UMSL celebrating homecoming, including ‘Roaring Back into the ’20s’ dance

Feb 21, 2022

Starting with a basketball game and a dance in 1963, UMSL homecoming has developed into a series of events to engage students, faculty and staff and welcome back alumni. 

Journalist Yamiche Alcindor urges audience to not be silent when encountering injustice during MLK Holiday Observance

Jan 18, 2022

The virtual event also showcased the talent of UMSL students, including MLK scholarship recipients Donnie Tomlin and Jake Bain and singer Tierra Marie Gray.

UMSL Opera Theatre wins first place American Prize for production of ‘The Medium’

Oct 18, 2021

The win marks the third time in four years the program has placed first in national competition.

UMSL faculty and staff members honored with Chancellor’s Awards

Sep 18, 2021

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik presented awards to seven faculty members and three staff members during Tuesday’s Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony.

Eye on UMSL: Chapter Champions

May 14, 2021

Hazel Erby and Rita Heard Days received Chapter Champion Awards during the African American Alumni Chapter’s annual New Graduate Recognition Ceremony.

Music of Latin America makes cultural connections during UMSL’s Piano Studio livestreamed concert

May 7, 2021

UMSL piano students performed pieces from legendary composers such as Ernesto Lecuona and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik unveils ‘Rise Up for St. Louis’ initiative aimed at increasing inclusive prosperity

Apr 30, 2021

Sobolik made the announcement during her livestreamed inaugural event, which included a performance from Golden Globe-winner Andra Day, singing “Rise Up.”

Emily Baize, Ericka Webb and Anthony Harper receive UMSL Hero Award

Apr 9, 2021

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.

Michele Norris highlights need for real reckoning on race in MLK Holiday Observance address

Jan 19, 2021

The noted journalist delivered the keynote address during this year’s virtual event to honor the memory and legacy of the civil rights icon.

Eye on UMSL: Behind the scenes

Sep 14, 2020

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik delivered her annual State of the University Address into a camera with an in-person audience of fewer than 10 people last Thursday in the Lee Theater.

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik calls on UMSL to deepen its impact, expand its reach during State of the University Address

Sep 10, 2020

Sobolik delivered the annual address via livestream Thursday afternoon from the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Alumni Howard Fields, Darryl Diggs convene The State of Black Educators Symposium at the Touhill

Feb 12, 2020

The event drew a crowd of more than 1,000 and offered a chance to network and discuss ways to improve the recruitment, development and support of black educators.

High school students learn from UMSL experts at Des Lee Fine Arts Festival

Feb 10, 2020

Fifteen St. Louis schools were represented at an event designed to connect students through band, choir, orchestra and visual arts.

Exhibition and MADCO production bring the fall of the Berlin wall to life for UMSL, community

Nov 11, 2019

Approximately 800 area-high school students attended the UMSL German Cultural Center commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall last week.

Eye on UMSL: Shoulder to shoulder with a legend

Oct 7, 2019

Campus photographer August Jennewein couldn’t pass up a selfie with Benny Golson last week after the jazz great spoke to students at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Top USDA economist speaks on agriculture and trade at UMSL forum

Sep 27, 2019

Warren Preston, deputy chief economist for the USDA, delivered the keynote address at a collaborative forum on agriculture, trade and supply chain issues.

Interim Chancellor Kristin Sobolik touts UMSL as an ‘institution of opportunity’ in annual address

Sep 19, 2019

Members of the campus community gathered at the Touhill to hear Sobolik’s vision for where the university is and is headed in her State of the University Address.

Hundreds gather to wish Chancellor Tom George and Barbara Harbach well in retirement

Aug 26, 2019

Faculty, staff and administrators as well as alumni and friends from across the region – and beyond – attended a reception Friday afternoon in the Touhill’s Terrace Lobby.

Touhill launches Discover Series to bring unique acts to UMSL, St. Louis community

Jun 24, 2019

CeCe Winans, America and other Grammy-winning artists will grace the Touhill stage during the 2019-20 season.

John Cusack discusses career highlights, political insights in front of energetic Touhill crowd

Jun 17, 2019

Actor John Cusack held a Q&A session with fans following a screening of “Say Anything” on UMSL’s campus to help celebrate the movie’s 30th anniversary.

More than 1,500 students set to receive degrees during UMSL’s spring commencement ceremonies

May 6, 2019

Alumnae Claire Schenk, Sara Foster and Lisa Yanker are among the featured speakers at six commencement ceremonies May 17-19.

Students express gratitude to donors while sharing stories of personal growth during scholarship luncheon

Apr 29, 2019

Friday’s luncheon was a chance to especially recognize scholarship donor Helen Shopmaker and the investment she and her late husband, Allen, have made in UMSL.

Design students team with UMSL Percussion Ensemble on animated performance of ‘Stained Glass’

Apr 22, 2019

The design students each created one minute of animation to accompany the musical performance April 8 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival serves as joyous sendoff for Jim Widner

Apr 15, 2019

UMSL’s director of jazz studies, who is retiring from teaching this year, founded the festival in 2004 and has served as artistic director ever since.

