Percival Everett’s book ‘James’ is one of the year’s most notable novels
One of the nation’s hottest authors -- Percival Everett, author of “James,” the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction -- will give a keynote lecture open to the community, courtesy of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partnership with the Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair and the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City.
The free lecture will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the UMKC Student Union, room 401. Guests must RSVP to reserve a seat.
Everett is a distinguished professor of English at the University of Southern California and is known for his award-winning novels. His most recent book, “James,” a New York Times bestseller is a loosely based re-imagining of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the character of Jim, a slave who escaped. The beginning of “James” is lighthearted and follows Huckleberry Finn, but as they part ways, the tone of the novel turns more serious as Jim goes off on his own journey.
“James” received widespread critical acclaim: the novel also won the 2024 Kirkus Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2024.
Everett has written in many different genres, and his books are often thought-provoking and satirical at the same time. His novel, “Erasure,” provided the foundation for the 2023 film “American Fiction.” The film received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
UMKC brings in speakers of national stature each year as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture Series. In 2024, the university hosted Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott, a noted filmmaker whose play “Becoming Martin” is about the early life of King.
The Cockefair Chair at UMKC presents an acclaimed lecture series and popular continuing education courses. For 60 years, Cockefair programs have engaged Kansas Citians for more than 60 years. The Cockefair Chair also partners with regional civic organizations including the Black Archives of Mid-America to bring in high-caliber speakers like Everett.
Dec 19, 2024
Graduating students are recognized for their outstanding academics, leadership and service
Thirteen UMKC students have been named Dean of Students Honor Recipients in recognition of their accomplishments on campus and in the community.
Every semester, exceptional graduating students are honored with this designation. These students maintain excellent academic standards while actively participating in university activities and community service outside of the classroom.
The Fall 2024 honorees’ accomplishments include volunteering internationally, presenting in national symposiums, working to support first-generation students, creating large-scale theatre productions, aiding in disaster relief and more. These students have contributed numerous volunteer hours in the community with organizations such as Peacock Pediatrics, Grand River Multipurpose Center, Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center, Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter, Sojourner Health Clinic and Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City.
"These students exemplify the true spirit of a Roo with their dedication to academic excellence, service to others and active engagement in community initiatives,” said Michele D. Smith, Ph.D., vice provost for student affairs and dean of students. “We are thrilled to celebrate their numerous accomplishments and are filled with anticipation as we look forward to the remarkable futures that await each of them. Their journey is a testament to the values we hold at our university, and their success is a beacon that inspires and motivates the entire Roo community."
Students shared reflections on their time at UMKC at a breakfast celebration in their honor.
Some excerpts:
Michaell Larkin: “As an Earth and Environmental Science major, my goal is to save humanity and Earth’s other inhabitants by saving the planet-a lofty aspiration. But through volunteering, I have realized how even the smallest actions can create a ripple effect far beyond oneself. When I first volunteered, I was part of a group of fifty volunteers planting trees which transformed an empty park in a single morning. I joined another group removing invasive honeysuckle from an old growth forest. Returning the following summer, I witnessed the ecosystem’s remarkable recovery, as native flowers and trees had reclaimed their territory. I became a board member of the UMKC Environmental Student Council, and we took on a major project to install a vegetable garden on campus. In our first year, we donated more than 250 pounds of produce to the Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center.”
Emma Smith: “Starting a food pantry at the St. Joseph medical campus is my proudest accomplishment. Within a year of opening, the pantry provided more than 700 pounds of food and toiletries to students experiencing food insecurity. I believe that the pantry will continue to provide to students in need long after my graduation.”
Brandon Thibodeau: “One of my cherished memories took place at a local senior living facility. There, I met a woman who was reluctant to engage in music but intrigued enough to ask me to learn a song. That song was “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary. I learned this song and sang it to her the next week. With tears in her eyes, she rolled up, saying 'Let me tell you why that song is meaningful.' She shared her memories of being an APRN and playing this song for her pediatric cancer patients. The song also had a special place in her heart, as she would grieve lost patients while listening to the song. Our connection grew as we sang more songs together, and she would continue to say through teary eyes 'Let me tell you why that song is meaningful.' It’s these capsules of true connection that continue to lead me into the field of music therapy.”
Congratulations to the Spring 2024 Dean of Students Honor Recipients!
