Humanities & Society

The Brown School’s Michael Sherraden and the School of Law’s Marion G. Crain, co-authors of the new book “Working and Living in the Shadow of Economic Fragility,” were in Washington, D.C., May 28 at the New America Foundation for a webcast presentation that Crain called “a chance for scholars to talk to the world.” U.S. economic policies have failed to restore full employment and in some ways have made labor market conditions worse for many Americans, they said.

In a landmark new book, sociologist Mark R. Rank, PhD, explains why the chase for the American Dream has gotten out of reach for many.

While a graduate student, Kirk A. Foster, MSW ’02, PhD ’11, assistant professor of social work, University of South Carolina, helped Professor Rank with research for “Chasing the American Dream.”

In “Economic Realities of the American Dream,” professors Steven Fazzari and Mark Rank examine the ­American Dream’s historical meaning, the ­traditional pathways to reach it, the current obstacles to achieving it and its viability in the future.

Fair Saint Louis​ will be held July 3-5 in Forest Park. Washington University in St. Louis will sponsor the event by providing access to several campus parking areas beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 3. Large crowds are expected, and anyone who does not need to drive to campus during the fair is advised not to.​​

Most walking and running routes go to, through or around a public park — in higher-income neighborhoods. In a study conducted by the Brown School using the website Map My Run as a tool, researchers found most routes inputted by walkers or runners at least partially included parks. But in low-income neighborhoods, the odds of running in a park were 54 percent lower.

Jennifer K. Lodge, PhD, associate dean for research and professor of molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been appointed vice chancellor for research for the university, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton; Larry J. Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; and H. Holden Thorp, PhD, university provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Chairs provide great support during long meetings, but they may also be holding us back. Standing during meetings boosts the excitement around creative group processes and reduces people’s tendencies to defend their turf, according to a new Washington University in St. Louis study that used wearable sensors to measure participants’ activity levels.

​​​Ida Early, secretary to Washington University in St. Louis’ Board of Trustees (left), and Virginia Braxs, senior lecturer in Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures​, were recognized as 2014 St. Louis Women of Achievement.

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service maintains the Community Counts database to track community service activities by WUSTL schools and organizations. It’s time to submit initiatives from the 2013-14 academic year. The deadline is June 30. Each submitted initiative will be entered into a drawing for $500 to support the project.