Mya Thomas’s passion for interdisciplinary learning fueled her interest in STEM organizations such as Women in Science (WiSci) and Baja Buggy
Conducting research in Iceland, presenting to NASA and working with Baja Buggies. That’s the typical college experience for Mya Thomas, who loves a hands-on approach in the STEM field. We sat down with the Science and Engineering student to learn exactly what gets her gears going.
What inspired you to pursue your major?
My major is a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Science with a geology emphasis. I am pursuing minors in astronomy and physics as well as a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. I love exploring the natural world and learning about geologic processes I can observe with my own eyes in the field. I decided to add on minors in astronomy and physics because I want to specialize in planetary geology. It has always been a dream of mine to work for NASA and help plan missions to extraterrestrial lands.
How and why did you get involved with WiSci?
During my freshman year, I first discovered Women in Science through an alumna that now works with NASA. She said that WiSci was a wonderful and supportive environment for her to be a part of while she was at UMKC. I started off as a general member, but then was elected vice president the next semester and here I am as president about a year later. Since being involved with WiSci, I have gained a passion for making STEM more accessible and success in it more achievable.
How and why did you get involved with Baja Buggy?
I joined the Baja Racing Team my freshman year because I thought it was cool! My dad has always been a fan of NASCAR and I grew up riding go-karts with him, so I developed an interest in cars and racing.
As the current president, I approach this role with a mission to, again, make STEM more accessible and approachable to non-majors. The executive team is composed of all non-engineering students, and we have leads from each engineering discipline at UMKC. I quickly learned how important it is to foster a supportive atmosphere, put trust in your team, and just ask the question when you have it.
What do you plan to pursue post-grad? Why?
Once I graduate from UMKC, I am going off to grad school to study planetary geology and continue building an interdisciplinary background in STEM. My dream career is to be on a mission planning team at NASA. I am most interested in being a part of a team that develops scientific data collection and analysis plans for a mission to planets or asteroids in our solar system. Mission planning teams at NASA are as interdisciplinary as you can get.
Why is the representation of women in science important? What does it mean to you?
Learning about science in school, I only recall hearing about Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Galileo. It wasn’t until late high school that I learned about famous female scientists like Marie Curie, Katherine Johnson and Mary Anning. Growing up with this narrative of science being a man’s field made it feel deviant to be interested in pursuing a career in STEM.
I don’t want young girls to feel intimidated to pursue a career in STEM. I want young girls to grow up and maintain their curiosities in science and carry that into their career paths. Building a more encouraging atmosphere around STEM would open the industry to so many more diverse perspectives.
Do you have any advice for women thinking of pursuing a STEM field?
My biggest piece of advice would be to branch out and try new things, more so if you are intimidated. Not only will you grow as a student when you step outside of your comfort zone, but also as a human being.
Do you have any current mentors who have inspired you?
Hands down,the MELT team at UMKC. The MELT team is a volcanology research team led by Alison Graettinger, Ph.D. in the Natural and Build Environment Division in the School of Science and Engineering at UMKC. Graettinger has been an incredible mentor to me regarding both my undergraduate research pursuits and my general career path. She is passionate about facilitating her students’ success. The path I am on feels so much more fun with Graettinger and the MELT team by my side.
Thomas' incredible academic achievements and student involvement on campus with organizations such as Women in Science and Baja SAE has not gone unrecognized, with her receiving the 2024 Central Exchange Student Achiever STEMMy Award.
She is also the grand prize winner of the 2024 AGU Michael H. Freilich Data Visualization Competition. The award provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate creative ways to visualize data and present complex problems in the Earth, space and related scientific disciplines and advance their ability to communicate science with broad audiences. Thomas will get the chance to present on the NASA hyperwall at the 2024 American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting this December in Washington, D.C.
Oct 24, 2024
Includes hands-on learning opportunities for students; alumni and campus engagement
The University of Missouri-Kansas City announced a three-year partnership with the Kansas City Royals, beginning in March 2024, built around student-success programs and additional opportunities for alumni, campus and community engagement.
With this partnership, UMKC is now a proud higher education partner of all four major professional sports teams in Kansas City: the Royals, Kansas City Current, Sporting KC and the Kansas City Chiefs.
“This Royals partnership is a grand slam, another great partnership to offer our students unparalleled opportunities for unique real-life learning experiences, mentorship and ways to connect to build their career network,” said Anne Hartung Spenner, vice chancellor for UMKC Strategic Marketing and Communications. “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with the Royals for years, and we’re thrilled to make it official. Partnering with all four of our city’s major professional sports teams is a benefit to all at Kansas City’s top university and our community.”
The UMKC and Royals partnership celebrates the unique, authentic connection that already exists between the organizations, from hosting commencement ceremonies to UMKC Night at The K to the Sherman Scholars program at the Institute of Urban Education at the UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences.
“UMKC is an immense part of Kansas City’s history, and the Royals are honored that this partnership will allow for two pillars in the community to work together to better our future generations,” said Alex Schulte, vice president of corporate partnerships.
A few components of the new UMKC and Royals partnership:
“Bring Out the Bots” is a STEM initiative for high school students to create a robot to throw the first pitch at a Royals game. Students from the UMKC School of Science and Engineering will collaborate with the KC STEM Alliance and local middle school students to conceptualize and build a robot. When the robot is ready, the students will attend a game and witness the robot throwing the first pitch.
Media/film and communications students from the UMKC School of Humanities and Social Sciences will get a chance to collaborate with the Royals’ in-house creative agency, Pine Tar Collective, to make a 30-second ad for UMKC. The ad will premiere on CrownVision on April 19 for UMKC Night at The K. The video will then run during every homestand.
UMKC and the Royals will donate 50 tickets to a youth organization for a gameday experience at a Royals game.
The Kansas City Royals are adding a new segment to the Royals Radio Network to highlight players in the farm system. The “Future Royals” feature will air twice a month during games and include a shoutout to UMKC at the beginning and end of each feature.
UMKC and the Royals share a history centered around campus support and celebration.
UMKC commencement ceremonies in May 2021 and 2022 took place in Kauffman Stadium.
The first UMKC Night at The K took place in 2023, with co-branded jerseys for fans and entertainment featuring the UMKC pep band and KC Roos Dance Team. The second one will be April 19 and will feature co-branded crewnecks for fans who buy theme tickets as well as UMKC entertainment and more.
The Sherman Family Foundation, founded by Royals CEO John Sherman and his wife, Marny, supports the Sherman Scholars program at the UMKC Institute for Urban Education. The program provides annual scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students in teacher prep programs; Sherman Scholars attend a Royals game together every year.
UMKC partners with the Kansas City Royals Foundation’s MLB Urban Youth Academy for the KC Roos Softball home field.
Royals owner, John Sherman received an honorary doctorate in 2013 from UMKC, and is a member of the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame at the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management Executive Hall.
UMKC alumna Karen Daniel (M.S. ’81 accounting) was inducted in 2023 into the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame at UMKC. She is the first African American woman to be a Major League Baseball owner since her addition to the Kansas City Royals ownership group in 2020.
Feb 28, 2024
Hugh Jackman, Justin Bieber and Jasmine Tookes are just a few of the other clients on Kirk Myers’ DogPound roster
Are you ready for it? Meet the mastermind behind Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour workout routine.
Kirk Myers (B.L.A.) is a UMKC alumnus who is a rock star in his field. As a Kansas City area native, he says that our city laid the foundation of who he is now. He was a UMKC student when he ultimately found his end game and moved to New York City to build his empire. Myers is a household name in the fitness industry, with clients ranging from models like Adriana Lima to singers like Swift, Justin Bieber and many more. Myers moved to New York City in 2011, and enchanted the personal training and fitness world in 2015 with DogPound, and his empire has only grown since then.
What made you decide to start your fitness business?
I had my own battles with obesity at a very young age to the point where I almost died. I was determined to get myself healthy and fit and was able to lose weight. I set out to help others and from then on that’s been my mission and I love it.
What made you decide to attend UMKC and what did you study?
My brother went to University of Missouri, but my sister went to UMKC for law school, and I had always heard good things. My initial major was elementary education, but I ultimately decided to go with liberal arts and pursue my passion in fitness. I ended up losing 100 pounds during my time at UMKC!
Where did the name DogPound come from?
I was introduced to Hugh Jackman around the time I was starting to create my own brand and since he always brought his dog around, the inspiration for the name DogPound really came to fruition.
What makes DogPound stand out in the fitness world?
I’d probably also have to say the community we have, our staff, trainers and clients. It’s like a family, and we look forward to seeing each other every day! The community is strong, and clients really feel that because it’s authentic. We also have some super unique training methods that keep people coming back for more. Pairing clients with a team of trainers allows for constant variety while keeping some consistency.
Do you think your experience as UMKC impacted your future? How so?
