Presenters sought for ‘Ignite’ event Oct. 17

Student, faculty and staff presenters are being sought for a multimedia “Ignite” event that will be held Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the Danforth University Center. Ignite presentations are fast-paced, fun, five-minute presentations of 20 PowerPoint slides that automatically advance every 20 seconds.

Barbara Schaal to become next dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Provost Edward S. Macias, PhD, has announced that Barbara A. Schaal, PhD, the Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences, will become the university’s next dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Schaal succeeds Gary S. Wihl, the Hortense & Tobias Lewin Distinguished Professor in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, who will be on leave beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

A second chance for Service First: volunteers needed

About 150 volunteers still are needed this weekend for Service First. Through this annual community service project, WUSTL sends student, staff and faculty volunteers to help brighten public schools in St. Louis City and University City. Originally set for Sept. 1, with more than 1,000 volunteers participating, Service First was rescheduled due to inclement weather.

WUSTL named top entrepreneurship school

Washington University in St. Louis has been ranked among the top schools in the nation for entrepreneurship by Entrepreneur magazine’s annual Princeton Review report. The annual survey names the schools with the top 25 undergraduate and top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs in the nation.

NFL funds study of the brain after concussions

Neurologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received funding to study the brain following repeat concussions. The project is one of 15 around the country selected by NFL Charities, the charitable foundation of the National Football League Owners.

Washington University in St. Louis selected to host Clinton Global Initiative University April 5-7, 2013

Chelsea Clinton announced during the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York on Sept. 25 that Washington University in St. Louis will serve as the host of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), April 5-7, 2013, on the Danforth Campus.  President Bill Clinton launched CGI U in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities discuss solutions to pressing global issues.

Erin Gruwell explains the power of storytelling to transform lives

Teacher Erin Gruwell’s story of transforming students who were labeled stupid and apathetic into confident, motivated high school graduates became an inspirational best-selling book and movie. Gruwell will discuss “Becoming a Catalyst for Change” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in Anheuser-Busch Hall Moot Courtroom. Part of the Assembly Series, the talk is free and open to the public.

Alvin Ailey Legacy Residency Sept. 30-Oct. 4

In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of dancers staged a performance at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The concert helped revolutionize perceptions of African-American dancers, and led to the founding of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Next week, Sylvia Waters, a former principal dancer with the company, will be on campus as part of the Alvin Ailey Legacy Residency, hosted by the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences.