Humanities & Society

Two Brown School faculty members have been awarded a combined $1.4 million in grants from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to support research focused on improving economic mobility and reducing wealth disparities. 

Thirteen teachers from across the St. Louis region have been selected to work with WashU faculty members for the 2025 Summer Teacher-Researcher Program. Administered in collaboration with the university’s Institute for School Partnership, the program provide professional development opportunities for area K-12 teachers.

Alumnus Mike Bezemek has turned a lifelong love of the outdoors into an enterprising writing career. His latest nonfiction book, Mysteries of the National Parks, is a thrilling read and a reminder to look beyond the obvious for answers and adventure.

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.

Rebecca Messbarger, professor of Italian in Arts & Sciences, has published a chapter titled “Popes, the Body, Medicine, and the Cult of Saints after Trent” as part of “The Cambridge History of the Papacy, Volume III: Civil Society.”

Cal Halvorsen, an associate professor at the Brown School, served as adviser on a CoGenerate survey on faith communities and engagement.

Jonathan Judaken was installed as the Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Jewish History & Thought in Arts & Sciences in April.

As Congress weighs $715 billion in Medicaid cuts, WashU’s new Medicaid Policy Analysis Lab offers timely briefs showing how policy changes impact real people — especially in Missouri.

Archaeologist Natalie Mueller in Arts & Sciences explains how ancient agricultural systems could become a source of alternative crops and methods in an era of rapid climate change.