Leaders in Learning

Recognizing faculty for excellence in teaching and research

University of Missouri-Kansas City faculty members were recognized for their achievements and milestones at a dinner honoring them Sept. 13 at Pierson Auditorium.

“When we talk about our university’s calling to be a servant leader in the community, much of that front end work comes from our faculty,” Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal said. “You are the experts in your fields. You are the ones preparing our students for the workforce and having conversations with industry partners about what their needs are.”

Agrawal offered special recognition for the service of Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, who served two roles for the 2017-18 academic year, including interim chancellor, and affectionately went by the nickname “chovost.”

Among the evening’s honorees:

New Curators’ Professors in 2018

A curators’ professorship is the highest and most prestigious academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri.

Keith Benjamin, D.M.A., Conservatory of Music and Dance, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Trumpet
Anthony Caruso, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences, School of Computing and Engineering, Curators’ Professor of Computer Science

New Endowed Chairs and Professorships

Endowed faculty chairs and professorships are awarded to a scholar or teacher in recognition of past and potential contributions to the individual’s academic discipline. They are crucial for recruiting and retaining the highest-quality faculty. The best universities have the greatest minds, the most creative researchers and the most engaged instructors. Developing faculty talent enriches the academic environment, which attracts and educates the brightest students. Donors who generously endow chairs and professorships not only ensure academic excellence in teaching and research today, but safeguard education for the future.

Alon Goldstein, Ph.D., Jack Strandberg Missouri Endowed Chair of Piano, Conservatory of Music and Dance
Timothy Cox, Ph.D., Endowed Professorship in Dental and Musculoskeletal Tissue Research, School of Dentistry
Eric Camburn, Ph.D., Sherman Family Endowed Chair, School of Education
William Carter, M.D., Sirridge Professorship in the Medical Humanities, School of Medicine
Michael Moncure, M.D., Ralph R. Coffey Endowed Chair of Surgery, School of Medicine
Tomi Markku Pastinen, M.D., Dee Lyons/Missouri Endowed Chair in Pediatric Genomic Medicine, School of Medicine

Governor’s Award

The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented to an outstanding faculty member from each participating higher education institution in the state based on evidence of effective teaching, effective advising, a commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.

Gerald Wyckoff, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences

Service and Engagement Awards

Chancellor’s Award for Embracing Diversity

This award recognizes and celebrates UMKC faculty, staff and registered student organizations that embrace diversity by celebrating diversity in all aspects of university life, creating inclusive environments, culturally competent citizens and globally-oriented curricula and programs.

Rhiannon Dickerson, lecturer, Department of Communication Studies< College of Arts and Sciences
Kristi Holsinger, professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, College of Arts and Sciences

Chancellor’s Award for Community Engagement

This award recognizes and celebrates faculty, staff, units and campus organizations that have made engagement with the community a central aspect of their approach to student learning and scholarship.

Donna Davis, professor; Marie McCarther, associate professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations, School of Education
Jeff Johnson, assistant professor, Department of Marketing, Bloch School of Management

UM System Awards

President’s Award for Community Engagement

This award recognizes those who provide sustained service to a community, contribute to an environment that encourages the academic, cultural, economic, spiritual or social development of members of a community and engage with students, local community groups or organizations through volunteerism.

Mary K. O’Malley, clinical professor, School of Law

President’s Award for Cross Cultural Engagement

This award recognizes faculty who demonstrate success in promoting cross-cultural activities or understanding through classroom or student service activities, or through direct service to global or regional efforts that relate back to the university.

Jannette Berkley-Patton, associate professor, Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, School of Medicine

President’s Award for Economic Development

This award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated success in directly contributing to economic development in the state of Missouri.

Anthony Luppino, professor, School of Law

Presidential Engagement Fellows

Named by the UM System president, the fellows are tasked with fulfilling the university’s land-grant mission by sharing research discoveries with Missouri citizens in every county. They were selected for their excellent teaching, breakthrough research and creative achievements.

