Lewis, who also earned a certificate from the Pierre Laclede Honors College, was part of the Opportunity Scholars Program.
Stories by Heather Riske
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Optometry grad Haley Metz pursues passion for patient-centered care with residency at Cincinnati VA Medical Center
Metz found a love for the VA system during her fourth-year externships.
UMSL selected for IIE American Passport Project grant
The grant will enable up to 25 UMSL students to obtain their first U.S. passport, opening up the path for them to study abroad.
Andy McEwen, Pamela Stuerke and Jackie Wilmes receive UMSL Hero Awards
The award is presented to up to three staff or faculty members each month in recognition of their efforts to transform the lives of UMSL students and the wider community.
BFA alum Ariel Biggerstaff designs bold, retro-inspired art prints with Fond Printed Goods
Biggerstaff sells her own greeting cards, prints, stickers and gift wrap and has also collaborated with the Missouri Botanical Garden and Anchovy Book Co.
May graduate Chantelle McNeil pursues degree to further her career in auditing and inspire her family
McNeil, who returned to school as a single parent of four children, earned her bachelor’s in liberal studies and a certificate from the Pierre Laclede Honors College.
UMSL, NGA and other local partners team up on geospatial workforce pilot program
The project is designed to strengthen the nation’s geospatial workforce by building intentional education and career pathways that begin well before college.
BSN graduate Anna Hendricks starting career as NICU nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Hendricks first got experience working on the floor while completing her clinical rotations at UMSL.
BSN alum Dajae Post builds on passion for community-centered healthcare at Affinia Healthcare
At the federally qualified health center, Post oversees daily operations, including planning and budgeting, and also assesses patients’ conditions.
May Optometry graduates help serve hundreds of patients during humanitarian trip to El Salvador
Devansi Patel and Kiley Stout, along with 2024 grad Dr. Mariah Strahm, joined Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Linda Marks for an I Care International clinic in Las Placitas in February.
May optometry graduate Sama Alhalabi plans to build on her passion for patient-centered care as a medical optometrist at Quantum Vision Centers
Alhalabi’s exposure to ocular disease throughout her training and education inspired her to continue to care for diseased eyes.
UMSL College of Nursing launches first-of-its-kind 68Charlie LPN-to-BSN bridge program
The program provides a direct path from 68Charlie to BSN and is the only one in the nation to offer coursework in a traditional classroom.
Pre-nursing student Asmahan Ghaleb creates Health Guide USA website to help navigate the complex health care system
Ghaleb developed the website through events on campus including PitchFest and a Vibe Coding Workshop.
Air Force veteran Ahmad Houston works toward degree in marketing alongside Hecktor, a military working dog
Houston and Hecktor served together for about four years at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, primarily working to detect possible explosives.
Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Tareq Nabhan furthers passion for humanitarian work abroad
He recently helped establish two new chapters of Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and at An-Najah National University.
First-year optometry student McKenna Burgess has research published in the Journal of Supramolecular Chemistry
Conducted during her undergraduate career, the research has promising implications for carbon sequestration.
Nursing Associate Professor Umit Tokac uses data to improve public health as a DATA scholar with the National Institutes of Health
In this role, Tokac integrates health and environmental data to improve patient and community health.
Faculty members Sandra Langeslag and Necdet Gürkan team up for interdisciplinary research on romantic feelings for AI companions
Funded by OpenAI, the research specifically examines the emotional and cognitive effects of experiencing romantic feelings for AI companions.
Dr. Julie DeKinder named 2026 Thomas J. ‘Tommy’ Pham GPLI-NKCF Keratoconus Practitioner of the Year
Named for the former Cardinals outfielder, the award recognizes exceptional expertise in keratoconus education and management.
Fourth-year optometry student John Luder receives 2026 Dr. Frank D. Fontana Memorial Scholarship
Luder was honored for outstanding clinical performance, empathetic patient care, embracing modern technologies and active involvement in the optometric community.
Cedric Carr promoted to captain of UMSL Police Department
Carr, who has worked at UMSL for over 10 years, plans to increase the department’s community engagement and visibility.
Nursing alum Angie Tobias builds career in community health at Our Lady’s Inn
Tobias works as an on-site nurse and case manager at Our Lady’s Inn at the maternity shelter, which offers wraparound services for adult pregnant women.
Nursing faculty members Christina Castellano, Michelle Barrier and Julie Bertram recognized with distinguished abstract from Midwest Nursing Research Society
Their research examines the benefits of peer support groups for nursing students who are also mothers.
2026 Trailblazers Awards celebrate UMSL community members who lead with innovation and dedication
This year’s recipients were Bob Sundvold, Chelesa Holden, Jill Bernard Bracy, Keeta M. Holmes, Addy Yoder and Carl Bassi.
English alum Marty Ambrose builds on a lifelong love of poetry in the classroom and in her historical mysteries
Ambrose has written a trilogy on Claire Clairmont, a writer and the stepsister of Mary Shelley, as well as “The Lost Dresses of Italy,” which explores the life of Victorian poet Christina Rossetti.
