Author: Susan Killenberg McGinn

Christopher “Kit” Wellman, PhD, chair and professor of philosophy in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named dean of academic planning for Arts & Sciences, announced Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.The appointment, which is part-time, is effective July 1.

At its spring meeting, held April 30-May 1, the Board of Trustees at Washington University in St. Louis elected two new members and heard reports on the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and plans for the East Campus, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.

Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis recognized five alumni during its 17th annual Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony, held March 19 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences and the Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor, hosted the awards dinner.

Erin McGlothlin, PhD (right), associate professor of German and of Jewish studies in Arts & Sciences, was among eight faculty to receive an Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. She is pictured with one of her graduate students who nominated her for the award, Ervin Malakaj, a PhD candidate in German.

Washington University in St. Louis will award five honorary degrees during the university’s 154th Commencement May 15. During the ceremony, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus, the university will bestow academic degrees on approximately 2,800 members of the Class of 2015.

As part of her series of Senior Listening Sessions across Missouri, Sen. Claire McCaskill held a roundtable discussion with experts on retirement security, elder justice and healthy aging March 31 at the Brown School’s Goldfarb Hall. Among the roundtable participants were seven from Washington University in St. Louis.

Ken Burns, director and producer of some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, has been selected to give the 2015 Commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. Wrighton made the announcement to the Class of 2015 during the annual senior class toast Thursday, April 2, in the Danforth University Center. Commencement is Friday, May 15.

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, the trustees heard presentations from School of Medicine faculty about advances in cancer research, treatment and prevention and received a report from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton that included updates on administrative appointments, admissions, athletics and construction.

Washington University will test its emergency siren systems at 11 a.m. Monday, March 2, and again at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. The tests will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather that day or some other emergency is occurring at that time.

Things are looking much brighter on Skinker Boulevard between Forest Park Parkway and Delmar Boulevard, thanks to Washington University’s installation of new pedestrian-scale lighting and improvements to the street lighting.