Accounting major Alex Paubel will become the ninth member of her immediate family – both of her parents, plus her six older siblings – to earn a degree from UMSL.
Stories by Ryan Fagan
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UMSL’s DBA program welcomes another class of industry leaders
The strong reputation of UMSL’s three-year program continues to attract high-caliber professionals looking to increase their ability to impact and influence their industries.
Online MBA trip to Chile creates an unforgettable experience for master’s students
In addition to researching the international business component for their capstone class, the group explored the wide variety of geographical and cultural areas in and around Santiago.
Eye on UMSL: Art show
Art and Design students and department members held their annual Winter Market in early December, offering a variety of items including including shirts, jewelry and screen printed art.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center awarded $75,000 Small Business Administration grant
The SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development awarded grants to 76 organizations as part of its 2025 Growth Accelerator Competition.
Assistant Professor Tessa Garcia-Collart leads immersive two-day seminar in Finland
After teaching her seminar at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Garcia-Collart traveled to Helsinki to further her research on consumer happiness.
Marcia Countryman honored as MOCPA’s 2025 Outstanding Educator of the Year
As faculty advisor for the Accounting Club, Countryman organizes multiple networking events featuring UMSL alumni and accounting professionals from across the region.
With VantageLinks, Jake and Leah Amir combine their passions for tech and health care
Their company combines both of their skill sets, leveraging Jake’s tech expertise to help Leah deliver solutions in health care.
Supply Chain PhD student Paula Penagos wins Best Video award at prestigious INFORMS conference
With her video, titled “Sheltering under the storm,” Penagos demonstrated not only her talent for producing important research, but the ability to convey the results in an impactful manner.
UMSL Innovation Center celebrates official grand opening
The newly renovated and newly renamed facility has already made an impact, not just on the UMSL campus but the community as a whole.
Entrepreneur of the Year Awards shine in newly renovated UMSL Innovation Center
Angela Garland, the founder of Exit 11 Coffee, was named Entrepreneur of the Year 20 years after finishing her career-altering MBA at UMSL.
Through hands-on learning, UMSL’s new School of Engineering helps meet the demand for trained engineers in Missouri
The new school not only helps the university meet the demand for trained engineers in Missouri but also gives students access to the only public engineering school in eastern Missouri.
Veterans Day ceremony highlights UMSL’s commitment to supporting student veterans
The UMSL Veterans Center provides military veterans with support and community as they transition away from active military duty to pursue their college education.
Eye on UMSL: Swag prep
The annual Information Systems and Technology Alumni Social is planned, budgeted, marketed and organized from conception through execution by students in Damon Walker’s class.
12th annual International Business Case Competition draws talent from across the country
The three-person team from UMSL finished third in the competition, which focused on creating an innovative marketing strategy and marketing plan for Dot Foods.
Alum Georgeann McLemore returns to share her success story with current students
UMSL Teaching Professor Michael Costello invited McLemore back to show his students what is possible when they embrace opportunities offered by the university.
MasterCard VP Regina McWilliams’ DBA research accepted for journal publication
For McWilliams, having her research published in the International Journal of Cross Cultural Management was a way of honoring Bettina Casad, the original chair of her dissertation committee.
Mechanical Contractors Association announces engineering scholarships, student club
The MCA will award four $2,500 scholarships for the 2025-26 school year while also launching a student club that will provide access to internships, jobs and industry connections.
Supply Chain symposium breaks new ground in its sixth year
Each of the four sessions at the 2025 symposium partnered UMSL faculty members with industry experts to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Supply chain department research helps Beauty Supply Refresh adjust to market fluctuations
Zahra Rahmati and Sowmya Kumpatla developed a mathematical optimization model to help the company revamp its supplier selection decisions to adjust to a quickly changing marketplace.
Eye on UMSL: Record party
UMSL students were encouraged to bring their own vinyls, EPs, CDs and LPs to share during UMSL Radio’s October Radio Social.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center announces first-ever All-Campus Pitch Competition
The EIC will offer pitch workshops to help student participants refine their proposals before the competitions start in the spring semester.
Assistant Professor Dan Grossman explores the ‘maybe’ problem
Grossman and his research collaborators found motivated reasoning as one of the root causes of why invitees so often respond to invitations with ‘maybe’ instead of a definitive ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Finance Career Conference offers students opportunity to lead panel, fireside chat sessions
Haley Rives, the managing director at Asset Consulting Group and a mentor for UMSL’s RISE Academy, was the keynote speaker at the event.
Information systems student Matt Garland already working as QA analyst at Weissman
Alum Greg Shafer, who serves on UMSL’s Information Systems and Technology Advisory Board, helped connect Garland with his future employer.
