Blowing Fresh Ideas Your Way

v.10 i.4

The Faculty Affairs Newsletter is your go-to source for the latest updates, resources, and opportunities tailored to UMKC's academic community.

In this issue, we highlight Faculty Mentoring Faculty, an initiative that promotes professional growth and collaboration among UMKC faculty. Explore insights on fostering meaningful mentoring relationships, along with upcoming CAFE events and more to explore.

CAFE is looking for UMKC's next cohort of faculty mentees!

UMKC's Pilot Mentorship Program aims to provide faculty from all ranks with a support system focused on both personal and professional development.

The goal of the program is to embody engagement in everyday best practices through building relationships and creating an opportunity for connection. Mentees will be paired with a mentor based on goals and shared interests in areas including development needs, areas of expertise, and preferred amount and method of mentorship communication. Mentee/mentor pairs will meet throughout the academic year.

If interested in participating as a mentee, sign up today! Application deadline is September 27th

Clancy Martin, University of Missouri Curators' Distinguished Professor, has authored more than 10 books and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, among others.

Dr. Martin is offering mentorship to help you leverage public-facing scholarship. If you're interested in making your research accessible to a broader audience through op-eds, podcasts, or other platforms, Professor Martin can guide you in reshaping your work, identifying opportunities, and crafting effective pitches.

Sign up for a consultation to explore how you can enhance the impact of your scholarship.

We’re excited to introduce Yifei Liu as our CAFE Faculty Fellow spearheading SOAR Research Mentoring!

Interested in research mentoring? Complete the questionnaire below to share your interests and connect with Dr. Liu.

Discover how UMKC’s Academic Analytics can supercharge your research by expanding your network, uncovering funding opportunities, and pinpointing relevant awards. Be part of this exciting session to discover new possibilities for your research career!

Join us online on September 24th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

Talk the Talk: Communicate the Value of Your Innovation

October 14 - 18 November

Learn the essential skills needed to effectively communicate the value of your innovation, with a focus on market assessment and pitch strategy.

Over six sessions, you’ll work alongside fellow research faculty to develop practical communication techniques that will help you navigate the path from idea to market.

Led by Jeff Blackwood, UMKC’s Director of Commercialization Ecosystem, this FLC takes a hands-on approach to navigating UMKC’s innovation resources, understanding your market, refining your messaging, and aligning your innovation with real-world opportunities.

Join us at CAFE on October 8th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM for an interactive, hands-on workshop on Simple Syllabus. This session will showcase the benefits of the program through a live demonstration and provide an opportunity for a Q&A. Learn how this user-friendly tool can simplify your syllabus creation process.

Join Dr. Thiagarajan Ganesh on Thursdays from 5:00 - 6:00pm for yoga with your colleagues.

Bring a mat, comfy clothes, and a friend! 

Located in the CAFE Conference Room in Newcomb Hall.

For more information, please contact Gwen Nally at nallye@umkc.edu.

The Frontiers Clinical & Translational Science Institute at The University of Kansas Medical Center is hosting a Mock Study Section (MSS) on December 6, 2024, at Kansas State University – Olathe Campus. This event offers UMKC investigators a chance to have NIH R-, K-, or F-series grants reviewed, with a special focus on postdoctoral and early-career researchers.

Key Dates -

Letter of Interest Deadline: September 30, 2024

Full Application Deadline: October 28, 2024

Contact Dr. Heather Fielding-Gebhardt, hfieldinggebhardt@kumc.edu with questions, including to request scientific editing support for in-progress applications.

Who Can Participate?

Applicants: All career stages, especially early-career and postdoctoral researchers, plus graduate students applying for fellowships.

Reviewers: Senior faculty and experts in their fields.

Observers: All Frontiers members interested in learning about the review process.

UMKC’s Disability Alliance is hosting its annual Disability Week from October 14-17, featuring art exhibits, performances, panel discussions, and workshops that celebrate disability experiences. This year's event is in partnership with MU Extension’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council and UMKC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

For more information, visit the Disability Week website or contact Matthew Edwards at edwardsmatt@umkc.edu.

Join us for Online Teaching Learning Labs on September 27, and October 11 from 1 to 2 pm.

These drop-in sessions, led by Missouri Online instructional designers, will offer hands-on help in both in-person and online formats. For questions, contact Missouri Online at teachingonline@umsystem.edu.

As part of the university’s ongoing effort to meet web accessibility requirements, we’re excited to share that all employees now have access to a HighEdWeb membership. This resource provides valuable professional development opportunities on topics such as effective website maintenance, creating engaging content, understanding student preferences, using social media, and crafting impactful emails.

To join, visit HighEdWeb Membership, select UMKC as your institution, and use your umkc.edu email address. Faculty are encouraged to explore this resource on the Faculty Success and CAFE websites!

The Kansas City Fed's Community Conditions Survey is now national! This survey, originally developed by the Kansas City Federal Reserve, is expanding its reach across the country, gathering valuable insights into community development and economic conditions.

Learn more about this exciting initiative here.

Miss an issue?

View last week's Innovative Teaching Practices to explore innovative strategies to enhance your teaching and create engaging learning experiences!

Or visit the Faculty Affairs Newsletter Archive for all past issues.

Third Floor of Newcomb Hall

 5123 Holmes Street | Kansas City, MO 64110

816.235.5362