Pullannagari graduated cum laude and gained extensive research experience working with faculty members Badri Adhikari, Azim Ahmadzadeh, Sharlee Climer and Chung Wong.
Stories by Steve Walentik
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Ameren invests $1 million in UMSL School of Engineering and its students
The funding supports a new electrical engineering lab, scholarships and hands-on learning experiences.
UMSL announces new Leadership Institute to support emerging and established leaders throughout the region
Thomas Douaihy, Kathy O’Neill and AJ Segal will serve as executives-in-residence and will help guide the development of the new institute.
Biologist Aimee Dunlap discusses research on the ecology and evolution of learning as part of NextGen Precision Health Discovery Series
Dunlap and her students study arthropods such as bumblebees, fruit flies and tarantulas to glean insights on how environmental variability affects cognition.
Political science PhD graduate Jake Shaw lands job as assistant professor at DePauw University
Shaw successfully defended his dissertation on April 14. His research explored the impact of natural disasters on voting behavior in gubernatorial and presidential elections.
KSDK spotlights UMSL baseball team after winning first conference title since 2003
Sports Director Frank Cusumano stopped by practice this week as the team prepared to take on Wayne State Thursday in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament.
Studio Art major Jacob Jeliti receives $5,000 scholarship from Greater St. Louis Artists
Jeliti, a junior, was one of four college art students across the St. Louis region honored with scholarships earlier this spring.
2nd annual Start with Leadership Conference brings more than 300 professionals to UMSL for afternoon of learning, networking
FOCUS St. Louis and UMSL collaborated to host the conference last Thursday at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Adella Jones, Channon Peoples receive Chancellor’s Medals for their work on behalf of UMSL
Chancellor Kristin Sobolik suprised both with the honors during the annual Career Milestone Recognition Reception.
Chancellor Kristin Sobolik honored with Visionary Leadership Award at annual North County Inc. Leadership Breakfast
Sobolik, who is retiring at the end of June, has led significant enhancements to UMSL’s academic offerings and the physical campus during her nine years at the university.
UMSL’s Bridge Program celebrates 40 years of preparing students of every background for college success
Since 2003, 100% of Bridge Program graduates have gone on to college or other postsecondary educational opportunities.
UMSL recognizes the exceptional work of its researchers during annual Research and Innovation Celebration
The university honored Claire Wolff, Erika Gibb, Jodi Woodruff, Azim Ahmadzadeh, Jalene LaMontagne, Jill Delston, Cynthia Dupureur and Xin Wang with awards.
Doctoral student Anna Heinzmann researching how instituting plea bargaining is altering the legal system in her native Brazil
Heinzmann holds a law degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, and her legal training has helped inform her research.
Longtime Missouri Botanical Garden President Peter Raven’s legacy includes strengthening biology program at UMSL
Raven, also a former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, died Saturday at age 89.
Eight faculty members granted sabbaticals or teaching releases during 2026-27 academic year
Annah Bender, Sandra Langeslag, John McGrosso, Stephanie Merritt, Laura Miller, Carissa Philippi, Shannon Ahrndt and Marc Spingola have been granted time to devote to research or course development.
History alum Dan Ignaczak’s newfound passion for learning leads him back to UMSL for master’s degree
Ignaczak aims to one day teach history at a community college, having seen how much being in that environment benefited his own educational journey.
UMSL Tritons weekly rewind
The men’s golf team won its fourth conference title under Coach Troy Halterman while the women’s tennis team clinched the GLVC East Division crown for the first time.
Missouri Botanical Garden President and UMSL alum Lúcia Lohmann honored with Robert R. Hermann World Ecology Award
The award, from UMSL’s Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, recognizes distinguished individuals for their efforts to protect biodiversity and promote ecology and conservation around the globe.
Professor Michael Cosmopoulos honored as a Guggenheim Fellow in the Classics
The fellowship honors leading thinkers, innovators and creators in art, science and scholarship with more than 223 chosen for the 2026 class from more than 5,000 applicants across all fields.
UMSL partnering with U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command to support student learning, strengthen research
UMSL hosted AMC Chief Scientist Albert Lowas for a kickoff meeting to discuss potential collaborations in engineering, supply chain and analytics, and geospatial science.
Congressman Wesley Bell tours API Innovation Center labs in UMSL Science Complex
Bell recently led a successful effort to secure more than $1 million in federal funding to establish the API Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub.
St. Louis Children’s Advocacy Center working to raise awareness of abuse and neglect during Child Abuse Prevention Month
St. Louis CAC staff have organized a social media campaign and will take part in a Pinwheels for Prevention Ceremony on Friday in downtown Clayton.
Madeline Siener, Sydne Sewald, Kate Votaw 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 Tritons weekly rewind
Senior Eli Cartwright tossed the eighth no-hitter in UMSL baseball history, striking out 12 in a 4-0 victory over Southwest Baptist on Saturday.
Michael Cosmopoulos honored with 2026 PROSE Award in classics for his book ‘The World of Homer’
The Hellenic Government-Karakas Foundation Professor of Greek Studies explored the origins of epic poems “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” in the book, published last summer.
