The University of Missouri-Kansas City launched the largest campaign in its history: Blue & Bold. The university is six months into this transformative effort at º£½ÇÂÛ̳. We sat down with alumna Amanda Davis (MPA ’07), the university’s chief advancement officer and º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Foundation president to learn about milestones and momentum in the campaign so far. She shared her journey, her love for º£½ÇÂÛ̳ and her thoughts on what Blue & Bold means to students, employees, the Kansas City community and beyond.
You’re a º£½ÇÂÛ̳ alumna. What first brought you here?
Honestly, it was happenstance. I’m from a small town outside Kansas City and went to Mizzou for undergrad. After earning two degrees in four and a half years while working full time, I was exhausted. I came home just planning to take a breather and figure out grad school later.
I got a job at Genesis, one of Missouri’s first charter schools — an incredible organization focused on helping at-risk kids through art therapy, counseling and education. That experience changed me. I’d always believed in service, but I didn’t know you could build a career around it. When the executive director promoted me to development director, he also encouraged me to enroll in º£½ÇÂÛ̳’s MPA program.
Once I got here, I was amazed by the quality and practicality of the education — how deeply connected it was to Kansas City’s nonprofit community. º£½ÇÂÛ̳ was like a living lab for public service. Everything I learned here later guided me through my time with the Red Cross in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Those lessons truly shaped who I am and why I felt called to come back.
What makes º£½ÇÂÛ̳ special to you?
º£½ÇÂÛ̳ is a place where excellence is accessible to everyone. There’s so much human talent in this community, and wasting that potential is a true tragedy. Here, you can come in unsure of your path but full of ambition — and this university gives you the tools to do almost anything. That’s a rare and powerful gift.
The Blue & Bold campaign is a major milestone. How is it impacting º£½ÇÂÛ̳?
A comprehensive campaign like this touches every corner of the university — every student, faculty member and staff member. It’s about uplift. We’ve made incredible progress under Chancellor Agrawal’s leadership, and now we have a chance to take º£½ÇÂÛ̳ to the next level. When the campaign ends, we want people to look around and see a campus — and a community — transformed.
The campaign is built around three pillars. Can you tell us about them?
They reflect who we are as a university:
- Student success — preparing students not just to graduate, but to lead.
- Research and innovation — solving real-world challenges.
- Community engagement — serving and strengthening the region we call home.
How much has been raised so far, and what partnerships have been key to the campaign’s success?
So far more than half has been raised, more than $360 million. Our philanthropic community is extraordinary. Kansas City’s families, foundations and companies don’t just give — they understand the impact of the university’s work. Our alumni have also stepped up like never before, giving at record levels across the country. And then there are our volunteer leaders — our Foundation Board, our school-based foundations, our trustees — all advocates who’ve helped us get to this point and who will be essential as we reach for our $700 million goal.
Is there a moment that captures the spirit of this campaign for you?
Every commencement. Sitting on stage and watching students cross that platform — especially those who bring their children with them — it’s overwhelming. The pride, the joy, the sheer possibility in that moment reminds me why this work matters. Everything we do — every gift, every scholarship, every program — leads to that.
Any final thoughts?
Just that º£½ÇÂÛ̳ is Kansas City’s top university — and Kansas City’s future depends on it. Blue & Bold is our opportunity to make sure that future is as bright as it can be.
Be Blue. Be Bold.
To learn more and get involved, visit go.umkc.edu//bold