Washington People: Odis Johnson

Odis Johnson, PhD, joined the Department of Education in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis this semester. Here, he talks about the future of education research and policy, and how education, race and urban policy intersect.

Lori S. White appointed vice chancellor for students​​

​​Lori S. White, PhD, vice president for student affairs at Southern Methodist University, has been named vice chancellor for students at Washington University in St. Louis. The appointment is effective July 1, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. White succeeds Sharon Stahl, PhD, who announced last year​ that she would retire at the end of the 2014-15 academic year.​

Goddard honored by corporate counsel group

Christopher Goddard, JD, assistant vice chancellor and associate general counsel for Washington University in St. Louis, recently was awarded the prestigious William E. Jaudes Service Award by the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Research as art​​

An inaugural exhibit of images by scientists, titled “Research as Art,” held April 3, included eerie landscapes created by vortices in superfluids, smeared false-color data from satellite-borne instruments, three-dimensional images of grains that exploded out of supernovas and many more enigmatic and colorful images.

Distinctive points of view​

​The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts will present its 86th Annual Fashion Design Show at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26. The fully choreographed, Paris-style extravaganza, which takes place in Union Station, will features dozens of models wearing scores of outfits by 27 sophomore, junior and senior designers.

Corbo receives research grants

Joseph Corbo, PhD, MD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, received research grants from the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology and from the Washington University Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.

The ghosts of old technology

The method is strange at first, disconcerting, but new rules and rhythms are quickly internalized. Soon the machines seem almost to speak. In “Telegraph,” recent alumnus Will Jacobs — winner of the 2014 A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Competition at Washington University in St. Louis — explores the wonder and shortcomings of communication technology.

WashU junior Kevin Hays to attempt Rubik’s Cube world record at Thurtene Carnival​

Kevin Hays, a junior at Washington University in St. Louis and a Rubik’s Cube champion, will attempt to break a Guinness World Record at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at the annual Thurtene Carnival, the nation’s oldest and largest student-run carnival. Hays, from the bottom of a see-through dunk tank, will attempt to break the world record for most Rubik’s Cubes solved underwater. Thurtene Carnival runs from April 17-19 on Brookings Drive on the Danforth Campus.