Ashley Ayers, School of Medicine
Raashi Goyal, School of Science and Engineering
Uyen Ho, School of Science and Engineering
Anna Ilivicky, School of Medicine
Sylvia Jeffress, Conservatory
Maria Johnson, School of Medicine
Elizabeth Kruse, School of Medicine
Michaell Larkin, School of Science and Engineering
Nataleigh Meier, School of Medicine
Janelle Sjue, Bloch School of Management
Emma Smith, School of Medicine
Brandon Thibodeau, Conservatory
Wes Weske, School of Medicine
Dec 16, 2024
Graduates include first cohort from UMKC School of Medicine St. Joseph, Missouri campus
Kansas City’s top university held its annual mid-year Commencement at the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City. UMKC graduates gathered with their loved ones to fill the arena as more than 800 degrees were conferred. Mayra Aguirre, president of the Hall Family Foundation, was the keynote speaker.
"So as you cross the stage today, I ask that you embrace the lessons with the power of ‘and,’ trusting the process and applying anyway and lastly, owning your story," Aguirre said. "Class of 2024, go forward with curiosity and confidence. And remember, you are more than ready for whatever comes up."
Graduates celebrate in the confetti. Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
Among the graduates was the first cohort of alumni from the UMKC School of Medicine campus in St. Joseph, Missouri. The campus was established in 2021 to address the severe physician shortage across Missouri, especially in rural areas. Nearly half of the rural counties in the state lack adequate access to hospital healthcare. With 66 medical students in the program, these first 13 graduates represent the school’s commitment to bettering the lives of Missourians.
Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
“I’ve seen firsthand the impact these graduates can – and will – have in underserved communities, and it’s tremendous,” said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “To the St. Joseph graduates – and to all of the graduates gathered here today – I am inspired by your potential to transform lives and strengthen communities.”
Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
The students on the St. Joseph campus come from across Missouri, from small towns to large cities, but they all share a passion for rural healthcare. Students like Ashley Ayers (M.D. ’24), Jessica Halla (M.D. ’24) and William Obert (M.D. ’24) are committed to making a difference in rural communities.
Ayers experienced the shortage first-hand growing up in Curryville, Missouri, where the closest medical clinic is 30 minutes away and the nearest hospital is a 45-minute drive. She is the first in her family to pursue medicine, but was inspired by the field while on a missionary trip to Haiti. On that trip, she recognized a desperate need for medical care in underserved communities and the difference healthcare can make in people’s lives.
“I thought, ‘Wow, I really want to be a part of that,' and that’s when the gears started turning for pursuing medicine,” Ayers said. “I literally Googled ‘how to become a doctor.’”
Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
Halla grew up in the suburb of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, but chose the St. Joseph campus because of the small class size. Her experience there has been life-changing.
“Oh my gosh, the St. Joe campus has been phenomenal,” Halla said. “It has completely sold me on the rural way of life.”
According to Halla, her interest in medicine began when her grandfather was diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating nervous system disease. She saw how her family struggled through the process of providing care for him.
“Watching that made me want to go into medicine,” she said, “to be a better educator for my patients and help them through those difficult processes.”
Commencement keynote speaker Mayra Aguirre, president of the Hall Family Foundation, shakes hands with Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. Photo by Derrick Benitz | UMKC
After graduation, Ayers plans to pursue a family medicine residency at University Hospital-Lakewood near where she grew up. Once she completes her residency, she wants to return to St. Joseph to practice medicine and hopefully become a docent for the medical school so she can “give back to this amazing program that has given me so much.”
Obert grew up on a farm in Palmyra, Missouri. His inspiration to pursue medicine came from his family members who were in healthcare, especially his uncle Chris Klingele, an orthopedic surgeon in rural Missouri.
“I wanted to go into healthcare because I looked up to those people,” Obert said. “My uncle and I got close when I was in high school, and I really want to emulate him in my life.”
His uncle's residency was at UMKC, so that sold Obert on the school. Obert is following his uncle’s footsteps into orthopedic surgery and hopes to eventually own a hobby farm just like him.
Photo by Brandon Parigo | UMKC
According to School of Medicine Dean Alex Norbash (B.A. ’85/M.D. ’86), healthcare needs are especially great in rural communities. Missouri is 41st in life expectancy among states in the U.S., and Norbash explained that major diseases associated with mortality such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes are overrepresented in rural areas.
“That can be attributed to the insufficient number of physicians in rural populations,” Norbash said. “Across the United States, we are short tens of thousands of primary-care physicians. Tele-consultations and physician extenders help address the problem, but it’s not the same as having physicians available.”
Norbash said research has shown that if you train medical students and residents in rural settings, they become accustomed to it and they stay in those communities. It’s something the school is seeing first-hand with the students at the St. Joseph campus and their enthusiasm for rural medicine.
“Even in the first year, many of the students were talking about their desire to settle down in specific rural communities in northwest Missouri,” Norbash said. “It's really heartwarming to see the student reaction. They have embraced this wholeheartedly.”
Dec 15, 2024
Degree program for professionals interested in legal knowledge
Applications are open for the new University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Master of Legal Studies program. Courses will begin in Fall 2025. The 30-credit program is entirely online and designed to be part-time and asynchronous, ideal for working professionals.
The degree will be beneficial for people looking to deepen their legal knowledge without the commitment of pursuing a Juris Doctor degree. Those who work in fields such as human resources, health services or corporate compliance are especially suited to benefit from this program. A Master of Legal Studies degree can also help those who are looking to transition careers or further their impact.
“Many people need to know specific areas of law, but don’t have the time or desire to obtain a law degree,” said Jeff Thomas, program director and associate dean. “This program is designed to provide the information needed in a way that works for busy professionals looking for career advancement.”
Students can choose from four concentrations - health law, human resources law, compliance and general - and earn their degree in as little as two years, all without interrupting their careers. The UMKC program is the only program of its kind available in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska or Arkansas.
“This program is ideal for our region,” said Lou Mulligan, dean of the School of Law. “We’re a hub for numerous industries and growing at a rapid pace. This degree will help develop a flexible workforce suited to continue moving the Kansas City economy forward.”
Dec 10, 2024
A year of milestones, innovation and community impact for Kansas City’s university
2024 was marked by transformative achievements and bold strides for the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
From groundbreaking research and nationally recognized programs to impactful community partnerships, UMKC continues to set new benchmarks in higher education. As we look back on this remarkable year, we celebrate the dedication, talent and collaboration that have shaped our progress and continue to drive our vision for the future.
Here are the Top 10 stories of 2024 at UMKC.
Celebrating Construction of the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
The groundbreaking of the $145 million Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building marked a historic milestone for Kansas City and the region's healthcare future. As the largest capital project in the university’s history, this state-of-the-art facility is set to transform healthcare education, research and community outreach.
UMKC Awarded $5 Million from Mellon Foundation
UMKC received a transformative $5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund paid internships for more than 180 humanities students over five years. The program, led by the UMKC School of Humanities and Social Sciences, connects students with nonprofit organizations and research teams to provide valuable skills, career exploration and professional development before graduation.
Three UMKC Graduate School Programs Ranked Among Nation’s Top 40
This spring, three UMKC graduate programs ranked among the nation’s top 40 by U.S. News & World Report. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program climbed 30 spots to 19th, leading the region. The Doctor of Pharmacy program ranked 31st, and School of Law earned top marks in legal writing (16th) and trial advocacy (48th).
Two Super Bowl Rings Before UMKC Graduation
UMKC history student Meghan Jaben (M.A. ’16), an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. candidate, combined her passion for sports and art through a unique internship with the Kansas City Chiefs, working on the Arrowhead Art Collection. Made possible by UMKC’s strong community partnerships, the internship allowed Jaben to contribute to one of Kansas City’s most iconic landmarks, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Coming Soon: More Campus Dining Options at UMKC
Set to open January 2025, the Foodiverse was announced earlier this year as a new campus dining experience. Located on the first floor of the Student Union, the food-parlor-style space will feature eight dining options, including a full-service Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and stations for pizza, deli, grill and allergen-free meals.
Roos' Historic Season Comes to a Close in Extra Time in the Round of 16
Kansas City Men’s Soccer capped off a historic season in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the first time in program history. Under Head Coach Ryan Pore, the Roos returned to the tournament for the first time since 2008, setting records with 14 wins, 56 goals and 60 assists.
Photo by Francie Wilson
UMKC Conservatory Gala Raises More than $1 Million for Student Scholarships
The UMKC Conservatory achieved a significant milestone this fall, raising over $1 million to support scholarships for students in music, dance and theater. This record-breaking success follows a format change to Crescendo, the annual gala hosted by Friends of the Conservatory, which was held this year at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In April 2025, Crescendo will return to its traditional format at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing a collage of student performances.
UMKC on the Threshold of Elite Research Designation
Recent growth in research expenditures and sponsored grants has positioned UMKC within reach of the elite Carnegie Research 1 designation, expected as soon as Spring 2025. Achieving R1 status would place UMKC among the top research universities in the nation, enhancing its ability to attract world-class faculty and students, foster innovation and entrepreneurship and expand community partnerships. This milestone would elevate Kansas City as a hub for research, innovation and economic growth.
