The E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Youth Crime and Violence was one of four people named fellows in 2026 for their scholarly contributions to the field of criminology.
Stories by Steve Walentik
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26 faculty members receiving promotions for the 2026-27 academic year
Eleven faculty members were granted tenure and three were awarded the rank of full professor. Of the 12 non-tenure track faculty members receiving promotions, six received the rank of full teaching professor.
CLIMB program gives area high school students exposure to hands-on research work in UMSL labs
Seven students from Hazelwood East and University City High Schools participated in the paid internship program as it marked its 12th year this summer.
UMSL’s Sheila Grigsby set to be inducted into The Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship
The associate professor of nursing is among 24 new members of the international organization, which recognizes exceptional leaders who unite academics and communities to benefit society.
UMSL Athletics enjoys unparalleled success in competition, classroom in 2025-26
The Tritons won a school-record five Great Lakes Valley Conference championships, received 17 All-America nods and saw swimmer Justice Beard capture three individual national championships during a historic year.
Geospatial Summer Camp gives area high school students hands-on experience with emerging technology
More than 30 students, hailing from 20 area high schools, took part in the four-day camp organized for the fourth straight year by UMSL’s Geospatial Collaborative.
High school student Ayush Vasireddy gaining hands-on chemistry research experience using nanoporous gold at UMSL
Vasireddy won four awards when he entered his work in the 76th annual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.
Allison Lendman relishing research experiences while pursuing master’s in biochemistry and biotechnology
Lendman is taking advantage of the accelerated master’s program after completing her bachelor’s in May.
Computer science graduate Anthony Burrows set to begin pursuing second bachelor’s in engineering this fall
Burrows, a four-year member of UMSL’s men’s tennis team, first came to the university as part of a cohort of 20 students from The Bahamas.
College of Nursing earns maximum 10-year reaccreditation from Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The accreditation is affirmation of UMSL’s academic quality, student outcomes, faculty expertise and commitment to continuous improvement.
UMSL Advanced Credit Program meets high standards to achieve reaccreditation from national alliance
The ACP program is the largest dual credit program in the state of Missouri and counts more than 8,000 students from more than 90 schools across the St. Louis region.
Opportunity Scholar Nick Ballenger starting vet school after completing bachelor’s degree in biology
Ballenger will begin studying at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.
Eye on UMSL: Music of the movies
Assistant Teaching Professor David Wacyk dressed up as Marty McFly as he conducted the UMSL Orchestra and Wind Ensemble on May 13 at the Touhill.
Scott D. Peterson’s book, ‘A Month of Game Days,’ wins Twin Bill Prize for Best Baseball Fiction
Peterson captures stories about baseball-obsessed father and coach Lou Mallett and his family. The book was inspired by some of Peterson’s own experiences coaching youth baseball in central Maine.
Kaley Ware maximizes her experience at UMSL while earning master’s degree in economics
Ware, who graduated from the accelerated master’s program, will begin a doctoral program in economics at the University of Tennessee this fall.
Zoe Ellis well prepared to embark on PhD in biology after coursework, research experiences at UMSL
Ellis will begin studying the impacts of human activity on aquatic biodiversity in a program at Saint Louis University this fall.
Sharlee Climer and computer science students unlock clues in genetic data to improve precision medicine
Climer’s Biological Data Science course gives students an introduction to key areas of biological data science and provides them with hands-on experience processing and analyzing genetic data.
Computer science major Siddhartha Pullannagari to pursue master’s at Columbia University after graduating from UMSL
Pullannagari graduated cum laude and gained extensive research experience working with faculty members Badri Adhikari, Azim Ahmadzadeh, Sharlee Climer and Chung Wong.
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.