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Grants Leadership & Development Staff

Anthony Funari, Ph.D., G.P.C.
Executive Director
913-365-4847

Anthony hails from Allentown, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh, his M.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his Ph.D. from Lehigh University. Since joining the Grants Leadership & Development Office as the Senior Grants Professional in 2014, Anthony has helped to develop successful proposals for the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of State, the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as state and private foundations. Anthony is certified as a grants professional. Anthony made the transition to the Executive Director role in April 2026. As an adjunct English professor, Anthony teaches Composition, Literature, and Grant Writing at the College.

Larisa Masri, Ph.D.
Senior Grant Professional
913-469-7845

Larisa joined Johnson County Community College from the National WWI Museum and Memorial, where she served as Grant Manager and secured federal, state, and foundation funding. Before transitioning into grant development, she taught history, most recently at DePaul University. Larisa’s background in higher education informs her work obtaining support for education, workforce development, and community-focused initiatives. She holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Mediterranean World History and an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago, as well as an M.A. in History from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa.

Selina Wu
Senior Administrative Assistant
913-469-3585

Selina Wu has been working at JCCC since 2004. She holds a bachelor's degree from University of Missouri – Kansas City.