Chancellor Kristin Sobolik surprised Adella Jones (left) and Channon Peoples by presenting them with Chancellor’s Medals at Friday’s Career Milestone Recognition Reception. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
Members of the University of Missouri–St. Louis campus community gathered late Friday morning for the annual Career Milestone Recognition Reception at the Millennium Student Center.
It was a chance to celebrate faculty and staff members as they marked 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or even more years of service to the university.
But Chancellor Kristin Sobolik had a surprise in store for the occasion as she presented two staff members – Chief of Staff Adella Jones and Channon Peoples, the executive director of the Office of Precollegiate Student Services – with the Chancellor’s Medal for their work on behalf of the university.
“The UMSL community has a wealth of gifted leaders, supporters and learners who generously share their talents each day as we live our mission to transform lives,” Sobolik said just before announcing the awards. “These individuals possess a laser focused commitment on cultivating students by promoting academic excellence, strong character, sound ethics and fair play. They exemplify our core values of trust, innovation, success, inclusion and engagement. I established the Chancellor’s Medal in 2024 to recognize the visionary work and efforts of these incredible individuals. The medal is awarded to those members of the UMSL community, as well as community friends and supporters, who have made a significant contribution to advance the mission and values of the university.”
Jones and Peoples joined retired Director of Athletics Lori Flanagan and retired Chief of Police Dan Freet as the only recipients of the Chancellor’s Medal since it was established in 2024. Both were caught off guard by the honor and moved to tears while Sobolik described their contributions.
Peoples was the first to be recognized, and Sobolik praised her for her 23 years of service to the UMSL Bridge Program, beginning as a volunteer and then office support specialist before working her way up into leadership positions. The program has helped prepare thousands of high school students across the region to navigate the college admissions process and ensure they’re ready for college success.
Since 2018, Peoples has served as its director, overseeing the Saturday Academy, Summer Academy, Parent Academy, and After School Clubs.
Earlier this year, the Bridge Program celebrated its 40th anniversary. Since 2003, 100% of students who complete the Saturday Academy have matriculated to college while collectively earning millions of dollars each year in scholarships.
“Channon, it has been an honor and privilege to have worked with you over my nine years here and to have seen the transformative effect that you have made on literally thousands of lives,” Sobolik said. “I am so pleased to honor you with the Chancellor’s Medal.”
After presenting Peoples with the medal, Sobolik called Jones to the front of the room.
Jones has served as Sobolik’s chief of staff since January 2022. She was new to higher education when she took the position after spending the previous five years as the senior director of messaging at Centene Corporation, but she brought a wealth of knowledge of the St. Louis region acquired through more than 30 years working in media, communications and government affairs.
“I’m not from St. Louis, and to be the best chancellor for UMSL, I needed somebody by my side that had understanding and experience of St. Louis, Missouri and the legislative process,” Sobolik said. “Adella was the perfect candidate.”
Her background and connections – including those gained in stints as director of communications for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Missouri press coordinator for the office of former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, and as vice president of community and government affairs with the Bi-State Development Agency – have been invaluable in helping win unprecedented government support for key projects such the Transform UMSL initiative and the establishment of UMSL’s School of Engineering. All told, UMSL has received more than $120 million from the state of Missouri over the past three years.
“This all takes a team, and it’s due to the dedication and understanding of what we’re doing here, getting our act together, but having champions and leaders to do this,” Sobolik said. “And Adella has transformed UMSL, and we will never be the same because of it.”
