MidAmerica Nazarene University is proud to announce Dr. Jeff DeGraffenreid (’96, MEd ’99) as the 2025 recipient of the Michael Copeland Civic Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who embody a spirit of service, leadership, and commitment to the greater good—qualities that have defined DeGraffenreid’s remarkable career. The award is named in honor of 1984 MNU Alumnus, Michael Copeland, Olathe’s longest serving mayor, who passed away in August 2020.
Currently serving as Olathe’s Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management, DeGraffenreid has dedicated more than three decades to public safety. He began his career in 1991 as a paramedic in Johnson County, Kansas, before pursuing a leadership path in the fire service. Over the years, he has held key roles with Johnson County Med-Act, the Overland Park Fire Department, and Heart to Heart International, where he served as Chief Operating Officer.
Under his leadership, Olathe’s Fire Department has achieved both international accreditation and an ISO Class 1 Public Protection Classification—the highest possible rating for fire protection services. His reputation for innovation and collaboration has extended far beyond city boundaries, with leadership positions in the Johnson County Fire and Emergency Services Chiefs Association, the Kansas State Fire Chiefs Professional Chiefs Section, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, where he serves on the Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee.
DeGraffenreid’s impact also includes service on the Kansas Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee, the Kansas City FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Advisory Board, and the Kansas City Regional Fusion Center Advisory Board. Few Kansas fire chiefs hold the Chief Fire Officer credential, and DeGraffenreid is among them. His academic pursuits include a doctorate in educational policy and leadership from Saint Louis University and postgraduate executive education from the University of Virginia and the Naval Postgraduate School.
While his career is filled with notable accomplishments, DeGraffenreid is perhaps best known for his belief in “giving back.” He is actively involved in civic and nonprofit organizations such as Rotary and the Salvation Army and is committed to hiring locally and mentoring future leaders in public safety.
A life of service is also a family value. Jeff’s wife, Paula (Lash, ’92), is an educator and fellow MNU graduate. Together, they have raised three children—Faith, Isaac, and Grace—passing on the same values of faith, compassion, and community engagement that have shaped their own lives.
Reflecting on his journey, it’s clear that DeGraffenreid’s purposeful life of service has been deeply influenced by his time at MNU, where the mission to serve and lead with Christlike character is woven into the student experience.
The Michael Copeland Civic Leadership Award stands as a testament to DeGraffenreid’s vision, humility, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of others. The award will be presented at MNU’s Homecoming Chapel gathering on Friday, October 3, 2025.
