The University of Missouri-Kansas City recognized more than 200 employees at the 2023 Staff Awards ceremony in March. The annual event celebrates staff members who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to service, achieved personal and professional milestones, and led efforts to achieve UMKC goals in student success, diversity and inclusion, engagement and research.
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal opened the event by saying the work of staff is integral to the university’s mission and essential to UMKC success.
“Know that whether or not you are called to the stage today, our faculty and university leadership recognize your dedication to the programs and services you provide,” Agrawal said. “Each of you enable UMKC to maintain a reputation of excellence.”
Congratulations to the 2022 awardees:
Staff Awards
Staff Council Dedication Award
Karen King, Senior Program/Project Support Coordinator, School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences
Living the Values Award
Cara Bradley, Senior Dental Assistant, School of Dentistry
James Bradley, Senior Assistant Director Craft, Service & Maintenance Operations, Finance and Administration
Yolanda Branch, Senior Executive Assistant, School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences
Kristian Brennon, Financial Literacy Counselor, School of Medicine
Sharon Breshears, Office Support Assistant IV, School of Pharmacy
Karen Campbell, Senior Advancement Officer, KCUR
Angela Cottrell, Director Research and Institutional Programs, Missouri Institute for Defense and Energy
Maria DeSimio, Business Operations Associate II, Information Services
Jennifer Dierks, Law Professional & Career Development Center, Director, School of Law
Michelle Heiman, Student Service Coordinator II, School of Graduate Studies
Diana Jones, Grants and Contracts Administrator, Office of Research Services
Rebecca Markley, Senior Executive Assistant, Provost Operations
Jill Masson, Senior Executive Assistant, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Hope McMorrow, Athletics Senior Marketing Coordinator, Intercollegiate Athletics
Jeni Mills, Executive Assistant, University Libraries
Wayne Nagy, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Advising, Student Success and Academic Assurance
Brandon Parigo, Strategic Communications Consultant, Strategic Marketing and Communications
Brandy Roberts, Human Resources Business Partner, School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Stella Szymanski, Office Support Assistant IV, School of Science and Engineering
Joseph Tesoro, Electronics Technician III, UMKC Conservatory
Alexa Troyer, Talent Navigator, UMKC Innovation Center
Jennifer Underwood, Office Support Assistant IV, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Todd Wells, Assistant Dean of Student Engagement and Director of Office of Student Involvement, Student Affairs
Excellence in Student Success Staff Award
Sharon Breshears, Office Support Assistant IV, School of Pharmacy
Excellence in Research and Creative Works Staff Award
Alexis Petri, Director Research Development, Office of Research Services
Excellence in Engagement and Outreach Staff Award
Kim Kushner, for her work as Assistant Director of New Student and Family Programs, Office of Student Involvement
Excellence In Multiculturalism, Globalism, Diversity and Inclusion Staff Award
Erin Gauer, Academic Advisor of Numbers, Engineering, Technology, and the Cosmos, Undergraduate Academic Advising
Excellence in Planning, Operations and Stewardship Staff Award
Kristina Shultz, Senior Office Assistant, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Rising Star Award
Anna Zimmerman, Financial Literacy Coordinator, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office
Chancellor’s Staff Award for Extraordinary Contributions
Tammy Welchert, Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising, Undergraduate Academic Advising
Supervisory Development Series Graduates
Rosana Challacombe
Jamie Charles
Elsa Evans
Nathan Jacobs
Doretta Kidd
Davlon Miller
Julie Myer
Joseph Rucinski
Linda Thornburgh
Thomas Willoughby
Dr. Elson S. Floyd Administrative Leadership Development Program
Casey Bauer
Megan Elsen
Megan Gonzalez
Jeremy Schliesman
Elora Thomas
Series on Leadership Essentials Program
Karey Brantley
Harry Brewster
Mandy Farrow
Kimberly Johnson
Brandon King
Petra Kralickova
Christiana Rangel
Sarah Richardson
Krisana West
Sandy Wilson
Kaitlin Woody
Anna Zimmerman
Organizational Perspectives and Leadership Program
David Babcock
Annie Carr
Joe Constantino
Della Damon
Peter Dulin
Katherine Garey
Susan Hankins
Kimberly Johnson
Leigh Kerwin
Kim Kushner
Jamie Locke
Andre Logan
Dea Marx
Tanya Moore
Eugene Pegler Jr.
