Transfer Champions List

Transfer Champions are UMKC faculty and staff who have your back as a transfer student. They have expertise, knowledge, and lived experience that can help you in your transition to UMKC and your journey towards degree completion.

Faculty and staff are invited to add their name to the Transfer Champion list if you have expertise in transfer student success, such as being a transfer student themselves, have professional experience advising transfer students, or have completed or are involved in research related to transfer students, and/or have a general vested interest in the retention and degree completion of transfer students. 

Join the List!

UMKC Transfer Champions

Drake Summers

Assistant Director for New Student and Family Programs
Email: drakesummers@umkc.edu
I work with: Transfer Student Programs, Roo Welcome, Family Weekend

Undergraduate Institution: Northwest Missouri State University

Other institutions that I have experience with: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Omaha

"Transfer students are the bedrock of UMKC - I am here to help, support, and advise transfer students along their UMKC journey in any way I can."

Olivia Kays

Academic Library Fellow, Teaching & Learning
Email: oliviakays@mail.umkc.edu
I work with: UMKC Libraries

Undergraduate Institution: UMKC

Other institutions I have experience with: University of Central Missouri

I was a transfer student! 

"As an undergraduate transfer student at UMKC I was largely unaware of the services the library had to offer, as such I aim to improve awareness and outreach for our current and future transfer students."

Sam Browning

Business Support Specialist
Email: sbrowning@umkc.edu
I work with: Residential Life

Undergraduate Institution: University of Missouri - Science and Technology

Other institutions I have experience with: Metropolitan Community College (MCC)

I was a transfer student!

"Transferring is a difficult process that is often times exciting and daunting in equal measure. It's hard to adjust to a new university and break into established friend groups, but coming to a different university gives you the opportunity to have new experiences and learn new things. I want you to get the most out of UMKC you can and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out."

Tanna Engle

Assistant Director of Fitness, Wellness, and Marketing
Email: tmempz@umkc.edu
I work with: Marketing, Group fitness, personal training, wellness events

Undergraduate Institution: Iowa State University

Other institutions I have experience with: North Carolina State

"I am here to help navigate resources on campus and support students holistic well-being."

Mako Miller

Director, Professional Career Escalators
Email: mako.miller@umkc.edu
I work with: PCE

Undergraduate Institution: Kansas State University

"As a supporter of transfer students at UMKC, it's essential to offer comprehensive guidance and resources tailored to their unique needs. I hope I can provide a supportive and inclusive environment that empowers transfer students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally at UMKC."

Peyton Consani

Academic Library Fellow, Teaching & Learning
Email: pcqwq@umsystem.edu
I work with: UMKC Libraries

Undergraduate Institution: Kansas State University

Other institutions I have experience with: Johnson County Community College (JCCC)

I was a transfer student!

"I started out at Johnson Community College fresh out of high school because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in life. After 2 years, I transferred to Kansas State University, where they accepted all 60 credits that I had already. My transfer between colleges was successful; there were resources and advisors at both institutions that made it easy to follow and apply to my situation. Needless to say, I have experience navigating different universities, and I do lots of work with reference and research questions of all types if you have any!"

Kim Kushner

IT Project Manager
Email: kushnerkim@umkc.edu
I work with: UMKC IT

Undergraduate Institution: The Ohio State University

Other institutions I have experience with: Indiana University, Princeton University, University of Colorado - Boulder

"I previously worked in the Office of Student Involvement. In my previous role, I started National Transfer Student Week, and other Transfer Student Network initiatives. I love working with our transfer student population here at UMKC, and hope to help transfer students find community, build relationships, and connect to our amazing university in any way possible."

Melissa Stallbaumer

Student Experience Engagement Coordinator
Email: mstallbaumer@umkc.edu
I work with: First Semester Experience

Undergraduate Institution: Missouri State University

Other institutions I have experience with: Missouri Western State University

I was a transfer student!

"During my college experience, I was a transfer student who wanted more institution-provided resources to aid in my transition to a new school. I've taken that experience and applied it to my career in Higher Education. Previous to working with the First Semester Experience I worked in Admissions and Orientation another Missouri school."

Brad Martens

Director, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences
Email: martensbm@umkc.edu

Undergraduate Institution: UMKC

I was a transfer student!

"I attended a couple of different institutions before arriving at UMKC. The advising I received during my time on campus made all the difference and inspired me to continue on a career with UMKC. I enjoy working with transfer students to help them find opportunity and support to achieve personal success."

JaVon Hill

Program Director, Men of Color Academy
Email: jmhd49@umsystem.edu
I work with: MOCA

Undergraduate Institution: University of Missouri - Columbia

Other institutions I have experience with: Central Methodist University 

I was a transfer student!

"Transfer students may not fit neatly into the traditional mold of a first-year student, but they're equally as important and extraordinary in their own right."

Zach Parker

Assistant Director of LGBTQIA Programs and Services
Email: zparker@umkc.edu
I work with: LGBTQIA student success

Undergraduate Institution: Wichita State University

Other institutions I have experience with: Butler County Community College, Valencia College, University of Kansas

I was a transfer student!

"I entered undergrad already burnt out, and when I started my degree I didn't feel a sense of connection with my major, my residence hall, or my school and I quickly decided to leave the institution. Over the following years, I attended a number of different institutions under a number of majors as I tried to figure out how to make one stick, I eventually landed back at my original undergraduate institution but prepared with a different set of skills to help make that campus my home-- I brought an understanding of how to connect with professors, why I should get involved with offices, and how to build better relationships that would help me persist through my undergraduate degree-- and that helped propel me through my BFA and a Master's program. I am excited to support transfer students, in part because I am one, and in part because I know firsthand that transfer students can find success, beyond just the degree, at the institution they choose to make their home."

Janey Stephens

Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Events
Email: stephensjm@umkc.edu
I work with: Admissions, orientation

Undergraduate Institution: UMKC

Other institutions I have experience with: St. Louis Community College

I was a transfer student!

"As a transfer student to UMKC myself I have a passion to advocate for the transfer student experience and love to help transfer students transition to find their new home here at UMKC."