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The late Muriel McBrien Kauffman established an annual gift to the Conservatory to reward outstanding faculty and staff through excellence in teaching and service awards.

The first awards were presented in 1991 and continue to underscore the Conservatory’s commitment to excellence. In 1998 the Excellence in Teaching award was increased with the encouragement of Muriel’s daughter, Julia Irene Kauffman. In 2003, the awards were increased to the four we currently enjoy. All honorees, selected by a group of constituent leaders, students and former award-winners, receive a monetary prize and a plaque.

The Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented at a spring recognition ceremony each year.

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching awards

Here is a list of all of the awardees (including the years before the official gift from Muriel McBrien Kauffman).

David Thurmaier, Conservatory Kauffman Award in Faculty Service
Alison DeSimone, Conservatory Kauffman Award in Teaching Excellence
Steven Davis, Conservatory Kauffman Award in Teaching Excellence
Tom Rosenkranz, Conservatory Kauffman Excellence in Research/Creative Activity Award
Jordan Davis, Conservatory Kauffman Excellence in Staff Services Award
Mary Gossell, Conservatory Kauffman GTA/GA Award

Carla Noack, Associate Professor of Theatre in Acting: Excellence in Teaching

Celeste Johnson, Associate Professor of Oboe: Creative and Scholarly Research

Ronn Tice, Associate Professor of Dance: Faculty Service

Jennifer Burrus, Senior Executive Assistant: Staff Service

Grant Unnerstall: Superior Graduate Assistant

Karen Savage, Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano: Friends’ Faculty Excellence

Joe Parisi: Excellence in Teaching

Stephanie Roberts: Excellence in Creative and Scholarly Research

JoDee Davis: Excellence in Faculty Service

Bob Beck: Excellence in Staff Service

Nick Gillock: Superior Graduate Teaching Assistant

Amy Robertson: UMKC Friends of the Conservatory Faculty Excellence

William Everett: Excellence in Teaching

Keith Benjamin: Excellence in Research/Creative Activity

Andrew Granade: Excellence in Faculty Service

Helen Perry: Excellence in Staff Service

Sarah Oliver: UMKC Friends of the Conservatory Faculty Excellence

Henry Waters: Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

Elizabeth Valle

Excellence in Staff Service

Michelle Jurkiewicz

Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

Charles Robinson

Excellence in Teaching

Paul Rudy

Excellence in Faculty Service

Chen Yi

Excellence in Research and Creativity

Lani Hamilton

Friends of the Conservatory Faculty Excellence Award

Julie Koch

Excellence in Staff Service

Alastair Wright

Graduate Teaching Assistance Award

Zachary Shemon

Friends of the Conservatory of Music and Dance Faculty Excellence

Aidan Soder

Excellence in Faculty Service

Gary Abbott

Excellence in Research and Creativity

Kenneth Lidge

Excellence in Teaching

Jane Allen

Excellence in Staff Service

Alison Desimone

The UMKC Friends of the Conservatory of Music and Dance Faculty Excellence Award

Paula Weber

Excellence in Faculty Service

William Everett

Excellence in Research and Creativity

Dan Thomas

Excellence in Teaching

Nicholas Lira

Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

Dana Self

Excellence in Staff Service

Gary Abbott

The UMKC Friends of the Conservatory of Music and Dance Faculty Excellence Award

Thomas Stein

Excellence in Faculty Service

Zhou Long

Excellence in Research and Creativity

David Thurmaier

Excellence in Teaching

Philip Edelman

Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

Richard Jeric

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Jason Scheufler

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

JoDee Davis

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Diane Petrella

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Andrew Granade

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

William Shaltis

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

James Elswick

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Robert Weirich

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Jane Carl

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Joseph Parisi

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

 

Wayne Nagy

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

William Everett

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Charles Robinson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Melita Jean Belgrave

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

Daniel Keown

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Cheryl Adam

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Deanna M. Hanson-Abromeit

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Chen Yi

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Robert Michael Watson Jr.

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

Erika D. Kinser

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Barbara Ann Lutman

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Aidan Soder

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Paula Weber

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Steven Davis

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

Brad Bradford Baumgardner

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Laura Gayle Green

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Andrew Granade

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Zhou Long

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

Kari Marie Johnson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Jane Schaeffer

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Joseph Parisi

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

William Everett

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

 Melissa Lein

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Helen M. Perry

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Mary Posses

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Paula Weber

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Paul Rudy

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

Melissa McCabe

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Robert Thomas Beck

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Carter Enyeart

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Mary Pat Henry

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

Nick Phillips

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Charles Robinson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Staff Service Award

Thomas Stein

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Chen Yi

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Artistry Award

Kyle Johnson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Joseph Parisi

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Sheri Robb

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Robert Michael Watson Jr.

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

Timothy A. Place

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Robert Groene III

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

Rebecca Sue Sherburn

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

James C. Mobberley

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

Rhonda Hackworth

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Susan Hathaway

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Faculty Service Award

William Everett

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Robert Weirich

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Research/Creativity Award

Micahel Ramsay

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

 

Robert Groene III

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

 

David Beccue

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Paula Weber

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Andy Anderson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Shirley Bean

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Awards pre-2000

See awards pre-2000 below:

Janet Fetterman

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Charles Robinson

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Micahel McFerron

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Superior Graduate Assistant Award

Eph Ehly

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award

Paula Weber

Kauffman Award

William Frederickson

Kauffman Award

Linda-Ross Happy

Trustees Award

Jeanne Tomelleri

Trustees Special Award

Matthew Lata

Kauffman Award

John Ditto

Kauffman Award

Ruth Anne Rich

Trustees Award

 

Anne De Launay

Kauffman Award

James C. Mobberely

Kauffman Award

Patricia M. Higdon

Trustees Award

Kay Norton

Kauffman Award

Lawrence Kaptain

Kauffman Award

Robert John McIntyre

Trustees Award

Kenneth Lidge

Kauffman Award

Mary Posses

Kauffman Award

Catharine Greenhagen

Trustees Award

Mary Pat Henry

Kauffman Award

Eph Ehly

Kauffman Award

Keith Benjamin

Trustees Award

Merton Shatzkin

Kauffman Award

Charles Robinson

Kauffman Award

Richard Lee Williams

Trustees Award

Randall Pembrook

Kauffman Award

Martha Longmire

Kauffman Award

 

Lee Riggins

Kauffman Award

Tatiana Dokoudovska

Kauffman Award

 

Inci Bashar

Kauffman Award

Gary Hall

Kauffman Award

LeRoy Pogemiller

Kauffman Award

Richard Cass

Kauffman Award

Joanne Baker

Kauffman Award

Shirley Bean

Kauffman Award