Author: Susan Killenberg McGinn

Rose Windmiller, assistant vice chancellor for government and community relations at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed a member of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s special Ferguson Commission. She is one of 16 members who were announced during a news conference held Nov. 18 at the Missouri History Museum.

The Mr. and Mrs. Spencer T. Olin Fellowship Program for Women in Graduate Studies is celebrating its 40 years on Washington University’s campus during the 40th annual Olin Fellowship Conference, “How Climates Change,” Oct. 30-31. Jane Lubchenco, PhD, the first woman to head the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association, will give the keynote address at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in Graham Chapel.

Two Washington University in St. Louis faculty members with strong global ties will assume additional responsibilities as assistant vice chancellors for international affairs, announced Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. Shenyang Guo, PhD, will serve as assistant vice chancellor for international affairs-Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), and Gautam N. Yadama, PhD, as assistant vice chancellor for international affairs-India.

At its fall meeting Friday, Oct. 3, the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees heard special reports on Arts & Sciences and the university’s endowment and received a report from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton that included updates on administrative appointments, admissions, athletics and construction.

UPDATE: Washington University in St. Louis will test its emergency communication system, WUSTLAlerts, at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, rather than Thursday, Sept. 25, as previously scheduled. The test will take place unless there is a potential for severe weather or an emergency is occurring. WUSTLAlerts will send emails to @wustl.edu addresses and text messages to cellphones.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report last week from an advisory group on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences, chaired the advisory group that was tasked with creating a strategic vision and guide NAS’ Gulf Research Program.

A search committee to identify candidates for the position of vice chancellor for students has been appointed by H. Holden Thorp, PhD, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. Sharon Stahl, PhD, announced last week that she is retiring as vice chancellor at the end of the academic year, June 30.

Felicia Ausbury, senior associate director in Alumni Relations at Washington University in St. Louis, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at her home in St. Charles, Mo., after battling cancer for more than a year. She was 42.

H. Holden Thorp, PhD, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, has appointed an eleven-member committee to identify candidates for the position of dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Ralph S. Quatrano, PhD, announced last week that he will step down as dean at the end of the academic year, June 30, 2015.

H. Holden Thorp, PhD, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, will be named the inaugural holder of the Rita Levi-Montalcini Distinguished University Professorship during a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Emerson Auditorium in Knight Hall.