As an Assistant Dean of Students, Natissia Small provides direct oversight and leadership for Precollegiate Student Services (Bridge Program), Multicultural Student Services, Student Retention Services and Tutoring. Dr. Small’s responsibilities include oversight for college access initiatives and programming, retention services, academic support services, parental engagement programs, leadership development and cultural enrichment programming. In order to help guide the direction of student support services at UMSL, Dr. Small works directly with faculty and staff, diverse student populations, first-generation students, middle and high school students, parents, and school administrators within the St. Louis community. Through her leadership with the Bridge Program (which continues to serve more than 4,000 students and families in the St. Louis community annually), Dr. Small has assisted the university in gaining state and national recognition.

Dr. Small joined UMSL in 1995. She earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University, her dual Master degrees in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Adult Education and Counseling, and her doctoral degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.