Student Investment Trust portfolio eclipses $1 million plateau
The value of the UMSL fund has nearly doubled over the past two years, with students in each of the three methodology groups each beating market averages in that time frame.
School of Engineering faculty excited as first semester gets underway
Founding Director George Nnanna and his first two faculty hires, Xin Wang and Hamid Sanei, share a commitment to providing an experiential learning environment for UMSL students.
Susan TeStroete, Eboni Valentine and Derik Holtmann 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.
UMSL DBA program leaves its mark on Engaged Management Scholarship Conference
UMSL DBA students authored 36% of all papers submitted to the premier event, which was held on the campus of Pepperdine University.
Accounting department offers valuable opportunities for career connections to local firms
The Accounting Club’s ‘Launch Your Career’ event featured 11 UMSL accounting alumni representing their firms as they dispensed advise and answered students’ questions.
Eye on UMSL: 40 years of impact
UMSL’s Bridge Program kicked off its 40th year providing guidance and support for local high school students as they prepare to make their college choices.
Study abroad program to Oxford University includes local Shakespeare influence
UMSL students spent two weeks in England, staying at Christ Church College, soaking up the local history and attending lectures and presentations with a pre-law focus.
UMSL’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter earns top awards at annual national meeting
The UMSL chapter was one of eight chapters in the country to earn Superior recognition for its work with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Fall Involvement Jamboree helps students discover ways to engage on campus
More than 375 students attended the Jamboree, helping the Office of Student Involvement uphold its motto: Where people find their people.
UMSL marks a new era with dedication of Ed G. Smith College of Business
The first named college in the university’s history is honoring Smith, a two-time UMSL graduate and the founder and CEO of American Direct Marketing Resources.
Move-In Day schedule tweak allows for slower pace, more personal attention for first-year students at Oak Hall
With Oak Hall expected to be at full capacity for the fall semester, Move-In Day events were spread over multiple days to create a smoother experience for first-year students.
MBA alum and former UMSL golfer Manon Labeur finds success at Commerce Trust
Labeur, whose time on the course with UMSL included a hole-in-one and an appearance in 2022 NCAA Division II Championships, is a senior private client advisor associate at Commerce Trust.
UMSL’s Supply Chain Analytics Center of Excellence set to open for fall semester
The Center is founded on three pillars – research, education and outreach – and designed to increase the visibility and impact of UMSL’s award-winning supply chain department.
Accounting alum Kerrie McKenna-Forbes celebrates 15 years at Bank of America
McKenna-Forbes worked three jobs while taking classes – including Pierre Laclede Honors College classes – as she earned her accounting degree from UMSL.
Accelerated Master’s student Grant Ebert filling big shoes as Accounting Club president
Ebert, who has volunteered with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program the past two years, finished an audit internship at CliftonLarsenAllen this summer.
Supply Chain PhD student Juana Jaramillo-Rios completes prestigious summer program at University of Antwerp
Jaramillo-Rios also had the opportunity to represent UMSL with a presentation at the Student Honor Panel at the Transportation Research Board Conference on Marine Security.
Patricia Zahn selected as member of prestigious Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship
Zahn, the director of community engagement and outreach at UMSL, will be one of five ACES members from the University of Missouri System.
Alum Sandra Van Trease honored as Director To Watch by Director & Boards magazine
Van Trease is being recognized for her exemplary work as a board member for multiple companies and organizations since retiring from BJC HealthCare in 2020.
For second consecutive year, three UMSL accounting students awarded prestigious $15,000 PCAOB scholarship
To be eligible for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board award, students must carry a GPA of 3.3 or higher and be nominated by faculty members.
Business alum Ryan Bowman ready to hit ground running with Terrace Wealth
Bowman, who earned his BSBA from UMSL in 2013, served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Army after graduating from Francis Howell Central High School.
Master’s grad Shiori Kaji has audit accounting role lined up with Anders CPA
Kaji, whose parents traveled from Japan for the UMSL commencement ceremony in May, wants to use her accounting degree to advance the cause of conservation biology.
Johnna Murray, Rachel Thompson and Shawn Murphy 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.
Joint Engineering Program graduate Kyle Stallings starts platform integration role at Boeing
Stallings was involved with the program outside of the classroom, too, including as an officer for the Society of Future Engineers.
Joint Engineering grad Emmanuel Morgan lands project management role at Nooter/Eriksen
Morgan’s experience in UMSL’s Bridge Program helped him prepare for college and inspired his journey to finish his education debt-free through scholarships and other options.
International Business grad Max Hood learned to ‘lean in’ to UMSL opportunities
Hood’s dedicated involvement with the University Program Board, the Office of Student Involvement and UMSL’s social media channels made a big impact on campus.