We celebrate the heart and soul of our university: our dedicated employees.
From prestigious awards recognizing outstanding contributions to engaging events designed to foster team spirit and camaraderie, we are committed to cultivating a thriving workplace culture where individuals feel valued and appreciated.
Join us in celebrating the achievements, milestones, and successes. Together, we continue to build a workplace that inspires, empowers, and excels.
Employee Engagement
All Year Around Events:
To become a Triton Walking Club member, visit HR to receive your club card. You have the flexibility to enjoy self-led walks or opt to walk alongside a designated member of our HR team. See the campus walking maps for ideas.
After you complete your walk, swing by HR to have your club card validated. Completing your punch card automatically enters you into a prize drawing! Please note, to qualify for entry into the drawing, completion of your club card must occur within one of the two club sessions: session one, April through June or session two, July through September.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding scheduled group walks. Meanwhile, feel free to embark on solo walks at your convenience. Let's lace up our shoes, embrace the spirit of wellness, and make each step count towards a healthier, happier you!
If you would like to sign up to host or co-host your own Triton Walk, check out our Lead a Triton Walk page:
If you would like to learn more about our session winners, check them out here:
Celebrate our Session 1 Winner!
Congratulate our Session 2 Winner!
Shout out to our Session 3 Winners!
Explore Umsl: Location specific Walking Tours!
Do you want to host your own location specific walking tour?
Then check out this survey below! Fill out the information and will advertise your event for campus!
Calling all teams! It’s time to lace up those sneakers and hit the pavement for a little friendly competition. We’re kicking off the Ultimate Walking Challenge—a race to see which team can log the most walks and claim the bragging rights!
Whether you’re a power walker, a lunchtime stroller, or someone who’s just in it for the fresh air, this is your chance to get moving, bond with your team, and have a blast.
How It Works:
- Form your team – Grab a group of colleagues from your unit and come up with a clever team name.
- Walk, walk, walk – Complete as many walking club cards as possible during this session (October - December).
- Compete to win – The team with the most completed walks by March, will walk away as champions!
Get ready to move and make every step count! Will your team rise to the top?
Ready to walk it out? Swing by HR for your walking club punch card.
Seasonal Events:
We are delighted to invite you and your child to participate in this year's "Bring a Child to Work Day" event at UMSL. On a day that organizations nationwide celebrate by bringing children to work, UMSL employees are encouraged to bring their child, or a special child in their life, to celebrate all that our campus has to offer.
- All faculty and staff are invited to sponsor a young guest to participate.
- Employees must accompany their young guest(s) throughout the day.
- Employees will need to work with their supervisor to determine if their workspace is safe and available for children.
- Supervisor approval is required to participate in the event and is based on the operational needs of the department.
- Registration is required, along with the completion of a Parent Permission and Liability Release Form.
Date: Thursday, April 24th, 2025
Time: 8am – 5pm
Check-in Location: 2nd Floor of MSC, on the bridge.
To participate, please complete the following forms by Thursday, April 17th.
For a complete list of activities and other information, please check out the following links below:
Your creativity and camaraderie made this event a huge success, and we hope your cups—and your spirits—were filled to the brim. Thank you for all you do to make the UMSL community a special place.
Here’s to the start of the spring semester!
As we approach the end of the fall semester, join UMSL HR on December 4th, for a day of workshops and activities designed to help you manage stress, recharge your energy, and prepare for the holiday season.
With expert sessions throughout the day, this event is packed with tips and tools to support your well-being. Please attend all (or some) of the sessions as your schedule allows.
To register for our events, check out the UMSL HR Percipio channel.
- Stay Safe this Season: Get insights from Campus Police on holiday safety and identity theft prevention – 10am
- Refresh with Chair Yoga and Breathwork: A soothing session to help you de-stress and re-center, no experience needed: sponsored by the Rec Center. – 11am
- Mindful Meals and Budgeting Tips: Learn practical strategies from United Healthcare for affordable holiday meals and keeping calm through the seasonal hustle. – 12pm
- Family Dynamics Made Simple: Tips for navigating family interactions with grace and ease. Join Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis for a presentation on managing family dynamics during the holidays. – 1pm
- Create Your Own Stress Relief Kit: Wrap up the day by assembling your personalized stress relief kit to carry you through the winter break, sponsored by the UMSL Staff Association. – 2pm
Thank you to everyone who able to join us this Fall Break for a donut and cider! We donut know what we would do without you!
Exciting news is brewing on campus! As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant and connected community, we're launching a fun initiative to celebrate our campus spirit and camaraderie.
Starting this Fall, we're introducing "UMSL Spirit Fri-yays"! We invite all members of the UMSL community to don our university colors with pride. Whether it's a bold tee, a cozy scarf, or even some flashy socks, let's show off our colors loud and proud!