Absolutely! It taught me that anything is possible and to never give up on your dreams. I took those lessons and put it into my work ethic.
How do you think Kansas City impacted you as a person? Do you think it gave you the opportunity to grow into who you are?
I love Kansas City! I think it’s amazing and I call it a hidden treasure. There are so many good people, cool art and history. It laid the foundation for who I am. My family and childhood best friends still live there. My first time really living in a city was when I went to UMKC, so it exposed me to a more urban lifestyle.
How has an education at UMKC helped you?
I think what I appreciated and learned the most is how to balance a busy schedule and how to do research. Those are two things I currently use every day as founder and trainer at DogPound.
What would you say to students who aspire to be successful like you?
Stay humble and keep at it! You can achieve anything you put your mind to but it’s important to give back and always remember where you came from.
Is there anything outside of DogPound that you are proud of accomplishing?
When I began as a trainer, I wanted to help people. As the company grew, we developed the five pillars of our brand — teamwork, passion, authenticity, positivity and to give back — all of which we believe has really led the vision to grow and helps define our purpose. Through these pillars, we’ve partnered with organizations that support children like Community of Unity for many years as well as volunteering at The Bowery Mission in New York City. I am proud of the way our team extends their community to those who need it.
What advice would you give to prospective UMKC students, or current UMKC students?
Be OK with not knowing what you want to do in life as you enter your college years. Your 20s will be a rollercoaster decade. Have fun, but also be smart and try to plan ahead when possible.
Feb 26, 2024
Awarded projects range from advertising to writing
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Strategic Marketing and Communications division received 10 awards for excellence in advancement, alumni relations, marketing and communications initiatives and materials from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, also known as CASE.
The division received 2023 Best of District VI Awards in categories that include advertising, design, magazines, videos and writing.
“At UMKC, we are blessed with an immensely talented marketing and communications team who do great work, day in and day out, sharing our university’s unique story to the world,” said Anne Hartung Spenner, vice chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications. “This year we broke our team record for CASE awards. What a great honor to see our team’s excellent work recognized by our higher education peers.”
Here are the following projects that received awards:
Special Events: In-Person (Single-Day): School of Medicine 50th anniversary event
In 2022, the UMKC School of Medicine celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school and its innovative six-year program that accepts students right out of high school. The UMKC Strategic Marketing and Communications team designed a full suite of materials such as a 50th anniversary logo and videos shown during the gala.
Videos: Commercials: RoosDo TV spots
The RoosDo TV spots aim to showcase UMKC Roos who are creating change across Kansas City and the rest of the world by spotlighting Roos who are bringing health-care solutions to those most in need, inventing new technologies that change lives, dedicating themselves to service and running businesses that employ thousands of people.
Publications: Student Recruitment (Series or Package): First Gen Roo
First Gen Roo is a program that supports first-generation college students at UMKC and helps them navigate the college experience. Strategic Marketing and Communications partnered with the First Gen Roo program staff to create branding and a series of recruitment materials to attract future students to the program.
Videos: Promotional (Short): Community Engagement Video – Clio
This video tells the story of Clio, a website and mobile app used across the country to record and preserve history in digital format. It also shares how its creator, David Trowbridge, Ph.D. , William T. Kemper associate research professor in digital and public humanities at the UMKC, uses Clio to help artistic, cultural and historical organizations in Kansas City, and across the country, tell their stories.
Videos: Promotional (Long): Bloch 100th video
We celebrated prominent Kansas City leader and founder of H&R Block Henry W. Bloch’s 100th birthday with a special celebration to pay tribute to his legacy and a video to honor Bloch and all he has meant to Kansas City, UMKC and the community. The event, on his birthday July 30, was open to the community, alumni, faculty, staff and students, as well as close Bloch family and friends.
Videos: Fundraising (Flash Campaign/Giving Day): Giving Day 2022
UMKC students shared their stories about the positive impact scholarships have made on their lives and education as part of a video for UMKC Giving Day. The video also featured UMKC alumni and donors.
Magazines: Alumni/General Interest (Printed Once a Year): Vanguard Volume 6
Vanguard Magazine is an annual research-centered publication that features the latest faculty news and research at UMKC. This specific issue highlighted stories that included sustainable urban agriculture, removing chemicals from drinking water, technology enhancements for work zone safety and limiting glaucoma damage.
Design: Invitations: Crescendo invitation
UMKC Crescendo is a signature university event that showcases student talent at its renowned Conservatory. The invitation for the event is a representation of the creativity, the passion and the deep artistic connections of the event.
Marketing: Marketing Initiatives (More Than 25 Staff): Quick to Market 60-Day enrollment push
The marketing team, partnering with enrollment management, gained approval for a plan to market to new geographic areas, market specific degree programs and employ more commercial marketing techniques. Three months after launch, there was a 10%increase in applications and admits and more than 5,900 qualified leads from new areas alone for the following semester.
Writing: News/Feature (Less Than 1,000 Words): Professors Study the Impact of Sound on Operating Room Safety
The story highlights how a faculty donation leads to collaboration between professors in the School of Medicine and UMKC Conservatory to yield safer surgeries.
Feb 26, 2024
UMKC Alumni Association honors the Tedrow/Selders/Hogerty Family with the 2024 Legacy Award
Each year, the UMKC Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni achievements. UMKC is honoring the Tedrow/Selders/Hogerty family with its Class of 2024 Legacy Award.
The family legacy dates back more than 100 years, when Joseph Herbert Tedrow graduated from the Kansas City School of Law (now UMKC School of Law) in 1922. The next family members to attend UMKC, then known as the University of Kansas City, were brothers Loyd Selders (B.A. ’39) and David V. Selders, who attended but did not finish due to World War II.
The story extends several more generations. Alumni include Joseph’s granddaughter, Martha Hogerty (B.A. ’75, J.D. ’79), and grandson, Eugene (Pat) Selders, Jr. (B.A. ’72). Martha’s daughter, Mary (Hogerty) Needham (B.A. ’88) and her cousin Joan (Tedrow) Gilson (M.A. ’83, Ph.D. ’94), David’s daughter Dianne Selders Hogerty (B.A. ’78) and her son David Michael Hogerty (B.A. ’89) are also esteemed alumni.
“I don’t remember a time when the campus was not a part of the essential fabric of my life,” Needham said. “It was thrilling to think that I was writing the next chapter in a very long legacy.”
Members of the family have contributed greatly to the Kansas City community and beyond, both in their careers and volunteerism. Their philanthropic endeavors cross the city and region, including the Junior League of Kansas City, League of Women Voters, St. Mary’s Medical Center, South Plaza Neighborhood Association, Jackson County Historical Society, UMKC Neighborhood Advisory Council and more.
Joseph Herbert Tedrow was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Chamber of Commerce from 1915 until his death in 1951. Most of those years were spent as transportation commissioner; he testified before the Interstate Commerce commission in Washington, D.C. on numerous occasions and authored a book of transportation regulation.
Martha Hogerty served as Missouri public counsel for 12 years, where she advocated for Missouri residents and small businesses in matters of utility services. She served as the consumer advocate representative on the Federal Communications Commission’s Joint Board, which made recommendations to preserve and advance universal telephone service, and as a president of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. Now retired, but a lifelong learner, Martha returned to UMKC to audit classes.
In 1974, David V. Selders founded Family Features Editorial Syndicate to deliver branded food content directly to consumers; the company provided high-quality content and photography to local magazines and newspapers free of charge. Selders and Family Features pioneered the use of formatted content and the commitment to tracking content placements. Fifty years later, Family Features is still headquartered in Mission, Kansas, and works with top brands to deliver food, lifestyle, and home and garden content. Dianne Selders Hogerty and David Michael Hogerty joined the family business during their careers. Dianne co-founded a chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International in Kansas City, a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the food, beverage and hospitality industry. She served as president of the international organization in 2004-05.
“I married after my freshman year of college and stopped my education to begin our family,” Dianne said. “At the ripe old age of 29, I returned to school and finished my degree at UMKC. If UMKC hadn’t been here so I could continue my education, I wouldn’t have become the ‘me’ I am today. I will be forever grateful.”
Feb 26, 2024
UMKC Alumni Association recognizes Carmaletta Williams, Ph.D., with Spotlight Award
Each year, the UMKC Alumni Association recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni with an awards celebration. The Spotlight Award recognizes the excellence of a member of our UMKC community whose accomplishments, leadership and public service have caused regional and national attention to be focused on the university and the metropolitan area. This year, the Alumni Association is honoring Carmaletta Williams (B.A. ’84, M.A. ’87), Ph.D., with its Class of 2024 Alumni Spotlight Award.
Williams earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from UMKC. She boasts a 28-year-long career teaching English and African American Studies at Johnson County Community College, where she also served as the founding Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In addition, she received an Emmy for her portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston in “Zora Neale Hurston: Queen of the Harlem Renaissance.” She currently serves as the executive director of the Black Archives of Mid-America.
