Award recognizes work of the entire UMKC community in advancing an international focus in education
The International Relations Council (IRC) will honor the University of Missouri–Kansas City with its Award for Academic Leadership at the IRC’s Global Honors Evening on Thursday, November 9, 2017.
The Award for Academic Leadership is given to local individuals or educational institutions that contribute to global education in the Midwest. Past recipients have included the Stowers Institute (2009), KU Confucius Institute (2008), KCPT Public Television (1999), and Dr. E. Grey Dimond (1989).
In a statement announcing the award, the IRC said: “UMKC has been developing international initiatives for many years to provide an integrated strategy and educational opportunities for all students and faculty. Each year, more than 300 UMKC students participate in study-abroad opportunities around the world. Many of these are faculty-led programs, bringing together faculty and students in innovative curriculum-based experiences. UMKC partners with more than 100 academic institutions in other countries to develop a variety of student and faculty exchanges, research collaborations, and scholarly dialogue. UMKC students have done very well in rigorous nationally competitive fellowship competitions such as the Fulbright, Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship, and German DAAD, spending up to a year in study, research, and language immersion in another country. Each year more than 1,000 international students come to UMKC to earn their degrees in all the academic disciplines. UMKC recognizes the vital importance of bringing individuals together from across the world and from many different backgrounds in friendship and commitment to working with one another.”
Dr. Linna Place, UMKC director of International Academic Programs, retired at the end of spring 2017, and UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton recently announced his upcoming retirement. This award is an opportunity to recognize them and the work of the entire UMKC community in advancing an international focus in education.
Each year since the early 1980s, the IRC has recognized individuals or organizations for a variety of contributions – to foreign policy and global affairs, to international commerce, or to the Kansas City community. The 2017 Global Honors Evening follows in this tradition, celebrating international statesmanship and Kansas City’s connections to the global community. The event will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dessert, live entertainment, special recognitions, and the chance to meet some of Kansas City’s most notable and beloved global citizens.
This year’s awardees also include the Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City and General Richard Myers (U.S. Air Force, ret.), Kansas City native, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and recently inaugurated president of Kansas State University.
Individual registrations will open September 1, but sponsorships are available now. More information, including the schedule for the evening, is available online at www.irckc.org ».