The View from Avila U.
- Avila Welcomes the Largest Incoming Class in Institutional History
Avila University enrolled the largest incoming class in institutional history this fall. “We are already ahead of the traditional undergraduate enrollment pace from last year by nearly 200 students – that’s a 70% increase year over year,” said Josh Parisse,… - Avila Graduates Awarded MACTE Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award
Avila School of Education graduates, Katie Mooneyham and Brooke Wells were awarded the MACTE Outstanding Beginning Teacher award. “We know that Brooke and Katie are making impacts at their schools in Districts not too far from Avila—in Blue Springs and… - Careers in Finance: Asset Management
Are you interested in creating long-term wealth for yourself or your organization? Personal asset management can help you achieve your financial goals. Asset management professionals specialize in buying, holding, and trading investments like stocks, bonds, and funds that have the… - Avila University Partners with the Resilience-Building Leader Program (RBLP) for a New Leadership Certification Training
Resilience-Building Leader Program, the certification body for the Resilience-Building Leadership Professional® (RBLP™) series of leadership certifications, today announces an exciting partnership with Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri. As an RBLP Authorized Education Partner, Avila University will add the Building and… - Earn the skills to empower all members of your organization (including yourself).
If you’re looking for a way to make your workplace more equitable and supportive, attaining a certificate in diversity, inclusion, and belonging studies is an excellent opportunity. By gaining this professional certificate, not only will you cultivate a valuable understanding… - $13.7 million scholarship commitment provides a low-cost pathway to a bachelor’s degree from Avila University for Metropolitan Community College students.
The agreement also makes Avila the most transfer-friendly university for MCC students. Metropolitan Community College and Avila University leaders signed a six-year, $13.7 million scholarship agreement today, creating high-quality, low-cost pathways to obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The brief… - U.S. News & World Report Names Avila University a Top Performer on Social Mobility
After assessing an all-time high of 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality, U.S. News & World Report has named Avila University #51 in Top Performers on Social Mobility for Midwest regional institutions in the 2022-2023… - Taking Control of Your Life with a College Degree:
Gaining Financial Security and Professional Possibilities A college degree is invaluable and can provide you with countless advantages in the professional and educational arenas. From higher salaries to greater job security, a college degree can open up new career growth… - 33 Bishop Ward Students Granted Full-Tuition Scholarships to Avila
33 Bishop Ward High School students were each granted a full-tuition scholarship to Avila University through a recent partnership with KC Scholars, which will provide full-tuition scholarships to 800 students over the next eight years. “The atmosphere was one of… - Atenas Mena, ‘14 Climate and Environmental Health Advocate
Avila Alumna, Atenas Mena is the Co-Executive Director/Environmental Health Director of CleanAirNow (CAN). She is a proud first-generation college student, Mexican American, the daughter of immigrants, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. Mena graduated from Avila University with a… - Consider This: Top Four Considerations in Choosing Your College
Deciding to go to college is a big decision. And we don’t mean choosing between Harvard and Yale big. We mean life-altering, career-defining, world-shaping big. So, before you commit to that school (or schools) of your dreams, make sure you’re… - Four Reasons to Consider Studying in the United States
The United States has long been a top destination for international students, and for good reason. American universities offer world-class academics, a wide variety of degree programs, and countless personal and professional growth opportunities. Here are just four of the… - Why First-Generation Students Need Higher Ed, and Why Colleges Need First-Gen Students
About one-third of all college students in the United States are first-generation — students those whose parents did not attend college. Being the first in their immediate family to pursue higher education, they often face significant obstacles in pursuing their… - QA: Marlon Jones, BS Biochem, ’21
Marlon Jones was an Avila STEM Scholar and graduated class of 2021 with a bachelor’s in Biochemistry, and a minor in environmental science. “I work for Trinity Biotech, a production company for HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) instruments and point-of-care devices…. - Avila Grad Jazlyn Epps Hits Her Mark
Kansas City local Jazlyn Epps is a professional actress, teacher, singer, and songwriter – a well-rounded performer and an Avila University alumna. She got involved in the arts at a young age and felt it was her true calling. After… - Q&A: Cameron Leathers, BS CS ’22
Cameron Leathers was an Avila STEM scholar and recently graduated in May 2022 with a bachelor’s in computer science. He now works at WellSky in Overland Park as a Support Analyst. “It’s the world headquarters. We supply medical, at-home personal… - Too many college students never finish their degrees. This Kansas City program helps.
