Life Span Institute Connections

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

 Director Letter | One Day One KU
Partnership grows job opportunities | Youth violence prevention

Earlier this April, members of the LSI team were thrilled to attend the annual Research Awards Ceremony, where Kathleen Lane was recognized with a Higuchi award. Kathleen is a long-time LSI investigator, and an advocate for LSI during her tenure within the Office of Research. Her award is the most recent example of a long line of LSI scientists and scholars recognized for their excellence in research. Aside from the well-deserved honor bestowed on Kathleen and the rest of the KU research community, it was especially nice to see all awardees speak at the ceremony, since that opportunity had not been offered to in previous years. By far, the most common theme among the awardees’ comments was to thank others and share credit for their accomplishments.

We may take credit-sharing for granted here at LSI, because it happens a lot. As an interdisciplinary unit, much of the research and scholarship that happens here is collaborative in nature, and in that context, credit-sharing is natural and logical outcome within our centers and teams. Indeed, this is not always the case elsewhere in academia. 

When one shares credit, a lot of good things happen. First off, it fosters one’s reputation as someone for whom others would like to work, or collaborate with. Second, when we share credit, the people around us become more invested in our success and are more likely to “buy in” to what we are working toward. Third, credit-sharing can be one form of “paying it forward." When we do it, others around us become more likely to share credit as well. This practice fosters an open culture and perpetuates collaboration. In a word, credit-sharing builds community.

I’ve learned a lot in my years here, but the basic principles I’ve come to for best practices in administration are pretty simple: hire good people, trust them to do their jobs competently, seek their input on things that matter, be sure to evaluate them honestly but fairly…and when we experience success, publicly acknowledge their role in that success wherever possible.

A few years ago, I was asked by a close former colleague to apply for a leadership position at another institution. I normally demur when requests like this come along, but as this came from a good friend, I agreed to talk to the recruiting firm about the position.  Toward the end of the call, I was asked about those achievements in my various roles at KU of which I was most proud, and how I managed to accomplish these outcomes. In response, I began each recounting with “we” (for example, “over the last 10 years, we’ve doubled the amount of LSI funding.")  The rest of the conversation took an interesting turn:

Recruiter:           (Heavy sigh)  “Oh.  You ‘WE people’…”

Me:                     “Excuse me?”

Recruiter:           “Don’t get me wrong.  I love you ‘WE people’, but let me give you some advice.  If you want your application to be taken seriously, you’ll need to express this in terms of what YOU did, and what YOU accomplished. That’s what search committees are looking for…candidates who can talk about themselves and the things that they’ve done on their own.”

Shortly thereafter, I cordially thanked them for their very valuable advice, pleasantries were exchanged, and the call ended. They never called back, which was fine…I was clearly NOT their guy. That said, It was a bit unsettling to think that firms hired to search for academic leadership positions may be actively selecting applicants for megalomania.

It goes without saying that I am happy to remain a resident of the land of the “WE” people. 

Best wishes for the spring and the end of the spring semester.

-- John

John Colombo, PhD
Professor of Psychology
Director, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies
University of Kansas

People with disabilities want to work. They bring value to businesses and contribute to organizational success. These are points that University of Kansas researchers have heard repeatedly as they work to build capacity for employment opportunities around the state.     

But expanding employment options for those with disabilities relies on improving the network of service systems that match people’s strengths to the needs of businesses. It also involves educating employers about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.   

A research partnership between the state of Kansas and KU researchers has demonstrated that not only is this possible, but it can far exceed initial expectations. With the goal of employing 20 individuals in its first phase, the project saw nearly 200 Kansans with disabilities gain employment by the end of last year.  

In 2026, KU researchers launched the second phase of the Kansas Employment First project, expanding access to competitive integrated employment for Kansans with disabilities.

First funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the project has received $967,500 in additional support from KDADS for the second phase. The project is being led by KU Life Span Institute researchers from the KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) and the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies (IHDPS), in partnership with the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE) and the Institute on Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.  

  “This is a systems change project,” said Evan Dean, associate director of community engagement at KUCD and a lead researcher for the project. “Organizations want to re-think how they are providing services for competitive integrated employment. This means they are changing how they support the people they serve, how they train their staff and hire staff, how they collect data on outcomes, and how they engage with businesses — because this is a whole different skill set.  And the organizations are responding."

👉Read more about the project's expansion and impact on the state.

The annual ThrYve Youth Violence Prevention Week Kickoff Picnic in Wyandotte County on Saturday drew about 150 youth, family members, and community leaders as the first of several events planned and hosted this week by the Youth Violence Prevention Center-Kansas City (YVPC-KC), a project based at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute. 

As older youth took turns roughhousing in one of the two bounce houses, younger kids raced through an inflated obstacle course. Nearby, families chatted in line as they waited to order their choice of sandwiches, sides, and sodas.  

Showing their support at the event were Christal Watson, Kansas City, Kan., mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County; Evelyn Hill, District 4 Commissioner; District Court Judge Robert Martinez; and District Attorney Mark Dupree.  

“This week gives them [the youth] a platform to see their impact in real time and recognize that their voices and actions matter,” said Adrian McConnell, research project manager at the YVPC-KC. “It creates space to celebrate the work our young people have been doing, raise awareness about youth violence prevention, and build stronger connections between youth, families, and community partners.” 

YCPC-KC director Jomella Watson-Thompson, KU professor of applied behavioral science and researcher with the KU Center for Community Health and Development at the Life Span Institute and associate vice provost for community impact, said events like the kickoff picnic are important for bringing the community together to support the community’s youth. 

👉Read more about the event and violence prevention activities.

By now you've likely received a dozen messages reminding you that it's time for One Day One KU, the 24-hour giving campaign that raises support for projects across the university. One Day One KU goes until noon Wednesday, April 29.

This year, the KU Life Span Institute is featuring the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE). Support raised during the campaign for CARE will help train the next generation of eating disorder researchers and clinicians as researchers and students work to reach more people, and to bring hope to individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Unlock the matching gift of $5,000
Every campaign includes a challenge gift to encourage participation. As of the afternoon of April 28, the campaign needs 24 people to give a gift of any size to the $5,000 challenge made by Nancy Jackson, senior vice president at KU Endowment. (Scroll to the lower part of the campaign page and click "unlock now" to contribute.) Gifts as little as $5 help us toward the goal.

Spread the word
Because the campaign relies on word of mouth across people's digital networks, you also can help assure the success of the project by drawing attention to it: 

Gifts for every area matter during One Day One KU. If you would like to support an area of the Life Span Institute that isn't listed on the campaign page, there is an option below the challenge that encourages visitors to write in their "own designation in the 'other purpose' field." 

If you have any questions, reach out to Jen Humphrey. 

Thank you for your support for KU during One Day One KU.

Assistive Technology for Kansans welcomed visitors and members of the statewide network of ATK providers and partners to campus on April 22 for an open house and tours of new demonstration spaces on the fourth floor of Dole. As shown above, visitors could try on smart glasses, handle equipment and explore tools that promote independence at any age and for any disability. 

The KU Center on Disabilities held its annual meeting in the Burge Union on April 22. The meeting focused on professional development training on compassionate communication, offered by KU Human Resources trainer Laurie Harrison. It also highlighted the impact of the center's research, outreach and training activities.  

The Life Span Institute Central Office staff shopped for a food drive for Just Food on April 24. The group contributed more than $235 worth of peanut butter, pasta, tomato sauce, cereal, canned proteins and other items sought by Just Food clients.  

Teams Training: The LSI central office is offering the LSI community live Teams training on Wednesday, April 29, 2–3 p.m. on Zoom (passcode: 332904). The session will provide an overview of the new system and give you the opportunity to ask questions. 

Trainee Showcase: The 2026 Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment Trainee Research Showcase will be held on campus tomorrow, April 29, 2026, from 8:30-1:30 p.m. in 1031 Dole. The event will feature six rapid research talks and poster sessions by graduate students, undergraduate students, and research staff from KU, KUMC, and UMKC. The event includes a light breakfast reception at 8:30 a.m., with the welcome and first session of talks starting at 9 a.m. Over the course of the day, there will be two rounds of poster sessions and talks. Jordan Gette of the KU Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will offer a keynote at 11 a.m. The event concludes at 1:30 with an optional tour of the Cofrin Logan Center. 

Connections is produced by strategic communications staff at the Life Span Institute for affiliated researchers, staff and students. 

Writing and editing by Jen Humphrey and Christina Knott.
Image credits: Adobe stock; Christina Knott; Drew Rosdahl.

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