“Dr. Williams is engaged in extremely important work in this community,” said Diane Mutti Burke, Ph.D., director of the UMKC Center for Midwestern Studies and co-director of the UMKC Center for Digital and Public Humanities. “The Black Archives of Mid-America, with Dr. Williams at its helm, is one of the most significant institutions engaged in the preservation and dissemination of the history of Black Kansas Citians, a community of great national historic significance.”
It was clear speaking to Williams that her work is not slowing down any time soon.
What inspired your interest in English literature and a career in teaching?
My goal as a child was to become a writer. My mother told me that was well and good, but I needed to be sure that I had a regular income to support myself. She suggested that I be a teacher who writes. I always considered myself a writer who taught.
In what ways do writers and poets of color uniquely contribute to the English literature genre and to our shared global community?
Writers have an obligation to pull their readers into the work and have them share the experiences that they are sharing. Because the largest oeuvre of American literature is of the white European writers, Black writers and writers of other ethnic backgrounds have a unique perspective of life and lived experiences that they have to make accessible for people who share their heritage and for others wanting to learn more.
You received an Emmy for your portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston on PBS. Is acting a new pursuit for you, and do you plan to continue?
Acting is not new. I have been performing as Zora Neale Hurston for over two decades now. I performed in church as a small child and in high school plays. Teaching is certainly performance. Today’s students, especially, were raised on television, so they need to be “entertained” as they are taught. Developing pneumonic devices so students can remember the information presented in the classroom takes a bit of the same artistry and creativity that I use in performances – I try something, gauge student reactions, and if positive I repeat it, if not, I try something else. The goals is to help them to understand the information. If students understand, they will remember.
What drew you to teaching internationally and bringing English literature to students around the world?
There is a big world out there filled with people who surely want to know more about the American experience. I gladly share this with them. And as I teach . . . I learn.
What advice do you have for students who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Although I would be deeply flattered if any of my students told me they would like to follow in my footsteps, I would advise any one of them to chart their own paths. Their talents and goals are different from mine, and probably superior, so they need to develop their own means of achieving their goals.
How did UMKC prepare you for/contribute to your success?
My mother and grandmother repeatedly told me that the purpose of an education was to teach me how to learn. UMKC reinforced that. I learned that no matter what I decided to do with my life, or how I was to earn my living, that the basics were given to me. I just had to instill them and adapt them to my life’s choices.
Feb 21, 2024
President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) Bob Kendrick shares the history of NLBM and the role it’s played in society
The African American Student Union (TAASU) Freedom Breakfast was created to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., promote unity and harmony within the UMKC community and celebrate people of all backgrounds and experiences.
This year marked the 33rd anniversary of the breakfast and included student performances.
Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, was the keynote speaker this year. He spoke about the history of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, from its humble beginnings to the $25 million new museum campus that is expected to be completed by 2028.“Baseball is what started the ball of social progress rolling in our country,” Kendrick said. “The Negro Leagues gave women the opportunity, before the country gave women the opportunity to do things. It indeed was a pioneering league,” he said “They did not care what color you were, and they did not care what gender you were. It is wonderful to have a place where our children can enter and truly gain a better understanding and appreciation as to why diversity, equity and inclusion are valid pillars towards building respect in our society.”
“In this country, if you dare to dream, you believe in yourself, you can do or become anything you want to be. These baseball players dreamed about playing baseball, they did not know they were making history and did not care about making history. They just wanted to play ball. The pride, the passion and the determination that they displayed in the face of adversity, their story is not about the adversity, but rather what they did to overcome that adversity. This is a story that transcends race, it transcends age and it transcends gender.” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also spoke at the event.“Don’t be afraid to be proudly and exceptionally Black,” Lucas said. “We are changemakers on a university campus in Kansas City, where we are making a difference for our future.”“We need your voices making a difference. We need you all to make sure you are building the society of the future, that just doesn’t talk about equal opportunity, but lifts up our young people and lets them know about the pride and greatness they have within themselves.”
Feb 20, 2024
This American Heart Month, two UMKC faculty members discuss all things heart, both physical and emotional
For American Heart Month, we talked to cardiologist Tracy Stevens (M.D. '90), and licensed professional counselor Shantai McCray, M.A., L.P.C., about keeping our hearts feeling good, healing a broken (or damaged) heart and more.
Whether you plan to spend the holiday with your special someone or by taking part in some self-care, our two heart experts and UMKC faculty members can help make every day an opportunity to celebrate your heart, not just Valentine’s Day.
Stevens
Stevens is a professor of medicine at UMKC, a cardiologist and medical director of the Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center. She found passion for all things heart when she was working as a physical therapist at Saint Luke’s Hospital’s cardiology rehab center, and decided to attend the UMKC School of Medicine’s four-year medical program.
“I still remain so grateful for the education and experience in my four years at UMKC,” she said.
She has been a champion of women’s heart health throughout her career, and is passionate about educating people about ways to keep their hearts healthy.
McCray
McCray originally planned to attend law school, and first became a family court case manager, where she found she had a gift for compassion and understanding. Her plans for law school were still in sight, but as she started her family she continued her work in the field of mental health, substance abuse and family services.
“At some point I had figured out that this is what I was supposed to be doing,” McCray said.
After earning a master’s degree in counseling, she started a private practice and eventually became an adjunct teacher in the psychology department at UMKC in 2022.
What does the average person need to know when it comes to taking care of our heart?
Stevens: It boils down to one word and it’s “discipline.” We can prevent traditional heart attack and stroke by 95% by engaging in lifestyle strategies. It’s what we know to do, we just aren’t doing it. Eat healthy. Think of a plate, not a platter. Half the plate is vegetables, a quarter fruit, a quarter protein. Just keep it simple. Stay active. You don’t have to be a maniac about exercise, but move. Do what you like to do and make yourself do it. Maintain ideal body weight, don’t smoke, limit alcohol and avoid prolonged sitting. Sitting is the new smoking and it’s killing us.
If we do those ideal lifestyle strategies, it reduces our risk by 95%. If you just pick two, you reduce your risk by 92%.
McCray: One of the things that I think is important both personally and in my position as a helper, is first, acknowledgment. Sometimes I feel like that is the biggest part of the battle, because we live in a society where productivity is key, and we continue to move and to go and to get involved and to be engaged, and there’s not enough focus. There hasn’t been enough focus on making sure that you’re okay so you can be at your best when you’re doing all these things. Just be in acknowledgment that there’s something going on, that you’re feeling something. It’s okay to feel it. Because we’re in this rat race, we don’t always stop.
I give the example of putting my feet on the floor in the morning and asking myself, ’Where am I?’ And not physically, but, where am I? What am I feeling? What do I need to do in order to get myself to a better place?
If we acknowledge it, then we can be prepared to work through it. If we push it to the side, that’s when it starts to build up and that’s when you start to have some of the larger issues.
What signs might indicate our heart isn’t in the best shape?
Stevens: If you’re stepping on the gas and now you can’t get the gas, you should think, “could this be my heart?” Anything exertional that limits you from the waist up. We think of a heart attack as the Hollywood holding-the-chest-clenched-fist visual. We don’t do a good job of asking about chest pain. It could not be chest pain but chest pressure. It could be indigestion, shortness of breath, pain between the shoulder blades, a toothache, elbow pain, dizziness. A symptom I worry about is new overwhelming fatigue. Anything from the waist up, including fatigue, that you can’t explain, you should ask, “could this be my heart?”
McCray: You know what it feels like to feel normal. When you notice you’re feeling abnormal or something’s off, you have to pay attention to that. If you’re in practice of checking in on yourself mentally or physically, then you have a better idea of what’s going on. If you aren’t accustomed to tapping into your emotions, you might be feeling something, but not able to recognize it.
So start with the mindset that, “Yep, I have feelings. They’re normal, and I need to be able to identify those. If I can do that, then I can do something about it before getting to a point where it's out of control.”
Let’s talk broken hearts. How can someone get back to feeling good?
Stevens: It’s never too late! We want to be on these healthy habits that reduce inflammation in our body. The anti-inflammatory lifestyle is of utmost importance, and it’s never too late to adopt healthy strategies.
McCray: Healing is not linear. You have to show yourself self-compassion and be really intentional about allowing yourself to feel. It is a process of grief when you’ve lost someone and it can be really impactful. Allow it to come when it does and don’t get into your head and judge yourself. That just adds to it.
The other thing I’ll say is still being intentional about connecting with people. As tough as it is, when your heart has been broken and trust has been compromised, connection still heals. Vulnerability begins connection. So even at your most vulnerable, you need that connection. Maybe it’s with a parent or a good friend. You can also connect with nature or a pet.
How can we help the people around us take care of their hearts too?
