Chancellor's Cabinet

Adella Jones, Chief of Staff

Adella Jones was appointed chief of staff for the Chancellor’s Office in January of 2022. She brings more than 30 years of communications and government affairs experience to the university, and in her role, she collaborates with the chancellor and executive leadership to develop and execute upon strategies impacting campus communications, legislative and civic affairs. Prior to joining UMSL, Jones served in both communications and marketing positions at Centene Corporation. She previously served as vice president of community and government affairs at the Bi-State Development Agency and Metro Transit and was the St. Louis press secretary for former Congressman and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Richard Gephardt. Prior to these roles, she served as public information officer for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Jones is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists-STL and received their prestigious Living Legend Award in 2022.

Tanika Busch, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer

Tanika Busch serves as vice chancellor for finance and operations and chief financial officer for the university where she oversees an annual budget of more than $200 million. She has worked in higher education for over twenty years at UMSL, serving as the director of financial planning, a senior fiscal officer, a business support specialist and an administrative assistant. Busch earned a BS in management information systems at UMSL as well as an MBA from the UMSL College of Business Administration. In her current role, Busch provides leadership for finance and operations at the university. In addition, Busch has oversight of the university’s human resources, information technology, facilities, business services offices and campus business managers. 

Chris Spilling, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic and Community Development

Chris Spilling joined UMSL in 1989 and has served as a faculty member, department chair, senate chair, interim vice provost, interim provost and is currently vice chancellor for research and economic and community development. Spilling is currently directs UMSL’s research and economic development programming, including the Transform UMSL initiative, which launched a $100+ million redesign of the UMSL campus. Under Spilling’s leadership, UMSL has increased grant expenditures by 115% in the past five years and significantly expanded the research and the economic and community development infrastructure on the UMSL campus resulting in a strengthened research culture at UMSL. His division oversees the Anchor Institution Initiative, including the St. Louis Anchor Action Network, the Community Innovation and Action Center, and the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach. Spilling is a professor of chemistry and an accomplished organic chemist, with over 90 peer-reviewed publications and 10 patents. Spilling’s research has been funded by NSF, NIH, EDA, foundations and private industry. Spilling has a deep understanding of regional strengths and challenges, organic chemistry expertise, and has established trusted partnerships across industry, academic, startup and workforce sectors.

Steven Berberich, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Steven J. Berberich joined UMSL in September 2021 as provost and interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of biology. Berberich was selected to continue permanently in this position in January 2023, where he presides over key academic functions at the university including leadership of the colleges and schools, which serve over 15,000 students. Berberich has restructured the division to create efficiencies in faculty affairs, academic affairs and student success. He also leads the process of developing UMSL’s five-year strategic plan. Berberich is a professor of biology with extensive research experience in genetics and molecular biology. He previously served provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston Clear Lake. Prior, Berberich served in various administrative and academic roles, including as the associate provost for faculty and staff affairs and chair of biochemistry and molecular biology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. His research interests involve the molecular basis of cancer.

Reggie Hill, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Career Advancement

Reggie Hill joined UMSL as the associate vice chancellor for strategic enrollment in 2021, and the following year he was named vice chancellor for strategic enrollment. His role was broadened in 2023 to include leadership of UMSL’s workforce integration division. A distinguished leader in higher education administration and enrollment management with a track record of driving strategic growth and fostering diversity in student populations, Hill is currently completing his dissertation at the University of Central Arkansas. I his role, Hill spearheads the development and execution of a holistic enrollment management plan, focusing on recruitment, retention, and degree completion, as well as educational access, student support services and workforce integration. His past roles include vice president of marketing and enrollment at the University of the Ozarks and assistant vice president of enrollment at Saint Leo University, each marked by exceptional achievements in enrollment growth, net tuition revenue enhancement, and academic quality improvement.  

Tanisha Stevens, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Tanisha Stevens serves as the vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion at UMSL where she is responsible for overseeing inclusive excellence, one of the five Missouri Compacts for Excellence as outlined in the university's strategic plan. Stevens is committed to creating an inclusive working and learning environment and in ensuring that all students, faculty, staff and community members have a sense of belonging at the institution. Under her leadership, Stevens coordinated the campus’ participation in the Equity Institute sponsored by the University of Southern California's Race and Equity Center, developed the first Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence: Celebrating Diversity Award and established UMSL's first Virtual Gathering for Racial Unity. Additionally, Dr. Stevens’ has secured the university's continued recognition by Insight into Diversity magazine as a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity recipient for the last five consecutive years. Stevens earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Counseling from Saint Louis University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. 

Lisa Capone, Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Lisa Capone joined UMSL in August 2022 as vice chancellor for advancement, overseeing development, donor relations and alumni engagement efforts on campus. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration as well as a Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University. Capone has nearly 20 years of experience in higher education fundraising and is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive. Throughout her career, Capone’s experience in university advancement has been dynamic, involving two successful comprehensive campaigns, as well as leading and managing corporate and foundation relations at Oklahoma State University and LSU where she raised a record $56 million in gifts in one fiscal year. Capone is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Network of Corporate Relations Officers.  

Justin L Roberts, Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications

Justin L. Roberts serves as associate vice chancellor for marketing and communications at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He first joined the UMSL community in 2016 after serving five years as manager of strategic communications at the University of Missouri System. In his role, Roberts oversees the university’s strategic communication, public relations and content, paid advertising, creative services, and web and digital services efforts. Roberts began his career at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he worked for deans of both the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Education. Roberts has nearly 20 years of experience leading diverse teams in higher education marketing and communications where he is people-drive, student-centric and outcome-oriented.  

Sydney Moore, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor

Sydney Moore serves as the executive assistant to the chancellor, having joined the University of Missouri–St. Louis in August 2018. She brings more than 20 years of experience providing support to executive-level leaders and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Moore brings to UMSL extensive not-for-profit experience in the area of executive leadership, including most recently, a role as executive administrator coordinator for Lutheran Family and Children Services.