Campus & Community

At the WashU Board of Trustees meeting in May, numerous faculty members were appointed, promoted or granted tenure, with most taking effect July 1.

The Rev. Callista Isabelle, the inaugural director for religious, spiritual and ethical life at WashU, received this year’s Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award, which is given to a staff member who exceeds their daily work duties to make a positive impact on employees and the university at large.

Betsy Sinclair, who studies how politics influence social relationships, was installed recently as the Thomas F. Eagleton University Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science in Arts & Sciences.

A new study reveals that students learn best through prediction activities, even though they don’t realize it. This idea is at the center of research published by biologist Elise Walck-Shannon and her co-instructors for an introductory genetics course in Arts & Sciences.

Perla Giles, a rising senior majoring in molecular microbiology, and David Lee, a rising senior majoring in chemistry, have been chosen to participate in the Beckman Scholars Program, which provides in-depth research experiences for exceptionally talented undergraduate students.

Robi Mitra at WashU Medicine has received the Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In addition, in 2024 WashU jumped 11 places to No. 26 on the National Academy of Inventors list of the top 100 U.S. universities granted U.S. utility patents.

Charlie Fioriglio, a rising senior studying physics and chemistry in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named an Astronaut Scholar, a competitive fellowship for exceptional undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

Barbara W. Trautner, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized physician-scientist, has been named the new co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine.

Josh Walehwa has been appointed associate vice chancellor and chief of staff for Nichol Luoma, executive vice chancellor for administration and chief administrative officer at Washington University in St. Louis, beginning June 2.

Kim Thuy Seelinger, a research associate professor at the Brown School and visiting professor at the School of Law, will give a keynote address at the international conference “Justice Denied: Fighting Widespread Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence” June 2 at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.