Meet the Team

Robin Krause, director of marketing and promotions
Krause is responsible for leading the implementation of UCM’s strategic positioning platform throughout all university communications. He oversees strategic planning, development and execution of all university marketing and promotional efforts including: advertising, Web design and content, publications, editorial and copywriting, promotional events and activities, radio and video productions, and coordination with outside agencies for TV, radio and outdoor media buys.

Krause has a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction degree from Central Missouri State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Science in Spanish degree from the University of Central Missouri. He lives in Knob Noster with his wife, Kelly. They have two sons, Joel and Conor.

660-543-8487, rkrause@ucmo.edu

Tina Bell, administrative assistant
Bell is the administrative assistant to the director of marketing and promotions, assistant director of marketing and promotions and assistant director of media relations. She also works with the news bureau manager, university photographer, videographer and a diverse group of designers and writers.

Bell has a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She resides in rural Centerview, Mo., with her husband, Gary. They have five children, Theron, Peyton, Cash, Caleb and Carson. 660-543-4640, tbell@ucmo.edu

Jeff Murphy, assistant director for media relations
Murphy is the senior news writer and lead media relations representative for UCM, with major responsibilities that include responding to media requests, initiating press conferences, placing stories in print and electronic media, and serving as a university spokesperson for key issues, including crisis situations. With more than 33 years of combined journalism and public relations experience, he works closely with the news bureau manager in providing supervision for the student-led public relations firm, Innovative Public Relations, and is part of the multi-hazard emergency management planning and communication team for the university.

Murphy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations degree and Master of Arts in Communication degree from UCM. He is the father of one daughter, Jessica Boeding, and the proud grandfather of twins, Chloe and Colin, born in 2012. 660-543-4376, jmurphy@ucmo.edu

Kelly Waldram-Cramer, assistant director for marketing and promotions
Waldram Cramer meets with clients on a regular basis to determine their marketing needs. She uses her experience with marketing research, strategy and communication to create marketing plans for on-campus clients.

Waldram Cramer has worked in the marketing industry for nearly 15 years and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree, both with marketing concentrations, from UCM. As an employee of 12 years and a two-time alum of UCM, she is proud to be a Mule and work for a university that takes learning to a greater degree.

Sarah Murrill, coordinator for advertising and design
Murrill manages UCM’s Web design, promotions and advertising. She is also responsible for the design of the alumni publication, TODAY, which appears in print as well as on the Web.

Murrill has more than 15 years experience as a designer and art director in the marketing communications industry. She has been privileged to work with some of Kansas City's best in marketing communications. Her career has included national clients from both private and public sectors. Murrill has a passion for working with national and regional not-for-profits.

Murrill received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art degree with an emphasis in painting from UCM in 1997 and is currently seeking a Master of Arts in Communication degree at UCM.

Courtney Niemuth, manager of new media communications
Niemuth manages the university’s strategic communications on the Web and on social media channels. She recognizes the importance of following digital media trends and communicating with the millennial generation through these channels. Her extensive writing background includes experience at newspapers and magazines in addition to seven years in the public relations and marketing fields.

Niemuth will proudly become a UCM alumna in May when she completes a Master of Arts in Communication. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri and lives in Leeton, Mo., with her husband, Brian.

660-543-8243, cniemuth@ucmo.edu

Mike Greife, news bureau manager
Greife is responsible for creating and distributing news releases about UCM events and faculty, staff and student achievements to media. He is also responsible for maintaining news content on the UCM Daily website and social media, and editing the content of UCMDaily, the online daily newsletter.

Greife also serves as the editor of TODAY magazine, which is mailed to more than 75,000 UCM alumni nationwide and is made available online. He also co-supervises Innovative Public Relations, a student-led public relations firm housed in University Relations.

Greife has a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in speech, journalism and English from UCM. Prior to his work in public relations, he was a high school English and journalism teacher and worked as a newspaper publisher, editor, reporter and photographer. He lives in Warrensburg, Mo., with his wife, Jo.

John Kennedy, web and multimedia producer
Kennedy is a 20-year video production veteran and a UCM alumnus. Performing a wide range of duties, Kennedy serves as producer, writer, editor and voice-over talent for promotional videos, television and radio commercials, as well as online video content.

Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2002, Kennedy worked for eight years as satellite video producer for the Missouri Lottery. In addition to directing the nightly lottery drawing show, he also was associate producer for 341 episodes of the lottery's television game show.

Kennedy enjoys the family atmosphere of Warrensburg and UCM. Numerous family members have also attended UCM, dating from the late 1920s to today, so choosing Red is a family tradition! Kennedy and his wife Laura, a fellow UCM grad, are the parents of three children.

Bryan Tebbenkamp, photography manager
Tebbenkamp is responsible for providing images for use by the Office of University Relations and campus community, as well as documenting the visual history of the university and archiving it for generations to come. He and his team of student photographers cover a wide variety of university events and campus needs for photography.

Tebbenkamp has a Bachelor of Science in Photography degree from UCM. He lives in Holden, Mo., with his wife Melissa and their two sons.

660-543-4893, tebbenkamp@ucmo.edu

660-543-4870, fillinger@ucmo.edu

Erin Livengood, creative specialist I
Livengood helps communicate UCM’s message visually through various marketing pieces such as viewbooks, brochures, posters/fliers, postcards, ads and the Web.

Livengood is a Florida native and received a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art degree with a concentration in graphic design from Florida State University in 2004. She currently lives in Sedalia, Mo., with her husband, Jon. 660-543-4989, livengood@ucmo.edu

Shawna Bell, marketing specialist
Bell is a writer, editor and marketing advisor, and assists with promotional events. Her seven years of marketing experience have given her the opportunity to promote events and interact with artists such as Chubby Checker, Pam Tills, Sammy Kershaw, the Little River Band and more.

Bell graduated from UCM in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations degree. A believer in “learning to a greater degree,” Bell is currently working on obtaining her license as an Emergency Medical Technician at the graduate level at UCM. She currently lives on a farm in Columbus, Mo., with her daughter, Isabelle.

660-543-8642, sbell@ucmo.edu

Heather Hickerson, marketing writer/editor
Hickerson’s area of specialization is strategic communication for effective marketing to a target audience. At UCM, she writes and edits content across all channels of media. Her areas of emphasis are print, advertising and social media.

Hickerson has been at UCM since 2008, and is the 2011 recipient of the Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations. She has a Master of Arts in Communication degree from UCM and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication degree from Kansas State University. 660-543-4546, hickerson@ucmo.edu