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Three New Graduate STEM Programs Pave the Way for Student Success
STEM 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 personal goals. STEM careers are here to stay. A U.S. News article states, “With strong industry growth predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and STEM majors procuring the...
Two Avila students stand in front of a purple welcome sign
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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, vice president of enrollment management. Avila commits to providing “access through affordability, quality individualized education,...
Morgan Pettlon in her car arriving at Bethlehem Farm.
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Avila Senior Morgan Pettlon Shares Her Summer of Service
Morgan Pettlon is a senior nursing student from Maryville, MO. She chose to spend two weeks at Bethlehem Farm this summer as a summer servant. Her experiences at the farm over the years, have inspired her to return again to the farm during Spring Break 2024, this time leading a group of Avila students in...
Avila graduation outside in the quad on campus
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Avila University Celebrates its 106th Graduating Class
On May 13, commencement returned to campus at Avila University for the first time in 19 years. “President Burkee wanted to bring graduation back to campus to build tradition and foster community,” said Margaret Herron, registrar. The sun was shining, and the campus was buzzing with excitement from 344 graduates and over 2,000 guests in...
President Burkee signing an agreement with the country of Algeria
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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 Africa, and the Université de CARTHAGE to expand our promise of being the private university of access. Avila University became the first university in the United States to sign a...
Bright words about learning on a white background
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Avila Students Showcase Hard Work and Academic Scholarship 
The 22nd annual Student Scholar Day occurred on Tuesday, April 18. It’s a full-day, campus-wide celebration of student scholarship, and featured nine oral presentations, seven poster presentations, and a faculty scholar presentation, “Turn it Up? Noise as Sonic Rhetoric,” by Abigail Lambke, Ph.D., associate professor of English. Student projects often include literature reviews, capstone projects,...
Mooneyham with her class on a rooftop with the KC skyline in the background
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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 Raytown. We have so many students who graduate from Avila and teach in Missouri districts...
5 Avila rad science students in front of a brick wall.
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Avila Rad Tech Students Win Competition at Missouri Conference 
Students from Avila’s School of Imaging Science took first place in the fast-paced, competitive “Ray Bowl” at the annual Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists conference on April 5-7 in Columbia, Missouri.  “The Ray bowl was unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and to experience it with this group of people around me was incredible. We...
Avila students and chaperones at Bethlehem Farm.
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Avila Students Skip the Beach to Serve the Dear Neighbor
If you could go anywhere for spring break, where would you go? Eleven Avila students volunteered to spend their break serving at Bethlehem Farm in Pence Springs, West Virginia. “Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic Community in Appalachia that transforms lives through service with the local community and the teaching of sustainable practices.”  The group was...
tonya mourning, MBA and Avila's CFO
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Three-Time Alumna Named Avila University CFO
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 10, 2023) – Avila University today announced the appointment of Tonya Mourning, MBA, as the institution’s Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Mourning will oversee all aspects of the financial life of the university, providing management and direction for Avila’s financial activities. She will start on March 27, 2023. Mourning brings...
Chancellor Kimberly Beatty (MCC) and President Jim Burkee (Avila) shake hands on a $13.7 million scholarship venture
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$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 ceremony, led by MCC Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty and Avila President Dr. James Burkee, marks...
Avila University's seal carved into weathered concrete
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More Than 330 Undergraduates Named to Fall 2022 Dean’s List
Avila University recently announced its Fall 2022 Dean’s List recipients, recognizing the academic excellence of the more than 330 undergraduate students who earned the distinction. The dean’s list comprises undergraduate students who meet requirements in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Professional Schools. All full-time admitted undergraduate students are eligible for the dean’s list....
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Derrick Alexander Named Avila University Head Football Coach
January 12, 2023, KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, the Avila University Department of Athletics named former Kansas City Chiefs standout and Avila assistant football coach Derrick Alexander the university’s new head football coach. “We are very excited to welcome Derrick back to Avila University as our head football coach,” Avila University Director of Athletics Shawn...
Several Avila students sitting at graduation cheering and raising their arms in the air.
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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 edition of Best Colleges. While a college degree is still considered the surest path toward...
A collage of nurses wearing masks
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$298,016 Grant Awarded to Avila University
Avila University was recently awarded a $298,016 grant by the Missouri State Board of Nursing “to help enhance nursing education programs and develop solutions to help alleviate staffing shortages felt nationwide.” “The grant funding was allocated for workforce development to bring more nurses into the nursing workforce. As Tracy Koehler (Avila assistant professor)  likes to...
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$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 University and KC Scholars will award eight cohorts of up to 100 students per year...
National Science Foundation
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Wagge Wins Historic $267,741 National Science Foundation Grant
Avila Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science Jordan Wagge, Ph.D., received a $267,741 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant from the Division of Undergraduate Education to fund, evaluate, and enhance the activities of the Collaborative Replications and Education Project (CREP). “CREP is a group I have worked with since 2014; I became executive director in 2019...
Feed Your Friends Infographic
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Fighting Food Insecurity by Helping The Dear Neighbor
“38% of students at two-year colleges experienced food insecurity in fall 2020, along with 29% of students at four-year colleges. The number is much higher among students of color, according to The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice’s #RealCollegeSurvey published in March 2021. The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic – furloughs, pay cuts,...
Commencement stage and students at 2022 celebration
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Avila Commencement Celebrates 391 New Graduates
Avila University Welcomes its 105th Graduating Class During commencement exercises on May 14 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, the Colleges of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Science & Health, and Professional Schools held individual graduation ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate degree earners throughout the day to fulfill social distancing requirements. “It is wonderful for...
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President Burkee signing an agreement with the country of Algeria

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 Africa, and the Université de CARTHAGE to expand our promise of being the private university of access. Avila University became the first university in the United States to sign a...
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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 Leading Resilient Teams certificate program to its offerings. This program provides students with the knowledge...

What Missouri’s recreational cannabis law means for Avila University
While the recent change in the Missouri State law makes it legal for anyone older than 21 to buy, possess, deliver, use, manufacture, and sell marijuana in the state, Avila University’s campus policy prohibiting the possession or use of marijuana remains unchanged. As possession of marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, the federal Drug-Free...
A social work student watches (right) as two nursing students ask the "patient" questions about her health.

Avila University Offers Accelerated Online Nursing Degree Program to Help Address Missouri’s and the Nation’s Critical Nursing Shortage
Avila University is pleased to announce it is now offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree. This degree completion program is for students with some college experience or who hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any field other than nursing. All students will receive a personalized degree completion plan that equips...

Derrick Alexander Named Avila University Head Football Coach
January 12, 2023, KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, the Avila University Department of Athletics named former Kansas City Chiefs standout and Avila assistant football coach Derrick Alexander the university’s new head football coach. “We are very excited to welcome Derrick back to Avila University as our head football coach,” Avila University Director of Athletics Shawn...
Several Avila students sitting at graduation cheering and raising their arms in the air.

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 edition of Best Colleges. While a college degree is still considered the surest path toward...
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