More than 60 UMKC faculty have been recognized in 2020 with honors such as promotion, tenure, endowed chairs, distinguished professorships and unique UMKC and UM System honors.

These recognitions occur throughout the year, and are typically celebrated together at an annual event. These honors have taken on special meaning this year as the faculty, and all members of the university community, have faced unprecedented challenges in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Large in-person gatherings remain inadvisable due to the pandemic. Instead of a live event, faculty will be recognized in a special video celebrating their accomplishments. The first showing of the video will take place on the evening of Feb. 12, and will be posted on the Provost’s website for the remainder of the year

“The effort, flexibility and patience our faculty have put into this difficult year have not gone unnoticed, and it is especially important to recognize the significant contributions of our faculty this year,” said Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “Many of our students say their relationships with our faculty are some of the biggest reasons they love being a Roo.” 

Faculty recognitions for 2020 include: 

New Curators Distinguished Professor:
A curators’ distinguished professorship is the highest and most prestigious academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri.      

• Sarah Dallas, Ph.D., School of Dentistry
  

New Endowed Chairs:          

• Charles Murnieks, Ph.D., Arvin Gottlieb Chair in Business Economics, Bloch School of Management
• Jennaya Robison, DMA, Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Professorship in Choral Music, Conservatory
• Kelly Suchman, D.D.S., Dr. S. Orlando Somers Professorship in Advanced General Dentistry, School of Dentistry
• Jean Marc Retrouvey, D.M.D., M.Sc., Dr. Leo A. Rogers Professorship In Orthodontics, School of Dentistry
• Carolyn Barber, Ph.D., Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation/Missouri Endowed Chair of Teacher Education, School of Education
• Jannette Berkley-Patton, Ph.D., James B. Nutter, Annabel Nutter and Harry Jonas M.D. Professorship,            School of Medicine
• Mamta Reddy, M.D., Vijay Babu Rayudu Endowed Chair of Patient Safety, School of Medicine

Governor's Award for Excellence in Education:
The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education is presented to an outstanding faculty member from each participating higher education institution in the state based on evidence of effective teaching, effective advising, a commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.  

• Michael Wei, Ph.D., professor, School of Education

Chancellor's Award for Career Contributions to the University:
One of the highest honors for a UMKC employee who has made significant contributions to higher education at UMKC over the course of their career and has significantly enhanced the mission of the university.

• Paul Cuddy, Pharm.D., vice dean and professor, School of Medicine

Chancellor's Award for Embracing Diversity:
This award recognizes and celebrates UMKC faculty, staff and registered student organizations that embrace diversity by celebrating diversity in all aspects of university life, creating inclusive environments, culturally competent citizens and globally-oriented curricula and programs. 

• School of Medicine Summer Scholars Program, School of Medicine
• Tammy Welchert, Ph.D., associate teaching professor and director of student affairs and academic advising, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences

Chancellor's Award for Community Engagement:
This award recognizes and celebrates faculty, staff, units and campus organizations that have made engagement with the community a central aspect of their approach to student learning and scholarship.

• Julie Sutton, R.D.H., M.S., associate professor, School of Dentistry

Chancellor's Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching:
This award recognizes and celebrates UMKC assistant professors who have achieved excellence in teaching early in their professional careers.    

• Sandra Enriquez, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Arts and Sciences

Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching:
The university’s highest honor for excellence in teaching recognizes and celebrates UMKC faculty who are consistently superior teachers at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level over an extended period of time.

• Mike Wacker, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Medicine

Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring:
This award recognizes UMKC graduate faculty advisors with a long-established career at the university who have made significant contributions to higher education through exceptional mentoring.

• Kun Cheng, Ph.D., professor,  School of Pharmacy

Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching:
This award recognizes and celebrates teaching excellence among UMKC clinical and teaching faculty.    

• Rachael Allen, Ph.D., assistant teaching professor,    School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
• Rebecca Davis, Ph.D., associate teaching professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Monica Gaddis, Ph.D., associate teaching professor, School of Medicine

Elmer F. Pierson Good Teaching Awards:
Awarded annually to outstanding teachers in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, and the Schools of Dentistry, Law and Medicine.