Nearly 1,000 band, choir, orchestra and visual art students attend annual Des Lee Fine Arts Festival at UMSL
The immersive two-day event brought high school and middle school students from around the region to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
UMSL alum Martin Goebel to exhibit work at the Smithsonian Craft Show
Goebel, who earned his BFA in studio art from UMSL in 2008, will be one of only a handful of furniture makers from across the country featured in the show.
UMSL students chosen to perform with Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra at Missouri Music Educators Association Conference
Several faculty members also represented UMSL at the conference, including Missouri Collegiate Educator of the Year Kurt Baldwin.
UMSL alum and retiring St. Louis Mercantile Library curator Julie Dunn-Morton helps create new art gallery as legacy project
The Wallace H. Smith Gallery of Art officially opened last fall and is currently displaying works by Frederick Oakes Sylvester.
Lauren Pflug, Matthew Henry and Vivek Singh receive UMSL Hero Awards
The award is presented to up to three staff or faculty members each month in recognition of their efforts to transform the lives of UMSL students and the wider community.
2021 Coro Fellow Ronald Jones returns to UMSL to pursue MPPA with an emphasis in local government
Through the MPPA program, Jones is currently working as a city inspector and code enforcement officer for the City of Dellwood.
Nursing PhD graduate Nwanneka Okere studies how social media data can enhance traditional drug safety monitoring systems
Okere, who works as a senior director at Nurix Therapeutics, has built a career in pharmacovigilance and drug safety.
Melinda Adams named chief human resources officer and associate vice chancellor for human resources at UMSL
Adams first joined the University of Missouri in 1995 and has since served in multiple human resources leadership roles.
DNP grad and cancer survivor Justin Lovelady dedicates project to increasing mental health screening in cancer patients
The recent grad worked with his own oncologist to implement routine distress screening for oncology patients using the NCCN Distress Thermometer.
Mechanical engineering grad Max Evets leverages internship experiences into full-time position in Ameren’s new gas generation group
The group is responsible for all new gas energy centers or power plants that are being commissioned and developed as part of Ameren’s Integrated Resource Plan.
At Boeing, UMSL alum Eric’el Johnson helps open doors for other engineering students
As a senior systems engineering manager, she helps connect different engineering teams to deliver computing-related products for multiple different aircrafts.
Jadyn Mullen lands position as labor and delivery nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Mullen will graduate with her BSN from the College of Nursing and a certificate from the Pierre Laclede Honors College later this month.
Missouri Optometry Hall of Fame opens inside UMSL College of Optometry
The inaugural inductees are the late Dr. James A. DeClue, the late Dr. Frank Fontana, the late Dr. Robert A. Koetting and Dr. Anne Ream.
DNP graduate Emily Leone builds on passion for women’s health and advocacy
Leone earned an award for her DNP project, “Implementation of a Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Toolkit Postpartum,” at the college’s pinning ceremony in August.
3 questions with Luke Pellegrino, second-year optometry student
As a puppy raiser for the nonprofit Dogs Inc, Pellegrino is training a puppy named Electra to serve as a guide dog.
Associate Professor Carissa Philippi presents on understanding depression and trauma through the brain as part of NextGen Precision Health’s Discovery Series
Her talk explored how such negative self-related thoughts become prolonged and persistent in different psychiatric disorders.
Opportunity Scholar Nadia Manushev pursues career in optometry through the Department of Biology’s 3+4 program
Manushev, who speaks Bulgarian and Spanish, was also a member of the Bridge Program before starting her studies at UMSL.
UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center delivers diverse pathways to prepare the workforce of tomorrow
With a new location on the UMSL campus, the AWC offers everything from collaborative educational agreements with corporate partners to short-term skill development.
College of Nursing hosts escape room simulation focused on infection prevention training
In the interactive, game-based simulation, students worked through clues and challenges related to infection control practices.
Associate Professor Lindsay Athamanah receives Emerson’s Excellence in Teaching Award
An associate professor of special education in UMSL’s College of Education, Athamanah works closely with the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education.
UMSL Marketing and Communications wins three CASE Best of District VI Awards
The department was honored for its work in UMSL Magazine and UMSL Daily.
Optometry student Grace Broach named to 2025-26 CooperVision Student Contact Lens Leadership Society
The society provides educational experiences for optometry students who are interested in elevating their contact lens knowledge.
Optometry student Quynh Nguyen named to 2025-26 CooperVision Student Myopia Leadership Society
The society provides educational experiences for students in optometry schools across North America who are dedicated to helping treat children with myopia.
Nursing Assistant Teaching Professor Joshua Minks helps support doctoral nursing students through Jonas Scholar Alumni Council
The 10-person council consists of members from across the country who aim to support new scholars and advance nursing research more broadly.
College of Optometry alum Dr. Sarah Frye Heywood builds career as optical regional director at Walmart
Heywood focuses on teaching, training and developing associates working in nearly 600 Walmart vision centers across 20 states.