Makeba is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communication, while Tanys, her daughter, is working toward her master’s degree in social work.
LATEST NEWS
Eye on UMSL: Stomp the Yard
Students experienced the energy and rich traditions of UMSL’s historically Black Greek-letter organizations as they showcased their stepping skills at the annual event.
Fall Involvement Jamboree offers opportunities for students to get involved on campus
Representatives from 11 fraternities and sororities, 18 campus departments and over 25 student organizations connected with students at the event.
UMSL launching new School of Engineering to meet the workforce needs of St. Louis and the state of Missouri
The new school will begin enrolling students in the fall of 2025, operating alongside the existing joint engineering program and catering to more traditional, full-time students with classes on the UMSL campus.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky honors UMSL political science alum Luke Coffey with Order of Merit Award
Coffey, a 2002 UMSL graduate, now serves as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, where he provides research and analysis on national security and foreign policy.
UMSL Business offers new Leadership Launchpad online course for young professionals starting in September
The online course targeted toward helping young professionals grow their leadership skills meets on Thursdays during the lunch hour.
UMSL appoints Marisa Smith to serve as new chief of police
Smith has been involved in all facets of UMSL Police Department operations while serving as deputy chief. She will begin her new position on Sept. 16.
Retiring UMSL Police Chief Dan Freet awarded Chancellor’s Medal
Freet has spent the past 11 years with the UMSL Police Department, the last seven as chief, and has been instrumental in ensuring campus safety, including with his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eye on UMSL: Making connections
Dean Shu Schiller speaks with attorney Eric Kendall Banks, a 1990 UMSL Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, during a reception last Wednesday night at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
As CEO of the National Student Nurses’ Association, UMSL alum Kenya Williams supports the next generation of nursing leaders
Williams will also be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in November.
Students connect across campus during first week of the fall semester
Campus photographer Derik Holtmann captured activity around campus during the first week of classes.
Tonya and Tyler Haynes serve as ambassadors for Autism Speaks
As part of the new Champions of Change program, Tonya and Tyler have attended events across the country and spoken with national media outlets as advocates for the autistic community.
New school year starts by honoring faculty, staff with Chancellor’s Awards at State of the University Address
Chancellor Kristin Sobolik presented the accolades to exemplary faculty and staff members Friday.
Chancellor Kristin Sobolik highlights ways UMSL is positioning itself for the future during annual State of the University Address
Sobolik discussed the ongoing renovation of the university campus and programmatic changes, including the planned UMSL School of Engineering, while speaking at the Touhill.
Chemistry Professor Michael Nichols discusses his research on Alzheimer’s disease as part of NextGen Precision Health’s Discovery Series
Nichols has been studying how the amyloid-β protein interacts with a group of three proteins known as NLRP3 inflammasome to cause inflammation inside immune cells in the brain.
SafeHome.org ranks UMSL among nation’s safest campuses
The organization rated UMSL as the fifth safest campus in the country, with a crime rate of just 0.07 per 1,000 students, in its “2024 College Campus Crime Report and Statistics.”
Convocation welcomes new students to campus, commemorates induction into UMSL community
New students heard from several speakers, received a lapel pin, recited the Triton Creed and took a group photo during the ceremonial event.
Eye on UMSL: Navigating new paths
Students walk through the Quad on the first day of classes for the fall semester. Construction projects, including the deconstruction of the SSB Tower, have created a few detours to negotiate.
Annual Move-In Day at Oak Hill signals start of UMSL’s fall semester
Dozens of volunteers – including UMSL faculty, staff and students – helped incoming freshmen and their families move their belongings from their vehicles to their dorm rooms.
Amy Schechter, Marisa Omori and Mike Ellerman 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 Music hosting internationally renowned pianist Ilya Shmukler for free recital on Aug. 24
Shmukler, winner of the prestigious Concours Géza Anda piano competition earlier this year, will perform music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann.
UMSL welcomes 21 new faculty members as fall semester begins
There are nine new faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences, four each in the College of Business Administration and the College of Nursing, two in the College of Optometry, one in the School of Social Work and one in UMSL Libraries.
University of Missouri–St. Louis names Holly Sheilley new executive director of athletics
Sheilley will succeed retiring Director of Athletics Lori Flanagan after spending the past 11 years as director of athletics at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.
Counseling MEd student Susan Becher publishes young adult novel
“Penn & Ava” tells the story of Ava, a high schooler coming to terms with her past trauma, finding herself and forging her own path.
UMSL welcomes students back to campus with more than two weeks of events, including new student convocation, excursions around St. Louis and more
From Aug. 15 through 30, UMSL’s combined orientation and welcome is designed to help students navigate campus and connect with fellow Tritons
College of Nursing Assistant Teaching Professor Marina Fischer offers accessible health care at Intentional Living in downtown St. Louis
Fischer earned her BSN at UMSL in 2009 and completed her DNP in 2022, leading to a full-time faculty position.