Christiana Rangel
Gabriela Sa Teles
Staff who graduated with a UMKC degree in Spring 2022, Summer 2022 or Fall 2022
Casey Bauer
Elizabeth Duarte-Rios
Leigh Kerwin
Hannah Litwiller
Kyle Morehead
Mark Pederson
Ryan Pierce
Craig Reay
Mallory Snyder
Layne Viets
5 Years of Service
Racquel Adams
Rise Ashcraft
Obie Austin
Darchel Ballance
Ayleen Bashir
Jesse Beaudin
Scott Canon
David Cawthon
Austin Chevess
Allan Davis
J Collin Foster
Robert Gambrill
Christopher Garcia
Kathleen Growney
Elizabeth Hoffman-Shrout
Hannah Hohenstein-Flack
Bethany Jordan
Debra Kacirek
Leigh Kerwin
Sarah Key
Loretta Klamm
Randal Krahulik
Jonathan Krajack
Petra Kralickova
Alia Krzyzanowski
Alicia Lawlor
Thomas Lindsey
Grace Lotz
Kelly McDonald
Amy McKune
Nathan Milburn
Mousami Mohanty
Leta Moler
Laura Moore
Ryan Murphy
Huong Nguyen
Amy O’Connor
Lora Owens
Bonny Parsons
Jennifer Pennington
Curby Piehl
Emily Reeb
Sarah Richardson
Marny Robinson
Rachel Robinson
Dawn Schnake
Penny Sisson
Amber Soto
Casey Stauber
Adalynn Stevenson
Bailey Tennesen
Audriana Thompson
James Verzella
Cory Welter
10 Years of Service
Barbara Adkins
Alma Alcantara
Dinah Bounds
Huan Ding
Jeremy Ferguson
Hartzell Gray
Michelle Heiman
Nathan Horn
LaShan Johnson
Karen King
Kristen Kleffner
Kathryn Kraske
Susanne Krulewich
Mary Lackamp
Keanon Liggatt
Jill Masson
Martha McCabe
Daniel McDonald
Jerry Murray
Julie Percival
Edward Wallman
15 Years of Service
Anne Allen
Cynthia Brown
Maryjane Bruning
Alvin Couts
Scott Ezzell
Tian Fu
Mark Galeassi
Mary Garrett
Abelardo Gonzalez
Kendell Hale
Susan Hankins
Michael Harris
WM Jonathan Hern
Alia Herrman
Tusha Kimber
Jennifer Lyles-Maqsood
Tomasina Martinez
Wayne Nagy
Lorena Ortiz
Alexis Petri
Dennis Priest
Bryce Puntenney
Shunda Reeves
James Taylor
Katherine Taylor
Ramona Uranga
Kaitlin Woody
Scott Young
Xiao Zhou
20 Years of Service
Bonita Baxter
Michael Byars
Calleen Carver
Karen Cole
Andrew Goodenow
Justin Guggenmos
Monica Houston
Mark Jeffries
Camille Johnson-Arnold
Andry Joswara
Brandon King
Maria Meyers
John Morrissey
Eugene Pegler Jr.
Polly Prendergast
John Ramsey
Julie Silkman
Claire Tira
Katherine Wozniak
25 Years of Service
Danielle Bishop
Cynthia Brown
Kelly Edwards
Francis Magrone
Cassandra Nedblake
Harvey Phillips
Scott Powell
Carrie Schmalz
Jennifer Smith
Elliott Stockert
Douglas Swink
30 Years of Service
Thomas Gracey
Thomas Green
James Laughlin
Dana Linville
35 Years of Service
Cherie Burton
Debbie Keeton
Rachelle Leutzinger
40 Years of Service
Marie DeSimio
Anita Valdovino
45 Years of Service
Todd Hanna