Author: Sara Savat

Clarissa Rile Hayward, a professor of political science in Arts & Sciences and an expert on social movements, said that Michael Brown’s death forced law enforcement agencies around the country to grapple with the racism within their departments and led to an uptick in activism and political engagement.

Mike Mazzeo, dean of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, has been installed as the inaugural Knight Family Professor. The endowed position was made possible by the Knight family, longtime ardent supporters of the Olin, WashU and St. Louis communities.

Olin Business School’s Dennis Zhang says online platform design is improved by considering human decision-making alongside information algorithms.

A study conducted by Theresa Gildner, an assistant professor of biological anthropology in Arts & Sciences, suggests that prenatal depression can having a lasting impact on the mother’s child, influencing how he or she responds to stress.

Known as a “gamble for resurrection,” leaders in crisis have long pursued risky actions in a final attempt to resurrect their careers. Dan Butler, professor of political science in Arts & Sciences, says the Democratic party is currently weighing its own gamble following Biden’s disappointing first debate.

New research by Hannah Birnbaum, assistant professor of organizational behavior at Olin Business School, suggests that when people view voting as a duty to others — rather than to themselves — they’re more likely to feel an obligation to vote.

In her new book, political scientist Taylor Carlson, in Arts & Sciences, explores how political information changes as it flows from the news media to person to person. Her research shows that socially transmitted information becomes sparse, biased, less accurate and mobilizing — fueling a “distorted democracy.”

Mark Oppenheimer, a well-known religion journalist and author, is the new executive editor of Religion & Politics, an online journal published by WashU’s John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.

Lamar Pierce, an Olin Business School expert on ethics, motivation and incentives in organizations, was installed as the Beverly and James Hance Professor of Organization and Strategy at Washington University.

A new program at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School is working with top charitable donors to help them achieve the biggest impact through their giving.