Arts & Sciences

Malcolm Foley, who will receive degrees in religious studies and finance May 18, has a charisma that draws people to him, whether as an RA in Danforth House, conducting bible study classes on campus, or as an actor on the WUSTL stage at Edison and Hotchner. An Outstanding Graduate in the College of Arts & Sciences, Foley will take that charisma to his next adventure: Yale Divinity School.

Eleven Washington University in St. Louis-affiliated entrepreneurs are among the winners of $750,000 in inaugural grants from Arch Grants, the global business plan competition providing $50,000 grants to startups and taking no equity in return. The 11 WUSTL-affiliated winners comprise five alumni, four faculty members and two students.

If international lenders refuse to renegotiate substantial reductions in Greek public debt, chances are that whatever government emerges in Greece in the next few weeks will run out of cash by the end of June, says Costas Azariadis, PhD, the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences.

Five Arts & Sciences faculty nominated by undergraduate students in the College of Arts & Sciences were honored at the annual ArtSci Council faculty awards recognition ceremony on April 16 in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. The ArtSci Council changed the name of the award to the James E. McLeod Faculty Recognition Award to honor the beloved dean of the college and vice chancellor for students, who died Sept. 6, 2011.

Ashley Brosius arrived at WUSTL as a freshman with dreams of medical school. Women, gender, and sexuality studies courses prompted her to alter her academic plans, but Brosius found a way to blend both interests when she co-wrote and received a grant to design and implement a program called “Catalysts for Change,” which aimed to introduce local female high school students to STEM fields. 

To recognize the 100th birthday of Sam Weissman, Manhattan Project scientist and beloved teacher who helped convert WUSTL’s Department of Chemistry in Arts & Sciences into a modern research department, the department is hosting a poster session, lecture and symposium Thursday and Friday, May 10 and 11.The festivities will include the second annual Weissman lecture, on the topic of the history of nuclear magnetic resonance, which will be delivered Thursday evening by Charles Slichter, PhD, emeritus professor of physics at the University of Illinois.

The College of Arts & Sciences will introduce a newly revised curriculum, called Integrated InQuiry (IQ), for undergraduate students at Washington University in St. Louis. Developed over a four-year process with input from students, faculty and administrators, the IQ will be available to new undergraduates arriving this fall.

Covered in both graffiti and secrets, a simple brick wall alternates between playground and refuge from the world. On Saturday, May 5, Montreal’s Dynamo Theatre will return to St. Louis with Mur-Mur (The Wall), an acrobatic exploration of friendship and young love, as part of Edison’s ovations for young people series.

Guillermo Rosas, PhD, an associate professor of political science, is developing sophisticated statistical models to examine complicated questions in a credible way. Much of his research hearkens back to his homeland in Mexico City, as he strives to infuse thoughtful analysis into the public dialogue.

The PLAN worked, and now organizers of the Washington University in St. Louis Professional Leadership Academy & Network program are looking for a second group of participants, including staff from the School of Medicine. PLAN is a yearlong professional development program intended to help build participants’ leadership skills as well as provide WUSTL with a cadre of leaders who can contribute to university-wide initiatives and projects. Applications are due May 29.