Newsroom Stories

Courtesy photoWilliam Jay SmithWilliam Jay Smith, a Washington University alumnus and former Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress (the position now known as the U.S. Poet Laureate), will read from his work at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in Olin Library’s Ginkgo Reading Room. In addition, Smith will speak on “My Friend, Tom: Tennessee Williams in St. Louis” — recounting his time as a classmate of the great playwright and fellow Washington University alumnus — at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Hurst Lounge, Room 201, Duncker Hall.

The Danforth Lecture Series continues on Monday, October 16 with a program featuring John Danforth on “Faith and Politics,” the title of his new book. The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at 4 p.m. in Graham Chapel. In his book, the three-term former Republican senator from Missouri and ordained Episcopal priest calls for moderation and tolerance in religious and political life, and a return to the separation of church and state. Decrying the narrow interpretations of religious orthodoxy, he supports an inclusive philosophy that embraces conflicting opinions and beliefs. A booksigning/reception will follow in Holmes Lounge.

Photo by David KilperMembers of the WUSTL community are encouraged to take part in WU Walks — lunchtime tours of the Danforth Campus — presented by Washington University Wellness Connection.

A WUSTL initiative is bringing Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) technology to students, faculty and staff and is responsible for offering the first formal introductory and follow-up GIS courses open to any major.

Photo by Bill StoverChancellor Mark S. Wrighton accepts an award from Citizens for Modern Transit.

Kay Henry is the new associate dean and director of Executive M.B.A. programs. She comes to the Olin School of Business with a wealth of experience in executive and business education. Henry recently returned from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she spent two years as assistant dean at Zayed University’s College of Business Sciences. She spent seven years at Rice University where she developed and then directed the M.B.A. for Executives program. Henry also spent several years in Boston where she taught management communication at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management and ran executive programs at Harvard University’s Institute for International Development.

Ralph G. Dacey Jr., M.D., the Henry G. and Edith R. Schwartz Professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, was appointed to the advisory council of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The advisory council advises the institute on policy and procedures affecting the extramural research programs and provides a second level of review for all grant and cooperative agreement applications considered by the institute for funding. … Kejie Yin, M.D., Ph.D., research instructor in neurology, has received a four-year, $260,000 grant from the American Heart Association for research titled “The Role of Bim in Vascular Degeneration in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.” … Leila Nadya Sadat, J.D., the Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law, recently received the 2006 Article of the Year Award from the International Association of Penal Law (American Branch) for her paper, “Exile, Amnesty and International Law.” The annual award recognizes the “best scholarly contribution to the field.” Sadat’s article was published in volume 81 of the Notre Dame Law Review. The award’s committee described it as “a careful, thoughtful, thorough examination of current state and international practice on exile and amnesty.” Sadat’s article considers state and international practices regarding amnesties for jus cogens crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity. … Vladimir J. Kefalov, Ph.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, has received a four-year, $200,000 grant from Research to Prevent Blindness for that organization’s Career Development Award. … Dwight Towler, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine, has received a one-year, $174,600 grant from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation for research titled “Bone and Mineral Diseases Clinical Research Unit Bridge Funding.” … Steven M. Strasberg, M.D., the Pruett Professor of Surgery, chief of the section of hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery and associate professor of cell biology and physiology, was recently named a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland, at the 7th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. He was honored as part of the 500th anniversary of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. … David L. Brody, M.D., Ph.D., instructor in the Department of Neurology, has received a three-year, $158,680 grant from the Thrasher Research Fund for research titled “Amyloid-B and Traumatic Brain Injury in Children.” … Samuel W. Buell, associate professor of law, recently received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for his work on the Enron Task Force. Buell shared the distinction, the U.S. Department of Justice’s highest award, with other members of the investigative and trial team that successfully prosecuted individuals most responsible for the Enron fraud. Buell served as a special attorney on the Enron Task Force from January 2002 to March 2004. At the time, he was serving as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

A fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder may be treatable via a molecule already targeted by approved drugs, School of Medicine researchers have found.

Sept. 26-Oct. 2 Sept. 28 10:39 a.m. — A staff member reported that four computers were stolen from a storage area in Simon Hall sometime over the summer, possibly in July. During that time, the building was being painted and staff members found the doors insecure on several occasions. The theft was not discovered until an inventory was taken. Total loss is estimated at $3,200. 8:32 p.m. — An unattended book bag was reported as missing from the dining area of The Village No. 3. The time of the disappearance was between 7-7:45 p.m. The bag also contained the owner’s wallet. Sept. 30 7:43 p.m. — Admissions reported four tables had been delivered to the basketball courts in the Swamp on the South 40 for an event at noon. Upon their arrival at 4 p.m., one table was missing. Oct. 1 10:07 p.m. — A graduate student reported the theft of credit card information and that fraudulent purchases had been made with the information at Wohl Student Center. Additionally, University Police responded to two parking violations and one report each of auto accident, drug offense, recovered property, larceny, false fire alarm and lost or stolen property.

School of Medicine researchers used transparent fish embryos to discover how genes and diet interact to cause birth defects.