Stevens: It’s very sensitive, especially if you’re in a culture where people prepare food a certain way (with excess sodium or unhealthy eating habits). It’s hard to change, and disagreements break out when you try to change culture. It’s empowering people to understand that these lifestyle strategies make a difference. Even if you do just two. The best way to treat a heart attack is to prevent it. Being preventative is far easier up front than being reactive to crisis and chronic disease that could have been prevented.
McCray: When you’re talking about community, it’s just about being present. We live in a productivity-driven society, and we go and go and go. So, when we’re asking those questions and checking in with one another, if we are making eye contact and being sincere, then it allows people to feel safe to open up. If we allow ourselves to stop and really be present and intentional about connecting with one another, then we can start to reduce the stigma around emotions.
Feb 14, 2024
The School Of Science and Engineering Professor is a Certified Flight Instructor
Ahead of the Super Bowl LVIII, School of Science and Engineering Professor Mujahid Abdulrahim, Ph.D. decided to take his love for the Kansas City Chiefs to new heights with skywriting. The certified flight instructor drew out designs such as the Kansas City Chiefs logo and a heart with Travis Kelce's 87 in the middle to celebrate the tight end's relationship with Taylor Swift in the sky. His work was featured in the Kansas City Star, FOX4 KC and KMBC 9.
Feb 12, 2024
U.S. News ranks online master’s program 36th in the nation
The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies ranked No. 36 among the nation’s best online graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report.
According to Dean Joy Roberts, the school takes pride in the recognition for its online Master of Science (M.S.N.) program.“Our M.S.N. program has been well respected nationally, and highly ranked for decades due to the work of our faculty, staff and especially our students,” said Roberts. “Our graduates offer high-quality care and education to the people of Kansas City and across Missouri, as well as across the United States.”An early innovator in online graduate programs, this marks 12 consecutive years the program placed in the top 50. The ranking improved from No. 46 in 2023. The school’s many online offerings enable working registered nurses to continue to provide care in their communities, while preparing for the evolving and dynamic challenges of health care.Students in these programs participate in online discussions just as if they were present in the classroom. Technology offers two-way communication in real time via multiple modes. Students also receive on-site learning through summer institutes, where they attend clinical training or dissertation work sessions as well as deliver presentations to classmates and faculty. UMKC offers a variety of online graduate nursing tracks, including Master of Science in Nursing and other options:Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A.G.N.P.)Family Nurse Practitioner (F.N.P.)Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (N.N.P.)Nurse Educator (N.E.)Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (P.N.P.) Primary Care and Acute-Care (A.C. P.N.P.)Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P.M.H.N.P.)Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (W.H.N.P.)Ph.D.Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
Feb 07, 2024
History student gets opportunity to work with the Arrowhead Art Collection
Meghan Jaben (M.A. ’16), Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student in history, has a unique internship accomplishment.
“The Chiefs have won two Super Bowls since I’ve been here, and we get a Super Bowl ring as part of the organization,” Jaben said. “It’s awesome that we’re able to have this memory of such great seasons.”
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is not just a Kansas City icon. This season, the Chiefs announced an official partnership with UMKC that provides some truly unique opportunities to students just like Jaben.She got to work with the Arrowhead Art Collection, which houses multiple pieces of art throughout GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium . It began as part of the 2010 renovation. Every piece was made by an artist with a connection to Chiefs Kingdom.
Photo courtesy of Meghan Jaben
“I got the opportunity to come work with the collection through an internship with the UMKC history department,” Jaben said. “It’s a funded internship where they match you with an opportunity in the community.”In Jaben’s case, that opportunity was at the Kansas City icon, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium . This would be a touchdown for any student’s career, but as a former college athlete, Jaben was particularly excited.“I watched sports growing up. I also played sports, so sports have been a really big part of my life,” Jaben said. “To be able to blend sports and art was the dream, so it’s been really fun.”Such an opportunity isn’t available to every college student. Jaben credits the proximity to the city.
“There’s huge value in being a student in the city where there are so many opportunities,” Jaben said. “There are alumni. There are community members to connect you. There are existing relationships with organizations that help a student who might not have those connections be able to branch out. Kansas City is full opportunities waiting for them.”
Feb 06, 2024
Students earn both degrees in four years, saving time and money while they get a jump on their careers
The Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City unveiled its newest program, More in 4, targeting a select, high-achieving group of students to receive generous scholarship dollars while accelerating their path to an MBA.
Accelerated MBA programs at other universities offer a five-year path to a master's degree. With More in 4, UMKC will provide a unique opportunity for students to earn two degrees - their bachelor’s and master’s in business - in just four years, saving students time and money.
“As Kansas City's business school, we're thrilled to offer students this opportunity to accelerate their education and jumpstart their careers,” said Brian Klaas, dean of the UMKC Bloch School.
The new program also aligns with UMKC’s track record as an institution committed to accelerating students’ degree pursuits, launching them more quickly into their desired careers. UMKC offerings include the nationally ranked six-year B.A. / M.D. Program at the UMKC School of Medicine and the 3 + 3 Program at the UMKC School of Law, among others.
"UMKC has a long, successful history with accelerated, combined degree programs," said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. "Our commitment to providing new, first-class opportunities to our students is what makes us Kansas City's top university."
By earning their MBA, students open a world of career possibilities and a chance to sharpen critical thinking and communications skills while they gain business and leadership skills to advance their career more quickly. More in 4 also taps the vast business leadership network of Kansas City and the Midwest, offering up the real-world learning students are looking for today in a college experience, according to a recent article in Insider HigherEd.
Students who complete the More In 4 program will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting or Bachelor of Business Administration as well as a Master of Business Administration.
Bloch alumni Nathaniel Hagedorn, founder and CEO of Northpoint Development, offered inspiration for the More in 4 program and sees it as an opportunity to build talent for the region.
“We are very grateful to Nathaniel Hagedorn for his very generous financial support of the scholarship program and also for his willingness to engage with and mentor program participants,” Dean Klaas said.
Feb 06, 2024
Diana Tamer worked with the African Access Initiative, which is targeting the cancer crisis in Africa
For Diana Tamer, Pharm.D., oncology is a calling. What fuels her passion for treating cancer comes from diverse places – from her first oncology patient to the health-care workers she trained in the Ivory Coast.
Her expertise in oncology pharmacy presented her with a unique opportunity last summer to train health-care workers in Africa through BIO Ventures for Global Health’s (BVGH) African Access Initiative. The initiative targets the growing cancer crisis in Africa by connecting international experts to health-care providers in Africa. By expanding access to provider expertise, the goal is to empower African health-care professionals to provide high-quality oncology care across the patient population.Tamer initially signed on to deliver an online lecture on oncology to health-care providers across Africa. As an expert in the field, creating an oncology lecture is old hat for her, but this particular training was a bit more complicated — it needed to be in French, the official language of several countries in Africa. Thankfully, Tamer grew up speaking French in her native country of Lebanon, but she hadn’t spoken the language regularly for many years. It would normally take her 20 hours to put together a new lecture. This ended up taking about 60.Although preparing the training would take a lot of work, Tamer had the full support of her colleagues in the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration. When she approached the chair of the department, Cameron Lindsey, Pharm.D., with the opportunity, Lindsey thought it was meant for Tamer.“The opportunity was perfectly matched for someone with Tamer’s expertise and her ability to communicate, coupled with her longstanding passion as an educator and pharmacist,” Lindsey said. “Her local and national impact on cancer prevention, screening and treatment is well known, and it enabled the training of so many people across the globe while elevating the health of patients in the region.”Nearly 150 health-care providers, including nurses, oncologists, physicians and pharmacists from 27 African countries attended the online lecture. Tamer’s lecture lasted an hour and 15 minutes, but she stayed on the call for another 90 minutes answering questions. “They were really thirsty for knowledge, and they really wanted to make a difference,” Tamer said. “When you see that as a professor, it makes you want to give even more.”In preparing for the lecture, Tamer began to see an alarming trend in these African countries that spoke to what she is passionate about in health care.“Cervical cancer rates are high in Africa,” Tamer said. “It’s killing a lot of women. Young women with kids and families —and it breaks my heart.”From that point forward, Tamer was all in. There was an in-person training already scheduled in the Ivory Coast in July 2023, and she wanted to help out. To make that happen, she cut short a vacation to Lebanon.
