The University of Missouri-Kansas City recognized staff across all academic units and various programs and departments at the 2024 Staff Awards ceremony in March. The ceremony recognized more than 200 employees who have shown an incredible commitment to their personal success, as well as the growth and success of UMKC.
The ceremony began with remarks from Chancellor Mauli Agrawal who shared his admiration for the hardworking staff at UMKC.
“I am always overwhelmed by the dedication of our staff and all of your accomplishments,” Agrawal said. “Whether you were recognized today or not, you are essential to the success of our students and to the success of our university.”
During the ceremony, Bill Marse, director of biomedical communications at the School of Dentistry, took to the podium to introduce awardees and share his remarkable service milestone of 50 years at UMKC.
“I am fortunate to be in a position where coming to work is a choice,” Marse said. “It’s a very exciting, rewarding and enjoyable choice.”
In typical UMKC style, the ceremony closed with a spirited and celebratory “Roo Up!”
Congratulations to the 2024 awardees:
Staff Council Dedication Award
Kim Kushner, IT Project Manager, Information Services
Excellence in Student Success Staff Award
Scott Ezzell, Bloch Manager of Admissions and Recruitment, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Excellence in Research and Creative Works Staff Award
Brian Kanoy, Senior Program/Project Support Coordinator, School of Science and Engineering
Excellence in Engagement and Outreach Staff Award
Nate Addington, Director of Engagement and Outreach, External Relations and Constituent Engagement
Inclusive Opportunity AND Excellence Staff Award
Lorena Juanez, Senior Admissions Counselor, Student Success and Academic Assurance
Excellence in Planning, Operations and Stewardship Staff Award
Sarah Beth Schulz, Executive Assistant to the Dean, School of Science and Engineering
Rising Star Award
Caroline Kelly, Senior Academic Advisor, School of Medicine
Chancellor’s Staff Award for Extraordinary Contributions
Chris Popoola, Faculty Affairs Specialist, Faculty Support and Academic Innovation
Living the Values Award
Roy Allen, Director of Research and Institutional Programs, Missouri Institute for Defense & Energy
Petra Bricker, Career Advising Manager, School of Medicine
Jordan Davis, Senior Manager of Admissions, UMKC Conservatory
Keichanda Dees-Burnett, Assistant Dean of Student Support and Director of Multicultural Student Affairs, Student Affairs
Onekia De Leon Franklin, Senior Office Support Assistant, School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Barb Domke, Senior Academic Advisor, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Emma Fahrlander, Strategic Communication Specialist, Strategic Marketing and Communications
Hannah Hohenstein-Flack, Senior Executive Assistant, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Brian Kanoy, Senior Program/Project Support Coordinator, School of Science and Engineering
Susi Krulewich, Director of PAL Program, Curriculum and Assessment
Chauncey Kuhl, Plumbing and Electrical Supervisor, Finance and Administration
Megan Malcom, Degree Auditor, Student Success and Academic Assurance
Susan Miller, Library Information Specialist, University Libraries
Joey Medellin, Senior Program/Project Support Coordinator, UMKC Innovation Center
Christi Posey, Head Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics
Roy Potter, Senior Technology Resource Manager, School of Dentistry
Janet Rogers, Executive Assistant, School of Law
Laura Rupp, Director I Event Services, External Relations and Constituent Engagement
