What are Staff Community Groups?

Staff Community Groups aim to help you connect with your fellow Roo staff members through common interests and topics.

Groups

New Parents, New Connections

Join us for a coffee, lunch break, or a chance to bond with other new parents in a relaxed atmosphere. Although this group started for new parents, it is open to anyone interested in getting together to share resources around parenthood, care giving, and more.
Kim Kushner: kushnerkim@umkc.edu
Janey Stephens: stephensjm@umkc.edu

Non-Fiction Book Club

Interested in meeting other staff at UMKC and reading some non-fiction this summer? Join the staff council outreach group’s Non-fiction book club. Once our group is solidified, we will jointly select a book to read, whether it’s historical non-fiction, memoirs, biographies or professional/personal development.
Amelia Howard: howarda@umkc.edu

Fiction Book Club

The Fiction Book Group is a casual and informal gathering of staff interested in reading fiction for enjoyment purposes and in meeting with staff across the university who share a similar interest. The group meets in-person approximately every month, with each member taking a turn selecting a book for the group to read. All genres of fiction are accepted and appreciated.
Nate Addington: naddington@umkc.edu

Arts Aficionados Club

The Arts Aficionado’s Club is for anyone interested in the visual and performing arts. If you are a visual or performing artist, an art history buff, or just an art lover then please join the group!. We will meet once per month approximately (virtual or in-person available). Ideas for the group could include discussion of various topics in the arts.
Jennifer Lyles: jennifer.lyles@umkc.edu

Join a Group

Please feel free to reach out to group facilitator(s) directly if interested in joining their group.

Lead a Group

Looking to lead an existing group or create a new one? Contact the Communications Chair, James Shackelford, at jshackelford@umkc.edu.