A Google search on higher education news today will turn up countless references to college “entry,” “access,” and even a call for “free college.” The federal government recently announced a student debt forgiveness program which will benefit millions of Americans…. - $130 Million Scholarship Agreement Between Avila University, KC Scholars to Benefit Up to 800 Students
KANSAS CITY — On Thursday, Sept. 8, Avila University and KC Scholars announced a new scholarship partnership that will benefit up to 800 low-to-modest income students in the Kansas City area. Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year through 2031-2032, Avila… - Bison, Coyotes, and Haikus, Oh My!
What do you get when you mix Ecology and Literature? The beginning of a fruitful relationship. School of Natural and Applied Science Professor Karin Gastreich, Ph.D. and Associate Professor of English Amy Milakovic, Ph.D. teamed up to teach the Interdisciplinary… - Career Resources To Jumpstart Your Future
Shawna Pena-Downing ‘12 is the Coordinator of Career Services at Avila. Her favorite thing about returning to campus in this job is “building and cultivating student relationships that focus on their lifelong and professional development.” “It’s interesting coming back as… - Avila Professor Karin Gastreich Generating Buzz
“I was an award-winning participant in the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair back when I attended Shawnee Mission West High School in the 1980s,” said Avila Professor Karin Gastreich, Ph.D. “That was the experience that launched my career… - Avila’s Institute for Professional Studies: 25 Years of Serving Adult Undergraduates“Adults over the age of 25 represent roughly 40 percent of enrollment in U.S. higher education. That’s nearly 8 million learners,” (Gallagher, It’s time to reboot our thinking about adult learners in a digitally transformed world – EdSurge news 2021). …
- Four Avila University Students Inducted Into AED Honor SocietyOn April 6th, 2022, Emilia Filby: Professional Health Science (Pre-Med/Pre-Pharm), Alexis Bates: Kinesiology, Michael Pinzino: Kinesiology, and Samantha Smith Professional Health Science (Pre-Occupational Therapy), were inducted into Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED). Alpha Epsilon Delta serves as an honor society and…
- New Nursing/Social Work Collaboration Invites Students Into Real-Life Simulations
“Social Workers and nurses work closely in any medical setting and we felt it would be useful for them to better understand each other’s roles when it came to caring for patients. We also saw this as an opportunity to… - Avila Graduate Students Earn Awards at Great Plains Students Psychology Convention
Two Avila University psychology graduate students, Eleanor Dick and Lindsay Wing won awards at the 2022 Great Plains Students Psychology Convention held on March 15 & 16 in Emporia, Kansas. This convention brings psychology students together to exchange ideas, discuss… - Q&A: Marie Payne MSOD ’18
Marie Payne, MSOD ‘18 is Director of Talent Management and Innovation and leads a team of Organizational Development Practitioners at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. She is a certified Change Management Practitioner and holds two leadership coaching certifications from… - Caring for “The Dear Neighbor” on Campus
The sense of community is one of the first things you feel when stepping foot on Avila’s campus. The Avila Care Team (ACT) is one of the support layers that provide that sense of community at Avila. Made up of… - Q&A: Sharon Purnell, MSOD ’08
Sharon Purnell is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Streamland Media. Previously, she worked as an HR executive for companies like Verde Associates, Riddell, and UL Corporation. Purnell earned her Master of Science in Organizational Development from Avila in 2008…. - Q&A: Brandi Riggs, MSOD ’06
Brandi Riggs, MSOD ‘06 is a Vice President of Human Resources at McCownGordon Construction. She has worked as an HR professional and executive at UGA Finance and Spencer Reed. Recently, she was awarded the 2021 LEAD Award by the Missouri… - Which Colleges are Worth the Cost? How to Navigate the Lists and Rankings for KC-Area SchoolsBy Maria Benevento, The Kansas City Beacon, March 2, 2022 Do a quick Google search of “college value” and you’ll immediately find several lists and rankings claiming to tell you which colleges are best worth your investment. But why do the…
- Q&A: Monica Curls, MSOD ’15
Monica Curls, MSOD ‘15 is the Manager of Government Compliance for Terracon, an engineering company based out of Olathe, Kansas. Before joining Terracon, Curls worked for Black & Veatch and also served as Director of the Kansas City Branch Office… - Q&A: Ashley Rowland MA.Ed, ’21
After a nine-year career in the field of criminology, Ashley Rowland felt a push toward a new direction. “I needed a program that would allow me to continue to meet my obligations to my family while still being able to… - Q&A: Vladamir Sainte, MSOD student
Vladamir Sainte comes to Avila’s Organizational Development program as a licensed clinical social worker. “I have worked on a micro-level to provide best practices for clients,” said Sainte. “With this degree, I will be able to elevate these best practices… - Q&A: Jeff Kolb, MSOD ’21
“I was looking into potentially getting an MBA but felt that was too broad and not specific enough to what I was currently doing and wanted to do for my career,” said Avila alumnus Jeff Kolb. Like many in the… - Q&A: Breann Branch, MSOD, Ph.D.
