Avila Now

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. Several states, including Missouri, have created pathways to free community college, admirably seeking pathways for...

KANSAS CITY, MO, May 25, 2022 – Yesterday, Avila University signed a partnership with Academic Partnerships (AP), expanding access to the university’s online graduate and adult student undergraduate programs. Avila’s venerable MBA and Master of Arts in Management programs will launch with AP in January 2023, and the University’s 13 fully online undergraduate programs will...

Katie Brenner is a full-time employee, wife, and mom. She’s also a full-time student pursuing a double major in Business and Human Resources at Avila. Her grit, attitude, and academic achievements earned Brenner the Avila Institute for Professional Studies Undergraduate Student of the Year Award.  “In the last year working with Katie as her advisor,...

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 UC Berkeley and the Kansas Leadership Center, as well as an ACC credential from the...

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. Would you please share your career journey? “When I was in the MSOD program, what...

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 SHRM Chapter. Riggs earned her MSOD from Avila University in 2006 and is a member...

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 of the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. Curls earned her MSOD from Avila in 2015....

KANSAS CITY — The International Coaching Federation (ICF) recently announced that Avila University has earned a three-year reaccreditation for its Leadership Coaching Certification program. As part of Avila’s Master of Arts in Organizational Development (MSOD), leadership coaching is available as a Master’s concentration or as a certificate. “Accreditation by professional organizations like ICF help our...

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 on a macro-level, where the organization will be my client.” “The opportunity to learn new...

“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 Organizational Development master’s program, Jeff was already performing OD-type duties in his job — without...