Campus & Community

Jennifer R. Smith, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named to the new position of vice provost for educational initiatives, announced Beverly R. Wendland, provost and executive vice chancellor.

Washington University will conduct a national search for its next vice chancellor for student affairs, beginning this fall. The new vice chancellor will succeed Lori S. White, who left the university July 1 to become president of DePauw University. 

Soumendra Lahiri has been installed as the inaugural Stanley A. Sawyer Professor in Arts & Sciences at Washington University. Lahiri’s research interests lie in theoretical statistics and data science.

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting May 1, several faculty members were appointed or promoted with tenure, with most taking effect July 1.

Rebecca L. Brown has been promoted to vice chancellor and chief of staff for Washington University Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, effective June 1, according to Martin. Brown, who previously served as associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, also will assume the role of secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Keri Disch, associate university registrar at Northwestern University, has been named university registrar at Washington University in St. Louis, effective July 1, according to Marion Crain, interim provost.

Laurie Maffly-Kipp, the Archer Alexander Distinguished Professor in the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed interim dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education, effective July 1.

Himadri Pakrasi, founding director of the International Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (InCEES) at the university, will conclude his tenure as director, effective July 1. David Fike, who has been associate director, will serve as interim InCEES director.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network appointed Jake Laktas university program director for Washington University in St. Louis. He will work closely with faculty and students, connecting them with regional industry partners and forging collaborations.

Feng Sheng Hu, the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences and professor of biology and of earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, effective July 1, according to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.