For Dean Sean Armstrong, providing educational opportunities to support students is more than a career—it’s a lifelong mission. This commitment was celebrated by the St. Louis American Foundation, which honored Armstrong with an Excellence in Education Award at the 37th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala on Oct. 12.
A native of Long Island, New York, Armstrong began his educational career as a social studies teacher at Jones High School in central Florida. It was here that a pivotal experience with a student ignited his passion for expanding access to higher education. One day, a student shared that she wouldn’t be going to college because she was pregnant.
Determined to help, Armstrong encouraged her: “You have to go. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
He helped her to discover that the university she hoped to attend had a parent program that offered on-campus housing for mothers and families, helped her plan a pathway to graduation, and ensured she could begin her studies after her baby was born.
“That moment sparked a fire, a calling that made me realize this was where I wanted to be,” Armstrong recalled.
This commitment to helping students find opportunities led him to new roles in higher education.
Armstrong served as an academic advisor at Lake-Sumter State College, later took on leadership of the Continuing Education program at the University of Central Florida, and eventually arrived at WashU as Dean of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS).
“I have come to understand that while talent is universal, the opportunities to develop that talent to meet both life and workforce needs through higher education are not,” Armstrong explained. He added that his own experience as a modern learner has shaped his work at WashU, allowing him to relate to the needs and aspirations of CAPS students. “We understand students at this stage of life have a great deal of responsibilities, and this stage should not prevent them from advancing into areas where they believe they can make meaningful contributions. I felt a calling to help adults who believed they had peaked in their careers and wanted to transition to new opportunities through education.
“I usually call it the equalizer,” Armstrong added. “There’s a democratizing effect that education has on our community.”
The Excellence in Education Award, part of the Foundation’s Salute to Excellence Gala, celebrates leaders who shape the future of education in St. Louis and beyond. Since its founding in 1994, the St. Louis American Foundation has distributed over $17 million in scholarships and over $2.3 million in community grants, investing in educational equity and community development. Armstrong’s recognition underscores his impact on the CAPS mission and the broader community.
Armstrong said he was honored by the award because it highlighted the amazing work everyone in CAPS is doing to improve access to higher education in the region.
“It belongs to everybody in CAPS,” he said.
Joining him in this year’s honors were Hazelwood West High School Assistant Principal Dr. Latricia Singleton-Clark, Urban League Head Start Assistant Director of Education Leadership Dr. Mary Hairston, and James Avant Elementary School teacher Lieutenant Colonel Nina McLean.