Avila Now

A Google search on higher education news today will turn up countless references to college “entry,” “access,” and even a call for “free college.” The federal government recently announced a student debt forgiveness program which will benefit millions of Americans. Several states, including Missouri, have created pathways to free community college, admirably seeking pathways for...

KANSAS CITY — On Thursday, Sept. 8, Avila University and KC Scholars announced a new scholarship partnership that will benefit up to 800 low-to-modest income students in the Kansas City area. Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year through 2031-2032, Avila University and KC Scholars will award eight cohorts of up to 100 students per year...

Avila Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science Jordan Wagge, Ph.D., received a $267,741 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant from the Division of Undergraduate Education to fund, evaluate, and enhance the activities of the Collaborative Replications and Education Project (CREP). “CREP is a group I have worked with since 2014; I became executive director in 2019...

What do you get when you mix Ecology and Literature? The beginning of a fruitful relationship. School of Natural and Applied Science Professor Karin Gastreich, Ph.D. and Associate Professor of English Amy Milakovic, Ph.D. teamed up to teach the Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) course Ecology Through the Writer’s Lens (ETWL).  “Karin has expertise in Ecology, and...

Avila’s Classic and Achieve Upward Bound TRIO programs were renewed for five more years. “TRIO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a college degree. More than 800,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities — from sixth grade through college graduation — are...

Shawna Pena-Downing ‘12 is the Coordinator of Career Services at Avila. Her favorite thing about returning to campus in this job is “building and cultivating student relationships that focus on their lifelong and professional development.”  “It’s interesting coming back as an employee. One thing it means is reconnecting with why I am here, and it...

Eleanor Dick has a fascination with human behavior and a love for research. Her passion and curiosity brought her to Avila to pursue a Master of Science in Psychology. What surprised you about Avila or the psychology program? I am surprised by how close I am to my classmates and professors. I didn’t anticipate developing...

KANSAS CITY, MO, May 25, 2022 – Yesterday, Avila University signed a partnership with Academic Partnerships (AP), expanding access to the university’s online graduate and adult student undergraduate programs. Avila’s venerable MBA and Master of Arts in Management programs will launch with AP in January 2023, and the University’s 13 fully online undergraduate programs will...

“I was an award-winning participant in the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair back when I attended Shawnee Mission West High School in the 1980s,” said Avila Professor Karin Gastreich, Ph.D. “That was the experience that launched my career in science.” At Avila, Gastreich mentors students to help launch their science careers by inviting...

“38% of students at two-year colleges experienced food insecurity in fall 2020, along with 29% of students at four-year colleges. The number is much higher among students of color, according to The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice’s #RealCollegeSurvey published in March 2021. The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic – furloughs, pay cuts,...