UMSL’s Rita Csapó-Sweet (left) receives a letter announcing her University of Missouri President’s Award for Cross-Cultural Engagement by Chris Weisbrook, director of academic programs at the University of Missouri System.

Rita Csapó-Sweet grew up a first-generation Hungarian-American. Her parents came to the United States after World War II. Because of her ethnic background, she felt a little out of place growing up in America. But a college trip to Hungary remedied her feelings of alienation and carved out a path that saw her become a cultural ambassador of sorts.

“Suddenly, I understood why I had always felt myself an outsider,” said Csapó-Sweet, associate professor of media studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “My year abroad put the narrative of my life into context. A foot in both worlds has served me well during the past 40 years.”

In late April, Csapó-Sweet, of St. Louis, was honored by the four-campus University of Missouri System with the UM President’s Award for Cross-Cultural Engagement. The award recognizes her efforts to build cultural and educational exchange projects with Eastern European universities. She established institutional links with the University of Debrecen in Hungary, University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and University of Dubrovnik in Croatia.

“Rita is more than deserving of this prestigious award,” Barbara Harbach, professor of music at UMSL, wrote in a nomination letter for the award. “She has worked passionately in helping victims of war in several of these countries but most importantly in cultivating exchanges for faculty and students that can benefit from the understanding of learning to appreciate different cultures with their unique ethnicities and customs.”

In 1995, Csapó-Sweet developed an educational and cultural exchange program with the University of Debrecen in Hungary, with a grant from the U.S. Department of State and International Studies and Programs at UMSL.

For decades, Csapó-Sweet’s international research has been funded by the Soros Foundation, IREX, and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

And she recently received her third UM Research Board grant to curate a program of films from the former Yugoslavia at the 2013 St. Louis International Film Festival. Her documentaries have been broadcast nationally and internationally, and she is the faculty adviser for the UMSL Film Production Society.

Through the efforts of Csapó-Sweet, UMSL signed student-faculty exchange agreements in 2007 with the Universities of Sarajevo in Bosnia and the University of Dubrovnik in Croatia. In 2010, UMSL students began taking classes in Sarajevo, and this fall two students from Sarajevo will study at UMSL. Csapó-Sweet will donate funds from her UM President’s Award to bring the two students to St. Louis.

Since making her first trip back to Hungary in 1973 to study at the  Royal Academy of Fine Art and discover her heritage and family roots, Csapó-Sweet has frequently visited Eastern Europe.

“That one year of being abroad completely changed my life,” she said. “I realized I had this whole other part of me that I didn’t really know existed.”

For Csapó-Sweet, creating UMSL’s cultural exchange programs is a career highlight. She said the programs can be a salve for young people experiencing similar emotions, and even if students aren’t looking to fill a void, exchange programs are a unique and valuable experience.

“It’s easy for a child to feel like an outsider if you have cultural roots elsewhere,” Csapó-Sweet said. “You never really feel completely 100 percent part of this society. If there’s some chance you can go back to a place where you have family, where you have another language, students should grab the opportunity. Because after college you might never have a chance again.”

This summer, she’ll return to Hungary, Sarajevo and Dubrovnik to continue her research and strengthen ties on behalf of UMSL.

The Academic Affairs Office at the UM System administers a total of six UM President’s Awards. The annual, systemwide awards are open to faculty from UMSL, the University of Missouri–Columbia, the University of Missouri–Kansas City and Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

In addition to Csapó-Sweet, four UMSL faculty members won a UM President’s Award this year: Vicki Sauter, professor of information systems, for university citizenship; Susann Farberman, associate teaching professor of nursing, for inter-campus collaboration; Dawn Garzon, teaching professor of nursing, for inter-campus collaboration; and Carl Hoagland, the Emerson Electric Endowed Professor of Teaching and Learning, for innovative teaching.

Csapó-Sweet and her colleagues will receive their awards June 13 at a celebration in Columbia, Mo.

Tom McPhail is a professor of media studies and chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Media Studies at UMSL. (Photo by Myra Lopez)

Tom McPhail, professor of media studies and chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Media Studies at the University of Missouri­­­–St. Louis, has accepted an invitation to join an advisory group at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

As part of the advisory group for research evaluation, McPhail will review internal faculty research grant applications in the areas of journalism, communication, media studies and international relations. He’ll also help perform quality assessments of completed research projects. McPhail was one of five foreign experts invited to join the advisory group earlier this spring.

