FEATURED CONTENT
03 Blue & Bold: The Campaign for UMKC
In October 2025, UMKC launched the largest fundraising campaign in its 92-year history.
05 Impact of the World Cup
A series of four stories showcases the impact of the World Cup and how the UMKC community is involved in planning and logistics.
10 Rethinking how we identify human trafficking
Human trafficking is an ongoing issue often brought to the forefront during large-scale events.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
We spoke with Esther George (MBA ’00), treasurer of KC2026, on her thoughts about the significance and impact of the World Cup.
UMKC has announced and begun construction on major projects, all of which will help meet key strategic goals.
Kaity Woody (MPA '15) and Amanda Davis (MPA '07) invite you to discover the inspiring stories in this issue of Perspectives magazine.
University of Missouri-Kansas City Alumni Magazine © 2026
Perspectives is published for alumni and friends of the University of Missouri-Kansas City by the Division of Advancement and Foundations.
Managing Editor Aubry Carpenter
Art Director Sarah Richardson
Executive Editors Kaitlin "Kaity" Woody Assistant Vice Chancellor, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
Anne Hartung Spenner Vice Chancellor, Strategic Marketing and Communications
Writers Aubry Carpenter Stacy Downs Emma Fahrlander Alyssa Lally Hunter Miesner Zoe Miglore Krithika Selvarajoo Kaitlin West
Photo/Video Derrick Benitz Patrick Oliverio Brandon Parigo Jon Mohr
UMKC Alumni Association 202 Administrative Center 5115 Oak St. Kansas City, MO 64112 816-235-1561 alumni@umkc.edu umkcalumni.com
Visit us at perspectives.umkc.edu