Campus & Community

More than a dozen distinguished individuals will speak at Commencement-related events this week for Washington University in St. Louis graduates and their friends and families. The university’s 154th Commencement ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 15, in Brookings Quadrangle.

Three doctoral candidates at Washington University in St. Louis were inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society at the annual Bouchet Conference on Diversity in Graduate Education April 10-11 at Yale University.

William F. Tate, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, recognized outstanding performance by graduate teaching assistants during the annual Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence ceremony, held April 23 in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge.

​​A new agreement between Washington University in St. Louis and Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) will allow HSSU students to complete computer science course work at Washington University at no cost.

The devastating earthquake in Nepal has forced three Washington University in St. Louis researchers to alter their plans for research-related projects in the country — one who was working in Kathmandu when the quake hit and two who planned to fly there a few days later.

The fifth annual Lavender Recognition Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in College Hall on the South 40. Co-hosted by LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership and the Social Justice Center, the ceremony honors the achievements and contributions of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students and their allies.

Kristina Kleutghen, PhD, has been selected as the inaugural David W. Mesker Career Development Professor of art history at Washington University in St. Louis. A specialist in early modern and modern Chinese art, Kleutghen’s research investigates Sino-foreign interaction, the imperial court, optical devices and connections to visual culture, science and mathematics.

Christopher “Kit” Wellman, PhD, chair and professor of philosophy in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named dean of academic planning for Arts & Sciences, announced Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.The appointment, which is part-time, is effective July 1.

At its spring meeting, held April 30-May 1, the Board of Trustees at Washington University in St. Louis elected two new members and heard reports on the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and plans for the East Campus, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.

David M. Holtzman, a leading expert in researching the underlying mechanisms that lead to Alzheimer’s disease, and Paul Michael Lützeler, an authority on 18th, 19th and 20th century German literature, will receive Washington University in St. Louis’ 2015 faculty achievement awards, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced.