Most of us are familiar with the cliché that at college, you don’t learn what to think, but rather, you learn how to think. And while that’s true, it only scratches the surface of what colleges and universities provide their students.
Today’s students can and should expect much more, and at WashU, we work hard to provide an exceptional experience that goes beyond classrooms, labs and libraries to develop the next generation of principled, career-ready leaders.
Last fall, we took a leap forward in that mission with the groundbreaking of the Neil S. Hirsch Center, which will serve our students, alumni and partner employers as a beautiful, state-of-the-art gathering place to forge connections that will advance our collective impact. Positioned at the corner of Forsyth Boulevard and Skinker Boulevard, the Hirsch Center will offer one of the first glimpses visitors have of our Danforth Campus.
The three-story building will house our Center for Career Engagement and an alumni welcome center, and it is designed to facilitate impromptu connections among students, alumni, mentors and employers, as well as more formal meetups like interviews and career coaching sessions. Students will be able to access a clothing closet of professional attire, and alumni will gather in event spaces for reunions and more.
Beyond the utility of the building, I’m particularly excited about the idea of building something that is becoming increasingly rare in this world: a multigenerational community. Today’s students have so much to gain from getting to know our alumni, far beyond job networking.
Of course, students are always eager to make career connections and hear advice for success. But what if they also heard advice for failure, how to know when to stay or when to go, and what it feels like to follow your instincts or make an unexpected pivot? And likewise, I believe our alumni will benefit immeasurably from the time they spend with students in the Hirsch Center, learning from them and guiding them as they plan their next steps.
The Hirsch Center also represents the power of transformative philanthropy. The extraordinary gift through the Neil S. Hirsch Foundation honors a man who embodies the values we seek to develop in our entire learning community.
Neil Hirsch was a visionary businessman, but those who knew him would describe him as more of a teacher than a boss, more of a mentor than a mogul. He invested generously in young people, guiding them to solve their own challenges rather than simply providing answers. The foundation’s decision to support this center ensures that Neil’s legacy of mentorship will touch thousands of students for generations to come, and we’re deeply grateful.
I look forward to seeing the Hirsch Center take shape in the months ahead and to welcoming you there soon after. After all, the building’s true beauty and purpose will emerge through the multigenerational community that gathers within its walls. I hope you’ll come to be a part of it.