“They consider me one of the preeminent scholars on the subject matters and welcome my participation as long as I have the time,” he said.

Pontifical Catholic University of Peru is a private university in Lima, founded in 1917 by a Catholic priest as Peru’s first nonprofit private institution of higher learning. It’s the only Peruvian university to be listed among the top 500 universities in the world in international rankings.

McPhail is a media analyst, who’s frequently quoted by national and international news outlets. He joined UMSL in 1990 and teaches courses on international media, cultural studies, new media and telecommunication policy. He’s also a fellow in International Studies and Programs at UMSL. His book, “Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and Trends,” is an authoritative text on international communication. The third edition was published in 2010, and McPhail is working on the fourth edition.

University of Missouri–St. Louis music students Thomas Winkler (piano), Charles Clements (bass) and Corey Axelson (marimba) perform “Bass Ostinato,” a piece of music composed by Winkler. The performance was part of the university’s Student Chamber Music Concert on May 8 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.

Media Coverage highlights some of the top coverage, but does not serve as a comprehensive listing. This post will be updated with new highlights throughout the month and beyond.

Edward Bennett, associate professor of optometry, wrote the April 1 Contact Lens Spectrum article “A reporter from the 2013 GSLS meeting.”

Alumnus Aron Blanke, BM 1994 and MME 2004, was featured April 11 in the Ballwin-Ellisville (Mo.) Patch article “Which CCL teacher is Rockwood’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year?”

Amy Broadway, a student pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy, wrote the April 4 Psychology Today article “Living an ‘ordinary’ life with extraordinary abilities.”

Berit Brogaard, professor of philosophy, wrote the April 13 Psychology Today article “When the brain’s biological clock goes haywire.” Brogaard was wrote the April 22 in the Psychology Today article “Do you suffer from emotional pain or anxiety? Pop a Tylenol.” She wrote the April 20 Psychology Today article “Micro-inequities: 40 years later.” Brogaard wrote the April 23 Psychology Today article “‘I can easily beat black jack.’” She wrote the April 26 Psychology Today article “Struck by Lightning.”

Niyi Coker, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of African/African American Studies, was quoted April 14 in the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World article “Film festival at KU to showcase reality of Africa.”

Julie Dunn-Morton, senior manuscript specialist for the St. Louis Mercantile Library, was quoted April 20 in The Edwardsville (Ill.) Intelligencer article “St. Louis Mercantile Library plans annual show, sale.”

Cynthia Dupureur, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was quoted April 4 in the Riverfront Times article “Adrenaline boost: Music is more than a soundtrack for sports.”

Tim Eby, general manager of St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU, was quoted April 19 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “KWMU, Beacon online publication merging soon?”

Thomas Eyssell, associate dean of the College of Business Administration, was quoted April 3 in the St. Louis Business Journal article “$1.3 million UMSL study tracks credit report errors.”

Chancellor Tom George was quoted April 18 in The St. Louis American article “AT&T invests in STEM at UMSL.” George was quoted April 24 in the Maryland Heights (Mo.) Patch article “Summer STARS program to draw students from across the nation to UMSL.”

Megan Green, director of new student programs, was quoted in the April 19 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “10 necessities for college students.”

Alumna Kenya Haney, BSN 2010, was featured April 18 in The St. Louis American article “Health salute: Eight excellent awardees.”

Beth Huebner, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was interviewed on April 1 for a KMOX (1120 AM) story about St. Louis gun crimes and gangs. The story was picked up by the Associated Press, appearing in news media outlets throughout the United States.

Dan Isom, professor of policing and the community, was featured April 3 in the St. Louis Review article “Former Police Chief Dan Isom says Catholic faith has played a role in his career.”

David Kimball, professor of political science, was quoted April 6 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article “Voting change helped the GOP.”

David Klinger, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, was quoted in the April 16 KTVI (Channel 2) story “Boston bombs meant to maim and kill; easy to build.” Klinger was interviewed for the April 19 KPLR (Channel 11) story “Terrorism expert breaks down Boston bombings.” He was quoted April 23 in The Los Angeles Times article “Women shot during Dorner manhunt to receive $4.2 million from L.A.”

Martin Leifeld, vice chancellor for university advancement, was quoted April 19 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “KWMU, Beacon online publication merging soon?”

