Dr. Jennifer Friend started Nov. 1 as the new Assistant Dean in the School of Graduate Studies. She is also an Adjunct Instructor in the School of Education, teaching online and hybrid classes, advising doctoral students, and participating in research projects centered on equity in education and educational leadership.
Within SGS, Dr. Friend supports student progression throughout the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, working in conjunction with faculty advisors, the IPhD Executive Committee, and the IPhD Coordinators. She is working on several video projects, like a podcast for Plan of Study reviews. She is also involved with general graduate school projects such as the Graduate Writing Initiative, reviewing policies and procedures, working with the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student Council, and overseeing the Preparing Future Faculty program next fall.
“There are many positive things that I am looking forward to in the new Assistant Dean position,” she said. “I like that this is a very student-centered position. I look forward to being able to work on a larger scale to support graduate and doctoral study for students.”
Before coming to UMKC, Dr. Friend was a middle school English teacher and administrator for 13 years. In moving to higher education, she said she missed the middle school environment. So she became a YouthFriend, and was with the same student for 6 years.
“I started with her in 7th grade, then followed her when she moved to high school,” she said. “That was a really enjoyable experience, to have the best of both worlds – working in higher education, but still being involved in secondary education.”
As a graduate of the IPhD program and an adviser within the program, Dr. Friend saw the opportunity for some innovation and creativity within the program and its related research.
“My primary reason [for applying to be Assistant Dean] was to work with the students in the program. I love teaching, so being able to work with the Preparing Future Faculty program is another part of the job that was attractive,” she said. “I was also interested in transitioning from a faculty role to an administrative role. … I was ready to try something new.”
In her new role, Dr. Friend hopes to provide more insight into students’ experiences within the graduate and doctoral programs, mostly via video.
“I think it will be a unique approach to sharing the success stories of students who have graduated and to sharing information that’s useful for both students and faculty advisers,” she said.
All of Dr. Friend’s degrees are from UMKC, including a BA in Secondary English Education, an MA in Secondary Administration, and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education and Curriculum and Instructional Leadership. She says UMKC’s mission makes it an excellent opportunity for students at any level.
“UMKC values diversity in education, community connection, and innovation and entrepreneurship … there’s a lot going for this university that I think makes it unique,” she said.
If she weren’t working at UMKC, Dr. Friend would likely be working full-time in film production.
“I’ve had people ask me before to be an independent film producer for hire,” she said, “so I might do more in the film realm if I were doing less in the higher education realm.”
Growing up in Cape Canaveral, Dr. Friend wanted to be an astronaut. She witnessed the first space shuttle launch from the bank of the Banana River. Her aunt worked for NASA and her father was into astronomy. She also wanted to be a teacher, even lining up her stuffed animals to be her pretend students.
Her hobbies include listening to music, playing classical piano and jazz bass guitar, watching and making films, and reading “fun” novels like Nancy Drew and other mysteries.
Overall, Dr. Friend said she looks forward to working in SGS.
“It seems like a very strong team,” she said. “People have a lot of diverse skills here, so it’s looking like it’s going to be a great place to be.”