Grand Slam! UMKC Students Help Build a Robot to Throw Royals First Pitch
As part of a unique partnership with the Kansas City Royals, UMKC computer science students helped local middle and high school students design and build a robot to throw the ceremonial first pitch at School Day at The K. Collaborating with WeCode KC and the KC STEM Alliance, the team worked on coding, designing and troubleshooting the robot.
Photo by Pine Tar Collective
UMKC Adds Eight New Ph.D. Programs
Starting Fall 2025, UMKC will offer eight new Ph.D. programs in fields such as engineering, computer science, economics, education, humanities and natural sciences, furthering its mission to enhance research and community impact.
Dec 06, 2024
Here's how to give during winter break
While the UMKC campus is closed during Winter Break, Wednesday, Dec. 25 through Wednesday, Jan. 1, it's still easy to make a year-end gift by observing the following guidelines.
Gift timing is essential to ensure receipt of tax credit for the 2024 calendar year for your donation; please reference the guidelines for specific gift types below. If you need assistance with your donation, please get in touch with UMKC Foundation Gift Processing Staff at 816-780-9151.
Give now
Donation by Checks
Mailed envelopes MUST be postmarked prior to Dec. 31, 2024*. If the envelope received is postmarked after Dec. 31, it will be counted as a gift for the year 2025.
Donors should send their checks to the address below:
UMKC Foundation Office of Gift Processing202 Administrative Center5115 Oak StreetKansas City, MO 64112
Checks dated prior to Dec. 31, along with postmarked envelopes, should be received by UMKC Foundation Gift Processing staff on or before Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Gifts received after that point will not automatically be included in processing for the annual year-end gift summary.
*Mail courier services selected to deliver envelopes to the UMKC Foundation office must arrive no later than Friday, Dec. 20, during the office hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to be included in gift processing before the campus closes for the year.
Donations by Stock or Mutual Funds
Please get in touch with Tram Nguyen at nguyentram@umkc.edu for the transfer form and DTC instructions. Gift involving Transfers must be received into the account on or before Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to be reflected in the 2024 tax period, per the IRS.
Stock gifts will require the donor's name, number of shares, security, expected date of transfer and gift intention area. Donors must send information via email to Tram Nguyen at nguyentram@umkc.edu. Liquidation of the Stock gifts cannot be completed until confirmation of this information is received.Deadline for processing Stock gifts is Monday, Dec. 30.
Mutual funds take an additional 3-5+ business days before posting to our account. Donors, please advise brokers to initiate mutual fund transfers before Friday, Dec. 20. Regular equity stock takes 24 hours to post to our account.
Donations by Credit Cards
Ways to donate using a credit card:
Our website, UMKC Foundation, where donations will be processed through midnight, Dec. 31. All donor gifts processed through our website will be reflected in the donor's 2024 giving year totals.
Contact our staff in Gift Processing at 816-780-9151 during regular business hours through the end of the year, including the winter break.
Mail*: debit or credit card information by mail MUST be received no later than noon, Dec. 31, for processing.
We cannot guarantee mail delivery will meet the required deadline; for more reliable processing, we ask all donors to either call the number listed for UMKC Foundation Gift Processing staff or use our website to donate.
* Mail courier services selected to deliver envelopes to the UMKC Foundation office must arrive no later than Friday, Dec. 20, during the office hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to be included in gift processing before the campus closes for the year
Contacts and Staff Availability
The Gift Processing Staff will be available by phone at 816-780-9151 to accept credit card gifts and to answer all inquiries about year-end gifts during regular business hours through the end of the year, including during the winter break.
The UMKC Foundation Office will be closed during the winter break. Should you have any inquiries during that time, please call 816-235-5778, and someone will return your call.
For help with stock gifts or wire transfers, contact Tram Nguyen at nguyentram@umkc.edu during regular business hours through the end of the year.
Dec 06, 2024
Dynamic duo dives deep into the psychology of relationships
The heart of UMKC is our campus community. With lots of opportunities, it’s easy to develop student mentorship teams. And these rich relationships, our Dynamic Duos, are some of our best success stories.
Jennifer Truitt is a second year Ph.D. candidate in psychology. She is currently doing research on her thesis, where she looks at a type of therapy called behavioral activation that is highly efficacious for treating depressive symptoms. Truitt is looking at it as an intervention for LGBTQIA+ young adults who experience loneliness and depression. She is also looking to see if social environment impacts how effective that therapy is.
As Truitt considered different programs, she decided that her direct mentor would be one the most important things to consider.
“When you’re applying to a Ph.D. program, you are typically applying to work with a specific person,” Truitt said. “I joke that the application process for Ph.D.s is if like children had to send out applications to be adopted.”
After doing some research, Truitt reached out to Daniel Maitland, Ph.D., a professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio at the time, now UMKC associate professor, after learning more about his research. She wanted to see if they would get along as people as well.
“We got along great from the start,” Truitt said. “It was important for me to get a sense of the work he was doing and the speed of his research. I wanted someone who was still early in their career as well. His area of expertise was very close to what my interests were, and he just seemed like a really cool person to work with.”
Maitland’s research is focused on the bi-directional relationship between loneliness and one’s mental and physical health. Maitland originally started as a psychotherapy researcher that specifically looked into a form of therapy that is characterized by an intense therapist-client relationship, where therapists are encouraged to be themselves as much as possible, something uncommon in the field. Essentially, the relationship becomes one of the closest the client has, but it is constrained to the therapy context with the explicit goal of helping the client. He looked into how that relationship predicted therapy outcomes and why those outcomes occurred. His research eventually led him to become interested in the formation and consequences of relationships.
“I think we can create specific types of interactions that foster connection,” Maitland said. “When you look at loneliness research, people tend to just look at the outcome. Are you lonely or not? But they don’t look at how specific behaviors during interactions impact us, and that is really the part that I am interested in.”
Maitland’s research was featured in The New York Times Magazine earlier this year. In the article, they referenced his research in 2021, where he assembled a group of self-identified lonely people to participate in some relationship-building exercises.
Maitland said Truitt had a lot of questions for him when they first met, putting a lot of time and effort into understanding the type of persona and mentor he is.
“It’s actually a funny story,” Maitland said. “My first interaction with Jennifer was when she accidentally sent me an email that was supposed to be for a different researcher she was applying to work with as well. But when we met, I was very impressed with her experiences at this stage in her career and extended an offer for her to work with me. She then spent a long time interviewing me before accepting the offer.”
When the opportunity for Maitland’s wife, Elizabeth Neilson, Ph.D., now assistant professor in the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, to get a faculty position at UMKC came, he was also offered a position, which he gladly accepted.
Truitt, being a close mentee to Maitland, decided to come as well. Together they figured out the logistics for their research and her Ph.D. program, and she was able to transfer to UMKC.
“As previously mentioned, when applying to a Ph.D. program, it’s typically so you can work with a very specific person,” Truitt said. “I wouldn’t have moved across the country to work with Daniel the first time if he wasn’t the person I wanted as mentor. He is a wonderful person who is consistent with his values. UMKC also emphasizes working with communities that I am passionate about which made it a lot easier to make that transition.”
Maitland was extremely pleased with her decision.
“I was hoping she would follow me to UMKC,” Maitland said. “So, when she decided to, it was very exciting and rewarding to me as a mentor.”
Maitland is extremely proud of Truitt and how far she has come in her career.
“I am constantly proud of Jennifer," Maitland said. "I am very happy with how far she has come and her constant growth. Not only did she take on a very ambitious research project, but she also got a $25,000 grant, which isn’t common for any first-year graduate student. I can’t wait to grow along with her.”
Truitt was honored as one of the 10 Generation Z changemakers by the Pink with Purpose Project., national initiative presented by the partnership between The Jed Foundation and Victoria’s Secret Pink. It recognizes and supports young individuals pursing projects that strengthen communities and promote positive mental health.
Truitt deeply values her mentorship with Maitland.
“Daniel’s mentorship is tremendously important to me,” Truitt said. “People in mentor roles sometimes don’t know how to deal with people with unpleasant things, and Daniel handles it well. I really value how he treats his students like adults. He is also really good at giving and receiving feedback. I’ve never ended a conversation without him asking if he can help me and I know he genuinely means it.”
Truitt is enjoying her time at UMKC as a transfer student, meeting new friends and getting to see Kansas City. She stated that one of the reasons why she was interested in transferring, besides her mentor, was the potential Carnegie Research 1 or R1 designation UMKC is on track to receive.
“The fact that UMKC is making the push for being R1 made my decision to transfer a lot easier, on top of Daniel’s mentorship,” Truitt said. “I plan to go down the academia route for my career and I knew it would provide me with an environment to do the level of work I am interested in without constantly worrying about funding. There are also just more opportunities at an R1 institution, and I am very excited for the future of research at UMKC.”
Maitland also shares similar sentiments on R1.
“Oh my gosh, UMKC receiving R1 means everything,” he said. “That’s a huge part in why I was excited to join UMKC, besides my wife. It was for the ambition of R1 status. It comes with additional resources and prestige. It allows for you to reach levels of your career you can’t otherwise. It also comes with and understanding of expectations and standards that make a big difference in the scientific community.”
Dec 03, 2024