Washington People

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.

Bradley Hamilton and Kenneth Hamilton grew up in the St. Louis area. Today, the brothers share a love for the city, WashU Bears football and a desire to give back.

Whether meeting one-on-one with a new student or modeling a bold initiative like the university’s new need-blind admissions policy, Mike Runiewicz, assistant vice provost and director of Student Financial Services, is committed to making Washington University more accessible to students.

Two of WashU’s largest student groups are led by one very busy junior: John Jachimiak. As co-president of Heart for the Unhoused, Jachimiak travels to shelters across the region to conduct health screenings. And as president of the campus QuestBridge chapter, Jachimiak gives scholars resources, a voice and, most importantly, a community. 

Kris Campa is the first graduate of the John B. Ervin Scholars Program to lead it. He mentors students in his capacity as Ervin director and while teaching creative writing in University College.

The Brown School’s Vetta Sanders Thompson has spent much of her career focused on racial identity, diversity and health.

The Washington University Police Department’s Gwen Patton has been serving the community as a police officer for nearly 25 years. Her history at the university allows her to care for the campus community she is a part of.

Economist Andrew Jordan in Arts & Sciences uses data analytics to uncover potential bias in the criminal justice system by studying the decisions made by courts, police and prosecutors.

Artist Amy Hauft, director of the College of Art at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, has the most complex exhibition of her career on view at Mass MoCA in Massachusetts. She discusses “700,000:1 | Terra + Luna + Sol,” her working process and humanity’s place in a dangerous universe.