Kristian Marlow, a student pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy, wrote the April 10 Psychology Today article “OCD, Tourette’s syndrome and addition: A real distinction?” Marlow wrote the April 17 Psychology Today article “Does colorblindness discriminate?”

Stephanie Merritt, assistant professor of psychology, co-wrote the April 8 St. Louis Post-Dispatch letter to the editor “Workplace smoking: The cost of perceived fairness and performance.”

Matthew Milunski, research assistant in the College of Nursing, co-wrote the April 8 St. Louis Post-Dispatch letter to the editor “Workplace smoking: The cost of perceived fairness and performance.”

Deb Moberly, adjunct associate professor of secondary and K-12 education, was featured April 22 in the Creve Coeur (Mo.) Patch article “Ask the Patch pro: Early childhood development expert to answer questions Thursday.” Moberly was featured in the article “Ask the Patch pro: Early childhood development expert to answer questions,” which appeared April 25 on several St. Louis-area Patch websites.

Charles Nowell, a junior majoring in studio art, was mentioned April 11 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Beer love goes from Soulard to Edwardsville and beyond.”

Hannah Perryman, a freshman softball player majoring in criminology and criminal justice, was featured April 6 in the Elgin (Ill.) Courier News article “College report: Hannah Perryman in top form at UMSL.”

Andrea Purnell, communications coordinator at Missouri Institute of Mental Health, was featured April 4 in the Ladue (Mo.) News article “2013 Visionary Awards.”

J. Martin Rochester, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science, wrote the letter to the editor “Terrorist require different treatment than garden-variety criminals,” which ran April 24 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Rick Rosenfeld, Curators’ Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was quoted April 20 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Success of Boston surveillance photos cited in support for broader system here.”

Vicki Sauter, professor of information systems, was interviewed for the April 29 KTVI (Channel 2) story “Contact 2: Schnucks Cyber Attack.”

Staci Shelton, a junior majoring in public policy and administration, was quoted April 6 in the St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU story “At global conference, students inspired to tackle local problems.”

Helene Sherman, associate dean of the College of Education, discussed why improving math literacy in the U.S. is important at a young age on the April 9 episode of “St. Louis on the Air,” a program on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU.

Matt Taylor, assistant professor of psychology, was interviewed for the April 29 KSDK (Channel 5) story “Professor talks about affect Collins will have on athletes.”

Kenneth Thomas, professor of political science, was quoted April 3 in the Florida Watchdog article “Not everyone agrees with Scott’s corporate tax cuts.” Thomas wrote the April 10 U.S. News & World Report column “Want jobs back? Axe business tax subsidies.” He wrote the April 11 Business Insider article “Obama could undo all progress made against senior poverty since 1965.” Thomas was quoted April 12 in the Moneynews.com article “Using chained CPI risks a senior poverty crisis.” He wrote the April 14 Business Insider article “There’s been a big global move against tax havens in the past week.” Thomas wrote the April 24 U.S. News & World Report column “The beginning of the end for austerity” He wrote the April 26 Business Insider article “Germany’s aggressive hunt for tax evaders is paying off.”

Whittney Thompson, a junior majoring in psychology, was quoted April 14 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Reality of clean-up eclipses excitement from Hazelwood tornado.”

Mark Tranel, director of the Public Policy Research Center, was quoted April 21 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article “Sales taxes in St. Louis relentlessly on the rise.”

Student performance group Vocal Point was featured in an Associated Press photograph while singing by a makeshift Boston Marathon bombing memorial in Boston. The photo ran in newspapers and media websites throughout the United States.

Alumnus Brant Walker, BSBA 1987, was quoted April 10 in the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat article “Write-in candidate defeats Alton mayor.”

Eamonn Wall, Smurfit-Stone Corporation Professor of Irish Studies, was featured March 27 article “Wall sees parallels in our two Wests.” Wall was quoted April 23 in The Portland (Maine) Daily Sun article “Spring poet at UNE raises timely issues of identity and place.”

Jim Widner, director of jazz studies, discussed the 10th annual Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival April 12 on “Cityscape,” a program on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU. Widner was quoted April 17 in the St. Louis Beacon article “Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival celebrates a strong decade.” He was interviewed on April 17 by KPLR (Channel 11) about the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival.

Abigail Wood, a junior, was featured on April 15 by West Newsmagazine (St. Louis County).

Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted April 5 in the University City (Mo.) Patch article “U City student receives award from UMSL.” Yasbin was quoted April 12 in the Town and Country-Manchester (Mo.) Patch article “Parkway South student honored for foreign language excellence.” He was quoted April 5 in the Sunset Hills-Crestwood (Mo.) Patch article “Student’s foreign language achievement leads to award at UMSL.”

Dan Younger, professor of art, was featured April 12 in the University City (Mo.) Patch article “U City resident, UMSL professor to appear on C-SPAN.”

Jim Henry, director of choral studies at UMSL, conducts University Singers, a UMSL choral group. Henry also serves as the Acappellooza Summer Camp’s men’s chorus and mixed group director. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis has announced Acappellooza Summer Camp, an a cappella music camp for students in grades 9–12. For four days, from July 16–19 students will be immersed in singing led by some of the world’s most prominent names in a cappella music, including members of the internationally famous Ambassadors of Harmony and Jim Henry, director of choral studies at UMSL.

Music and learning tracks will be sent to participating students in advance so that they can come together to perfect their skills in preparation for a one-of-a-kind a cappella concert featuring all Acappellooza Summer participants sharing the stage with the world-renowned a cappella ensemble Vocal Spectrum.

In addition to the intense rehearsals, this will be an opportunity for students to have fun with a pool party, karaoke party, movie night and more.

Jim Henry is Acappellooza Summer Camp’s men’s chorus and mixed group director. Henry holds degrees in vocal music education, music theory and music composition. As director of choral studies at UMSL he conducts University Singers and Vocal Point and teaches choral methods, choral arranging and choral conducting. In addition, Henry is the musical and artistic director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, a 160-voice men’s a cappella chorus that performs barbershops, jazz, and light classical music.

Debbie Cleveland, choral director at Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., is the camp’s women’s chorus director. Debbie serves 165 students each year with a full program that includes three choruses, and SHOWCASE, a pop music ensemble consisting of 16 singers accompanied by a live 10-piece band. Debbie currently performs as lead singer of the 2005 International Champion Quartet the BUZZ and is a studio singer for Warner Bros. promotional materials for educational choral publications.

The registration fee for the four-day camp is $225 through May 31 and $250 after. This fee includes admittance to the camp, professional instruction, fun activities, a T-shirt and lunches and dinners. A housing and meal option can be purchased for $94. Housing will be at Oak Hall, a residential hall on UMSL’s campus, featuring four-bedroom suites with a shared full bath. The meal option includes breakfast. Limited partial scholarships are available.

For more information and to register, call 314-516-6590 or visit acappelloozasummer.com.

About the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Professional & Continuing Studies: The University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Professional & Continuing Studies provides courses, programs, conferences, and events that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, visit pcs.umsl.edu.

Jean M.K. Miller will begin serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at UMSL on July 1. (Photo courtesy of the University of North Texas in Denton)

Jean M.K. Miller has been named dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Miller, who will begin the position July 1, currently serves as associate dean of administrative affairs in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas in Denton. She oversees the Design Research Center in Dallas, and she’s served as acting dean of UNT’s Toulouse Graduate School.

“I was attracted to UMSL and the College of Fine Arts and Communication as both an administrator and an artist,” Miller said. “A diverse and talented faculty, staff and student body, strong programs and being acknowledged by the Carnegie Foundation as an institution that is truly engaged with St. Louis and metro-area communities were just a few of my considerations.”

Before joining UNT, Miller was chair of the Department of Art and Design, Art History and Art Education at Towson University in Maryland. Prior to that, she was chair of the Department of Art and Design at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts-painting at St. Cloud University in Minnesota. After graduating with a master of fine arts degree in painting from California College of the Arts, she began her career as a professor of studio art at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, where she headed the painting programs for 10 years.

UMSL Provost Glen Cope said Miller will be a great asset to the university.

“She’s an excellent academic and administrator,” Cope said. “I am pleased that she will join us to build on the fine work of John Hylton and James Richards in moving our College of Fine Arts and Communication forward.”

Richards, professor of music at UMSL, has served as interim dean of the college since August 2010, when Hylton stepped down after serving as dean for eight years and returned to his position as a professor of music.

The College of Fine Arts and Communication was established in 2001. It comprises four departments: art and art history; communication; music; and theatre, dance and media studies. Hylton was named dean of the college in 2002 after serving as interim dean from the college’s inception.

Media coverage:
St. Louis Business Journal 

Bob Sundvold, the new head coach of the UMSL men’s basketball team, speaks at a news conference on May 8 at the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center.