“I am in academia because I feel that I can impact more cancer patients by passing on my knowledge to my students,” Tamer said. “I’ve always dreamt of helping places that lack access to high quality health care, so this was an opportunity of a lifetime. I was going to do everything to make it happen.”For the in-person training, Tamer worked for weeks in tandem with BVGH and a fellow oncology pharmacist in Canada, Charles Collin. The three worked together for weeks developing the specialized training. They went separately to the Ivory Coast, with Collin traveling to Africa first, and Tamer and the BVGH team arriving two weeks later. They communicated frequently during Collin’s time in the Ivory Coast, and soon realized their training would need to be drastically reworked.“As soon as Charles got on the ground, we realized what the situation was there,” Tamer said. “They wanted us to advance clinical pharmacy services, but basic pharmacy services needed to be developed first.”Over the next two weeks, she reworked the entire training to outline many of the best practices that are the norm in oncology pharmacy and infusion centers in the United States. From doctor-pharmacist communication to safety measures handling oncology medications, Tamer went over everything that health-care professionals expect in a modern clinical oncology pharmacy setting.Once she arrived in the Ivory Coast, she presented training to 20 health-care workers eight hours a day for three straight days.“I’ve never talked this long in my life,” Tamer said. “Typically, on the days I teach for a few hours at UMKC, I am wiped out for the rest of the day.”But Tamer was not done after the day-long training. Once she finished lecturing, she spent her evenings tweaking her teachings with things she learned that day. She toured facilities, including hospitals, cancer center and pharmacy. As time went on, the health-care providers started opening up to Tamer, providing her with a more complete picture of where their health-care system stands. On her last day, the doctors on site invited her to present her findings and outline how they could work at the government and hospital level to fill in the gaps they have compared to modern clinical pharmacy practice in countries like the United States. Tamer continues to work with the BVGH team to develop and complete a post-visit report exploring opportunities for improved oncology pharmacy services there as well as improved cancer patient treatments and outcomes. Tamer’s hard work is much appreciated by the health care workers who took her training, like Dr. Eunice Adouko, a pharmacist at the Alassane Ouattara National Radiotherapy Center in the Ivory Coast“BIO Ventures for Global Health’s oncology pharmacy training has been a high-quality initiative to improve the knowledge and skills of pharmacists, practitioners, technicians, and nurses in cancer centers,” Adouko said. “Thanks to Dr. Diana Tamer and Charles Collin, we now have excellent resources in terms of cancer treatment.”When Tamer began her oncology career at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Cancer Center in 2017, her passion for the field took root with her first two patients. On her first day at the center, Tamer had two patients begin treatment for cervical cancer. The two women were in their early 30s, and Tamer developed a close bond with both. One of the women would go on to survive, but the second patient did not. Tamer treated the latter for four years, trying non-traditional clinical treatments and pushing to get her patient in sought-after clinical trials. This was at the height of the COVID pandemic when many health-care workers were under incredible stress.“Before she died, she told me, ‘Promise me you will never quit what you are doing, and you will continue to make a difference in people’s lives,’” Tamer said. “I did promise her that, and I told her that people like her make me want to continue doing what I’m doing despite all of the challenges. “And that’s what drove me to go to help in Africa as well.”
Tamer was recently featured in an Advent Health Shawnee Mission piece, titled, "Keeping Her Promise."
Feb 05, 2024
More than 1,500 students recognized
Here at UMKC, we understand that excellence takes time and energy. It requires commitment and tenacity to push through the harder times. During the Fall 2023 semester, 1,516 of our undergraduate and professional students made the Dean’s List.
This is an incredible academic accomplishment. Students must complete a minimum full-time program of 12 graded hours and meet their individual unit’s GPA threshold to qualify for the Dean’s List. These students showed what it meant to take pride in their academic success. If you know someone who made the Fall 2023 list, make sure you congratulate their achievement!
Below are the Dean’s Lists for the Fall 2023 semester.
Conservatory
Ciel BackusBrett BoyerIsabella BrownRiley BuckWilliam ClippardAurora ConroyNathan CoveyElsa DickersonFrancesca FarinaCameron GurssJackson HarrisonHadley JarvisGalen KroegerGrace LaughtonSantino LicameliAbby MauldinSarah McguyerZoe MeinsKendal MeyerMichelle NelsonChin NukulvutthiopasAshley NunezDavid OosseDillon PottsRozlynn RichertMicah Ruiz EsparzaHenry ScamurraEmily SchutzelWhitney SchweigerCrew ShaferMia SparksElla StottsThomas WelnickZach WestMaddie WilliamsBrady WolffManyi WuJohn Zhu
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Sarah AbdelgaderSasha AhmadKaitlyn AllcornParker AllenKeilyn Alvarado-OrtegaSophia AmesBrenna ArmstrongJoshua AsfawLeena AssafCamden BakerRobin BaltersJack BeardDarren BemissIsrael BerhanuLessly BerriosAndrew BetzEzra BottsJulianne BromagenAubrey BrownJack ButtsMael CaissonMak CaldwellCarlos CamachoStefano CamerlengoAutumn CampbellJoel CamposJacobi CapletonJose CardosoChandler CarterBrianna CarterQuinn CavinHenry CharlesYan ChenXuyuzhi ChengOlga CherniavskaChris ChiSatori ClosserWen CloughMadi CochranBrevyn ColeMatthew CollingsBraeden ConnellyZach CoonCassidy CooperCaroline CooperBrie CoxZaylee CoxAllie CrawfordMackenzie CroleyAbby CrooksToby DaleyDaniel DavalosPaola DavisNicole DavisTarrin DeayonSarah DeckerSeth DenbowAshton DevinPardeep DhillonAdriana Diaz LeguilluKannon DillaboughKelvin DinhArnela DzilicGreta EbersoleAbbi EllermanClayton ErhardKendall ErnzenLuke FacinelliMesa FalleurMiguel Fernandez NovasSebastian FloresSydnee FlowersCaroline FoellerLuke FosterJesse FrazierFrancis Reynald GatdulaAki GebreFathi GeelleCelina GentaKiera GodseyBryson GoschJohn GosseBlane GrayDaniel GutgesellSaid HajiLily HayChris HayterMorgan HeimsothGriffin HerSophie HernandezDeya HernandezKenya Hernandez-LopezClaire HicksJosh HinkleLucero HinojosSophia HoKatie HollarJoshua HoodBryce HortLibby HortonXiaoyan HuKiki HuangCaleb HubertDavante HudsonJessica HuynhSeungwoo ImEmily ImesOlga IvanovaParker JohnsonLiam JoyceTyler KalmRirika KamimuraCiara KaneSarah KannenbergNavi KaurSukhmun KaurGrace KertzJackson KingEmma KratzSamuel KrauseAnna KruegerTaylor KvaleBrooklyn LammersShfeo LarJordan LaubLily