Kansas City is where big ideas take shape — and in June 2025, 13 influential educators from architecture, engineering and construction management programs across the U.S. came to see why it’s also where careers take off.
As part of the inaugural KC Global Design Educators Tour, faculty from top institutions spent three days immersed in the people, projects and places that make Kansas City a magnet for design and construction talent.
Home to more than 1,200 professionals across 80+ firms, Kansas City stands out not only as one of the largest hubs of design talent in the U.S., but also for its unmatched culture of collaboration, innovation and community impact.
With behind-the-scenes visits and conversations with the teams designing major projects — from iconic stadiums to sustainable infrastructure — the tour gave helped these academic leaders see why Kansas City should be on every graduate’s radar as a place to build a career and a life.
Want to introduce your students or network to what Kansas City has to offer? Get in touch with our KC Global Design team to learn how we’re opening doors for the next generation of A/E/C professionals.
The 2025 Educators Cohort
We were proud to host this dynamic group of educators, each bringing a unique perspective on the future of design and construction:
- Jae Chang | University of Kansas
- Casey Franklin | University of Kansas
- Kalindi Garvin | University of Iowa
- Huston Gibson, Ph.D. | Kansas State University
- Lauren Harness, AIAA | Kansas City Design Center
- Sheniqia Haynes, MPA | University of Oklahoma
- Joe Levens, CPC, CM-Lean | Pittsburg State University
- Greg Luhan, Ph.D., FAIA | Texas A&M
- Rachel Mosier | Oklahoma State University
- Emmanuel Nzewi, Ph.D., PE, M.ASCE | Prairie View A&M University
- Ryan Scavnicky | Marywood University
- Charles E. Sprouse III, Ph.D. | Benedictine College
- Nathaniel Zorach, AICP, MBA | Michigan State University
Their energy, curiosity and commitment to growing the next generation of professionals reflect the momentum we’re building here in Kansas City.
Catch the Highlights
Collaboration in Action
A tour of this caliber comes to life thanks to a powerful network of industry partners who share our vision. We’re grateful for the generosity and hospitality of the companies who made this experience possible.
Event Sponsors
Site Hosts + Speakers
- BNIM
- Dimensional Innovations
- DLR Group
- Generator Studio
- HNTB
- Superior Bowen
- Turner Construction
- Zahner
Task Force
- Jay Currie Campbell | Multistudio
- Erin Elder | Turner Construction
- Caleb Flake | Professional Engineering Consultants
- Jay Guerra | Gibbens Drake Scott, Inc.
- Gretchen Holy | DLR Group
- Maria Maffry | BNIM
- Julie Pierce | Henderson Engineers
- Chris Price | HNTB
Your support showcases the strength of KC’s design and construction community and helps elevate Kansas City’s position on the global stage.