‘Triton F.L.Y. Week’ promotes financial literacy among students with help from hip-hop artist Dee-1

Apr 15, 2019

Juniors and seniors from nearby high schools joined UMSL students at the kickoff concert last Tuesday at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Rebecca Boyer shares career wisdom during Distinguished Speaker Series event

Mar 25, 2019

The accounting alumna spoke during the annual event in honor of Women’s History Month at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Eye on UMSL: Behind the scenes

Feb 25, 2019

The Orientation Leader Team huddled for a backstage pep talk Friday before kicking off the Homecoming Lip Sync Competition in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater.

Des Lee Fine Arts Festival attracts students from across the St. Louis region

Feb 11, 2019

More than 800 middle school and high school students took part in the festival, split across two days last week at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

‘College Connections’ program brings St. Louis Symphony musicians, area students together at Touhill

Dec 10, 2018

High school and middle school students from Bayless and Ferguson-Florissant school districts attended the performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat.”

UMSL Piano Studio collaborates with MADCO 2 for ‘Remembering Debussy’ show

Nov 12, 2018

Fall recital combines music, dance and artwork to celebrate the legacy of French composer Claude Debussy.

Gabby Douglas discusses Olympic distinction, disappointments in UMSL address

Nov 12, 2018

The three-time gold medalist spoke about her dynamic gymnastics career as part of an annual speaker series.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor offers lessons from her life to sold-out Touhill audience

Sep 7, 2018

Sotomayor visited UMSL while promoting her two new children’s books, “Turning Pages: My Life Story” and “The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor.”

Leslie Jones brings stories not suitable for ‘SNL’ to Mirthweek headline act

Apr 30, 2018

The comedienne delivered a fiery performance to conclude the annual Mirthweek celebration.

Ladue News spotlights Chancellor Emeritus Blanche M. Touhill

Apr 20, 2018

Writer Paul Brown featured Touhill in a “Person of Interest” column and chronicled the legacy she’s established at UMSL.

Hamilton cast members visit UMSL campus, meet local high school students

Apr 16, 2018

Six cast members, including the man who plays Alexander Hamilton, met students from McCluer, Hazelwood and Ritenour high schools for a Lunch and Learn at UMSL.

Science Guy Bill Nye beseeches UMSL students to ‘Change the world’

Mar 19, 2018

The famous scientist shared research proving climate change and urged the UMSL audience to pursue science for answers and space exploration for a better understanding of Earth.

Pirate historian Mark Hanna talks to ‘St. Louis on the Air’ ahead of UMSL Opera Theatre production

Mar 15, 2018

The UC San Diego associate professor will be speaking before each of three weekend performances of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” at the Touhill.

Eye on UMSL: Performance Hall

Feb 9, 2018

Middle school orchestra students from across the region made use of whatever space they could find for practice during the packed 2018 Des Lee Fine Arts Festival.

UMSL awards honorary degree to UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski

Jan 29, 2018

Hrabowski was the featured speaker at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration on Jan. 15.

Eye on UMSL: Living out the Dream

Jan 16, 2018

Brian Owens (center) and the MLK Festival Ensemble perform during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Students of German language and culture pack Touhill for Einshoch6, explore campus resources

Nov 26, 2017

The Nov. 16 event drew over 1,000 local high school students and teachers as well as UMSL’s own German majors.

New UMSL conductor Darwin Aquino and student musicians anticipate debut performance

Nov 2, 2017

Aquino discusses the Nov. 8 concert, his excitement about the music department and his personal journey from the Dominican Republic to St. Louis.

Ameren Accelerator partners empower energy startups during inaugural cohort

Oct 30, 2017

Seven energy startups pitched their technologies and solutions during Ameren Accelerator Demo Day Oct. 26.

Education professor’s TEDx Talk on grief offers framework to reconcile American tragedies

Oct 30, 2017

After losing a daughter, Theresa Coble learned that embracing grief is necessary to heal. She said the same applies on a national scale.

Eye on UMSL: A visit from Ken Burns

Sep 18, 2017

The filmmaker addresses a packed house Sept. 9 at UMSL’s Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center after a special preview of “The Vietnam War.”

This month’s Acappellooza Summer marks 5 years of harmony and fun

Jul 2, 2017

The UMSL music camp has quadrupled in size since its 2013 beginnings under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Jim Henry.

Soul musician Brian Owens returns to a campus he never really left

Jun 6, 2017

The UMSL alumnus recently joined the Des Lee Fine Arts Collaborative as its community music artist in residence, and the role is suiting him well so far.

Eye on UMSL: Leaders of tomorrow

Jun 2, 2017

The 21st Century Leadership Academy “Shear Fellows” enjoy a relaxed moment at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center during their group portrait May 23.

Faculty member ventures into Robert Louis Stevenson’s Land of Nod with ‘curious music’ of his own

Jun 1, 2017

Zachary Cairns’ new choral piece “The Land of Nod” earned kudos from the Missouri Composers Project earlier this year.

Celebrating 1,500 success stories

May 3, 2017

UMSL alumnus and Express Scripts Chairman George Paz heads an impressive list of St. Louisans speaking, performing or receiving honorary degrees during commencement ceremonies May 12-14.