Campus & Community

Civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman John R. Lewis delivered the address at Washington University in St. Louis’ 155th Commencement ceremony. Read his inspirational remarks delivered to the Class of 2016 on Friday, May 20, in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus.

More than 2,900 graduates and 12,000 family and university members gathered in Brookings Quadrangle to celebrate the 155th Commencement ceremony May 20. “You must leave here and get in the way,” U.S. Rep. John Lewis told the graduates. “When you see something that is not fair, not right, not just, you must have the courage to stand up, to speak up and find a way to get in the way.”

This morning, more than 2,900 Washington University in St. Louis undergraduate, graduate and professional students will enter Brookings Quadrangle as degree candidates and leave as graduates after Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton confers their degrees.

Robert E. Morrell, a professor emeritus who taught Japanese literature and Buddhism at Washington University in St. Louis for 34 years, died May 11, 2016, in St. Louis after a brief illness. He was 86.

Deanna Barch, a leading researcher on the role of cognition, emotion and brain function in illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression; Irving Boime, a developmental biologist; and Timothy Ley, MD, an expert in cancer genomics and leukemia, will be honored by Washington University in St. Louis, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton has announced.

John Inazu, associate professor of law, discusses his research on the concept of “confident pluralism,” the idea we can and must live together peaceably in spite of deep differences over politics, religion, sexuality and other important matters.

Mark Taylor, dean of Warwick Business School and professor of international finance at the University of Warwick, UK, has been appointed dean of the John M. Olin Business School, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.

Images from in and around the Washington University campuses.

Elie Mafolo didn’t know any English when he came to St. Louis from the Congo in 2012. Now, he’s an Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholar studying computer science in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. Here, he shares how hard work has helped him achieve.

The Washington University Contract Employee Scholarship provides free University College tuition, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the 700 contract employees who work full-time at the university. Students may use the scholarship to earn an undergraduate degree or simply explore a new topic.