Author: Steven Givens

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service invites WUSTL faculty to apply for grants to support their community-based teaching and learning (CBTL), also known as experiential education, engaged research and, most commonly, service learning. To support CBTL course development and implementation, the Institute awards up to five faculty grants of $2,500 each.

“Composing a Life,” a lively, interactive panel discussion for graduate and undergraduate women students, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30 in Holmes Lounge. The panel features five women of diverse ages, career choices and interests who will discuss their stories and post-graduation choices.

Washington University alumnus and trustee Gary Sumers has have committed $12 million to help expand and modernize the Athletic Complex at Washington University in St. Louis and create the Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center. The gift was announced at the celebration of the launch of Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University. Construction of the new addition and renovations are expected to be completed in 2015.​

At its fall meeting Oct. 5, the Board of Trustees elected trustee Craig D. Schnuck, chair of the executive committee of St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets, to a newly created additional vice chair role and heard a report on the Washington University endowment by Kimberly G. Walker, chief investment officer. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton also gave the trustees an update on campus activities and accomplishments.

The first Mid-Autumn Celebration Show, sponsored jointly by the Chinese Students & Scholars Association and the Taiwanese Graduate Students Association, was held Sunday, Sept. 30, in Graham Chapel. “Mid-Autumn Day” is a festival akin to American Thanksgiving and widely celebrated by people across the Taiwan Strait.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton has announced two important promotions, effective Oct. 1. James V. Wertsch, PhD, has been promoted to vice chancellor for international relations, the university official responsible for international programs and initiatives; and John A. Berg has been promoted to vice chancellor for admissions and will continue to preside over admissions and financial aid.

Student, faculty and staff presenters are being sought for a multimedia “Ignite” event that will be held Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the Danforth University Center. Ignite presentations are fast-paced, fun, five-minute presentations of 20 PowerPoint slides that automatically advance every 20 seconds.

Provost Edward S. Macias, PhD, has announced that Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, the Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences, will become the university’s next dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Schaal succeeds Gary S. Wihl, the Hortense & Tobias Lewin Distinguished Professor in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, who will be on leave beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

Students in WUSTL’s Washington DC Semester Program met on Sept. 20 with Ambassador George Moose, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs and career member of the U.S. Foreign Service.

Members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Washington University student musicians will perform Monday, Sept. 24, outside of the Bear’s Den on the lower level of the South 40 House.