Campus & Community

Emmy Award-winning host, producer and author Andy Cohen delivered a message to the Class of 2026 at Washington University in St. Louis during the May 15 Commencement ceremony on Francis Olympic Field.

To the accomplished WashU Class of 2026, Emmy Award winner Andy Cohen offered up a band of unlikely role models: the stars of “The Real Housewives.” “I’ve learned a lot about success from ‘The Real Housewives.’ And you can too,” Cohen told graduates at the university’s 165th Commencement May 15 at historic Francis Olympic Field.

Joseph M. Jez has been named vice dean of graduate studies in WashU Arts & Sciences, effective July 1, announced Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences. He succeeds Sophia Hayes.

Christopher J. Moran, MD, a professor emeritus of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died April 30 of cancer. He was 78.

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.