LefferdKatie LemonIsaac LetschSophia LimongiWeijia LiuYijun LiuCyrus LoarHope LockeEmily LongEric LopezAdriana Lopez-JuradoBojia LuCassandra LudwigAvery MarsdenZoey MarshallMia Matthews-BeavenMorgan McginnisCharles McGrawLeah McIntyreMyles MeadJason MearsIvonee MejiaMcKenna MestasHunter MiesnerKai MillerAmber MillsHayden MitchellTiara MoraDonovan MurnieksShayla MurphyJami NaranjoMarissa NeuerAnthony NguyenKim NguyenVivian NguyenAnh NguyenJustin NguyenQuan NguyenRyan NguyenZach NicholsDylan O'BrienTengis OchirbatAndrew O'DellCameron OesterleNoelia OlivaresFernando OlivaresJavier Olivares BurgosJoshua OliverAlice OropezaMcKenna ParsonsDeesha PatelSahil PatelKrina PatelElyse PayneSydney PedersonSavannah PeisertMarlon Perez-MoralesMya PhamHuynh PhanTara PopeEthan PotterSarah PottsDunia QakeiCassandra QueralJose QuintanaKeenan RandolphChase RedingtonRuben ReyesRiley RhoadsMicaela RichardsGabby RiegelVanessa RomeroJessica RomeroJazmin RomoDevon RoweAndy Sanchez-ColatoAlex SantoroKevin SarmientoMaggie SchoemehlDaniel SchwallerAvari SchwenkRyan ScottRiLeigh ScottLiddy ScuratoJesse SerranoMizki ShireMaggie SilvyMags SimmonsGabrielle SimmsEve SkilesKaity SmithLexy SmithPhilip St. JohnEmily SteinbeckMiriya StilesEvan StonerKristen SwartsRaivion TaylorWhitney TaylorGavin TewErin ThessenSivkan ThindDrew ThompsonKaelyn ThompsonKyler TickleAnastassiya TimofeyevaMandy TranMae TuschmanBrooke TwaddleAlex UnsethStacia UtleySteven VuYue WangPaige WerremeyerTristin WhittonMarissa WilliamsLance WillyardBen WilsonEmma WoodTianzhao XuIvy YangGrace YuYing ZhuLauren Zoller
School of Dentistry
Ahmad AlhoutiAli AliMichael AllisonFares AlsafarNeil BoesCamden ChastainMegan DartDrake DuganGiovanni FerraroJason FirthShelbi FlahautIsabella FriemelThomas GareCasey GeddesMichael GimottyJackson GlynnSeth HofheinsNaima IbrahimChristopher JohnsonCole JohnsonTia KahwajiElizabeth KiefnerAnastasia KruegerPeyton KusgenKaylee KytasaariRobbie MauGabby MertzEthan NettlerAnh NguyenKylie NicholsMichelle PalmerK-Leigh PappasRiley PerelesQuinten ReasonerMatthew RodriguesKatie RoeAdam SattlerHailey SchlupAmy SchmiemeierHadley SchreinerMackenzie SimpsonLauren SlavensDiana StepanovaJustin SurberJaiden TaggartSaxon TeubnerJuliana TomitaJacob TrammellMatthew WahleClaire WaughEdward Wun
School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences
Bahsan AbdiShams AlarthyElla AlexanderRayan Al-HamdiReena AlshalabiRosa Alvarado-RodriguezGenesis Amaro VenturaConnor AthearnMadison AtkinsIsabella BamnolkerAlyssa BarbeeAdelin BaynumCharlie BellAmna BilalElaina BlodgettJo BoosmanJaylie BuiJenna BulgerErica BurnettAlex BurneyLucy Cardenas VargasMargaret CarsonEileen ChangAngie ChavezMariah ChavezAva ChinnockEmily CollierRobin ConradKelsee CorbinPaige CorderoJaret CourterMartha DelatorreYico DengLaura DickinsonZach DomvilleMaleah DowntonEverett DufurKennedy DuncanAlex DunhamJennifer EnyeribeKatelyn ErceKimberly EscobedoOlivia FesslerCamille FryGio GiangrossoAlison GilbertSadie GilesGrace Gomez-PalacioNaomi GontermanAbby GuzmanEllie HackerMae'Kenya HallMyles HardyLydia HarterMayerli HerreraRaeli HowertonKatie HudsonJordan JacksonAmanda JamesAndria JersettNicholas JohnstonMattea JonesMya JonesSunita KalikoteCaroline KeithleyLyba KhawarMikaylah KingAbby LogsdonAlyssa LopezErin MagelJess MajhorGracie MalicoatNathan ManningKatherine MasonLaura McClaflinJamie McCleadHeather McCoyCheyenne McGaryBrianne McGovernMichael McGroskyKate McKownMaya MillerBrenna MorganConfi MuhozaAlex NelsonJessica NguyenAndra OkoyeSamantha PanznerLauren ParkerNatalie PeaceLily PriceRonnie QuickCurtis RadakovichRakiah RichardsonJacqueline RiveraAlanie RiveraValencia RodriguezAdeline RogersTara RossIsabella SalinasPaige SanfordCandy SarresAlyssa SchulzAmina ShahNeeti SiddiqueNoah SimsAdriana SpanglerAbigail SwansonAndrew TraceyAnnie TranLandrea Van MolMeaghan VandeheyGabi VandenburgEllery VaughnRah'ki WalkerLydia WeaverAdelaine WeidlerDallas WelchNoah WerremeyerSean WesselIsaia WilcoxenRenika WilliamsKy WilliamsGrace WilsonHenry Witt
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Natalie AdermannAshley AllemannElizabeth AllenDanielle AltschulEsli Alvarado-IslasTaylor AndersonAlbania AndradeAshley AppleberryDaniela Arzabala LopezKaylee BaggerlyIsabella BakerAmelia BaldwinAndi BasaloKaya BeitzLogan BeltKashauna BerryKaitlyn BerryHeather BerryKayla BiggsEmily BlackMaisy BlantonMatt BollinTracey BradfordElyse BredfeldtMaddy BremerBridger BrockmanChanah BrownVictoria BrownSydney BrownKate BrummundGrace CarrYessica CasaresAugustine CaytonOlivia ChristensenJocelyn ClarkChristina CloughGrace CoganMorgan ColeMichael CollingsDestanie CollinsAbby ConnorSalome ConteronOlivia CottonJami CoxLuke CozadJay CravensDaze Creamer-EllecampPidge CrozierLilah Crum BarnhillAdelina CurielAaliyah DanielsLilith DavisAshley DavisStephanie DonovanPaul DurlandRachel EricksonAlexandrea ErismanViolet EsquivelLilly EstradaNoah FanslerMikayla FarageSam FaulhaberRae FellDaisy FergusonMachaela FordNicole ForysKelly FuentesLiliana GonzalezZachary GraggRebekah GrantDoris GravesOscar GrisNatalya GruzdAndy GuzmanYasmeen HanonHaylee HarrellIsabel HarrymanMichael HaynesGrace HeathLogan HendersonYency Hernandez-SanchezSarah HerndonMelissa HerreraKatarina HillBen HillearyLauren HirningSamuel HitchcockPhillip HoDavid HolmesPeyton HowardAmy HurleyEmily JacobsJustin JangFaduma JarikEmily JohnsonChance JohnsonSidney JohnsonParker JonesCerylean JonesDaniel JonesHugo Juarez AvalosLetty KaiserKat KalfayanTeayom KarimpourianKatelyn KaysCaiden KeenErynn KellGrant KendallSarah KirkMackenzie KlausJoshua KoopsMaddie KovarikSydney KramerLauren KreiselSara KronawitterJack KrzykowskiEliott LabethAdam LansdownJulien Le BourdoulousSam LendoHallie LewisBenjamin LewisRayvon LewisHannah LeyvaNoah LibowitzDayton LittleHennessey LopezEvie LozanoMaggie MaennerLauren MageeMayzie MangosLilah ManningScott ManuelGabby Marin CastanedaAlexandra MattssonCatie McArthurKiara McCreaFelicia McDonaldAli McKeeAubrionna MeadJuan MedranoNick MehnGeorge MendezItzel MendezEbele MgbemenaKale Marie MichaelGrace MillerWren MillerYasmina MokhtarCatherine MonaghanJose MontoyaKenney Monzon BrunoJay MooreMaddie MurphySamuel NagyAreeba NaseerJosie NewmanJessie NguyenJackson OgdenKanyon OlberdingMichelle Oliva-EspinosaAsh OnstottSarah ParkReece ParkerJordan PaxtonCaitlin PickertMegan PilegeElizabeth PorrittArthur QualmanTheo RaitzerJack ReavesAdam ReedCheyenne ReeseJacob ReevesManuel RiveraNovalee RiveraRogelio RodriguezJoslyn RossOlivia RubioBrooke RuppThessa RyanJoy RyanJouhel SalinasAbby SanduskyEmma SauerNeal SawyersEmma SaylerIsabelle SchroederAdriana SegovianoVictor SewankamboDelaney ShieldsKowthar ShireJoe SimmonsZa'Carriah SimmonsMolly SloanHarry Soper PlazaHenry SowellVincent SpriggsBenjamin SpringerReagan StarkAydan StiglerEvan StolbergPeyton StremmelJazlyn SummersTristan SupernawTennessee TaffnerHannah TawneyDa'Mya ThomasJulia ThompsonKimberly Torres-VelaSophia TrudeHannie TruongAllBright TunMichaela Vanden HullJacob VanzantCamille VerhoevenCatie WalkerAmber WaltersKeegan WatkinsAbigail WeilerDylan WelchElla WhitfieldSeneca WhortonAlexander WildtAbram WilliamsVictor WilliamsLainey WillisBrynn WinklerThistle WolfLeigh WoodyGrace WorkmanIsabella Yennie
