Richard Joseph

Richard Joseph is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Biology and minoring in both Chemistry and Spanish. Richard was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri, and went to Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. Outside of the Honors Program, he is an active member of the Pre-Dental society as well as the founding father Grand Master of the social fraternity Kappa Sigma. Joseph’s future plans are to attend dental school, become a polyglot, and to travel to all seven continents, but not necessarily in that order.

Choosing UMKC has been one of the most impactful decisions of Richard’s life thus far. From the cohorts of restaurants to try to all the scenic parks or sporting events, getting lost in the city is a favorite of his. When he is not doing these things, odds are he is either studying, with his friends, or both. Richard looks forward to being able to serve and from long lasting bonds with both current and prospective Honors Program students.

Tia Kahwaji

Tia Kahwaji is a Junior at UMKC. She is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry with a pre-dental focus. Throughout her first year, she has been able to get involved on campus by serving as vice president of Pre-Dental Society and by taking part in the Trustees’ Scholars program. Alongside being involved in campus, Tia values giving back to the community through volunteering. She is currently serving as a Ronald McDonald volunteer and has taken advantage of volunteering opportunities in Kansas City through Pre-Dental Society. Her ultimate goal is to attend UMKC’s dental school and to one day open a practice in Kansas City, where she can continue to give back to the community. Aside from studying and volunteering, she enjoys spending her time exploring coffee shops, exercising, and meeting new people.

Although Tia is originally from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, she loves attending a university in an urban environment. The diverse student population and the emphasis on inclusion at UMKC initially stood out to her. Each day at UMKC, she feels as though she is a part of a tight-knit community of motivated and diverse scholars. Likewise, she has enjoyed attending a university that fosters intellectual growth, service, and leadership. As an Honors Ambassador, Tia intends to create a positive and welcoming environment so that every Honors student feels as welcomed as she did the second she got to campus. Tia is excited to work with the Honors students and provide them with the guidance needed to navigate their way through college both academically and socially.

Jessica Nguyen

Jessica Nguyen is a Junior at UMKC pursuing a degree in business with an emphasis in marketing. Apart from being involved in the Honors Program, Jessica also participates in the campus ministry St. Paul’s Outreach. Jessica is from Joplin, Missouri, and graduated from Joplin High School. She was involved in orchestra as well as student council in high school.

Jessica enjoys exploring new coffee shops in Kansas City and doing many hands-on craft activities. She is excited to create new projects and relationships with Honors students. One of the reasons why Jessica chose UMKC is because of the huge diversity in culture and perspective.

Sean Purdue

Sean Purdue is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Civil Engineering. Originally from Liberty, Missouri, he was (and is) excited to attend an urban research university near his hometown. Sean is involved with UMKC’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the UMKC Concrete Canoe team. In his free time, Sean enjoys playing the violin; reading about history, natural science, and personal finance; and hiking/kayaking.

Sean enjoys the independence of being a student at UMKC, as well as the university’s proximity to many of Kansas City’s urban attractions. He is also a big fan of the Honor Program’s honors classes, which help learning become more personal. After graduation, Sean plans to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering and go on to work for a local civil engineering firm. In addition to looking forward to helping current and prospective Honors students, Sean is eager to hear and understand the many perspectives that UMKC’s students have to offer!”

Brenda Robinson

Brenda Robinson is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Communication Studies (Interpersonal and Public Communication Emphasis) and Business Administration (Entrepreneurship & Marketing Emphasis). Brenda is from Overland Park, Kansas and graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School. During high school, she was involved in choir and theatre, regularly performing in concerts and running musical productions. Outside of the Honors Program, Brenda serves as the Sexuality and Gender Alliance president, works as a Resident Assistant at Oak Street Hall, serves as a Regnier Institute Ambassador, and more.

In her free time, Brenda loves to sit down and watch movies and TV shows. She also loves to sing, read books, and spend time listening to true crime podcasts. Brenda chose UMKC because she is a KC Scholars scholarship recipient for UMKC only, and she also loves the welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ students and minority student populations. She is super excited to connect with other Honors students and help them succeed during their time here at UMKC.

Tanner Burke

Tanner Burke is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Psychology. Tanner is originally from O’Fallon, Missouri, and graduated from Fort Zumwalt North High School. He was involved in orchestra in his high school and ran on the Cross-Country team for 2 years. He also played in Lindenwood’s Youth Orchestra for 3 years as a cellist. Though he isn’t in any ensembles right now, he still enjoys playing cello in his free time.

Tanner is originally from a smaller town, but he hasn’t had any problems getting involved at UMKC. Everyone in the Honors program and around campus is super friendly and he found that he had no trouble feeling at home. He’s looking forward to meeting even more people and continuing to experience the diverse culture and perspectives that UMKC has to offer. Tanner has two dogs, and he enjoys the company of most pets. He loves talking with friends and playing both music and video games. Some of his favorite games include Skyrim, Minecraft, and Subnautica. Tanner also enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends. Additionally, he is a huge nerd when it comes to both Star Wars and Harry Potter. He also knows how to solve Rubik’s Cubes.