Dear friends, neighbors and community partners,

We certainly have felt the force of winter as we entered February with bitter cold temperatures and several inches of snow still on the ground. However, that hasn’t slowed our momentum as we continue to transform our community through education, leadership and economic development.

In this month’s newsletter, we are pleased to share some exciting news that reflects the strength of our work and collaborations. Notably, UMSL has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as 11th in the nation for accessible online bachelor’s programs. Further, we have once again been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a Community Engaged University. This distinction highlights the deep partnerships we have built across the region and the meaningful impact created when the University and community move forward together. Thank you for being an essential part of this work and for continuing to shape a brighter future alongside us.

US News ranks UMSL 11th nationally for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

Demand for online education continues to grow throughout the country with more students favoring the accessibility and flexibility that online programs can provide. At the University of Missouri–St. Louis, students who choose to pursue their degrees online can feel confident they aren’t sacrificing quality. Recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked UMSL No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in Missouri on its annual list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. The university made one of the biggest jumps of any university in the rankings, climbing 96 places from last year...The university also scored highly among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, coming in fifth nationally. It marked the first time UMSL was included in the rankings.

UMSL’s Online MBA program ranked No. 33 nationally and No. 1 in Missouri after debuting at No. 46 in the rankings last year. The Online MBA program was launched in 2021 to provide busy adults with a path to earn their master’s degree in business administration to move ahead in their careers in only 16 months. Students in the capstone strategy course also engage in an international consulting project that provides them firsthand insight into global business operations. Read more.

2021 Coro Fellow Ronald Jones returns to UMSL to pursue MPPA with an emphasis in local government

Ronald Jones still remembers the flyer he spotted while walking across the Millennium Student Center bridge shortly after transferring to the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2017. The flyer promoted an event called “How to Get a 4.0,” and it quickly caught his attention. At the event, he learned more about how the brain works, including study techniques such as a taking a short break to do something fun in between study sessions. Jones, who earned his BS in media studies in 2020, has stayed busy since coming to UMSL, receiving Chancellor’s Certificates and participating in programs such as the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy and the Coro Fellows Program.

The Coro Fellows Program made for a natural transition to UMSL’s Master of Public Policy Administration. Jones is currently enrolled in the program, with an emphasis on local government, and will graduate next spring. Through the MPPA program, Jones is currently working as a city inspector and code enforcement officer for the City of Dellwood. Jones’ long history in community development has given him a thorough understanding of residents’ needs, and he aims to continue prioritizing community engagement and responsiveness as a leader while remaining accessible and visible to residents. Read more.

Opportunities in North St. Louis County create regional impact

Beyond Housing web post, Jan. 8, 2026

“What happens to some of us impacts all of us” is a refrain that is never far from Chris Krehmeyer’s mind as he leads Beyond Housing’s comprehensive efforts to revitalize North St. Louis County’s 24:1 Community, an area within the Normandy school district containing the metro area’s highest concentration of poverty. As the nonprofit organization’s longtime CEO explains, supporting St. Louis’ most under-resourced areas not only helps break the cycle of poverty in those communities, it creates a stronger St. Louis overall….

For local business leaders, including Matt Corcoran, PNC regional president for St. Louis, this premise also speaks to the business case for investing in underserved areas – and the multi-stakeholder collaboration that is necessary to create meaningful impact. “When our communities thrive, our local economy and businesses also thrive,” says Corcoran. “That’s why PNC is committed to bringing economic vibrancy to the communities we serve, collaborating with multiple stakeholders to maximize our impact and ultimately create opportunities for economic empowerment.” Beyond Housing is among the stakeholders with which PNC collaborates to deliver on opportunities in North St. Louis County to improve access to affordable housing while driving neighborhood revitalization and economic development. Read more.

UMSL receives renewed Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

Members of the University of Missouri–St. Louis community share a deep commitment to strengthening the St. Louis region and beyond through education, scholarship and service that positively impacts the lives of people in the wider community. The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching have reaffirmed UMSL’s success toward that end by recognizing it with the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. UMSL was one of 237 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the elective designation during the latest cycle. The classification is meant to highlight an institution’s commitment to community engagement.

