What excites me most is how contributions from creative and cultural disciplines not only complement the research ecosystem but also elevate it through unique collaborations and shared discovery. UMKC research is on a promising trajectory for growth and meaningful partnerships with immense potential to benefit the region and beyond. I am eager to collaborate with the UMKC community to achieve even greater success.

Tell us about your research experience.

My areas of expertise and research interests include data mining, computational decision support and biomedical imaging and informatics. I have authored or edited five books, hold two patents and have published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles. My research has been funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Education, NASA and others. I have served as a scientific reviewer on more than 65 federal panels. Throughout my academic career, I have cultivated interdisciplinary collaborations that led to significant grantsmanship and scholarly achievements. I have had the privilege of advising more than 30 graduate students on their dissertations and theses.

Your experience at Louisiana Tech closely aligns with what UMKC is experiencing with research. Can you talk more about that?

Most recently, I served as executive vice president for research at Louisiana Tech. The research enterprise saw an 18% increase in annual research expenditures and a 39% increase in federally funded research expenditures.

I also led the university’s research operations in the National Cyber Research Park and Louisiana Tech Research Institute, fostering engagement with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense. This closely aligns with UMKC's research initiatives, particularly its robust portfolio of defense contracts. In 2024, UMKC became the first university to partner with U.S. Cyber Command.

What opportunities do you see in leading the UMKC research enterprise?

I see significant opportunities to build on UMKC’s strong research momentum, especially with the recent achievement of Carnegie R1 status. Collaborating with talented faculty across diverse disciplines and strengthening partnerships with government, industry and community health organizations will be essential for driving impactful research. These partnerships enable UMKC to address critical health and social challenges in the region, delivering tangible benefits to the community while contributing to global knowledge. Fostering a vibrant research culture is a crucial step toward achieving excellence.

An especially exciting opportunity lies in expanding and integrating creative scholarship by bridging the arts, design and performance with other disciplines. By promoting interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly at the intersection of health and defense, UMKC can amplify its research impact, ignite innovation and solidify its position as a leader in mission-driven, community-focused research.