School of Law
Kit AdderholtLoulya AlabedAllee ArmitageShep AronKelsy AustwickSidney Bach-NormanBailey BakerOlivia BanesJuliana BartoliAshley BartonMary BellRaef BellBekah BerardiCameron BerryOlivia Bess-RhodesOtto BoschReema BounajemBrent BoydJulia BreukelmanNaomi BuieEthan BureshKarima BurnsJason CantrellJosie CareyRachel CarrJohn CastelloAshley CerrentanoBrian ChristianAndrew ClarkPayton ClousePhilip ColeMakenna CopelandAshley CornishBobbie CrewTaylor CullenMegan CurrieSamantha CusumanoMegan DeanAlexus DeanTrinity DelaneyAlex DeLucaAlexis DennyEmily DesbienKendall DillonEmma Kate DillonSofia DominguezAnna DonaldsonJosie DostalJacques DoughertyChristopher DouglasMaria DunnYara DuranAlec EbersoleMatthew EblenErica EdmistenJacob EisenhauerJackson ElderWilson EllisLukas FieldsCarson FinkSamantha FisherMartina FloridoNatelee ForbesBrian FordLexie FoxJustice FrankeKit FrazenTaylor FreundKersten FrostDanny GamezJulie GastErika GreerMatthew GrimaldiLillian HallJakob HalphinSpencer HashagenCorbin HealyGrant HeimanCatherine HenneEmma HeroldLiam HeuselTorri HicksBen HobstetterHans HodesCliff HollyWyatt HoughGrant HouskeJulia HowellLukas HudsonAlison HuffMatthew HyattOlivia JabaleyKaylee JacobsonElizabeth JanneyTara JanowskiLogan JeffersNoah JohnsonNathan JohnsonJared JohnstoneIan JonesMargaret KellstromEmma KingCole KingsleyAlec KirwanKaren KutninkSalenna LaffoonShelbie LangfordNick LangsdaleJustin LarsonLauren LawsonJacob LeamonJilliane LewisSara LewisLauren LipariLilly LucasErin LynchMadeline MannBrad MatteuzziLauren McFailBruce Mena-SierraAlexandra MiddlecampKaleb MillerBailey MoffettAnna MooreBrett MordecaiMaureen MurphyHannah MurphyJacob NiemeyerKendal NilgesThomas NocitaSam NultonAustin OhnmeisAnnMarie OrlandoReid ParkerShivani PatelSamuel PetersonEmma PiazzaKirsten PintoAustin PolinaKaylee PopejoyLeslye QuintanillaAriel Nicole RecaldeJohn RellihanErin RichardsChance RiddleJessica RigbyAddison RockersChristopher RogersEmma RomanoMichael RoseTaylor RumseyDana SamaniegoClaire SchallenbergRhiannen SchneiderKloe SchnellRobert SchwindAshley SegniboMadelyn SeleyMadison SelfMargaret SelfJoel SenJarrett SextonAdina ShabazzOlga ShupyatskayaHaley SirokmanJoseph SkojacHelene SlinkerLiudmila SloanKyle SmithSage SmithCait SpackmanWill SpeidelAndrew StaffordJoseph SteinbacherNichole StewartKaylee StillieLaura StinglEllen StingleyColby StoneBenton StrongAnna Syptak-WelchMaxson TechauGabrielle ThurnMegan TiedeReece TreasureNika TsiklauriGiorgi TsivtsivadzeAnna VanBuskirkWilliam VanceElias VaoifiJohn ViewAlex VillalobosRobert WaldMatthew WalkerSeth WalkerStephanie WaxmanSamantha WhiteKyle WhiteBrennan WhittKevin WiseIan WisemanCalli WisemanThomas WolffBryce WolffRegan WoodKristin WoolumsConnor WorksWilliam Youngs
School of Medicine
Youssef AbouelelaMaanvi AggarwalLaila AlhajeriShayaan AnisTharika ArunkumarMeha AsirAnam AzimRiya BhatMira BhatiaAlex BoydEthan ChaShreya ChalapalliQasim ChohdryTochi EzeanolueMallory GardKeshav GhanekarEllie GiraDevan GirishMaddie GrimesShekhar GugnaniMason HawleyRayney HeldMarc HermanEvan HuangSarah IllimoottilMira IyerFahad JamalAJ JenkinsJulia JoseJeshna KaparthiAmanuel KifleSindhuja KudapaNeha KumarAnnalise LawlorLeo LiuKushi MadduruPriyanka MahadevGyan MalaniKenna MarlingGovind MenonAnthony MishrikyDaniel MoftakharYeanna MoonPhoebe MurphyCarla NemerEthan NguyenAratrika PalAarti PalaniappanRiya ParikhVani PatelRonit PatelMeirah PaulUma PillaiPrecious PlaisimeLeya PogueArushi RaiNeeti ReddyMuzzammil SalauJoel SetyaAnanya SharmaAhad SheikhNikitha ShethKoda ShivelyLiana StowellSid SuvarnaNatalie SwampillaiDiana TranEthan VillasenorCece WattsMarley WoodfordJames WorthamJustin WuGauri Yadav
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Yaretzy Aguirre CamachoFaduma AhmedHiba AlterjalliTheresa AlvarezKeeley AtkinTami AyegboBreegan BarnettJudy BattsElauni BennettAvery BradyCaroline BrandtAmelia BreuerMattea BrooksAnnMarie BucksbeeSkyler BurkeAlivia CalvertAlex CarreonKayla CoatesEmily CrainLydia CripeKoy CrockettMackenzie DaltonKayla DansbyKelsey DavisBrylee DierkingBree DowdyNouran ElhiweejLyric EwingNaomi EyanaghoNonso EzeTia FieldsFatima FierrosToni FraizerEllyssa GallingerKatelyn GendronCarly GillenRayna GivhanKatelyn GoochSophia GranthamLeah GreenwaldJuli GutierrezAshley HannersZahra HassanZowie HayesChloe HazzardHalle HeerenKatie HegerBritney HernandezVanessa Hernandez ValdezNatasha HillardCecelia HinesGlenne HinkleJohana Infante MaganaJonn JacksonEmily JacksonAnna JenningsLily JohnsonAislinn JorgeJalen JuanKayla JumpKali KahlerGabby KatzMeik KernsCamryn KorteAmber KwonMayson LaneTiri LaneyBridget LindKatelynne LittleAspen LivengoodDanielle MakaraMichael MaloneyJane MasseyKudzai MazhouRafia MehmoodAshley MillerCierra MitchellBrooke MuehlingBrianna MyersJoy NevarezNatalie NguyenKristina NguyenAshley NguyenChristine NguyenKatie NobleCrystal OdugweBritney OdugweAilin OrtizKimberly OstmannTaylor OswaldMadison PageBrittany ParkerDaevion ParkerKelly Perea InestrozaKassandra PerezEvonna PhelpsLexi PribylSydney RhodesJeffrey RodriguezSydney RogersShannon RoseEmina SarajlicOlivia SoursQuinn SpearAdreanna StarnesRiley StehlikKarsyn StehlikElizabeth SteppBrooke TannerSarah ThalkenJenny TranBethany VandenburgKadin VireCaden VoGrace WaldeierMaleah WestBailee WestonKamara Winda
School of Pharmacy
Brooke AtchisonSharon BaskaranKayla BondBryce BortkaMaddie EppleMarian FrizzellJoshua HendersonHaley HernandezVincent IrwinElla KemmMaya KivistoJaeni LeeBryce LucasPayton NeubauerTam NguyenHailey OeschJoseph SalazarSavannah SchludeRachel SkoskyJohn StriblingTraeten ThorellTommy TranWill WhiteLauren YoungbloodJefferson Zhong
School of Science and Engineering
Aymen AbboodSalma AbdelrahmanHashim AbdullaMohsen AbdulrahmanAnar AgayevAryan AhirHafsa AhmedRashid Al GhailaniSadia AlamSaleh AlameeriSuleyman AlasgarliAhmed AlbarwaniAmmar AlbeloushiLulu AldarweeshKalkidan AlemayehuHanna AlemuFahad AlfarhanSulaiman AlhammadiAbdulrahman AlhammadiMohammed AlharbiEkram AliHamad AlkhameesMouada AllanAbdulwahab AlmatouqCarlos Alonzo CordonYousef AlqallafNadeen AlsalmanAli AlsulaimanMeshari AlsuwaidanKhaled AlthunayanBrandon Alvarez De La CruzDivenderjit Amarjit SinghErica AmelunkeEmma AngleAbrahim AnsariNicolas AponteHalena Aquino-DunkinSami ArcherJeremiah ArthurKatrina AsistidoJamileh AssafIbrahim AssafKali AughinbaughBenny AulnerKeeli AustinJeremiah BaezaErin BakerJosh BalinoDylan BallLaith BanyalmarjehDrew BarcelonaKailynn BarntJadyn BauerLucy BeckenbachLuke BeckerAaron BeckmanYeabsira BelaynehTrevor BellClay BelzAmgad BenkhadraSarah BensahriSalma BensahriLogan BeshearsEthan BessetteMeghana BhumireddyAlex BiglerMikenna BirdEmma BjornstadRobert BlackburnTessa BlytheMaggie BoleyElizabeth BondKate BoosmanAiman BoullaouzRyann BowmanWyatt BoydGrace BrandnerMary BreauDylan BrollSharli BrownJasmine BrownJennifer BrownBela BrowningBraunson BrownsbergerChamberlain