FOUNDERS' BIOS
FOUNDERS' BIOS
Dr. E. Grey Dimond
(1918-2013)
&
Mary Clark Dimond
(1916-1983)
STAFF
DIANE MAGERS
Administrator
magersd@umkc.edu
816.235.8857
Diane has worked at Diastole Scholars’ Center since April 2007. She holds a B.S. in Accounting, from the University of Kansas and a M.A. in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Prior to working at Diastole, Diane worked as an accountant for several international companies. In addition to managing all aspects of a non-profit, from financial management to property management, while being a conscientious steward of the gift of E. Grey and Mary Clark Dimond, she promotes the donors' intent of people "coming together, thinking, talking, reasoning, planning".
2023-2024
Resident Staffer
LESLIE ESSEL
Leslie is from the West African country Ghana, where he earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy and a Master of Philosophy degree in Pharmacology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. In the spring of 2018, he enrolled in the Pharmacology PhD program in the UMKC, and serves as a graduate teaching assistant in the School of Pharmacy. His research involves using mice behavioral and disease models to understand the mechanisms of human behavioral and cognitive disorders. Leslie wants to be a career researcher and college professor. He loves to read novels, listens to good music when working and is also eager to meet new people and share each other’s culture and values.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON
Treasurer
MARY ANNE JACKSON, M.D.
Dean
UMKC School of Medicine
KAREN CANON
Chairman
JUDGE ANN MESLE
CURT CRESPINO
UMKC Vice Chancellor of External Relations and Constituent Engagement
MARK THORNHILL
Vice-Chairman
GREG LAM
Managing Partner,
Copilevitz, Lam & Raney
DIANE MAGERS
Secretary
REBECCA SMITH
PARTNERS
Diastole Scholars' Center is grateful to be included in the new UMKC Health Sciences District, a cutting-edge partnership between several of the medical facilities on Hospital Hill, including the UMKC School of Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, and Truman Medical Center.