Kilway, recipient of multiple teaching awards, is dedicated to student success

Kathleen Kilway, Ph.D., Curator’s teaching professor and chair, UMKC Chemistry Department, will be recognized for her professional and technical excellence by the Central Exchange with a STEMMy Award.

The award will be presented by Central Exchange on Sept. 21 at the 4th Annual Stemmy Awards Luncheon at the Arvest Bank Theatre in downtown Kansas City.

“It is an honor and pleasure to teach our students, who are the best and brightest in this area,” Kilway said. “They are on par with other students across the nation. For any effort, including teaching and mentoring, it is really a team effort by our department. We have excellent advisors, staff, and professors, who support all students across the university. Therefore, I am humbled and honored for this recognition.”

Kilway was the 2008 recipient of the University of Missouri President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching. She is co-inventor of two patents concerning research in composition of biomaterials and was recently co-awarded a UM FastTrack Award for innovation of solar cell material development. Kilway received her B.S. (1985) in chemistry from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, In., and her M.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1992) from the University of California, San Diego.

STEMMy Awards celebrate the accomplishments of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (WiSTEMM) careers across the Greater Kansas City area. Awards are presented to female contributors, business and civic leaders, as well as entrepreneurs who have radically advanced, and continue to advance, women in STEMM. Award categories include: Groundbreaker, Rising Trendsetter, Enterprising Innovator, Corporate Hero, Student Achiever and WiSTEMM Educator.

The Central Exchange, founded in 1980, provides the venue and voice for women seeking to reach their full personal and professional potential.