UMSL students show off their work at Undergraduate Research Day at the Missouri Capitol
Jesse Bier, Lorah Crame, Bryanna Deatherage, Zoe Ellis, Greg Ketcherside, Karch Knipp, Allison Lendman, Lucy Roth, Samuel Voell and Kyliah Walker represented UMSL at the annual event on March 12.
UMSL receives more than $1 million federal investment to establish API Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub
Congressman Wesley Bell led the effort to secure the funding for the initiative, which will strengthen domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Junior Justice Beard captures three individual titles at NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships
Beard joins men’s golfer Joel Sylven and the 1973 men’s soccer team as the only national champions in UMSL history.
Biologist Kirk Winemiller discusses constructing a ‘Periodic Table of Niches’ during annual Margalef Seminar in Ecology
Winemiller recently retired as a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University and has been recognized internationally for his research on fisheries and aquatic ecology.
UMSL women’s basketball team headed to the NCAA Tournament for fourth time in program history
The Tritons fell to Maryville in double overtime in Sunday’s GLVC Tournament final but secured an at-large berth into the 64-team field.
Junior Justice Beard chasing first national title at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
Beard, a biology major from Paducah, Kentucky, enters this year’s national meet with the fastest times in the country this season in the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle races.
UMSL Bridge Program marks 40 years of impact as it celebrates newest graduates of Saturday Academy
Late Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett was responsible for starting the program in 1986, and her vision remains vibrant in the 78 seniors who completed it this year.
Vibe Coding Workshop exposes students, faculty and staff to emerging technology
Mike Seper, the director of Intellectual Property Commercialization and Innovation, organized the Feb. 20 event in the UMSL Innovation Center.
UMSL Addiction Science Team receives $250,000 grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to advance health equity
The funding supports the creation of the St. Louis Medication Access Project, which will provide medication lockboxes and transportation assistance to individuals seeking treatment.
UMSL receives federal funding to launch Geospatial Workforce Development Pilot Program
Congress provided $5 million through the Department of Defense to support the initiative as a partnership between the university, NGA and T-REX.
Chris Scheetz named executive director of Information Technology Services and chief information officer
Scheetz has climbed the ranks of ITS over more than 25 years at UMSL and has been serving as interim CIO since July.
Foreign Policy magazine taps Susan Brownell’s expertise to discuss China’s growing prominence in Winter Olympic Games
The Curators’ Distinguished Professor of anthropology in UMSL’s Department of History is a noted expert on the Olympic Games and Chinese sports.
Guest lecturer Steven Shapiro gives UMSL entrepreneurship students a peek into the hotel industry
Shapiro serves as the director of the Hospitality and Tourism Law Program at American University Washington College of Law.
Ask an expert: Associate Professor Temidayo Akenroye explore issues of sustainability in supply chains in three new books
Akenroye edited “Indigenous Supply Chain Management in Africa” and “Green Innovations in Supply Chain Management,” both published last fall. His latest book, “Digitizing Healthcare Supply Chains in Africa,” is due out this spring.
UMSL partnering with FOCUS St. Louis to host second annual Start With Leadership Conference
Registration is open for the May 7 conference, which will bring together emerging leaders and C-suite executives from different sectors across the St. Louis region.
Elaina Rohlfing finds calling in computer science at UMSL, begins pursuit of PhD
Rohlfing is continuing to work in Assistant Professor Azim Ahmadzadeh’s lab conducting research on solar flares after finishing the accelerated master’s program in December.
Study Abroad Fair exposes UMSL students to world of possibilities as they look to expand their academic experience
Faculty members and former student participants shared information about educational programs in international destinations in Europe, Central America and Asia.
Chancellor Kristin Sobolik joins Pulse of St. Louis to discuss how UMSL is changing to meet the needs of students and St. Louis region
Sobolik talked about the Transform UMSL initiative and other developments with Fox 2 News journalist Shirley Washington.
US News ranks UMSL 11th nationally for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
The university also scored highly among online bachelor’s programs for veterans and was No. 33 nationally in the Best Online MBA rankings.
Master’s student Sarah Boslaugh continues lifelong education through study of economics, philosophy
Boslaugh already held a PhD in measurement and evaluation when she decided to return to school at UMSL.
Professor Laura Westhoff’s students look for evidence of hope throughout history and today
Westhoff developed the course “St. Louis: Hope in Action” while serving as a Signature Course Fellow at Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good.
Jarad Perry settling into new role at Mastercard after completing master’s degree in cybersecurity
Perry earned his degree with an emphasis in information systems and technology and received an Outstanding Student Award from the Ed G. Smith College of Business.
UMSL receives renewed Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
The university was one of 237 higher education institutions recognized for its commitment to community engagement.
Worth the wait: Sarah Wirthlin earns degree in music education more than two decades after finishing high school
Wirthlin, a mother of four, served as the undergraduate student marshal during Saturday afternoon’s commencement ceremony.
First-generation college graduate Alondra Mendez plans to pursue master’s in data analytics after earning bachelor’s in math
Mendez has been accepted into a master’s program at Washington University after finishing her bachelor’s degree in 3 1/2 years.