Author: Diane Toroian Keaggy

A passionate advocate for college access, Leah Merrifield will receive the 2017 Rosa L. Parks Award at Washington University in St. Louis’ Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in Graham Chapel. Merrifield helped launch the university’s innovative College Prep Program.

Denise Stephens, university librarian at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been appointed university librarian at Washington University in St. Louis, effective July 1, according to Provost Holden Thorp. Stephens succeeds Jeffrey G. Trzeciak, who left the university last July.

In 2016, Washington University in St. Louis broke new ground, made new discoveries and welcomed another debate — the fifth in university history. Here, we run down 10 stories that captured our attention in 2016.

Check out the university’s most-watched YouTube video stories of 2016.

Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis is launching the Olin Fleischer Scholars Program, a free one-week residential summer program for high school students who have limited financial resources or who will be the first in their families to attend college.

The university’s Employer Assisted Housing Program provides up to $8,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance to employees who buy a home in certain nearby neighborhoods. It’s one way Washington University is helping to stabilize the areas surrounding its campuses.

From music to massages, and clothes to cooking classes, Washington University offers great gifts for every interest.

More than 300 Washington University in St. Louis degree candidates will take part in the December Recognition Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Graham Chapel.

Washington University in St. Louis is stepping up its efforts to stop sexual assault — expanding both prevention programs and crisis services and launching a new research initiative to develop and test solutions. The results could change how universities nationwide tackle sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and harassment.

Two Washington University in St. Louis graduates were finalists for a Rhodes Scholarship, one of the world’s most prestigious academic awards: Damari Croswell, an Arts & Sciences alum, and Yidan Qin, an engineering alum.