But wait, there's more! On each random friday throughout the fall semester, our eagle-eyed Student Affairs and UMSL HR team will be on the lookout for those sporting the UMSL hues. And guess what? If you catch their attention, you might just find yourself the lucky recipient of some sweet treats as a token of appreciation for your UMSL pride.
So, dust off that red and gold and join us in spreading the infectious energy of the UMSL spirit every Friday!
Starting in July, our HR squad is hitting the road with a mission: to bring some serious snacktime joy straight to your desks. We are your snack superheroes, swooping in to help you power through your day. Whether you're tackling deadlines or just need a tasty break, we've got treats to keep you going strong!
Keep an eye out for the UMSL HR crew – we'll be the ones with the snacks and smiles - see you there!
Snack on, champions!
We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the following partners: the Chancellor's office, Academic Affairs, Faculty Senate and Staff Association for helping us host our first ever Dog Days of Summer.
We hope to see you all next year to celebrate the start of the fall semester with some good food and great company! It's the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues and get into the spirit of the season.
Mark your calendars, bring your appetite, and don’t forget to wear your UMSL pride! We can't wait to see you next year!
Employee Recognition
Established in 2024 to recognize the visionary work and efforts of these incredible individuals, the University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Medal is awarded to those members of the UMSL community, as well as community friends and supporters who have made a significant contribution to advance the mission and values of the university.
Each month, the chancellor presents up to three staff or faculty members with the UMSL Hero Award in recognition of their efforts to transform the lives of UMSL students and the communities in which we serve. Such accomplishments may be reflected through consistent exemplary performance, through sustained work activities above and beyond normal job requirements or through the superior support of our core values of trust, inclusion, innovation, access, success and engagement.
At UMSL, we believe in acknowledging and celebrating the remarkable journeys of our employees.
From the first day they joined our campus community, to the continuous career milestones they've reached along the way, each step represents dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. These milestones are a testament to the hard work and passion that our employees bring to their roles.
As we reflect on these continuous career milestones, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our employees. Your continued dedication shapes our success and inspires us all to reach greater heights together. Here's to many more years to come!
The following colleagues reached a significant milestone in 2025:
5 Years of Continuous Service
Stephen Bagwell
Karen Boleska
Jennifer Books
Erin Casey
Robert Cote
Grant Cravens
Debra D'arcy
Timothy Dombrowski
Alexander Ebert
Shakiba Enayati
Trilce Encarnacion
Tessa Garcia-Collart
Eiji Goto
Daniel Grossman
Kelly Hogenmiller
Shlynda Hudson
Mary Huelsmann
Jennifer Hunter
So Rin Kim
Carl Kramer
Cecilie Kreiner
Jessica Mantia
Jenny Martin
Caroline Miller
Michael Moore
Cara Newman
Layne Paubel
Allegra Puls
Elizabeth Richter
Jeffrey Rivet
Kelsey Robinson
Erika Rose
Danielle Stallins
Susan TeStroete
Laura Tishey
Jennifer Vines
Sadie Weiss
Hannah White
Charles Wilson
Walter Wunderlich
10 Years of Continuous Service
Phyllis Balcerzak
Cedric Carr
Theresa Coble
Amy D'Agrosa
William Dunaway
James Goodman
Troy Halterman
Andrea Hupman
Laura Kaehler
Ho Kim
Andrew Kliethermes
Tivoli Majors
Anita Manion
Matthew McCluskey
Kathleen Miguel
Jerome Morris
Kara Moskowitz
Karen Munkel
Lauren Olin
Emily Oliveira
Carissa Philippi
Rochelle Robinson
Mohammad Saki
Florian Sichling
Dustin Smith
Jessica Swederske
Christine Sykora
Violaine White
15 Years of Continuous Service
Amy Bartels
Natalie Bolton
Janelle Brimer
Zachary Cairns
Daniel Cranford
Michele Davis
Amy Escott
Angelique Forsha
Keeta Holmes
Ambrose Kidd III
Michael Landwier
Ntshila Luabeya
Renita Miller
Laura Miller
Carolyn Ostergaard
April Regester
Quinten Smith
Rachel Taube
Patricia Zahn
20 Years of Continuous Service
Candace Alba-Marshall
Steven Bruce
Suahn Cho
Michael Costello
John Dalton
Leeann Davenport
Paul Ell
Erika Gibb
Baorong Guo
Matthew Henry
Dale Huston
Rachel Kryah
Jonathan Lidgus
Rensheng Luo
Channon Peoples
Jennifer Petrie
Timothy Preuss
Tanisha Stevens
Alla Voskoboynikova
Nykea Watts
Kamila White
Jodi Woodruff
Melanie Zamachaj
Gaiyan Zhang
Bethany Zolman
25 Years of Continuous Service
Kurt Baldwin
Jamillah Boyd
LaToshia Boyd-Lee
Samuel Darko
Tamara Davenport
Kelly Gregory
Alice Hall
Alan Heisel
Lawrence Leslie
John McGrosso
Johnna Murray
Birgit Noll
Wendy Olivas
Elizabeth Sampson
Richard Treadway
Scott Vosevich
Eamonn Wall
Eric Wiland
30 Years of Continuous Service
Brendolyn Bailey Burch
Martha Caeiro
Grace Derda
Derrick Freeman
Denise Mussman
Sherlie Wilson
35 Years of Continuous Service
Priscilla Dowden-White
Rufus Dyle
Ricardo Flores
Aaron Franzel
Diane Goodwin
Keith Stine
40 Years of Continuous Service
Michael Ellerman
Jeanne Zarucchi
At UMSL, we believe in nurturing and empowering leaders who shape the future of our organization. The Administrative Leadership Development Program (ALDP) stands as a testament to this commitment.