Bob Sundvold, a veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience as both a head coach and assistant coach, has been named the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Lori Flanagan, director of athletics at UMSL, formally introduced Sundvold at a news conference on Wednesday in the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center.

“We are delighted to name Bob as our new coach and welcome him and his family to St. Louis,” Flanagan said. “He has achieved tremendous success throughout his coaching career and we expect our men’s basketball program to continue growing and competing at a high level under his direction. We are looking forward to this new era of UMSL men’s basketball.”

Sundvold comes to UMSL after spending last season at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston under Jay Spoonhour.

“My wife, Denise, and I are both excited for this opportunity to be the head men’s basketball coach at UMSL. We are looking forward to returning to Missouri and moving to St. Louis,” Sundvold said. “I am thankful for the opportunity the UMSL administration has given me and am looking forward to sustaining the success Steve Tappmeyer put in place.”

Sundvold broke into the college coaching ranks as an assistant coach under Norm Stewart at the University of Missouri–Columbia. From 1978-1991 he helped the Tigers make nine NCAA Tournament appearances while winning six Big Eight Conference Championships and 286 total games.

Sundvold then moved on to coach one season at Missouri State University in Springfield (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) for Charlie Spoonhour, as the Bears won the 1992 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Following his one season at Missouri State, Sundvold took over as head coach at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg (former Central Missouri State University). His Mules teams posted 82 wins with trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament in each of his last three seasons. The 1995 squad was led by NCAA Division II Player of the Year Tyrone Latimer as Central Missouri State advanced to the Elite Eight.

From Central Missouri State Sundvold was hired as the head coach at the University of Missouri–Kansas City serving four years for the Kangaroos. The team posted a winning season in 2000 placing second in the Mid-Continent Conference while winning the school’s first conference tournament game. UMKC was led by Michael Jackson, the 2000 Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year.

In eight years as a head coach at the collegiate level Sundvold compiled a 125-108 (.536) record.

Sundvold returned to an assistant coach role in 2001 joining the staff at Iowa State University in Ames. He was instrumental in recruiting three straight Top 20 classes as rated by Hoop Scoop Recruiting. The 2002 class was ranked top five in the nation. The Cyclones made back-to-back postseason NIT appearances in 2003 and 2004 advancing to the national semifinals in Madison Square Garden in 2004.

In 2004 Sundvold returned to the head coaching chair as he was hired as the head coach/general manager of the Kansas City Knights of the American Basketball Association. The 2005 squad posted a 19-9 record reaching the ABA playoff quarterfinals. He returned to college game in 2008 as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo (Ohio). He was named the interim head coach in March of 2010 before entering private business for two years.

In addition to his experience as a coach on the floor, Sundvold has also worked as a basketball color analyst for ESPN covering Big 12 Conference games along with regional broadcasts for the Missouri Valley Conference, University of Missouri and Kansas State University in Manhattan.

A 1977 graduate of South Dakota State in Brookings, Sundvold was an All-North Central Conference selection as a player and an All-Academic selection. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri. His younger brother Jon played on four Big Eight Championship teams at Missouri while he was an assistant coach. Jon later went on to play nine seasons in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.

He and his wife Denise have four children: Robert, Ryne, Haley and Cameron.

Twenty members of UMSL’s Catholic Newman Center spent their spring break completing community service on Bethlehem Farm in Talcott, W.Va.

By ALLISON JOSTRAND

While most University of Missouri–St. Louis students spent spring break on icy cold slopes or hot sandy beaches, twenty members of the Catholic Newman Center at UMSL felt compelled to do otherwise. Nineteen students and Rachelle Simon, the CNC campus minister, chose to spend their break completing community service on Bethlehem Farm.

Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic community located in rural Talcott, W.Va. There are a total of nine caretakers that live and work on the farm, as well as provide community service to the people of Appalachia. The farm operates on four cornerstones of living: prayer, service, community and simplicity.

Lucy Ellerman, president of the Catholic Newman Center, described the experience as life changing and heart fulfilling. Even though the work seemed daunting, and the students were all physically exhausted, Ellerman said the students began to appreciate what their bodies could accomplish.

Tina Ingoldsby, a member of the Catholic Newman Center and Bethlehem Farm visitor, recalled some of the service as frustrating.

“But when you step back and imagine the larger picture of what your hard work really means in someone else’s life, the peace of God fills you and gives you the strength to continue,” Ingoldsby said.

