Photos by Janet Rogers, Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications

The University of Missouri-Kansas City celebrated the promotion and tenure of 32 faculty and librarians on Friday.

Among those achieving tenure are an award-winning poet; a biochemist whose research has been published twice in the past two years by the National Academy of Sciences; a pioneering researcher in the application of statistical analysis to health care; a School of Education scholar with research papers published in English, Chinese and Thai; a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences who specializes in nanotechnology; and a pianist who has conducted master classes for outstanding students across the U.S. and in the Czech Republic, Austria and Poland.

Among those receiving promotions are a Guggenheim Fellow artist; a law professor with a doctorate in biochemistry who is an expert in patent law; abi-lingual professor of nursing who leads annual service-learning trips for nursing and pharmacy students to provide care in Honduras; and a nationally recognized expert in the leadership and management of nonprofit and public service organizations.

The promotion and tenure process at UMKC involves a lengthy and rigorous review of academic performance in the areas of 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.

Honored faculty and staff mingled with coworkers, family and friends at a reception prior to the ceremony. A family-oriented vibe was much in evidence, as many young children were scattered among the audience gathered in the Student Union for the ceremony.

Opening the formal ceremony, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Dr. Gail Hackett said academic promotion and tenure “is a big deal.”

“For each of you, it has been a long, rigorous process – a process whose outcome has a positive impact on all of us,” Hackett said. “Each promotion, each new tenured position is a measure of UMKC’s growing excellence in teaching, research and service.”

Chancellor Leo E. Morton closed the ceremony by thanking the honorees for honoring both themselves, and the university. He said people often congratulate him on the university’s “progress,” which they measure by visual objects such as new buildings.

“The real progress is in things you don’t get to see,” he said he often tells those people. Then, turning to the honored faculty assembled onstage, he said “We are on a journey to excellence, and buildings won’t get us there. You will.”

Those recently appointed are listed below.

Promotion with Tenure

• Hadara Bar-Nadav, College of Arts and Sciences, English Language and Literature, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• John Barton, College of Arts and Sciences, English Language and Literature, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Jeffrey Bennett, College of Arts and Sciences, Sociology, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Samuel Bouyain, School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Jared Bruce, College of Arts and Sciences,Psychology, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• An-Lin Cheng, School of Nursing, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Viviana Grieco, College of Arts and Sciences, History, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Diane Helfers-Petrella, Conservatory of Music and Dance, Keyboards, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Sungyop Kim, College of Arts and Sciences, Architecture, Urban Planning + Design, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Toya Like-Haislip, College of Arts and Sciences, Criminal Justice/Criminology, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Jacob Marszalek, School of Education, Counseling & Educational Psychology, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Leigh Ann Nelson, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Nathan Oyler, College of Arts and Sciences, Chemistry, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenur
• Anthony Shiu, College of Arts and Sciences, English Language and Literature, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Lisa Song, Bloch School of Management, Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Linwood Tauheed, College of Arts and Sciences, Economics, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Alberto Villamandos, College of Arts and Sciences, Foreign Languages and Literature, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• JianPing Wang, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Michael Wei, School of Education,Curriculum & Instruction, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Lindsey Williams, Conservatory of Music and Dance, Music Education & Music Therapy, Awarded Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
• Bi-Botti Celestin Youan, School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Awarded Promotion to Professor with Tenure

Promotion

• Tracey Hughes, University Libraries, Dental Library, Awarded Promotion to Librarian II
• Peggy Mullaly-Quijas, University Libraries, Health Sciences Library, Awarded Promotion to Librarian III
• Susan Sykes Berry, University Libraries, Health Sciences Library, Awarded Promotion to Librarian III
• Virginia Blanton, College of Arts and Sciences, English Language and Literature, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Elijah Gowin, College of Arts and Sciences, Art & Art History, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Chris Holman, School of Law, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Simon MacNeill, School of Dentistry, Periodontics, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• David O. Renz, Bloch School of Management, Public Affairs, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Omiunota Ukpokodu, School of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Thad Wilson, School of Nursing, Awarded Promotion to Professor
• Yong Zeng, College of Arts and Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Awarded Promotion to Professor