UMSL Honors Three Employees with Hero Awards

Madeline Siener, Sydne Sewald, and Kate Votaw recognized for their exceptional efforts to support students and the community.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:39pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a university mortar board symbol in neon pink, yellow, and blue hues, conceptually representing the energy and creativity of UMSL's community.UMSL's Hero Award program celebrates the exceptional efforts of staff and faculty who go above and beyond to support students and the wider community.St. Louis Today

The University of Missouri-St. Louis has awarded its monthly Hero Awards to three outstanding staff and faculty members: Madeline Siener, the coordinator for campus inclusion in the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education; Sydne Sewald, the head residency officer and social media manager in the Office of the Registrar; and Kate Votaw, an associate teaching professor in the Pierre Laclede Honors College and the university's undergraduate research coordinator.

Why it matters

The UMSL Hero Awards recognize exceptional individuals who go above and beyond to transform the lives of students and the wider community. These three honorees exemplify UMSL's commitment to inclusive education, student support, and undergraduate research - all crucial elements of the university's mission.

The details

Madeline Siener was recognized for her work supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through UMSL's Succeed Program, which she joined in 2022 after previously working in special education. Sydne Sewald was honored for taking on new responsibilities as UMSL's head residency officer while also managing the Registrar's Office's social media accounts and training materials. Kate Votaw was selected for her leadership in organizing UMSL's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and aligning it with the Graduate Research Fair.

  • Siener started as a student support specialist in January 2022 and transitioned into the role of coordinator of campus inclusion in August 2023.
  • Sewald was promoted to UMSL's head residency officer in August 2023.
  • Votaw joined the Honors College faculty full-time in 2016 and became the undergraduate research coordinator a couple years later.

The players

Madeline Siener

The coordinator for campus inclusion in the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education at UMSL, where she works closely with campus partners to support the holistic development of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Sydne Sewald

The head residency officer and social media manager for registration in the Office of the Registrar at UMSL, known for her willingness to take on new responsibilities and help make processes run smoothly.

Kate Votaw

An associate teaching professor in the Pierre Laclede Honors College and UMSL's undergraduate research coordinator, responsible for planning and organizing the university's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Kristin Sobolik

The Chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who continues to recognize exemplary staff and faculty through the UMSL Hero Award program.

Jessica Swederske

UMSL's Title IX coordinator and chief equity officer, who nominated Madeline Siener for the Hero Award.

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What they’re saying

“I feel lucky to be able to interact with students and feel blessed to be surrounded by such incredible colleagues, under Dr. Jonathan Lidgus' leadership, who push me to grow professionally every day.”

— Madeline Siener, Coordinator for Campus Inclusion

“The amount of times I've gotten calls from students, and I can just hear the stress in their voice because they're always like, 'I just want to make sure I do it right.' I try to reassure them. Like, 'It's okay if you miss something. I'll message you and get it sorted out.' You can hear the relief when they're accepted because that can be the difference in whether or not they can continue going to school or not.”

— Sydne Sewald, Head Residency Officer

“I value evidence-based reasoning and conclusions, and I like helping get undergraduates introduced to that idea and getting that hands-on experience as early as they can, even if they're not going to graduate school.”

— Kate Votaw, Associate Teaching Professor

What’s next

The University of Missouri-St. Louis will continue to recognize exceptional staff and faculty through the monthly UMSL Hero Award program.

The takeaway

These three UMSL employees demonstrate the university's commitment to inclusive education, student support, and undergraduate research - all crucial elements of UMSL's mission to transform lives and serve the community.