BrownsbergerRiley BruceJulia BrunoJaden BruscatoZaina BsataLindsey BuehlerJessica BurkhartJack BurnosAnna BurnsKayla BushartKaitie ButlerMarcus ButlerKyle ButlerSamuel BuxtonCooper BuzbeeYuqing CaiLilyan CalandrinoJuan CalderonLupe Campos-SotoOlivia CarlsonAustin CassDonovan CastanedaKristine Isha CastilloJosh CastroNoah ChapmanJessica ChaseXingyu ChenYumiko ChenBetelhem CherieMichael ChiPaul ChmelirBrandon ChongIteara ChristianCatherine ChrobakGrace ChurchCameron CiancioloCody ClarkEmily ClarkBrayden ClarkConnor ClarkMichael ClaussLexi CliftMarissa ColmarRiley ConnorsBridgit ConwayCitlalinzi Cortes TorresKarina CoxSarah CrawfordJarod CriderPrincess CullomAndrew CustisJacob CutlerMuzan DaffaallahMohammed DaghmoushMichael D'AgostinoEthan DangLily DangGrace DangAbdulaziz DarweeshAustin DavidCaitlyn DavisNicholas de RaadRJ DedertTim DeGraffenreidSheyda DehghaniKopelyn DeLongNoah DevlinAissatou DialloGaby Diaz LeguilluJohnny DiepSeth DinslageHaindavi DirisalaLydie DjibaKhoa DoLan DoAnh DoanBrock DobbieAleigha DollensPorter DombrowskiMika DonelsonAbigail DotyDakota DouglasLogan DudleyKaia DunfordBrian DuongMichael DurandSilas DuvallMason EarlyReed EasonRayaan EkilahMohamed ElgasimNaomi EmersonJoe EppersonEuropa EstabrookMichael FamurewaLauren FergusonChristina ForbesDavid ForsonKylan FosterSymone FranksMichael FrazierDylan FrazierKevin FrazierConner FreeoufAlejandra Frias FraireNolan FroeseHenry FrommerPeyton FryNicholas GaitanPavan GantaWilliam GarayChad GardnerSai Charan GarrepallyLauren GarrettJay GaskellRediet GebreJosh GehrMatthew GerstnerAlex GhasemiGianna GiarraputoSirat GillAmber GillaniJeffrey GillumCesar GinerMary GipsonDiego GiraldoKyle GoodmanBrandon GouvionLance GrabmillerJackson GrantSophie GreenSam GriffinSeth GrishamAutumn GuptaPhan HaTrey HallAmanda HammStephen HangeJosh HarraldBethany HartNathaniel HartmanAlina HasanRuweyda HassanDominic HeaterMackenzie HebererRoe HendricksJohnny HeosSam HermanSelena HerreraCassie HerringBrooke HigginsMason HilgenkampCassidy HillBenjamin HillRegina HoKevin HoNgocTien HoangTrenton HoeflickerIzzy HogelinTanner HoilandKona HudsonTimothy HuffAndy HumphreyCollin HunterThomas HusmannDaniel HuynhChristine HwangGavin HystenAisha IbitoyeAbram InmanAhpelonia IoanisMaisha IslamHiba IssawiLillie JacobsDania JacubMorgan JamesGuntas JammuHanan JanJocelyn Jarquin GarciaMohammad JarradTerrence JayJudah JerlsGrayson JohnstonKevin JonesJuliana JosephJessica JosephDaniel JumpTyler KaiserGouri KallanagowdarTyler KaminskiLillian KamlerEkjoatroop KaurAidan KaysDavid KeltnerSydney KennedyCharles KeysJack KeysWaleed KhaleelRahhaf KhalilShree KhambekarAamna KhanSean KhanWei Shen KhooSydney KingGabe KingdonAubry KleinsorgeMary KleneCarolyn KnappMadison KoesterAnton KoleciKevna KonduruSai Lakshmi KotaBrylie KovarGabriel KribbsMatthew KunkleMaddie KunzJack KurtzThao LamMichaell (Michelle) LarkinAnthony LeThien Phu LeAlicia LeKim LeAusten LeckbeeDavid LeeMick LeinbachSomark LenkaTroy LeonardCat LewinBrett LewisJohn-Charles Lile-HenleyDevin LinMatt LindboeJordan LindererOlivia LittleBishop LohmanMakayla LongEstrella LopezNatalia LopezDaniel LoveAlex LyAliyah LyonsLisa MachLuke MalcomAtlas MallamsSavanah ManionEvan MarleyGrace MarquardtCorey MarrsSidney MartinYasamin MashayekhiZavier MattsonAleena MazharJosh McAnerneyAmaya McBrideTrinity McCannIsabelle McCarthyMichael McCormackEvan McDanielMike McDonoughClayton McGinnisNicholas MckenzieKayla McKnightGrace McKownSamantha MedleyFinn MeggittHamza MehidiVanessa MenzAva MetcalfBethlehem MezemirBryce MillerEthan MillerBrooks MillerMadyson MinkerSalman MirzaMadison MitchellNina MitchellJaxen MitchellDevin ModdeGenova MongaloKaylee Monroy RiverosMaddie MooreLuke MooreKatelyn MooreElizabeth MooreTrenton MooseMariana MoralesBerenice Moreno-PerezPeter MorganRaine MorriganAidan MorrisKegan MorrowDenny MosbyXander MosleyNina MruckovskiFardowsa MuhumedBree MurphySeven MurrayJames MyersTrevon MyersKyle NaluanShriya NandakumarEmily NatanovaBen NelsonBroden NestlerTaylor NevezMinh NgoAmy NgoQuynh NguyenDanny NguyenCadao NguyenTri NguyenEthan NguyenHailey NguyenDuy NguyenDuc NguyenDylan NguyenScott NguyenKira NixonBrendon NixonAslonjon NosirovShelby O'BanionBridget O'BrienJake OBryanAbby O'DonnellJonathon OdumDiamond OgunsijiMumiye Olatunde-SalawuSemire Olatunde-SalawuCaden OllarIan O'NealWilliam OpsahlDylan OrpinIsa Ortiz-AcostaZachary OsmanovicGunner PaceSara PaceNick PadillaNicholas PageSaniya PanditaSui ParJazmin ParraCahaya PasekAna PastoraYagna PatelAarohi PatelElena PayneGarrett PazderaSara PetropoulosHallee PhamJason PhanJahnavi PingaliOliver PowellAdam PowersEden PradoGeorge ProkopWylie PutnamDiana RamirezAbril RayoAlexis ReedThomas ReillyAlondra ReyesJessica RiceKaitlyn RichmondLexi RickerParker RobinsonElle RobinsonGray RobisonLanden RobyJacob RodriguezLuis RodriguezChris RodriguezViger RomoIan RowseAly RubleKenna RyalsPetrea RyanAhmed SalousJeremy SanchezLuis SanchezDori SandritterPreston SantoSofia SarrisRoman SchellhaseGalen SchickRowan SchmidliEvan SchoorAvri SchultzCarson SchultzJaylee SchulzCarter ScobeySam ScottCatherine SegoviaMahnoor ShahidQuinten ShanksLee ShaverAnna ShawAustin ShiltJacob ShipmanCalvin ShuckWilliam SikorskiJaylen SinclairNiketa SinghAtlas SizemoreClayton SlonikerSebastian SmithLarry SmithHayden SmithBrady SmithElliott SmithKatie SmithNate SmithAlessandra SmithAdam SolimaniNithin SongalaRichard SorianoKatie SpaldingJames SparksLily StedmanTom SteinmanRylan SteppPeter SternMatthew StubblefieldDenis SumarokovChristian SuttonMadison SweeneyAatif SyedEd SzczukaHannah TaiAlex TangEmelin TapiaJordan TarantoA Chao ThaoMarcus ThimeschSirisha Reddy ThimmareddyMya ThomasSam ThompsonDiyana TialNatalie TillTuana TinaztepeEmra TmusicLindsy ToddMichelle TranMichelle TranAnh Thu TranJayden TranEmma TroutTaylor TrudellYen TruongPhi TruongAmy TsaiNoah TurnerEmma TurnerMadison TwiteLauren UkenaAaron UptonHannah UrquillaNathan VanzeylIris VazquezLarry VeulemanMichael ViermannChris ViermannIsadora VillanuevaPhuc VoKevin VoBrian VoHalley VogtsHay WahAdam WaldrenMarshall WalkerGriffin WalshStephen WangNicholas WardChris WardGabi WatkinsNoah WatkinsAshton WeeksCaden WehnerJayden WehrJacob WeidleApollos WeissenfluhJailyn WendtKimora WhetstoneKatherine WhiteMeghan WhiteKai WhiteBailey WhithausDylan WicklundIsaac WilliamsCole WilsonBraden WittLondon WittharReese WoodJulia WoodsIsaac WoodwardGabriel WorcesterJacob XayaphetAlexander YarsulikAlice ZhaoPresley Ziegenbein
University College
Monica AguilarDaisy AmparanAdelle BakerSonja BleierMaggie BuchananGrace ClarkPayton Crump-McHughElla Davis-StilesKiran DeolMathew DrinkhouseAnthony EppelheimerChris FullerAilyn GonzalezKenia HerreraCelina HoKian Hunt-EspinoAnevay MartzCrystal NguyenMichelle OgazAlejandro PizanoTori PolandOmar RadoncicCarson RocheKarla Romero-ArellanoAshley RosalesAnthony RuizSophy SaykallyIsaac ScottJade SotoTwyla ThomasFinley WaldrenChristopher WalkerKamari WatkinsBrant Wilson
If a student's name does not appear on the list, please direct questions to the appropriate school or college.
Feb 05, 2024