UMKC Alumni Association

Congratulations to Tripti Katari (B.A. '94/M.D. '95) for being elected to the American Medical Association's Board of Trustees! She earned her medical degree from the UMKC School of Medicine, completed her medical residency in anesthesiology at the Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

We had a wonderful alumni reunion Thursday at Third Street Social, South Plaza. We recognized alumni celebrating 10, 15 and 20 years milestones. Our guest of honor, Mary Sweat (MSN ’76), celebrated 50 years. Dean Joy Roberts said a few words about Sweat’s career and presented her with a gift from the school’s alumni board. Before coming to UMKC, Sweat served in the Vietnam War as a surgical nurse and was awarded the bronze star.

Join your alumni board members for a First Friday event at Café Corazon in the Crossroads on Sept. 4 from 6-10 p.m. Look for more info on our socials in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you there!

Making travel plans? Embark upon a thrilling wintertime expedition to Yellowstone National Park for a unique opportunity to witness packs of wolves in their pristine natural habitat. Be among the first to book our Jan. 23-29, 2027 Wolves & Wildlife of Yellowstone winter safari expedition with an exclusive First Look savings offer. Reserve your spot on this unforgettable adventure by June 22 to unlock an exclusive $750 per couple ($375 per person) discount. Be sure to use Incentive Code: UMKC at checkout. Reserve your spot now: https://orbridge.com/groups/umkc/united_states/umkc_wolves_j-b_2027

Calling all UMKC graduates of the last decade! Join us June 25 from 5-7 p.m. for our annual GOLD Summer Social at SERV in Overland Park as we celebrate the latest graduating classes (December '25 and May '26).

Hosted by the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Committee, this free event includes a complimentary beverage, hearty appetizers and a chance to reconnect with fellow Roos while watching the Tunisia vs. Netherlands soccer match live on the big screen. Pickleball courts will also be available on-site for a small fee — first-come, first-SERV.

Reserve your spot: https://www.umkcalumni.com/s/1236/23/interior.aspx?sid=1236&gid=1&pgid=6271&cid=12730&ecid=12730&crid=0&calpgid=2277&calcid=4030

Congratulations to Cafe Corazon for being named the 2026 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The recognition includes the coveted Mr. K Award, named for entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Kauffman. Founder and CEO Dulcinea Herrera (BBA ’22) has led the company since 2019. Learn more about the recognition: https://www.kcchamber.com/current-topics/cafe-corazon-named-2026-small-business-of-the-year/

The World Cup is just three weeks away, and UMKC alumni have been quietly working behind the scenes to help bring Kansas City’s biggest stage yet to life:

💙 UMKC alumna Esther George (MBA ’00) was a key member of the team that brought the World Cup to Kansas City. The former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City served as treasurer for the 2026 World Cup host committee.
💛 Golazo, founded by UMKC alum Lesly Romo (BBA ’25), is a Regnier Venture Accelerator-backed fan engagement company. It offers mobile sports activations and inclusive, community-driven programming that creates welcoming spaces for players of all backgrounds and skill levels. During the tournament, Golazo will launch a citywide scavenger hunt to support local businesses.
💙 Major Abigail Martinez (B.A. ’02) is leading Kansas City’s public safety efforts for the World Cup. As events and special projects coordinator for the Kansas City Police Department, she is responsible for planning and coordinating the region’s safety strategy, which involves more than 50 agencies across local, county, state and federal levels.

Learn more about the UMKC alumni behind Kansas City’s World Cup moment: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/may/alumni-economics-and-global-reach-umkc-impact-on-the-2026-fifa-world-cup.html

Happy Commencement to all of our grads! It's our favorite day to celebrate our Roos 🎓

Learn more about Commencement: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/may/more-than-2,300-degrees-conferred-at-commencement.html