Newsroom Stories

Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis recognizes achievements of five alumni and graduate school dean on May 16 in the Jerzewiak Family Auditorium in the Arts & Sciences Laboratory Sciences Building.

Washington University in St. Louis celebrated the 147th Commencement on Friday, May 16, 2008, in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus. Highlights from the 147th Commencement at Washington University in St. Louis A day to be remembered by all, 2,655 candidates took part in commencement, receiving 2,790 degrees, of which 1,507 were undergraduate and 1,283 […]

A memorial service for Merle Kling, Ph.D., former provost, executive vice chancellor, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences and professor of political science in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, in Whitaker Hall Auditorium on the university’s Danforth Campus. A reception will follow in the Whitaker Hall Atrium.

September 27 Sweet Honey in the Rock This Grammy Award-winning a cappella ensemble celebrates the rich legacy of African-American musical traditions, capturing the sounds of spirituals, gospel, Blues, African chants and ancient lullabies. Founded in 1973, the all-female group takes its name from Psalm 81:16 — which describes a land so rich that honey flows […]

The School of Medicine’s commencement recognized the achievements of 117 students who were awarded degrees: 88 students earned the doctor of medicine degree; 27 earned a dual doctor of medicine/doctor of philosophy degree (M.D./Ph.D.); and two earned the doctor of medicine/master of arts degree (M.D./M.A). Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was the commencement speaker.

A unique genetic signature can alert physicians to high-risk breast tumors that are masquerading as low-risk tumors, according to research at the School of Medicine and collaborating institutions. Although these tumors are apparently estrogen-receptor positive — meaning they should depend on estrogen to grow — they don’t respond well to anti-estrogen therapy.

Raymond E. Arvidson, Ph.D., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and chair of the earth and planetary sciences department in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, and a number of his student and personnel have major roles in the Phoenix mission to Mars. The space craft lands in the northern plains on May 25, 2008, and Arvidson is a key operations manager during the critical first week of operations. (Video available)

Researchers at the School of Medicine have defined a new type of immune response that is activated in patients with severe asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Their discovery could dramatically improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory lung disease.

Transcript of Chris Matthews’ Commencement address to the class of 2008.

Be a person of your times but also of your country, said Chris Matthews to the Class of 2008 during Washington University’s 147th Commencement ceremony. The journalist, political commentator and host of MSNBC’s “Hardball” wove in a message of self-creation and optimism for America, telling the audience of more than 14,500 that the future of this country lies sketched out in the minds and hearts of the 2,655 graduates sitting before him. A slideshow of Commencement images is included.