May, 2026
To the UMSL Community,
While there are many meaningful moments across a career in higher education, there is one that captures it all: commencement. It is a time of celebration, reflection and transformation. An ending and a beginning.
This May will mark my final commencement as chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, as I prepare to step down on July 1 to become chancellor emerita. Over the past nine years, I have had the extraordinary privilege of congratulating more than 23,000 graduates as they crossed the stage, each one representing the very best of our mission in action.
Their success is the true measure of our work. It reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, the strength of our academic programs, and our shared commitment to expanding opportunity and transforming lives.
Together, we have advanced UMSL in meaningful ways. We’ve launched new academic programs, grown research and philanthropy and made significant investments in our campus through the Transform UMSL initiative. We have strengthened our role as an anchor institution for the St. Louis region, aligning our work to meet workforce needs and driving economic growth.
My decision to step away is a personal one, grounded in family, and made with deep confidence in the university’s future. UMSL is in a position of strength, with a clear direction and an exceptional community carrying this work forward.
As I look ahead to commencement, I am filled with pride, gratitude and optimism – for our graduates and for all that lies ahead for this remarkable university.
Gratefully forward,
Kristin Sobolik
Chancellor
University of Missouri–St. Louis