Campus & Community

Three WashU undergraduates — Nitzia Y. Davalos Reyes, Ren Klein and Carlos Madrid — have been selected for the 2026 Gyo Obata Fellowship program. The paid 10-week internships aim to foster the next generation of arts administrators.

On Friday, May 15, graduate student speaker Sejal Popat and undergraduate student speaker Mason Shaver will join Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, honorary degree recipients and Commencement speaker Andy Cohen at WashU’s 165th Commencement ceremony. Here, they look back on their journeys to and through WashU.

The largest gift in WashU history, from the Bursky Family Foundation, will advance the School of Public Health’s vision in a post-pandemic world.

Six WashU seniors from the Department of BIology in Arts & Sciences and WashU McKelvey Engineering have won annual awards recognizing their achievements.

Cal J. Halvorsen, a gerontological social work scholar and an associate professor at the WashU Brown School, will step into a new leadership role this summer as co-director of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging. 

Vicki Match Suna, executive vice president and vice dean for real estate development and facilities at NYU Langone Health, has received the 2026 Dean’s Medal from the WashU Sam Fox School.

The late James McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of WashU Arts & Sciences, founded the Ervin Scholars Program and, along with his wife, Clara, challenged the WashU community to know each student “by name and by story.”

Will Arvin, vice chancellor for medical advancement at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed executive vice chancellor for advancement, effective Jan. 5, according to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. Arvin will succeed Pamella A. Henson, who is retiring.

WashU will confer seven honorary degrees during its 165th Commencement May 15. Here are the recipients.

Aaron Lee, MD, a nationally acclaimed vitreoretinal surgeon and leader in applying artificial intelligence to vision research and patient care, has been named the inaugural Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine.