Washington People

Laura Rosenbury, JD, professor of law, grew up in rural Indiana with two very strong grandmothers but in a church community that did not have much of a track record on women’s rights. “I think it was pretty obvious from a young age that women weren’t given the same opportunities as men and were expected to take on different roles,” she says. “And I didn’t understand why.”

Alan Pestronk’s experience with neurodegenerative disease helps him tune in to the patient and the caregivers.

Stephanie Hunter, transportation operations supervisor, manages WUSTL’s U-Pass program — which provides full-time faculty, staff and students free, unlimited use of Metro transit. “I was there in the beginning, and I helped to develop it, watched it grow,” Hunter says. “I take a lot of pride in seeing what a difference it makes to people on campus.”  

Evan Kharasch, MD, PhD, has been involved in scientific research since high school. An anesthesiologist by training, he is the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology and professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Last spring, he also was appointed vice chancellor for research for the university.

In her research, Jennifer R. Smith, PhD, associate professor of earth and planetary sciences and of environmental studies, both in Arts & Sciences, uses the tools of classic earth science to address questions of archeological interest.

On the surface, family planning and tennis have little in common. But if results are what matter, Jeffrey Peipert, MD, PhD, is a winner.

Since Josh Walehwa and his family left Uganda and the dictatorship of Idi Amin in 1976, Walehwa, associate director of residential life at Washington University, has been surrounded by teachers who have encouraged and inspired him to aim higher and think bigger. But no mentor has been as important as his mother.

When Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, went to medical school, he was struck by the kinds of patients he saw in the hospital. Too many were suffering from heart attacks or lung cancer — conditions linked to smoking. “It made me wonder: Couldn’t we do a better job at prevention?” he says.

Lingxiu Dong, PhD, professor of operations and manufacturing management at Olin Business School, is passionate about making a difference in real-world business practices. Her research seeks solutions to problems managers face when juggling all the links in complicated supply chains.

When Kerry Kornfeld, MD, PhD, says his life began at the School of Medicine, he means that literally.