Promotion and Tenure

Photo by Janet Rogers, Division of Marketing and Communications

Next step for faculty in academic career


Twenty-three faculty members and librarians took center stage on Wednesday, Sept. 10, to be feted by their fellows for achieving promotion and tenure.

Provost Gail Hackett began the ceremony by complimenting the group for helping students experience their first major steps to learning.

 

“You are the bridge for them, between the life of the mind and the realities of the world,”

she said.

Among those honored were a School of Medicine instructor researching what triggers neurological disorders such as stroke and drug addiction; a School of Education scholar who takes her students out into the field and teaches her classes in urban Kansas City schools; founder of the first professional design

education program at a Missouri college; a dancer and choreographer who has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the developer of the Human Motion Laboratory, the best facility of its type in the five state area.

inside

 

The presenters, most of them deans or department chairs, praised the awardees for doing the kind of work that attracts students, community collaboration and research dollars. And Denis Medeiros, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs, again labeled ‘professor’ as “the best job in the world.”

Many were involved in activities that reach out to community members, among them a biologist who assists high school students in the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley schools; the initiator of UMKC’s annual African-American Read-In, for which she was honored as a White House Champion of Change; and a researcher pioneering health screening and intervention through local churches.

The promotion and tenure process at UMKC involves a lengthy and rigorous review of academic performance in teaching, scholarship and service. Each of the academics recognized at the celebration has demonstrated to their peers and to the administration that they have met high standards for sustained contributions and outstanding performance.

Chancellor Leo E. Morton closed the ceremony by thanking the awardees for honoring both themselves and the university.

“Those being recognized today teach and conduct their research and writing at superior levels. They have earned our applause and our thanks for a job well done. Honorees, you are extraordinary,” he said.

Recipients mingled with coworkers, family and friends at a reception after the ceremony. Those recently appointed are listed below:

Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
Clare Bell, School of Education, Curriculum and Instructional Leadership
Kym Bennett , College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology
Jannette Berkley-Patton, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology
Xiangping Chu, School of Medicine, Basic Medical Science
DeeAnna Hiett, Conservatory of Music and Dance, Dance
Jae Jung, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, Management
John Kevern, School of Computing and Engineering, Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Nacer Khelouz, College of Arts and Sciences,Foreign Languages and Literature
Gregory King, School of Computing and Engineering, Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Yifei Liu, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice and Administration
Daniel McIntosh, College of Arts and Sciences, Physics and Astronomy
Mridul Mukherji, School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Stephanie Roberts, College of Arts and Sciences, Theatre
Keerthana Satheesh, School of Dentistry, Periodontics
Yasuyoshi Ueki, School of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
Jennifer Waddell, School of Education, Curriculum and Instructional Leadership

 Promotion to Librarian IV
Chris LeBeau, University Libraries, Public Services

Promotion to Librarian III
Gloria Tibbs, University Libraries, Teaching and Learning Services

Promotion to Professor
Anthony Caruso, College of Arts and Sciences, Physics and Astronomy
Jerald Katz, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine
Larson Powell, College of Arts and Sciences, Foreign Languages and Literature
Joy Swallow, College of Arts and Sciences, Architecture, Urban Planning + Design
Xiao-Qiang (Sean) Yu, School of Biological Sciences, Cell Biology and Biophysics


  • Recent UMKC News

    $20 Million Scholarship Article in The Kansas City Star

    KC Scholars partnership also in U.S. News and World Report … Read more

    Geosciences Professor’s Research Cited in New York Times

    Fengpeng Sun co-authored study on California wildfire seasons The 2015 … Read more

    Bloch Faculty Interviewed on NBC Nightly News

    Brent Never teaches about Kansas City’s racial dividing line Never … Read more

    More