Addi Nunnelly graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a minor in global health and social medicine, and a certificate in gender studies. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)
Addi Nunnelly had been eagerly looking ahead to graduation throughout the fall semester at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
In the past two months, some of the regular clients at Barre STL, the local fitness studio she works at in south St. Louis, had started checking in to find out how much time she had left before she could finally celebrate the milestone in her academic journey.
“They’d be like, ‘So what’s the countdown? How many more weeks you got?’” Nunnelly said.
But while the anticipation built, Nunnelly said it still hadn’t sunk in that she would be finished with her degree.
Sociology graduate Addi Nunnelly proudly holds up her diploma cover after walking across the stage on Saturday afternoon during a commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences at the Mark Twain Athletic Center.
The emotions that accompanied the accomplishment might have finally hit her right as she finished her walk across the stage last Saturday afternoon during a commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences. As she started her exit down the ramp, Nunnelly, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a minor in global health and social medicine, and a certificate in gender studies, opened her mouth wide as if ready to scream and held up her diploma case to show it off to a group of family members and friends in attendance at the Mark Twain Athletic Center.
“It’s very surreal,” said Nunnelly, who earned her degree at just 20 years old after taking part in St. Louis Community College’s Early College program and completing her first two years while still in high school.
Nunnelly was not alone feeling pride in all she has accomplished.
“She is a great representative of the best of UMSL,” said Teaching Professor Jim Craig, who chairs the Department of Sociology in addition to serving as an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. “She has been a star in sociology nearly from Day 1. Sometimes sociology students feel like they study the field, but don’t practice it. Not Addi. She has been heavily involved in the community, working on issues she cares about since her first semester. Her internships and off-campus experiences make her a better sociologist in our classes, and her sociology study makes her a better organizer and leader in the community.
“Most of all, she is simply a great person. She exudes positive energy and is smart, talented and fun to be around.”
Finding a home
Nunnelly came to UMSL as a transfer student in the spring semester of 2023.
She had first enrolled at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, wanting to get away from home after earning her associate degree at St. Louis Community College–Forest Park.
“I lost my mom at a young age, so I played mother, older daughter, older sister for a pretty large chunk of my childhood,” said Nunnelly, whose mother died of breast cancer when she was 11. “I really wanted to just get out of St. Louis and not have to worry about my dad or my sister or anybody else for a minute.”
Nunnelly found herself reconsidering that decision during her first semester, before ultimately deciding she’d be better off returning to St. Louis and living at home while continuing her studies.
The choice to transfer to UMSL came easily. Because it was a part of the University of Missouri System, Nunnelly knew her credits from UMKC would transfer easily. Her scholarships, including a Curators Scholarship and Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship, could move with her as well.
Her father also reminded her how much she had liked the tour she took at UMSL before her senior year of high school.
“It was kind of rainy that day, and I remember being with a small group of people,” she said. “My dad and I went. I remember walking by the water and the pond and the fountain and being like, ‘Man, this is really pretty.’”
The university wound up being a great academic home over the past two years.
Taking lessons into the community
Nunnelly was already in the latter half of her junior year when she enrolled at UMSL. She’d chosen to study sociology after being captivated by an introductory course at Forest Park taught by Andrea Nichols, who earned her PhD in criminology at UMSL and who has divided her time on the faculty at both Forest Park and Washington University in St. Louis.
New sociology graduate Addi Nunnelly takes photos with her family in the lobby of the Mark Twain Athletic Center after Saturday afternoon’s commencement.
She also believed it was a versatile enough major to open options for her in multiple career fields, including social work, public health or human resources.
Of course, Nunnelly found herself drawn to a particular track – working with teens and providing sex education.
She had taken part in the Teen Advocates for Sexual Health – or TASH – program through Planned Parenthood Great Rivers while she was in high school. The program, started in 2000, helps teens learn about sexual health, sexuality and how to be advocates in their communities, and it made a profound impact on her.
“Growing up, I was always treated like an adult in most instances – always expected to act a certain way, talk a certain way, have certain responsibilities at a very young age, like starting in middle school,” Nunnelly said. “But when it came to the subject of sex and sexual health, it’s taboo, right? This idea that, ‘Oh, you’re young. We shouldn’t be talking about this. We need to wait till you’re older.’ I really hated that feeling of always being expected to act like an adult but then never being granted the opportunity, within certain subjects, whether it’s sex or drugs or drinking or whatever it is, to know all of the information.
“TASH gave me that space to ask my questions and learn because, whether they’re sexually active or not, young people need to have conversations about consent and boundaries, communications, how to maintain healthy relationships.”
Following her first semester at UMSL, Nunnelly landed an internship at The SPOT – Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens – which is sponsored by Washington University and located in the Central West End and provides access to health and prevention services for teens while helping promote positive educational and vocational outcomes and teaching them how to have a voice in their communities.
More recently, Nunnelly has been working as an education fellow at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and has been involved in helping facilitate the TASH program. She started the position in September and plans to continue working there throughout the spring as she gives herself some time to unwind from the stresses of being in school all these years.
Ready to discover what’s next
Nunnelly is grateful to faculty at UMSL for the support they provided along the way to her degree.
“Jim has definitely been my tried and true if I ever had an issue,” she said of Craig. “He was the faculty member that helped me out with my internship, so that’s how we first kind of got connected. Then he was my professor for one of my classes my fall semester. He’s very involved with students and wants nothing but the best for them, and it’s very clear he leaves his door open. ‘If you ever need to talk, come and talk to me.’”
She had similar praise for Larry Irons and Rachel Craft.
“It’s very clear that the sociology faculty really does care about their students,” she said.
Nunnelly isn’t sure what she will do once her fellowship ends in June. But eventually, she expects to make her way back to higher education to pursue a master’s or even a PhD.
“I definitely want to work a little bit, gain some experience and see what program would fit best for the career that I want to pursue,” she said. “I’ve always had this love for learning. I would love to eventually, down the line, get my doctorate, if that is in the cards. My nana really wants me to do that because she wants to be able to call me ‘Doctor.’ We’ll see.”
