Newsroom Stories

A new First Year Center, aimed at helping new students transition to University life, has been established on the Danforth Campus.

Gary S. Wihl, Ph.D., dean of Rice University’s School of Humanities and a highly respected scholar and academic leader, will become dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences on July 1, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. “Gary Wihl brings his many talents as both an accomplished scholar and an experienced administrator to Washington University at a very important time in our history,” Wrighton said.

Four top University administrators have received promotions, announced James E. McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Lodge Jennifer Lodge has been named associate dean for research at the School of Medicine. The appointment is effective Feb. 1, 2009. In the newly created position, Lodge will coordinate efforts to advance research at the school, focusing particularly on projects that involve multiple departments, multiple disciplines and core facilities that can serve a wide variety of researchers.

Courtesy photo*Wonderboy*Superpowers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.Take Wonderboy, the new collaboration by San Francisco choreographer Joe Goode and master puppeteer Basil Twist. Blessed with uncanny empathy and superhuman sensitivity, the title character is virtually paralyzed by everyday sights and sounds — the clash of bells, the glare of sunlight, a young man passing on the street. Yet Wonderboy is not without resources, nor without courage. In February the Joe Goode Performance Group will bring its three-foot-tall wooden hero to St. Louis as part of the Edison Theatre OVATIONS Series.

A vaccine designed to prevent the recurrence of lung cancer is being tested around the world, including at the Siteman Cancer Center.

The School of Medicine has taken a number of steps in recent years to reduce the debt of its students.

The 2008 Samuel R. Goldstein Leadership Awards in Medical Student Education have been awarded to Leslie Kahl, M.D., David Murray, M.D., and Linda Pike, Ph.D.

The CARE in Our Community Program works with older adults in underserved neighborhoods to identify and address wide-ranging health problems like osteoporosis.

New findings from School of Medicine nutrition researchers suggest body-shape comparisons don’t completely explain risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.