Author: Susan Killenberg McGinn

Washington University will test its emergency communication system, WUSTLAlerts, at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. The test will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather that day or some other emergency is occurring at that time. For this test, WUSTLAlerts will send emails to @wustl.edu addresses and voice calls to cellphones.

With a common interest in strengthening their leadership skills, expanding their knowledge of the university and developing a greater understanding of an ever-changing, multicultural world, 24 Washington University staff members have been selected members of the 2015 Professional Leadership Academy & Network (PLAN). A yearlong professional development program, PLAN is intended to cultivate future leaders at Washington University.

Legail P. Chandler, assistant dean and executive director of human resources at the School of Medicine, has been named vice chancellor for human resources at Washington University, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. Chandler, whose appointment is effective immediately, succeeds Lorraine Goffe-Rush, who was named vice president for human resources at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been elected president-elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. She begins her three-year term as an officer and member of the AAAS Board of Directors’ Executive Committee on Feb. 17.

Nominations are being accepted for Washington University in St. Louis’ annual Faculty Achievement Awards, known as the Arthur Holly Compton Faculty Achievement Award and the Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award.

In the unlikely event that Washington University alters the normal work and/or class schedule due to severe weather, an announcement will be posted on the university’s home page, and a number of media outlets also will air an announcement.

Robert E. Wiltenburg, PhD, who has served as dean of University College in Arts & Sciences for nearly 20 years, has announced that he will step down as dean at the end of the academic year, June 30, 2015, according to Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. After a sabbatical during the fall 2015 semester, Wiltenburg will return to teaching in spring 2016.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton presented the 2014 Faculty Achievement Awards to (from left) David A. Balota, PhD, Steven L. Teitelbaum, MD, and Samuel A. Wickline, MD, during a Dec. 6 ceremony in Knight Hall.

This year’s holiday gingerbread house was on display during a reception following the December degree candidate recognition ceremony Dec. 6. A replica of Anheuser-Busch Hall, the gingerbread house is now on display in Anheuser-Busch Hall’s atrium until Dec. 15.

The Friday, Dec. 5, meeting of the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees focused on the university’s role in addressing current challenges, both local and global, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.