbine Award. She received her J.D. with high distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law where she was an associate editor of the Iowa Law Review. Following law school, Cheslik clerked for the Honorable Judge Joseph E. Stevens Jr. of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri and practiced with the firm of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, specializing in commercial litigation, before joining the faculty of UMKC Law School in 1989. Cheslik is the winner of multiple teaching awards from the Law School and the University.
Professor
Department of Media, Art and Design
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
I teach film production, screenwriting, and occasionally film studies courses in the Department of Media, Art and Design. My teaching is closely related to my own creative work as a writer and director of short films. I really enjoy the cross-pollination between my own work and my teaching, particularly the challenge of devising a new way to teach a film concept or skill.
Before my M.F.A. in Film and Video Production, I got a Ph.D. in English at the University of Iowa. I taught various literature courses there for several years, so my teaching experience includes courses involving textual analysis, discussion, and critical writing. Recently, I’ve taught critical writing as a major component of my FILM 346: Art of the Short Film class here at UMKC.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
School of Science and Engineering
Zach completed his PhD at UMKC, studying insulin signaling in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Zach has taught several biology courses, including anatomy, physiology, histology, evolution, and microbiology. Outside of the classroom, Zach has two primary academic interests: the science behind student learning and plugging students in to biology careers outside of medicine.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Conservatory
Greer Gerni (she/her) is Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre at
the UMKC Conservatory where she teaches courses including
Theatre History, Script Analysis, and Acting. She holds a PhD in
Theatre History, Theory, and Literature at Indiana University, an
MA in Educational Theatre from NYU, and a post-graduate
certificate in Acting, Directing, and Meyerhold’s Biomechanics
from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). As a theatre
artist, she works mostly in ensemble-based theatre, devised theatre,
and verbatim theatre and prefers work that subverts audience
expectations of genre.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Hambrick is a Clinical Child Psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Counseling in the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences. At the undergraduate level, she teaches General Psychology and a writing-intensive course on trauma and
resilience in children. At the doctoral level, she teaches Cognitive Assessment and Supervision and Consultation. She also directs Lab PANDA (Pediatric Abuse, Neglect, Disaster, and Adversity), where she and her students research children who have been exposed to trauma or adversity, focusing on the role of the developmental timing of both trauma exposure and relational health experiences in influencing post-trauma resilience.
Dr. Hambrick also specializes in school-based mental health, consulting on several federal grants (e.g., SAMHSA) to promote trauma-responsive services for children and youth in schools. Dr. Hambrick believes trauma-responsiveness requires a focus on equity and cultural competence, and embeds this focus throughout her work. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Kansas and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Developmental Psychobiology Research Group at the University of
Colorado School of Medicine. She has written over 30 peer-reviewed publications in the fields of child trauma and school-based mental health. Additionally, she serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
Teaching Professor
Division of Computing, Analytics and Mathematics
School of Science and Engineering
I started my career as a social worker, working in public-sector mental health, until changing careers in the mid-90s. I have taught at UMKC since 2002, and have taught quite a few of the undergraduate computer science courses at one time or another. My current courses are Programming Language Design & Implementation; Functional Programming; and Ethics & Professionalism. I’ve been a regular attendee and occasional presenter at conferences focusing on computer science education, and have chaired the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains conference; I’m also on the CCSC board of directors and the CCSC Central Plains steering committee. I was also the adviser for the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery for several years. We have systems in place to help people become better researchers; I’m excited to be participating in a similar process for teaching.
Division of Computing, Analytics and Mathematics
School of Science and Engineering
Dr. Hasan specializes in using Blockchain technology to solve real-life problems. His research interests include privacy-preserving data publishing, information security, and cyber-physical systems. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Applied Technology from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China in 2018. Dr. Hasan is an experienced teacher in network architecture, information security assurance, blockchain applications, and cryptography. He is known for his ability to communicate complex concepts effectively, making his research accessible to a broader audience.
Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Dentistry
Ashley has been teaching continuously at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry since 2012 in the Division of Dental Hygiene. Professor Hobbs provides course directorship in the dental hygiene curriculum through Local Anesthesia and Pain Control, Dental Biomaterials and Introduction to the Preventive Practice of Dental Hygiene courses. She acts as the Junior Clinic Coordinator and enjoys providing skilled clinical instruction, hands-on learning experiences, and mentorship to students. A passion of Ashley’s is giving back to the community. She has attended over 50 dental missions reaching a national and international population. In her free time she has built two non-for-profit programs to provide preventive services to underserved populations; Elder Smiles and The Gladstone Sealant Outreach Program. Her research interests include faculty calibration, clinical instruction, and teaching paradigms.
She has recently presented on the development of school-based sealant programs at a continuing education course at her professional association at the state level, spoken nationally at the American Dental Education Association 2022 conference on innovative teaching paradigms, and at the American Dental Hygienist’s Association 2022 conference on her qualitative research on student perceptions of a school-based sealant program.
Associate Professor, CAFE Pillar Lead, Director of the RDH to BSDH program
School of Dentistry
Lorie joined the faculty at UMKC in 1997. She earned a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in dental hygiene and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on culturally responsive pedagogy and faculty/professional development at UMKC. She has served as the Director of the RDH to BSDH degree program in the Division of Dental Hygiene since 2007. Lorie has served as the UMKC Campus Director for the University of Missouri Teaching Scholars Program, a Provost Fellow, and as UMKC campus facilitator for the ACUE Online Course Certifica as CAFÉ Lead at UMKC. Most recently you will find Lorie in the CAFE office leading the Faculty Life and Leadership development efforts. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals. Her research interests include culturally responsive pedagogy, educational pedagogy, faculty development and online learning. Lorie has received numerous distinguished teaching awards and has been recognized by Johnson County Community College as Alumnus of the Year. She has much service experience both within the UMKC School of Dentistry as well as within the University itself. Lorie has served her profession as Councilor for the ADEA Section on Dental Hygiene Education, educational consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation, as well as serving various offices within the state dental hygiene association.
Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Associate Professor, Media, Art & Design
I am an artist, curator, and teacher and my work includes film, video, installation, sculpture, collaborations, curatorial work, and community programming. My media work has been exhibited around the world receiving numerous awards and grants including a Rocket Grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Charlotte Street Foundation and Spencer Museum of Art, and a Bernardin Distinguished Research Award. I have been teaching for over twenty years. I teach courses in both theory and practice – everything from Film Theory to Documentary Production, and am passionate about enhancing student success through pedagogical innovation. I serve on the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and UMKC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion councils and was the Faculty Fellow for Assessment for 5 years. I am a member of the teaching committee for EDIT Media (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Teaching Media) – a national faculty-led movement to infuse media education with anti-racist pedagogy. I have degrees in Cinema & Comparative Literature and Media Production from the University of Iowa and Politics from Oberlin College. I am an Associate Professor of Film & Media Arts in the Department of Media, Art & Design and serve as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. I am also an affiliate faculty member in Race, Ethnic & Gender Studies and a member of the Doctoral Faculty.
Professor
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Dr. Russell is a Professor at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and was a Transplant Coordinator for kidney and heart patients and their families. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois and her PhD from Saint Louis University. She teaches on-line in the PhD program at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. She is recently completed an NIH-funded R01 to test a personal systems intervention to improve medication adherence and outcomes in in adults with a kidney transplant. Dr. Russell presents locally, nationally, and internationally on a variety of topics related to her program of research, professional issues, evidence-based practice, research, and advanced nursing practice.
Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy
ConservatoryDr. Christopher Madden is Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy at University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he teaches piano pedagogy, applied piano, and oversees the keyboard skills curriculum. His playing has earned him numerous scholarships and grants, allowing him to perform in festivals and master classes throughout the United States, Italy, and Canada. In addition to performing, Christopher has presented research at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Group Piano/Piano Pedagogy Forum, Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium, and MTNA national conference. He has also published articles in Clavier Companion and American Music Teacher. Most recently, Christopher co-authored a collection of instructional materials for intermediate pianists. In addition to pre-college and collegiate-level teaching, Christopher is also interested in andragogy (adult teaching). Christopher holds degrees from University of Oklahoma (DMA in piano Performance and Pedagogy), Florida State University (MM in piano Pedagogy), and Pennsylvania State University (MA in Music Theory/History and BM in piano Performance).
Clinical Professor
Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration
School of Pharmacy
I (she/her) studied chemistry and Russian and Soviet Studies at Oklahoma State and KU before ending up with a BA in English from William Jewell College. I later returned to obtain a PharmD here at UMKC. I helped to develop a postgraduate fellowship product in Natural Product Information and Research during my last year of school and became faculty at the School of Pharmacy after completing the program. After teaching evidence-based decision-making and natural medicine within the Drug Information Center at the School of Pharmacy for several years, I now teach non-sterile and sterile compounding (didactic and lab courses) as well as vitamins with the Pharmacotherapy series and electives focused on dietary supplements, herbal medicine, and medicinal cannabis. I firmly believe that no one learns anything by doing something right the first time….and I’ve probably made every teaching mistake possible along my way! I love learning about and using new teaching technology tools, especially those that emphasize recall practice, but am a strong proponent of hand-written note-taking. Teaching others is the best way to learn, so both my didactic classes and labs have a lot of group activities.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
School of Science and Engineering
Dan (he/him) completed is undergraduate education at the University of Sydney, Australia, in biochemistry and cellular pathology, then his DPhil at the University of Oxford, UK, in Molecular Biology. After a research postdoc at l’Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, Canada and a teaching postdoc at Florida State University, Dan took up his current position at UMKC in 2021. At UMKC Dan teaches a range of courses across topics including microbiology, translational medicine, bioinformatics, and general education, and works with a range of students from freshmen to PhD students. Dan is particularly interested in developing classrooms that incorporate opportunities for student agency and involvement in the class and which use active classrooms wherever possible; he is also extensively involved in student welfare and pastoral care work on campus, and places a strong emphasis on building support structures into his classes. If you have any questions about any of these topics, please do reach out to him!
Teaching Professor
Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
School of Science and Engineering
I completed my undergraduate education at Pennsylvania State University in Vertebrate Physiology, my doctorate at the University of Michigan Medical School in the department of Molecular and Integrative physiology, and two post-docs at the Dartmouth Medical school. I have been teaching at the University level for over 26 years where I have gained experience in teaching a variety of student populations (majors, non-majors, introductory level, upper level, professional). The different population of students have their own unique requirements/considerations when thinking about the best mechanisms to promote student engagement and learning. Currently I am teaching Physiology to Dental students, Dental hygiene students, and Pharmacy students. I am also teaching an Endocrinology course for upper-level majors. I have a passion for and have spent a tremendous amount of time researching and trying various techniques to promote student learning. My courses incorporate much that I have learned. I am also excited to learn new approaches that will improve what I do. My course format is lecture based; however I consider myself a storyteller as opposed to a lecturer.
Instructor
Division of Computing, Analytics and Mathematics
School of Science and Engineering
Rafida Zaman is an instructor in University of Missouri Kansas City, since spring 2022. She has done research in Human Factors in Smart and Connected Communities. She is one of the lead instructors in NSF funded project AISL (Advancing Informal STEM Learning). She is teaching mostly core courses in Division of Computing, Analytics and Mathematics (CAM), such as Design and Analysis of Algorithm, Cloud Computing, Advance Operating System, Discrete Structures etc. Before joining as faculty Rafida was a student instructor at UMKC since 2018. She is a people person and loves teaching, guiding, team building and interacting with student and other faculty.