She also enjoyed living off of the land, having no concept of time and having no access to technology. She shared that the students felt as though these parameters helped to build stronger bonds within the Newman community.

All students that spent time on Bethlehem Farm recalled the experience as incredibly humbling and unforgettable, and “would definitely go to Bethlehem Farm again.”

Allison Jostrand is a senior communication major at UMSL.

Jessi Cerutti, senior lecturer in art at UMSL, will teach a papermaking class this summer. (Photo by Myra Lopez)

Jessi Cerutti’s creative spark was lit early on. The senior lecturer in art at the University of Missouri­–St. Louis recently came across some drawings she made as a child. One piece foreshadowed her future vocations as a printmaker and papermaker. The young Cerutti had colored a picture with a red crayon and added a layer of green. Then, she scraped away portions of the top color to reveal the red underneath.

“My dad joked, ‘This was your dark phase,’” she said.

But more than it’s sullen appearance, the early work, according to the artist, reflects her lifelong obsession with order and process – a passion that’s useful in creating prints and paper.

Cerutti, of St. Louis, earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art at UMSL in 2005 and has returned to her alma mater to teach. This summer, she’ll offer UMSL students the opportunity to take Studio Art: Papermaking 3074.

“We’re going to be inside and outside a bunch,” Cerutti said. “We’re going to be making a big wet mess. The great thing about making paper is that you’re taking this sort of raw material and transforming it, which I think is really cool.”

Cerutti’s students will learn how to transform recycled and plant fibers into unique sheets of paper.

“Paper can be a surface to make art on, but it can also be the artwork itself,” she said. “I love the medium, because it’s really intuitive.”

Cerutti earned a master’s degree in printmaking at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2011, and her paper artwork has been shown in various exhibitions and galleries. One of her pieces, “10 Rivers, 1000 Years,” is made of handcrafted paper and takes up an entire room, with portions of the work spanning 30 feet.

She said many of her creations are delicate and storing them after an exhibit ends can be stressful. One such example hangs gingerly within a portfolio bag.

“I cringe every time I look at it,” Cerutti said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with it in the long run.”

Rock n Roll Craft Show

In 2005, Cerutti co-founded the Rock n Roll Craft Show, an independent, alternative art and craft fair. The annual event is held in November and features live music. The show has grown to include about 100 vendors.

Cerutti said the idea evolved from a regular poker night she held with friends. Some evenings they’d play cards, and other times they’d make arts and crafts.

“We started thinking about where we wanted to sell our stuff, and there wasn’t a venue that was appropriate,” she said. “The venue we wanted didn’t exist.”

So Cerutti and her friends created their own venue. Early versions of the Rock n Roll Craft Show were held in a parking lot adjacent to a store Cerutti’s mom owned. The event then moved to a gallery space. This year, the show will be held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in St. Louis’ Midtown neighborhood.

Visit rocknrollcraftshow.com or jessicerutti.com for more information.

Three generations of Brenda Scott’s family have called UMSL home. Scott (left), her granddaughter Jessica Lake (center) and Scott’s daughter Deborah Lake each earned a bachelor’s degree at the university. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Jessica Lake has spent the past seven years at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The 25-year-old graduate student says UMSL feels like home and for good reason.

“I was actually on the UMSL campus before I was even born,” Lake says with a smile. “My mom was working on her degree in psychology when I was born. She even had to miss a few finals to have me.”

Growing up at UMSL isn’t unique to Lake, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work here in 2010 and is pursuing master’s degrees in social work and public policy administration. The university celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and boasts more than 85,000 alumni and more than 500 families that include multiple generations of alumni.

For Martin Leifeld, vice chancellor for advancement at UMSL, two and three generations of family members choosing and graduating from the university is, perhaps, the best indicator of UMSL’s success and strength.

“It demonstrates the impact we’ve had throughout the region and that we’re doing what we were created to do,” Leifeld says. “We – UMSL and St. Louis – have grown up together.”

The Scott-Lake family: 3 pathways for 3 women

Jessica Lake’s mother is Deborah Lake, BA psychology 1989. Deborah’s mother and Jessica’s grandmother is Brenda Scott, BSN 1990. And despite being part of a family with three generations of UMSL alumni, the notion of a legacy family was one that Deborah says she hadn’t considered.

“I guess we really never thought about being a legacy family,” she says. “We’re very proud of, and thankful to, UMSL for making each of us successful in our given paths.”