Eye on UMSL: Smiles are a universal language
Jessica Hylton, the interim director of global students and experiences, takes a selfie with new Tritons from around the world as UMSL welcomes 101 international students from 26 countries.
Professor Susan Brownell discusses ‘panda diplomacy’ with PBS News Hour
The Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Anthropology shared her expertise on U.S.-China relations in a news report that coincided with the arrival of two new pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
Intramotev highlights internship and job opportunities available to UMSL joint engineering program students and graduates
Intramotev CEO Timothy Luchini, an adjunct instructor in the program, co-founded the startup focused on developing battery-electric self-propelled rail cars.
Riaz Zaidi earns 10th college degree, graduates with daughter
A lifelong learner, Zaidi graduated with a PhD in STEM education after previously earning degrees in areas such as aeronautical engineering, engineering management and international affairs.
UMSL, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department partnering to provide educational opportunities to officers looking to advance their careers
Police Commissioner Robert Tracy and Chancellor Kristin Sobolik signed the educational partnership agreement on Thursday at the department’s downtown headquarters.
Decade since Ferguson unrest has brought changes for criminal justice system and those who study it
Professor Lee Slocum talked to UMSL Daily about criminal justice reforms and changes in criminal justice research that have occurred in the past 10 years.
Succeed student and Tritons swimmer Lawrence Sapp headed to Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games
Sapp will compete in the 100-meter butterfly. He previously placed fifth in the event at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.
Eye on UMSL: Staging ground
A drone captures a photo of large construction equipment parked in the cleared-out Quad at UMSL last week as the deconstruction of the Social Sciences and Business Building Tower moves forward.
Microbiologist Lon Chubiz part of a team of researchers studying effects of increasing drought, fire on forest recovery
The team, led by colleagues at the University of Idaho, received a six-year, $15 million grant from NSF’s Biology Integration Institutes program.
Nursing DNP graduate Lauren Hacker lands position as surgical nurse practitioner at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
After developing an interest in surgery while working in the OR, Hacker decided to go back to school to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Des Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative kicks off another year of fostering accessible arts education for local students
The annual kickoff event offers an opportunity for educators to discover ways for their students to get involved with everything from ballroom dancing to classical guitar to opera.
3 UMSL accounting students awarded $15,000 scholarships from Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
The PCAOB was founded in 2002 by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the scholarships are directly funded by monetary penalties collected through enforcement actions.
UMSL’s membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities will bring new opportunities for faculty, students
The consortium of more than 150 major colleges and universities works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest.
Eye on UMSL: Shining Star(fish) Awards
Betsy Sampson, a senior program and project support coordinator in Academic Affairs, talks about the accomplishments of UMSL staff members as she presents Shining Star(fish) Awards at a student success summit last Tuesday.
Alumni Tom and Karleen Hoerr investing in future students through support of College of Education, Transform UMSL initiative
The couple’s generosity will help provide students with state-of-the-art, purpose-designed spaces in the renovated Social Sciences and Business Building, in proximity to other campus resources.
KSDK salutes retiring Director of Athletics Lori Flanagan
Sports Director Frank Cusumano, a 1984 UMSL alum, interviewed Flanagan for a feature story during last Wednesday’s newscast.
UMSL’s Department of Supply Chain and Analytics entering second year of 5-year, $5 million Department of Transportation grant
UMSL faculty members are working on four different projects as part of the Region 7 consortium, a group of six universities in the Midwest.
College of Optometry and Computer Science faculty researching the use of AI for fitting orthokeratology lenses
The specialty lenses are used to slow the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness.
UMSL Athletics puts together another stellar year in competition and in classroom
UMSL sent five teams to NCAA Championships, had 10 All-Americans and set a school record with 187 student-athletes earning academic all-conference recognition.
Department of Art and Design collaborates with John Burroughs School on interactive wall installation
The 30-foot-by-10-foot interactive mural encouraged students to reflect on their intentions for the year.
Innovative business program for rising eighth-grade girls wraps up 6-week run on UMSL’s campus with final pitch presentations
UMSL provided the facilities and faculty support for the 2024 Entrepreneurship and Business Program, the first edition of a three-year partnership between Girls Inc. of St. Louis and First Bank.
Eye on UMSL: Cold treats and good company
Staff members Amari Cunningham and Jasmine Moore talk and enjoy their frozen snacks during an ice cream social sponsored by UMSL Human Resources last week in the Millennium Student Center.
UMSL political scientists researching pressures faced by local election officials and decisions to remain in their roles
Yuguo Liao and David Kimball are partnering on the research project with the support of a grant from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
History graduate Nancy Stiles investigates kidnapping case that rocked St. Louis society
Stiles’ master’s thesis examines the life of socialite Nellie Tipton Muench and her roles in kidnapping and blackmail schemes during the 1930s.