Great Jobs KC Rachel Reardon is making her childhood dreams come to life with Great Jobs KC. Rachel’s mother told her about Great Job KC because she knew it offered a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training course and encouraged her to look into it. After her mother’s passing in April 2022, Rachel moved out of […]
Great Jobs KC Tina Downey is a KC Scholar Adult Learner who has returned to school more ready than ever. While Tina was a senior in High School, she received a full-ride scholarship to Clark in Atlanta. During the school year, she became pregnant, and her main priority was raising her newborn. By doing so,
Great Jobs KC On November 8th, as we celebrate first-generation scholars at KC Scholars, I want to take a moment to share my own story as someone who understands the unique challenges and triumphs of being a first-generation scholar. My journey, much like yours, has been marked by determination, hard work, and the unwavering support
Breaking Barriers: My Journey as a First-Generation Student Read More »
Kansas State University Fast Facts 122 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Manhattan, Kansas Type of Institution: Public, Bachelor Degree (4-year) Employment Rate 78% Undergraduate Student Population Large (More than 15,000 Students) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? Yes, Click Here for more details Are first-year students required to live on
Kansas City Kansas Community College Fast Facts 11 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Kansas City, KS Type of Institution: Public, Associate Degree (2-year) Undergraduate Student Population Medium (5,000 – 15,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? Yes, Click Here for more details Are first-year students required to live on campus?
Kansas City Art Institute Fast Facts 4 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Kansas City, MO Type of Institution: Private, Bachelor Degree (4-year) Undergraduate Student Population Small (Less than 5,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? Yes, Click Here for more details Are first-year students required to live on campus? No
Johnson County Community College Fast Facts 16 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Overland Park, KS Type of Institution: Public, Associate Degree (2-year) Undergraduate Student Population Medium (5,000 – 15,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? No Career Services: Click Here Adult Learner Specific Supports Available Dedicated Resources for 1st Gen
Donnelly College Fast Facts 6 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Kansas City, KS Type of Institution: Private, Associate Degree (2-year) Employment Rate 81% Undergraduate Student Population Small (Less than 5,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? No Career Services: Click Here Adult Learner Specific Supports Available Dedicated Resources for 1st
Baker University Fast Facts 46 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Baldwin City, KS Type of Institution: Private, Bachelor Degree (4-year) Undergraduate Student Population Small (Less than 5,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? Yes, Click Here for more details Are first-year students required to live on campus? Yes Career Services:
Avila University Fast Facts 13 miles from KC Scholars office Location: Kansas City, MO Type of Institution: Private, Bachelor Degree (4-year) Employment Rate 87% Undergraduate Student Population Small (Less than 5,000) Campus Experience Student Clubs: Click Here Is there on-campus housing? Yes, Click Here for more details Are first-year students required to live on campus?
Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.
Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.
Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.
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As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships.
Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.
Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country. Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.