• Eric Gottman, D.D.S., M.S., clinical professor, School of Dentistry
• Jennifer Quaintance, Ph.D., assistant dean, School of Medicine
• Ranjit Christopher, Ph.D., assistant professor, Bloch School of Management
• Julie Cheslik, J.D., associate professor, School of Law

Award for Achievement in Assessment of Student Learning:
Recognizes individuals and programs with assessment protocols that promote student achievement in the classroom or in academic programs.

• The B.A. in Music Therapy, Conservatory
• Kim Langrehr, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Education

N.T. Veatch Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity:
Recognizes distinguished research and other scholarly or creative activity accomplished by UMKC faculty.

• Ganesh Thiagarajan, Ph.D., professor, School of Computing and Engineering

Trustees Faculty Fellows Award:
Trustees are recognizing the very best faculty who distinguished themselves through scholarship and creativity.

• Peter Koulen, Ph.D., professor, School of Medicine

Trustees Faculty Scholars Award:
Recognizes faculty members who show exceptional promise for outstanding future research and/or creative accomplishments.

• Alison DeSimone, Ph.D., assistant professor, Conservatory

UM System President's Award for Innovative Teaching:
Recognizes faculty who are outstanding teachers and who employ novel and innovative teaching methods to achieve success in student learning.

• Richard Delaware, Ph.D., Teaching Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

UM System President's Award for Inter-Campus Collaboration:
Recognizes faculty who engage in activities that foster collaboration across two or more campuses of the University of Missouri System.

• Sarah Pilgrim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

UM System Presidential Engagement Fellows:
The fellows are tasked with fulfilling the university’s land-grant mission by sharing research discoveries with Missouri citizens in every county. They were selected for their excellent teaching, breakthrough research and creative achievements.

• Jamila Jefferson-Jones, J.D., professor, School of Law
• Joey Lightner, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Joan McDowd, Ph.D., professor and chair of psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Promotion and Tenure:

• Ahmed Hassan, Ph.D., tenure with promotion to associate professor, School of Computing and Engineering
• Antonis Stylianou, Ph.D., tenure with promotion to associate professor, School of Computing and Engineering
• Candace Schlein, Ph.D., promotion to professor, School of Education
• Jamila Jefferson-Jones, J.D., promotion to professor, School of Law
• Jason Martin, Ph.D., tenure with promotion to associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jenifer Allsworth, Ph.D., tenure, School of Medicine
• Julie Sutton, R.D.H., M.S., tenure with promotion to associate professor, School of Dentistry
• Kenneth Ferguson, J.D., promotion to professor, School of Law
• Maria Kanyova, DMA, tenure, Conservatory
• Michael Mermagen, M.M., tenure with promotion to professor, Conservatory
• Michael Wei, Ph.D., promotion to professor, School of Education
• Rebecca Best, Ph.D., tenure with promotion to associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Ricky Allman, MFA, promotion to professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Scott Baker, Ph.D., promotion to professor,  College of Arts and Sciences
• Tanya Gibson, D.D.S., tenure with promotion to associate professor, School of Dentistry

Non-Tenure-Track Promotions:

• Melynda Meredith, D.D.S., promotion to clinical associate professor, School of Dentistry
• Dominick Salvatore, Pharm.D., promotion to clinical associate professor, School of Pharmacy
• Lance Carter, MS, promotion to associate teaching professor, School of Medicine
• Sadie DeSantis, MFA, promotion to associate teaching professor, Conservatory
• Kendall Bingham, Ph.D., promotion to assistant teaching professor, School of Computing and Engineering
• Mahbube Siddiki, Ph.D., promotion to assistant teaching professor School of Computing and Engineering
• Katherine Bloemker, Ph.D., promotion to teaching professor, School of Computing and Engineering
• Lindsey Arbuthnot Clancey, MS, promotion to associate teaching professor College of Arts and Sciences
• Joshua Pluta, J.D., promotion to librarian III, School of Law
• Jamie Hunt, Ph.D., promotion to associate teaching professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Cheri Barber, DNP, RN, CPNP, promotion to associate clinical professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Eileen Amari-Vaught, Ph.D., promotion to associate clinical professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Tho Nguyen, DNP, promotion to associate clinical professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Laura Thiem, DNP, promotion to associate clinical professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Lynn Michaelle Tobin, J.D., promotion to clinical professor, School of Law
• Margaret Reuter, J.D., promotion to clinical professor, School of Law