Now the Director of Research and Organizational Change at Culture Journey — Critical Social Change Project, Breann Branch, MSOD, Ph.D. is a 2014 graduate of Avila University’s Institute for Professional Studies. Branch works with government, corporate, education, and community organizations to… - Q&A: Samantha Collins MA.Ed, ’19 and 2020 Kansas Horizon Award Winner
Samantha Collins, MA.Ed is a 2019 graduate of Avila University’s School of Education. A career-changer, Collins went through Avila’s initial teaching certification program before continuing on to earn her Master’s degree. “When I decided to make a switch to be an… - Q&A: Anissa Martinez, M.S.Ed., Director, Student Support ServicesAs director of TRIO Student Support Services, Anissa Martinez, M.S.Ed., aids Avila students learn more about financial literacy, career development, self-care and academic readiness through workshops, summer programs and other programs. She joined Avila in 2018 after serving as a graduate assistant at the University…
- Q&A: Daniel Weigel, Ph.D., Director, Student Access OfficeDaniel Weigel, Ph.D., LPC/LCPC, CRAADC, NCC, CCMHC, MAC, ACS, joined Avila University as Director of the Student Access Office in August 2019. The Student Access Office has a mission “to encourage individuals to develop their unique potential by providing services and programs in a supportive…
- Q&A: Andy Jett, Ed.D., Dean of the College of Professional SchoolsAndy Jett, Ed.D., recently joined Avila University as its new Dean of the College of Professional Schools, overseeing the Schools of Business, Education and Visual & Communication Arts (VisCom), as well as the Avila Advantage Institute for Professional Studies. We asked Andy…
- Breaking BarriersAvila University students spent a recent evening at a seldom-visited destination: Lansing Correctional Facility…
- Internships Give Avila Students Professional AdvantageReaching graduation is just the first big challenge facing college students. Finding a job, or even knowing where to start looking, is the next formidable hurdle waiting for graduates when they receive their degree. But for students such as junior…
- Go Beyond the Marketing Materials to Choose a CollegeJust because your brother/cousin/best friend is going to State School U., doesn’t mean it’s right of you. Not all universities are created equal, and not every college is going to fit your family’s unique needs. So how do you choose?…
- Top Ten Questions Students Have About CollegeSeveral times a year, Avila University hosts high school students on campus during ViewAU campus experience tours. Over the years thousands of high school seniors have visited campus. For many, ViewAU was their first college campus experience. Students meet with the faculty, learn…
Stories You’ll Find Interesting
- Three New Graduate STEM Programs Pave the Way for Student SuccessSTEM programs (science, technology, engineering, and math) are on the rise and in demand as students seek opportunities that will benefit their long-term career and…
- Avila Welcomes the Largest Incoming Class in Institutional History Avila University enrolled the largest incoming class in institutional history this fall. “We are already ahead of the traditional undergraduate enrollment pace from last year…
- Avila Senior Morgan Pettlon Shares Her Summer of ServiceMorgan Pettlon is a senior nursing student from Maryville, MO. She chose to spend two weeks at Bethlehem Farm this summer as a summer servant….
- Avila University Celebrates its 106th Graduating ClassOn May 13, commencement returned to campus at Avila University for the first time in 19 years. “President Burkee wanted to bring graduation back to…
- Avila Signs Three New Agreements Expanding Access to Education KANSAS CITY, MO, May 24, 2023 – Avila announces three new comprehensive agreements–with the government of Algeria, AUNA – The American University in North of…