ALDP, a distinguished and time-honored leadership development initiative, has equipped our leaders with the tools, insights, and skills needed to excel in today's dynamic workplace. Over eight transformative months, a cohort of leaders has engaged in a journey of self-discovery and growth, marked by insightful leadership assessments, immersive in-person retreats, and enlightening monthly campus meetings.
By focusing on the five core leadership competencies—Performance Orientation, People-Centeredness, Cultural Competence, Values-Driven Leadership, and Strategic and Integrative Thinking—ALDP has not only enhanced leadership effectiveness but also fostered a culture of continuous learning and innovation within our organization.
Our ALDP graduates embody the true essence of leadership and serve as inspiring role models for their peers and colleagues.
Congratulations to the exceptional individuals who have successfully completed the ALDP journey. Together, we continue to cultivate a culture of leadership excellence and drive positive change across the UMSL community.
ALDP 2024 Graduates
- Amy Schechter
- Anna Babcock
- Austin Culbertson
- Britne Bacca-Haupt
- Denise Quello
- Justin Roberts
- Paul Sorenson
- Holly Schaefer
- Kiley Bednar
- Marie Jeep
- Sydney Moore
- Sylvia Harris
- Tom McEwen
The UMSL Emerging Leaders Program brings together full-time employees from across UMSL’s campus to strengthen leadership skills within the university setting, build and strengthen relationships across units and roles, and increase our capacity to transform lives.
It is a year-long, cohort-based program consisting of a series of four day-long, in-person retreats featuring a combination of guest speakers, panels, and interactive workshops designed to foster community and allow participants to foster collaboration across campus while learning about their leadership style, working with diverse teams and leading within the context of higher education.
The Emerging Leaders participants epitomize the core principles of leadership and stand as exemplary role models for their peers and colleagues.
The program’s alumni include employees from all seven colleges and schools as well as many non-academic units as the libraries, physical facilities, and student affairs. It includes professors, advisors, researchers, administrators, librarians, managers, and many others who fill the host of roles necessary for UMSL to carry out its mission.
Join us in congratulating these outstanding individuals who have successfully completed the Emerging Leaders journey. Together, we are fostering a culture of leadership distinction and propelling positive transformation throughout the UMSL community.
Celebrating academic milestones: Congratulating our employees who graduated with an UMSL degree in fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024:
- Nour Alhiyari
- Britne Bacca-Haupt
- Kaleigh Baker
- Shelley Berry
- Lashanda Boone
- Catherine Boyd
- Morgan Bradley
- Kerstyn Buehrig
- Rachael Carpenter
- Tabari Coleman
- Heather Cowan
- Katelend Davis
- Eli Driskill
- Danielle Faucett
- Janci Finkley
- Kylie Flynn
- Lillian Franzen
- Jason Gallagher
- Rachel Goldmeier
- Jenna Haddock
- Skyler Harris
- Stephen Harvey
- Randall Johnson
- Carla Jordan
- Rajeswari Katasani
- Gracie Rose Kinder
- Jamie Martin
- Alexander Metz
- Hansen Millett
- Robert Morris
- Sarah Muir
- Johnna Murray
- Megan Niehaus
- Allegra Puls
- Andrew Richards
- Lacey Robinson
- Emma Saylor
- Faraneh Shamserad
- Anabelle Sherrill
- Kenneth Smith
- Tamala Stallings
- Kim Starkey
- Brent Sullivan
- Teresa Thornhill
- Princess-Abiguail Timothy
- Melissa Travers
- Yiuman Tse
- Eboni Valentine
- Jason Vasser-Elong
- Samantha Walls
- ShaQuina White
- Kuriston White-Dunlap
- Nicole Yingst
At UMSL, we take immense pride in not only the professional achievements of our staff but also their academic successes. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our colleagues who have recently graduated with degrees from UMSL this past year.
Completing a degree while balancing the demands of work is a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to personal and professional growth.