Spring commencement ceremonies are set to be held May 16 and May 17 with UMSL expected to confer nearly 1,700 degrees to spring and summer graduates. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

The University of Missouri–St. Louis will confer nearly 1,700 degrees as it celebrates spring and summer graduates during five commencement ceremonies on May 16 and 17.

“I know that I speak for everyone at UMSL when I say we could not be happier to share in this celebration with you and your families,” Chancellor Kristin Sobolik wrote in a letter to students. “Please know that everything you’ve overcome, worked for, and gone through has not gone unnoticed. As we recognize your achievements, know that we are in awe of each of our graduates, and we are all honored to celebrate the conferral of your degree.”

Dr. Mansur Nurdel

The university will begin commencement weekend with a ceremony for the College of Optometry at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. Dr. Mansur Nurdel will deliver the address.

Nurdel, who earned his OD from UMSL in 1997, has touched the lives of thousands of patients over the course of his 28-year career. Based in Colorado, Nurdel treats patients with cataracts, glaucoma, eye infections, corneal diseases and diabetic eye complications, assisting them in maintaining quality of life through better vision. He is the owner of one of Colorado’s leading independently held eye care centers, with 10 locations. In addition to his work as an optometrist, he is also the author of “One More Mountain.” The book recounts his perilous 13-day journey in 1988 to escape religious persecution in Iran, detailing a flight on foot through the snowy mountains with two friends to reach the United Nations refugee center in Ankara, Turkey. The book is the winner of a 2024 National Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council.

All other commencement ceremonies will be held in the Mark Twain Athletic Center.

Bob Clark

Friday’s final ceremony at 7 p.m. will honor graduates of the College of Business Administration and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program. Bob Clark, executive chairman and founder of Clayco, will deliver the address.

Clark, a St. louis native, built up Clayco from a two-person operation into a full-service real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm. Under Clark’s leadership, Clayco has grown into a 3,800-employee company that generated $7.6 billion in revenue in 2024 and has been recognized by publications such as Engineering News-Record and Midwest Real Estate News for its commitment to sustainability and safety. In 2010, President Obama appointed Clark to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. In 2021 and 2022, he also served in the U.S. Department of State as the Commissioner General for World Expo Dubai after being appointed to the position by President Biden. Clark is deeply invested in civic leadership and passionate about critical societal issues including children’s needs, education and rare-disease research and has served as a former executive director and board member for the Central Institute for the Deaf.

Jason Purnell

Saturday’s first ceremony begins at 9 a.m. and will recognize graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences in the humanities and sciences as well as graduates of the College of Nursing. Jason Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, will deliver the address.

As president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, Purnell focuses on improving economic mobility for the people of St. Louis by supporting workforce development, small and midsize business, wealth building and protection and civic infrastructure. Before leading JSMF, Purnell led the community health improvement strategy at BJC HealthCare, which resulted in the creation of transformative health programs. Prior to his role with BJC, he worked as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis’ Brown School, leading the Health Equity Works Initiative and translating data and research into collaborative community action.

Jorge Riopedre

The second ceremony of the day, at 1:30 p.m. will recognize social sciences graduates in the College of Arts and Sciences and graduates of the School of Social Work. Jorge Riopedre, the founding executive director of Delmar DivINe, will deliver the address.

Riopedre has spent his career helping underserved people in St. Louis through projects like the Delmar DivINe, an $89 million mixed-use development which aims to assist disadvantaged communities north of Delmar Boulevard. Before his work with Delmar DivINe, which ran until Nov. 1, 2024, Riopedre served as president and CEO of Casa de Salud, a clinic providing mental health care to members of the new immigrant community in St. Louis, and as executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. Currently, he works with the JSMF as the manager of its Inclusive Prosperity Partnership initiative to build civic infrastructure. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his contributions to the St. Louis community with numerous awards. He was also selected as a USA Eisenhower Fellow 2015 and appointed by the governor to the Hispanic Business, Culture & Trade Commission and the Missouri Complete Count Commission.

Andrea Jackson-Jennings

Commencement will conclude with Saturday’s final ceremony at 6:30 p.m., which will honor graduates of the College of Education and the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education’s Succeed certificate program. UMSL alum Andrea Jackson-Jennings, managing director of the Regional Response Team, will deliver the address.

Jackson-Jennings, who earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate at UMSL, has devoted her career to bettering the St. Louis region though public service. Jackson-Jennings serves as the secretary of the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners, having been appointed by Gov. Mike Parson in 2023 and confirmed by the Missouri Senate in 2024. Bi-State operates the St. Louis Downtown Airport, Gateway Arch Riverboats, Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center, Gateway Arch trams, the St. Louis Regional Freightway and the Metro public transportation system. Jackson-Jennings is also the managing director of the Regional Response Team, a collaborative effort between nonprofit, government and philanthropic partners to support vulnerable populations during crises through effective resource mobilization. Before coming to the Regional Response Team, she was the director of the St. Louis County Department of Human Services for 10 years, leading eight divisions.

Spring 2025 commencement schedule:

Friday, May 16

2 p.m. – College of Optometry at the at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center

7 p.m. – College of Business Administration and UMSL/Washington University Joint Engineering Program

Saturday, May 17

9 a.m. – College of Arts and Sciences I – humanities and sciences – and College of Nursing

1:30 p.m. – College of Arts and Sciences II – social sciences – and School of Social Work

6:30 p.m. – College of Education and Succeed certificate program

Location: Mark Twain Athletic Center unless otherwise noted