Notables

James Friend, of the University of California, San Diego, has been named chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science in the McKelvey School of Engineering. His appointment will begin in 2026.

Rebecca Brown, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and university governance at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Most Influential Business Women” class of 2025.

Eight recent alumni and one current student of Washington University in St. Louis earned Fulbright awards to travel abroad to teach English or to conduct research in the 2025-26 academic year. The program recognizes talented leaders and scholars who are committed to promoting global collaboration and understanding.

Sydney E. Scott, an associate professor of marketing at Olin Business School, has been named one of Poets & Quants’ “Best 40-under-40 MBA Professors” for 2025.

Zhen He, an environmental engineer at WashU, received the 2025 Frederick George Pohland Medal from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.

Thirteen teachers from across the St. Louis region have been selected to work with WashU faculty members for the 2025 Summer Teacher-Researcher Program. Administered in collaboration with the university’s Institute for School Partnership, the program provide professional development opportunities for area K-12 teachers.

Kevin Cox, an assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, received the 2025 Eric E. Conn Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Kristina Sauerwein, a senior sciences writer in Marketing & Communications at WashU Medicine, has received her fifth Robert G. Fenley Writing Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Betsy Sinclair, who studies how politics influence social relationships, was installed recently as the Thomas F. Eagleton University Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science in Arts & Sciences.

Perla Giles, a rising senior majoring in molecular microbiology, and David Lee, a rising senior majoring in chemistry, have been chosen to participate in the Beckman Scholars Program, which provides in-depth research experiences for exceptionally talented undergraduate students.