The Board of Trustees re-elected David W. