Faculty Affairs Newsletter
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Opening Doors: Education, Opportunity, and Impact |
February offers us a moment to reflect—not just on history, but on the future we are building. It’s both Black History Month and Career & Technical Education Month, a convergence that highlights the power of education in shaping opportunity. Workforce development, industry partnerships, and the role of higher education in fostering social and economic mobility are top of mind. Higher education, after all, is about opening doors. It’s about first-generation students forging new paths, faculty pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and institutions ensuring that the next generation has the tools to thrive. That’s why UMKC’s recognition as #1 in social mobility in Missouri and Kansas matters—it reflects the collective impact of our teaching, research, and service. This year, UMKC’s designation as an R1: Doctoral University – Very High Research Activity further underscores that impact. It’s a testament to how our research, scholarship, and creative work advance knowledge while staying rooted in our mission to serve students and communities.
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First Gen Futures: Faculty Help Shape Success |
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Dr. Kelsey Gardiner, a First Gen Proud Faculty member, serves as an Assistant Professor in Nursing and Health Studies, in addition to her role as Faculty Fellow for First Gen Roo. In this role, she focuses on increasing faculty engagement with First Gen Roo and leading the development of the new First Gen Researcher program, set to launch this summer. Faculty interested in participating in First Gen programming can join the First Gen Proud directory to stay informed about upcoming opportunities.
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Opportunities for Faculty |
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Faculty Fund for Excellence – Pool 2 is now open, focusing on humanities, arts, and social sciences. Applications are due March 20 at 5:00 PM—don’t delay!
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Faculty annual evaluations have wrapped up, and myVITA is fresh in our minds. If you’re proud of the story your myVITA tells, print out the "UMKC myVITA Victory CV" and email to umkc-cafe@umkc.edu by 28 February 2025 to win prizes. Here's how you can enter.
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Looking for your next CAFE professional learning opportunity? Check out the online calendar—we’d love to see you there.
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Congratulations UMKC Faculty on Your Externally Funded Awards!
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School of Medicine: Congratulations Karl Kador on your award from the Glaucoma Foundation, Reintroducing Developmentally Regulated Guidance Factors, which promises to shed new light on biology and vision health.
- School of Science and Engineering: Congratulations Mohammad Rafiee on your award from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for Electrochemical Olefin Epoxidation on Molecularly Designed Catalysts.
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School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Congratulations Seth Fallik on your funding from the City of Kansas City, Missouri, for the Save KC Focused Deterrence Evaluation project, which will contribute to advancing public safety.
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Spotlight Research Resource |
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Data for Your Research: Good research starts with good data, and the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) provides just that. CARES offers interactive mapping tools, data visualization platforms, and access to robust datasets—resources that can transform how we approach research, grant proposals, and classroom projects. The American Community Survey, now available through CARES, is a powerful tool for exploring local demographics, economic conditions, and health indicators.
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Soft Skills: The Foundation of Workforce Readiness |
Workforce development isn't just about technical training—soft skills like communication, adaptability, and critical thinking are just as crucial. As faculty, we cultivate these skills every day in classrooms, labs, and community projects. According to The Evolllution, employers increasingly prioritize these skills, recognizing that they drive long-term success.
Our work ensures that UMKC graduates aren’t just technically prepared but are also equipped to lead, collaborate, and innovate. It’s another reason why our #1 ranking for social mobility matters—we’re not just advancing careers, we’re building resilient, adaptable citizens.
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Education, Opportunity, and Impact |
A large percentage of the UMKC community are first-generation college students, walking a path their families never had the chance to. The Pell Institute highlights their resilience: A path paved with determination.
Yet, public perception of higher education is shifting. Headlines question its value. The conversation is changing, and that has real consequences for our work.
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Let’s keep opening doors. |
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