The month, Kinsey Henrichsen will graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Henrichsen also earned an Honors College Undergraduate Certificate and Neuroscience Undergraduate Certificate. During her time at UMSL, she was highly involved on campus as an undergraduate research assistant, active learning assistant and member of the Pierre Laclede Honors College Student Association. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)
It seems like just yesterday Kinsey Henrichsen was moving into her dorm room in Oak Hall at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Now, in the blink of an eye, Henrichsen is preparing to walk in the College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony this month.
“I’m really excited, but at the same time, it feels like these past four years have absolutely flown by,” she said.
It’s easy to see why Henrichsen’s time as an undergraduate at UMSL has been a whirlwind, as she’s readily taken advantage of all the academic and extracurricular opportunities that have come her way.
Her already impressive resume includes roles such as undergraduate research assistant in the LoCANS lab, head active learning assistant and supplemental instructor in the Department of Biology, peer mentor in the Pierre Laclede Honors College and president of the Pierre Laclede Honors College Student Association.
Additionally, Henrichsen’s success in the classroom helped her earn the George and Melissa Paz and Chancellor’s Council Scholarships as well as a place in the St. Louis Scholars Program. This semester, her work on campus helped the PLHCSA win the 2026 UMSL Student Leadership Award for Best Overall Program.
After graduating later this week with credentials including a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Honors College Undergraduate Certificate and Neuroscience Undergraduate Certificate, Henrichsen will further her education at UMSL in the psychological and brain sciences master’s program. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue a PhD and career in clinical psychology.
“I want to be a clinical psychologist working in either a hospital or a clinical setting with children and adolescents who’ve been exposed to some kind of trauma,” she said. “I think a good potential option would be to work in a setting like the one we have here on UMSL’s campus, the St. Louis Children’s Advocacy Center. I really like working with children, and I’m really interested in continuing my work in trauma research.”
Henrichsen first became interested in nursing and psychology at Holt High School in Wentzville, Missouri. A general psychology course piqued her curiosity, while she also gained hands-on healthcare experience through a biomedical sciences class utilizing Project Lead the Way curriculum.
Initially, she leaned toward pursuing nursing in college, earning her certified nursing assistant license at St. Charles Community College. But she soon found another path at UMSL.
Her sisters, Courtney and Christine, are alumni of the university, and Henrichsen saw firsthand how much they enjoyed the campus, community and faculty. She was also influenced by Courtney’s positive experience in the Honors College. It made following in their footsteps an easy choice.
At UMSL, Henrichsen was drawn to the Honors College’s tight-knit community and small discussion-based classes, which facilitated close relationships with both her professors and classmates.
“We’re pretty much on a first-name basis with most of the professors, and they’re just genuinely so kind and willing to help in any capacity,” Henrichsen said. “They hold so many different types of events, whether it be essay-writing workshops or social gatherings. They really are there to help you succeed, and they want the best for you.”
Associate Teaching Professor Kate Votaw was particularly impactful. Her “Honors General Psychology” and “Honors Social Psychology” courses rekindled Henrichsen’s interest in the subject. After enrolling in the psychology bachelor’s program, classes in developmental psychology reaffirmed her decision.
In the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty members such as Associate Professor Carissa Philippi and Associate Professor Bethany Zolman have been equally influential. This year, Henrichsen joined Philippi’s LoCANS Lab, which investigates self-related thought in different patient populations. As an undergraduate research assistant in the lab, she gained experience processing the results from completed research studies.
“A lot of my time was focused on cleaning the data, sorting it,” Henrichsen said, “and then running the analyses to make comparisons and figure out, ‘What does this data tell us? What does it mean, and how can it be applied to the real world?’”
Philippi quickly observed her aptitude for the work.
Kinsey Henrichsen presents her independent research study, “Are You in Control? How Timing and Severity of Trauma Shape Perceived Self-Agency,” to an attendee at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
“Kinsey has demonstrated a level of intellectual curiosity and scientific rigor that is rare for an undergraduate student,” she said. “This is even more impressive when considering this fall was her first time being in a research lab. She is exceptionally motivated and detail-oriented, approaching each task in the lab with precision and an eagerness to learn. Kinsey consistently takes the initiative, asking insightful questions that reflect a deep understanding of the research process and a desire to contribute meaningfully to our projects.”
Henrichsen also showcased that inquisitiveness at the Undergraduate Research Symposium last month, where she presented her independent research study: “Are You in Control? How Timing and Severity of Trauma Shape Perceived Self-Agency.” Her investigation won two Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awards in the Project Content and Presentation Style categories. The Department of Psychological Sciences also presented her with the Kathy Van Dyke Undergraduate Award this week.
The accolades are appreciated, but Henrichsen has found greater fulfillment leveraging her academic abilities to help others. Last spring, she served as active learning assistant for Zolman’s Genetics course and subsequently went on to act as a supplemental instructor for another biology course, Organisms and the Environment. This semester, she was promoted to head ALA.
Being on the other side of the curriculum has been illuminating, and it’s also taught her to be flexible while tutoring students.
“I’ve learned how to look at content differently, how to approach explaining things differently,” Henrichsen said. “If a student said, ‘Oh, I don’t really understand that. Could you explain it another way?’ I then had to come up with a different way to do it. I’ve been able to develop different ways to explain the same thing to hopefully capture a larger audience.”
But the UMSL experience is more than academics, and Henrichsen endeavored to be involved outside the classroom, as well. She was first introduced to the PLHCSA by a friend, and as a sophomore, she became treasurer of the organization. She then rose the ranks, serving as secretary and, most recently, president on the 2025-26 executive board.
“I really like planning events and organizing,” Henrichsen said. “That’s definitely one of my strong suits. I noticed that a lot of people were graduating, so I thought my organizational expertise would help the events flow a little smoother.”
Those event-planning skills were put to the test this Halloween when PLHCSA organized the annual Haunted Honors event. The location of the event was up in the air until a week before Halloween, but the PLHCSA leadership was able to buckle down and put together a haunted house in the Villa Building.
“We had a week to get all the tarps and decorations hung, put up the signs and move furniture,” Henrichsen said. “We were definitely stressed, but somehow it magically came together with the teamwork of everyone who participated.”
In the end, more than 200 people made their way through the horror movie-themed installation, which earned the organization the 2026 UMSL Student Leadership Award for Best Overall Program.
One chapter of Henrichsen’s journey at UMSL will soon conclude at commencement, but a new chapter will begin this fall in graduate school.
“Given her academic achievements, promising research skills, leadership experience and interpersonal qualities, Kinsey was an ideal candidate for our master’s program in psychological and brain sciences,” Philippi said.
For Henrichsen, it just made sense to continue her collaboration with Philippi. It will likely fly by as well, but she knows furthering her education at UMSL will take her where she wants to go.
“I really wanted to continue my work with her,” Henrichsen said. “I really enjoy the research that she does on self-related thought and the different avenues there. So, I thought, ‘Why not stick around to do a master’s?’ Because I’m hoping to one day apply to clinical PhD programs, and this will give me a good neuroscience foundation. Then it will allow me to apply it to my future work.”
