Washington People

Monika Weiss, a professor of art at WashU’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, was trained in piano but then branched into visual art and beyond. Her works encompass many formats and senses. She recently installed “Metamorphosis (Sound Sculpture),” at St. Louis’ Laumeier Sculpture Park.

Trained as an engineer, Janie Brennan, a senior lecturer at the WashU McKelvey School of Engineering, now builds courses instead of machines. She’s using her classroom to peel away systemic and cultural barriers to engineering. 

Olin Business School’s Dennis Zhang says online platform design is improved by considering human decision-making alongside information algorithms.

Hematologist Amy Zhou, MD, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, values the connections she makes with patients. She is also pursuing research to improve blood cancer treatments.

Postdoctoral research scholar Sade Williams Clayton works to advocate and build community for postdoctoral research trainees and others. She recently received a national award from the National Postdoctoral Association for her efforts.

Caitlyn Collins, an associate professor of sociology in Arts & Sciences, has focused her career on researching and advocating for policy solutions for working mothers and their families. Now that she’s a working mother herself, her work has new meaning.

Kim Thuy Seelinger, with roles at both the Brown School and the School of Law, combines social work and law as a sought-after expert to help with prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence.

Antonio Douthit-Boyd, in Arts & Sciences, returned to his hometown of St. Louis years ago and last fall joined WashU full time to be the Performing Arts Department’s ballet master. Learn about his journey and the future of classical dance at WashU.

Katharine Flores is the Christopher I. Byrnes Professor and director of the Institute of Materials Science & Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Also an alumna, she has brought dedication, leadership and expertise to the materials science program and is helping it reach the next level.

Sumanth Prabhu, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Division at the School of Medicine, is a heart failure specialist with a passion for patient care.