Newsroom Stories

Steven J. Givens has been named associate vice chancellor for public affairs and executive director of University Communications at Washington University in St. Louis, effective Jan. 1, 2007. M. Fredric Volkmann, vice chancellor for Public Affairs, announced the promotion. Givens, who serves as assistant vice chancellor and special assistant to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, will succeed Judy Jasper Leicht, who announced she plans to retire at the end of the calendar year.

Social Thought & Analysis (STA), an interdisciplinary degree program in Arts & Sciences, has moved to American Culture Studies, according to Henry L. “Roddy” Roediger III, Ph.D., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and dean of academic planning in Arts & Sciences.

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is often fatal within the first two decades of life may be treatable via a molecule already targeted by approved drugs, scientists at the School of Medicine and other institutions report.

The look of the Washington University Hilltop Campus is changing as it prepares to name the campus the “Danforth Campus” in recognition of the role that Chancellor Emeritus William H. “Bill” Danforth, the late Elizabeth “Ibby” Gray Danforth, the Danforth family and the Danforth Foundation have played in the evolution of Washington University in St. Louis.

Embarking on its 53rd season, the Assembly Series continues to bring a variety of distinguished voices to the University community. As always, the programs are free and open to the public.

Playing the “where’s-the-chart?” game in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery recently became obsolete when the division switched from using paper files to a fully electronic medical record system. The electronic record-keeping system adopted by the cardiothoracic division will be implemented throughout the Washington University Physicians group, a clinical practice group of more than 900 physicians that provides services throughout the region.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded WUSTL a five-year grant for $2.8 million to implement an integrated, interdisciplinary graduate program in the neurosciences that blends neuroscience, psychology and biomedical engineering. In the Cognitive, Computational, and Systems Neuroscience (CCSN) Pathway, doctoral students design and implement their own cross-cutting, innovative brain science projects.

Photo by Joe AngelesMasonry workers check to make sure the individual nameplate blocks are level before applying mortar between the seams on the new monument proclaiming the Danforth Campus. Each limestone block, obtained from an Indiana quarry, weighs 500 pounds. This monument, reflecting the Hilltop Campus’ name change, sits at Skinker and Forsyth boulevards.

In contrast to claims that children are being overmedicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), School of Medicine researchers have found that many kids with ADHD are not receiving treatment. In fact, almost half of the children — within a 1,610-member study group — who might have benefited from ADHD drugs were not getting them.

She will assume responsibility for alumni relations, annual giving and parent programs, among others.