“Community engagement is central to who we are and the work that we do at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and we are proud that the Carnegie Foundation has recognized the numerous ways we help serve the people around us in our region,” Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “We lead the way preparing the workforce in St. Louis, and our faculty are engaged in impactful research that addresses some of our region’s biggest challenges. We have also built and maintained strong partnerships across our region, enhancing our reach and deepening our impact.” UMSL first received the Carnegie Classification in 2010, and it had been renewed in 2020. But Patricia Zahn, UMSL’s director of community engagement and outreach, who led the latest reclassification effort, said the university’s work in community engagement has continued to grow and evolve, which was key to the renewed classification. Read more.

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We'd love to hear your questions and comments about UMSL and stories about great things happening in our communities. Your thoughts will help shape content covered in future newsletters to be pertinent to you and your neighbors. Leave any suggestions, questions, or stories here. Thank you!

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Events & Resources

Saint Louis Ballet: Call It Love!

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

6:00 PM and

Sunday, Feb.15, 2026

2:30 PM

UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

1 Touhill Circle

This powerful collection of ballets explores the intersection of classical technique, modern rhythm, and emotional depth. From Gen Horiuchi’s St. Louis Blues, a vibrant tribute to the roots of American jazz featuring live music and vocals, to the kinetic energy of Peter Martins’ Hallelujah Junction and the bold, theatrical flair of The Chairman Dances, both set to the driving scores of John Adams—each work pulses with musical innovation. Adding to the program’s richness, Christopher Wheeldon’s hauntingly beautiful Liturgy offers a meditative pas de deux that is both intimate and transcendent. Tickets range $35 - $89. Click here for more information.

ASQ Series 3 - Kammeraku Song with Kyo-Shin-An Arts - ASQ Series 3

Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

7:30 PM

UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

1 Touhill Circle

Kyo-Shin-An Arts and the Arianna String Quartet are together again with a lyrical program that blends the haunting sound of the Japanese shakuhachi with the human voice and the Western string quartet. This concert will feature Shakuhachi Grand Master James Nyoraku-Schlefer and soprano Juliet Schlefer performing new music by Matthew Shorten, Amane Sakaguchi, and James Nyoraku-Schlefer, plus a string quartet by Kevin Puts. General admission tickets are $30. Click here for more information. 

The State of North County: Community Progress luncheon

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Catering to You

12775 New Halls Ferry Rd.

Join North County Inc. for their annual State of North County luncheon and discussion. This year's topic is community progress. This event focuses on sharing the timely updates, priorities, and challenges impacting North St. Louis County. Cost: $35/pp. Click here to register. 

MOMIX: Alice

Saturday, March 7, 2026

7:30 PM

UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

1 Touhill Circle

MOMIX returns after 10 years with ALICE, Moses Pendleton’s newest creation inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, using the story as a starting point for invention and combining illusion, acrobatics, and movement as dancers grow, shrink, and transform through the use of props, ropes, and other performers, bringing familiar characters and scenes to life in unexpected ways. Tickets range from $68 to $99. Click here for more information.

Community Resource Fair 2026

Saturday, March 28, 2026

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Dellwood Recreation Center

10266 West Florissant Avenue

The community is invited to a family-friendly Community Resource Fair offering free essentials and services from local organizations, including books, shoes and groceries while supplies last, youth activities, food, and health services such as screenings, vaccines, and insurance support, with a special giveaway for the first 50 registered attendees to receive a free grocery store gift card, redeemable in person at the event. Click here for more information.

Triton Toastmasters

First and Third Thursdays
Noon – 1:00 PM
Online

Looking to improve and become more confident with public speaking in 2025? The Triton Toastmasters club presents an opportunity for people to learn to communicate more effectively, improve confidence and develop their leadership skills to better serve their employers and their communities. The club is open to local community members. Visitors welcome! To learn more, click here.

Ferguson Winter Indoor
Farmers Market

Third Saturdays of the month
November - April
9:00 AM – Noon
St. Stephen's Episcopal
33 N. Clay Ave., 63135

Find fresh produce all year long. Includes "pay-what-you-can" for produce at the Earthdance booth. To learn more, click here.