Amanda Sanders, Business Support Specialist II, KCUR
Crystal Simonis, Research Compliance IRB Manager, Office of Research Services
Bailey Tennesen, Senior Educational Program Coordinator, School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences
Rick Thomas, Manager IT, Information Services
Molly Tugushi, Office Support Associate, School of Pharmacy
Supervisory Development Series Graduates
Melissa Allison
Carol-Le Braden
Kayla Channell
Nicole L’Amour
Gabriela Sa Teles
Sarah Major
Carla Marquina Panduro
Danielle Marx
Lora Owens
Katherine Sylvester
Dr. Elson S. Floyd Administrative Leadership Development Program
KC Atchinson
Elizabeth Hoffman-Shrout
Nathan Jacobs
Angela Jenkins
Andre Logan
Melissa Newkirk
Gabriela Sa Teles
Bryan Scrivener
Kaitlin Woody
Series on Leadership Essentials Program
Avery Brotherton
Andrea Cady
Jamie Charles
Sarah Dresslaer
Tanna Engle
Rebecca Ireland
Kim Kushner
Tara Lane
Nathan Lonngren
Carla Marquina Panduro
Gregory McMullen
Lora Owens
Zachary Parker
Organizational Perspectives and Leadership Program
Tom Bachmann
Carol-Le Braden
Yolanda Branch
Katey Collins
Christina Davis
Shay Duncan
Susan Garrett
Teresa Huff-Pomstra
Laura King
Noah Kramer
Alia Krzyzanowski
Alyssa Lally
Jacob Lazzo
Anthony Maly
Amy McKune
Mako Miller
Megan Raney
Olujimi Sode
Emily Strayhall
Rick Thomas
Thomas Willoughby
Staff who graduated with a UMKC degree in Spring 2023, Summer 2023 or Fall 2023
Katie Anton
Shaun Bernardon
Jessica Hill
Nicole L’Amour
Jameilla Robinson
James Surber
Douglass Whitehead
Theresa Wright
5 Years of Service
Silas Arnold
Deidre Ashley
Katherine Atcheson
KC Atchinson
Tom Bachmann
Kenneth Bledsoe
Angela Bolen
Keishea Boyd
Carol-Le Braden
Sharon Breshears
Jennifer Brown
Dylan Burd
Krystal Burghoff
Joseph Crow
Allen Dale
Timothy Dean
Brett Dietrich
Patrick Dixon
Mary Donahue
Nikhila Donti Reddy
Mackenzie Doss
Sarah Dresslaer
Megan Elsen
Brooke Fischer
Chainy Folsom
Garren Frasher
Danny Freeman
Georgia Freidhof
Kathryn Grindstaff
Teresa Huff-Pomstra
Phillip Humphrey
Curtis Jacey
Ellis Johnson
Chante Keller
Laura King
Anne Kipper
Michael Knabel
Kay Lee
Richard Lentz
Brandon Martin
Hannah Martin
Hope McMorrow
Susan Miller
Leslie Mohan
Tram Nguyen
Mark Pederson
Mariah Peel
John Pragman
Prasanna Reniguntala
Jessie Riggs
Janey Stephens
Nomin Ujiyediin
Kimberly Vittorino
Kelly Weaver
Shelby Webb
Abby Weiser
Krisana West
Robert Wren
Tejkumar Yentrapragada
Alexander Zier
10 Years of Service
Patricia Baldwin
Casey Bauer
Amber Blair
Karen Bronsman
Kenneth Brooks
Rosana Challacombe
Joe Constantino
Amannda DeBoef
Clint Dominick
Dustin Dye
Aaron Fajen
Ronald Jones
Rebecca Markley
Laura Michaelsen
Tamara Morris
Julie Myer
Julie Smith
John Sulzer
Joyce Ward
Kenneth Wesley
Ryan West
Thomas Willoughby
Laura Ziegler
15 Years of Service
Katie Anton
Stephen Barnes
Catherine Battles
Steven Bowman
Elizabeth Couzens
Michael Cowan
LaRae Elliott Vowiell
Katherine Garey
George Gotto IV
Ursula Gurney
Roland Hemmings Jr
David Hoskins
Kingsley Kakie
Michelle Kroner
Brad Martens
Terrence McKelvy
Donald Parmalee
Suyopa Pinto
Amy Samaripa
Sheila Thomas
Jared Wight
20 Years of Service
Eric Anderson
David Babcock
Matthew Bunch
Carol Calhoun
Keichanda Dees-Burnett
Amber Heffernan
Joey Medellin
Sarah Morris
Rosa Nataraj
Helen Perry
Stephen Pottebaum
Christopher Prewitt
Arzelyn Umali
Almaz Wassie
Rosie Weaver
25 Years of Service
Rosie Booze
Dennis Clark
Dennis Elmore
Nancy Hoover
Steven McDonald
Jane Poe
Paul Schwartz
Vicki Van Noy
30 Years of Service
Della Damon
Jody Jeffries
Steven Jenks
Frank Morris
Nancy Wilkinson
35 Years of Service
Carmen Jaramillo
40 Years of Service
Heidi Updike
50 Years of Service
Bill Marse