Newsroom Stories

Photo by Joe AngelesCarmon Colangelo, dean of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, was formally installed as the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Community Collaboration in the Arts Sept. 19.

Photo by Mary ButkusAs part of the second annual Olin Serves Day, about 60 students, alumni and spouses participated in community service projects.

Janina Brajtburg, Ph.D., research associate professor emeritus of infectious diseases, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, of kidney failure in Philadelphia. She was 84. Brajtburg joined the Washington University faculty in 1968, when she and her family emigrated from Poland. She retired in 1993.

Bruce Backus, assistant vice chancellor for Environmental Health & Safety, recently received a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of his “outstanding contribution and commitment as chair of the Colleges and Universities Sector Coordinating Committee (2003-06) and to a sustainable future for colleges and universities.” … Larry Taber, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, recently received two four-year grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and one four-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). From NIH he received $1,214,615 for “Computational Modeling of Developmental Processes,” and $1,464,619 for “Computational and Experimental Study of Early Cardiac Morphogenesis.” From NSF he received $987,000 for “Mathematical Models of Brain Morphogenesis.” … Anne Rihanek, clinical social worker in the Division of Oncology, has been selected by the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc., to receive its “Breast Cancer Pink Orchid Honor” for her work with the Living With Breast Cancer Education & Support Group offered through the Siteman Cancer Center. Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. is a national organization composed of professional women who are dedicated to ensuring a better quality of life for youth, women, senior citizens and the beautification of the environment. … Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology in psychiatry and director of the Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group, is one of 48 women nationwide chosen for the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women, dedicated to preparing senior women faculty for leadership at academic health centers. In the 12 years since the ELAM program began, Cottler is only the second Washington University representative selected to participate. The other was Leslie E. Kahl, M.D., professor of medicine and associate dean for student affairs. The ELAM curriculum combines traditional master’s of business administration training oriented toward the academic health center environment with personal and professional development. … The Washington University School of Medicine Sleep Medicine Center recently received accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a provider of the Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Program. The School of Medicine’s center is one of the first sites in the nation to earn the accreditation. The program provides 80 hours of education and 18 months of on-the-job training for the skills required of a sleep technologist. … Tracy E. Faxel, a biomedical engineering senior, was one of five summer interns at Pfizer-St. Louis to win the company’s 2006 Summer Intern Poster Session and Competition. The annual event helps student interns illustrate their research through posters and allows them to talk about their work to hundreds of scientists and business colleagues over the course of two hours. The 34 participants were judged by a panel of Pfizer employees. … William A. Peck, M.D., the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Medicine and director of the Center for Health Policy, has received a two-year, $331,675 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health for a project titled “The Effects of Missouri Medicaid Cutbacks on Recipients — Measuring Coverage, Care and Health Status Changes.”

A transplant procedure by School of Medicine researchers cured rats’ diabetes without the need for risky immune-suppression drugs.

The 60 retirees contributed a total of 1,309 years of service to the University.

Matthew Shepard’s murder in 1998 resulted in a public outcry that brought hate crimes to the forefront of the national consciousness.

Courtesy PhotoInti-Illimani will perform one night only at 8 p.m. Oct. 6 in Edison Theatre.Inspired by Andean folk music, Inti-Illimani quickly rose to the forefront of Latin America’s Nueva Cancion movement, which combined politically progressive lyrics with traditional forms and instrumentation from Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Argentina.

The Cuilles and the Torreses are the eighth and ninth families, respectively, to accept the University’s invitation to live among students rent-free on campus.

Ryan’s debut novel — Send Me — was published earlier this year.