Newly appointed University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik joined host Sarah Fenske on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU’s “St. Louis on the Air” last Friday. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Over the three years that Kristin Sobolik has been with the University of Missouri–St. Louis – first as provost and then adding the executive vice chancellor title – her name has been said dozens of times on St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU.

But Friday was the first time she spoke on the local National Public Radio affiliate in her new role as chancellor.

Sobolik joined the noontime talk show “St. Louis on the Air” to discuss that new role and her plans for the future with the show’s host Sarah Fenske. During the segment, the two covered Sobolik’s academic background, leadership experience prior to UMSL, how she came to the university and how those experiences mesh to make her a good fit for the role.

“My background has really provided me [with an] interdisciplinary, broad perspective,” Sobolik said. “Having a background in the sciences but also helping oversee social sciences, as well as the liberal arts, is really important when you’re taking a look at an institution with the high-quality, broad-based perspective that UMSL has.”

Their conversation also touched on the challenges of leading the university during the coronavirus pandemic. Sobolik stressed her foremost priority for UMSL to meet the needs of St. Louis.

“This is an important time for leadership,” she said. “It’s an important time for institutions such as UMSL, that are so engaged in the community, that we really lean into what the community needs and wants and values. We want to continue that trajectory and continue that connection and collaboration with St. Louis because we are St. Louis, and the growth and development of St. Louis is really going to rest on institutions like UMSL.”

Listen to the rest of their conversation here.