Lynn Staley, Derrick Freeman And Jackie Warren Receive University Of Missouri-St. Louis Hero Award

Press release from the University of Missouri-St. Louis:

August 30, 2021

University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik and her cabinet continue to recognize the exemplary efforts of staff and faculty members from across campus by bestowing the UMSL Hero Award on up to three individuals each month.

This month’s honorees are Derrick Freeman, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Services; Lynn Staley, teaching professor of English; and Jackie Warren, director of the Office of Residential Life and Housing.

Derrick Freeman, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Services

Visit Derrick Freeman in his office in Multicultural Student Services, and you’ll be greeted by a wall of his credentials – letters and cards from students he’s worked with and helped.

“What’s important to me is not the degrees that I’ve earned, but the lives that I’ve touched,” he said. “For them to come back and acknowledge the conversations that we had, the tears that they may have had, the struggles that they may have had, shows that they recognize that, if not for some of the words of encouragement that I gave them, they would not have completed that certain part of their journey in life.”

Freeman, who serves as director of MSS, works to ensure that students achieve success, develop holistically and stay the course to earn their degrees.

His UMSL story has helped him connect with both traditional and transfer students’ journeys. Freeman first came to the university after high school, following the path of his best friend. But after some time, he dropped out and started working.

Ten years later, he’d gotten a job at UMSL working in human resources, and his wife, Melody, encouraged Freeman to return to earn his degree.

“I went back to school, and it’s gone from there,” he said, noting he’d earned his BSBA in 2003 and a MEd in clinical mental health counseling in 2021.

Freeman worked in human resources for about eight years before moving to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and then to the MSS.

Through that time, UMSL has become an important community and a home to Freeman and his family. His wife is the financial accountant/analyst for St. Louis Public Radio, and his son, Derrick, graduated from the College of Business Administration in May.

That made receiving the Hero Award that much more poignant.

“UMSL has been important to our family,” he said. “I don’t do this work for any accolades or advancement or recognition. I do it because I really love doing it. But I’m glad to be honored. I felt like it was validating for the work that I do and that the team and unit does.”

Lynn Staley, teaching professor of English and coordinator of the Business Writing Program

Lynn Staley, teaching professor of English and coordinator of the Business Writing Program

Lynn Staley found out she was a recipient of the UMSL Hero Award while working to upload her classes for the semester.

“I was stressed out and trying to make sure everything was perfect with Canvas, and of course, nothing was going smoothly,” she said. “Then I got that message and was like, ‘Oh, well, now I’m in a good mood.’”

Staley, who has worked at UMSL almost 20 years, is known for being everywhere and doing almost everything.

In addition to coordinating the Business Writing Program, she’s a gender studies affiliate faculty member and faculty athletics representative. She also does work teaching inclusive language practices with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; frequently works student orientations; does community engagement and service learning; and loves to be on committees.

Oh, and she’s also a lip sync judge during the annual homecoming competition.

This press release was produced by the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.