Simon Friedman, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, School of Pharmacy
Andrew Granade, professor of musicology and associate dean of graduate studies, Conservatory of Music and Dance
Jane Greer, professor of English and women’s studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Teaching Awards

Chancellor’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award recognizes and celebrates UMKC assistant professors who have achieved excellence in teaching early in their professional careers.

Lori Sexton, associate professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Colllege of Arts and Sciences
Ahmed Hassan, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science Electrical Engineering, School of Computing and Engineering

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

UMKC’s highest honor for excellence in teaching recognizes and celebrates UMKC faculty who are consistently superior teachers at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level over an extended period of time.

Kym Bennett, associate professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award recognizes and celebrates teaching excellence among UMKC clinical and teaching faculty

Tara Allen, teaching professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring

This award recognizes UMKC graduate faculty advisors with a long-established career at the university who have made significant contributions to higher education through exceptional mentoring.

Xiao-Qiang (Sean) Yu, professor, Cell Biology and Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences

Elmer F. Pierson Good Teaching Awards

Awarded annually to outstanding teachers in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, and the Schools of Dentistry, Law and Medicine

Tammie Schaefer, assistant professor, Department of Accountancy, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Shara Dunlap, clinical professor, Restorative Clinical Sciences, School of Dentistry
David Achtenberg, professor, School of Law
Robert Riss, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers, Scholars and Artists

Stephanie Frank, assistant professor, Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design, College of Arts and Sciences
Ryan Mohan, assistant professor, Cell Biology and Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences
Massimiliano Vitiello, associate professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences

Research and Creativity Awards

N.T. Veatch Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity

Recognizes distinguished research and other scholarly or creative activity accomplished by UMKC faculty.

Praveen Rao, associate professor, School of Computing and Engineering

Trustees Faculty Fellows Award

Trustees are recognizing the very best faculty who distinguished themselves through scholarship and creativity.

Kun Cheng, professor, School of Pharmacy

Trustees Faculty Scholar Award

Recognizes faculty members who show exceptional promise for outstanding future research and/or creative accomplishments.

Travis Fields, assistant professor, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, School of Computing and Engineering

Promotion and Tenure

Gary Abbott, Conservatory of Music and Dance, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Cristina Albu, College of Arts and Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Brian Anderson, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Majid Bani-Yaghoub, College of Arts and Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Catherine Boles, School of Dentistry, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Diane Mutti Burke, College of Arts and Sciences, promotion to professor
JoDee Davis, Conservatory of Music and Dance, promotion to professor
Matthew Edwards, College of Arts and Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Lauie Ellinghausen, College of Arts and Sciences, promotion to professor
Saul Honigberg, School of Biological Sciences, promotion to professor
Jamila Jefferson-Jones, School of Law, tenure
Kimberly Langrehr, School of Education, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Tanya Villalpando Mitchell, School of Dentistry, promotion to professor
Leigh Anne Nelson, School of Pharmacy, promotion to professor
Jeffrey Price, School of Biological Sciences, promotion to professor
Liana Sega, College of Arts and Sciences, promotion to professor
Lori Sexton, College of Arts and Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Sharon A. Simmons, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Whitney Terrell, College of Arts and Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Laurel B. Watson, School of Education, tenure with promotion to associate professor
Xiaolan Yao, School of Biological Sciences, tenure with promotion to associate professor

Promotion, Non-Tenure Track

Angela Brownfield, School of Pharmacy, promotion to clinical associate professor
Sally Elledge, School of Dentistry, promotion to clinical associate professor
Erin Ellington, School of Nursing and Health Studies, promotion to clinical associate professor
Maureen Knell, School of Pharmacy, promotion to clinical professor
Nara Newcomer, University Libraries, promotion to librarian IV
Becky M. Smith, School of Dentistry, promotion to clinical professor
David J. Thein, School of Dentistry, promotion to clinical associate professor
Cindy Thompson, University Libraries, promotion to librarian III
L. Michaelle Tobin, School of Law, promotion to associate clinical professor of law

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