Humanities & Society

Need somewhere to host a group? Check out the newly designated Washington University Conference Room at the Chase Park Plaza hotel in the Central West End. The room is available for use by WUSTL faculty and staff. 

Mary Corcoran has been named assistant dean for finance at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Her appointment, which marks her return to the university after six years at Stanford University, is effective Aug. 21.

Michal Grinstein-Weiss, PhD, associate professor at the Brown School and associate director of the Center for Social Development, has been asked to join the Clinton Global Initiative and to participate in its Financial Opportunity Working Group. The group focuses on developing sustainable programs to create financial opportunities for low- and moderate-income households.

Two Washington University in St. Louis administrators are receiving the Campus Leader Who Cares Award, presented by the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association. Steven P. Hoffner, associate vice chancellor for operations, and H. Holden Thorp, PhD, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, are receiving the award for their commitment to and focus on environmental stewardship, health and safety issues at WUSTL and beyond.

The Institute for Public Health serves as an important bridge across campus, connecting all seven schools to strengthen Washington University in St. Louis’ impact on public health. Currently, the institute’s sole facility is on the Medical Campus, but thanks to alumnus and university trustee Harry Seigle (AB ’68) (center) and his wife, Susan, the institute soon also will have a home on the Danforth Campus — in the new Brown School building slated for completion next year.

Kevin Hardcastle has been appointed chief information security officer for Washington University in St. Louis, reporting to John Gohsman, vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer.

Laurie Maffly-Kipp, PhD, a professor in the humanities in Arts & Sciences and in the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, received the 2014 James W.C. Pennington Award for her research on African-American religion and history.

Walking, biking or taking public transportation for work and errands can increase physical activity and offers other health benefits — but adults older than 60 are much less likely to regularly use public transit, finds a new study of St. Louisans from the Brown School.

Washington University in St. Louis’ Teaching Center brought together faculty from Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering & Applied Science for the inaugural Summer STEM Faculty Institute on Teaching (STEM FIT), held June 17-19 in Seigle Hall. Faculty developed strategies for incorporating evidence-based teaching practices to improve student learning and encourage undergraduates to persist in STEM majors.

This spring and summer, Washington University in St. Louis is adding 379 kilowatts of solar energy throughout all campuses, a move that will increase its solar output by more than 1,150 percent over previous levels. (Pictured) Tyson Research Center now has a 50-kW ground-mounted array.