Newsroom Stories

First-day-of-school pictures — showing smiling little kids carrying brand-new backpacks — are an annual tradition for many families. Fortunately, for family members of WUSTL students, staff members are keeping the tradition alive. Part of  “First 40” programming, staff members take students’ photos and hand out free school supplies. Right, junior Jeannette Mundy is one of many upperclassmen who still observe the tradition.

William Chapman has been named as the Eugene Bricker Chair of Surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Twenty-five WUSTL middle- and senior-level managers have been named to the 2012-13 Professional Leadership Academy & Network (PLAN), a yearlong professional development program. PLAN is intended to cultivate future WUSTL leaders who can contribute to university-wide initiatives and projects. (Right) PLAN participant Danielle Bristow, director of WUSTL’s First Year Center programs, talks to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton during an Aug. 22 reception.

The football team opens its 116th season of college football Friday, Aug. 31, at home against No. 1-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. at Francis Field.

Modern dance solos and duets will share the stage with hip hop, ballet, flamenco, West African and classical Indian dance when Washington University presents Dance CloseUp Sept. 6-8. The intimate, informal concert — which has helped launch St. Louis’ fall performing arts season since 1995 — showcases new and original works by dance faculty in the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences.

Victoria J. Fraser, MD, has been named head of the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Consumers generally prefer having more options when choosing among products but not when making choices involving the distant future, according to a study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Aug. 23 was move-in day on the South 40 for incoming students. To get things started, a caped Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton led upperclass student volunteers and university staff members in an early-morning pep rally, which included singing the “Go Bananas” song. From there, everyone rapidly disbursed to welcome the more than 1,700 new students — providing directions, carrying belongings and passing out chocolate chip cookies. 

Jose Sanchez (right), a senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, worked in the Laboratory for Magnetic Resonance this summer under the direction of Mark S. Conradi, PhD, professor of physics in Arts & Sciences. Sanchez participated in the Summer Research Early Identification Program, which encourages students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, social sciences and humanities to consider research careers in academia, business or the public sector.

According to the New York Times, Penguin will publish first-person account of the bin Laden raid written by a Navy SEAL. Kathleen Clark, JD, national security law expert and professor at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, discusses the process for publishing this type of book.