Those paths started to form in the 1960s when Scott began taking nursing courses taught by UMSL instructors at St. Louis City Hospital, a site that now houses the Georgian Condominiums on Lafayette Avenue.

“We really were the last of the Florence Nightingales,” Scott says. “We wore starched uniforms and hats. We practiced strict hand washing to prevent transfer of disease. In addition, we had strict curfews.”

After taking a few UMSL courses and earning a registered nursing degree at the city hospital, Scott began working as a registered nurse and says she was in no rush to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She continued to work, got married and started a family.

But when her daughter Deborah began working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology in the 1980s at UMSL, Scott says she decided it was time to go back to school and complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“Deb was going to school, she got married and was pregnant with Jessica,” Scott says. “She had Jess and graduated in 1989. I then earned my BSN in 1990.”

Deborah went on to earn a law degree from Saint Louis University in 1993 and has practiced law ever since. She focuses on family law.

Jessica says knowing her mother and grandmother had found a home at UMSL made the decision to pursue her first degree here easy.

“Choosing UMSL for the second time was also right for me, because I wanted to study both social work and public policy administration,” she says. “These two departments had an overlapping concentration – nonprofit management and leadership, which helped me to combine the two programs into one that met all my educational goals.”

The Steimel family: love and marriage, twice

Norman Steimel grew up in Black Jack, Mo., the oldest of 11 children. After graduating from Rosary High School in Spanish Lake, Mo., in 1972, he was the first of his siblings to attend college.

He was on his own to fund his education, so Steimel searched the St. Louis area and says UMSL was the right fit for him. He started his first classes and continued to work part time.

In fall 1973, after struggling through several semesters of college preparatory mathematics in high school, Steimel says he needed to find an alternative to math to fit his general education requirements. He enrolled in French 101.

“After the first test, I spied a big red A on the paper of a petite blonde in the first row,” Steimel says. “A plan to successfully get through the course began to hatch in my mind. It involved me stopping that comely classmate to suggest that she and I study our French lessons together. The rest, as they say, is history.”

That unsuspecting classmate would become Libby Steimel, BA psychology 1975, when the two were married in 1978. Norman went on to graduate that same year with a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He’s an associate circuit judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in St. Charles County, Mo. The couple had nine children between 1979 and 1993.

“I consider Norm the best thing that ever happened to me and that happened at UMSL,” Libby says.

When it was time for Nathan, the Steimels’ oldest child, to attend college, his parents encouraged him to look into UMSL, and he did.

While taking business courses here, Nathan met Melissa Shumate. The two began dating and were later married. Nathan earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2002. He then attended law school and now has a private practice in St. Charles, Mo. Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems in 2001. She’s a stay-at-home mother to the couple’s three small children.

Libby says, “It is very touching to me to have met Norm at UMSL and have that common history, then to have Nathan and Melissa meet in similar fashion and have that further common history.”

Following in the footsteps of the older Steimels, six of their nine children attended UMSL.

Susanna Steimel Stark earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and French in 2010. She works at FM Global, an international insurance company in Creve Coeur, Mo.

Jason Steimel enrolled in 2004. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for six years, including two combat tours in Afghanistan. He returned to UMSL and completed a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management in 2012. He and Amber, his wife, have a son and are expecting their second child this summer.

Kathryn Steimel completed several semesters at UMSL in the College of Nursing. She was on schedule to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2012, but after enlisting in the U.S. Navy, her orders took her to Great Lakes, Ill., for training before her final semester was complete. She’s an electronics technician in the Navy and says she plans to finish her degree once her naval training is complete.

Norman and Libby Steimels’ two youngest children are also students at UMSL. Marissa, a junior communication major, and Priscilla, a sophomore nursing major, say they almost didn’t choose UMSL specifically because of their family’s history with the university.

“It was both an easy and a hard choice,” Priscilla says. “On the one hand, I knew it would be cool to be going to the same university as my parents and siblings because that would create an even stronger bond or connection between us all. On the other hand, I wanted to be unique and not just be another Steimel.”

Marissa agrees. She wanted to make her own mark, but after touring campus, she says she was hooked.

“I chose UMSL, because I loved the atmosphere here when I first visited,” she says. “I immediately felt welcomed. Everyone was willing to talk to me and make me feel like part of the UMSL community. It just felt right.”

This story was originally published in the spring 2013 issue of UMSL Magazine.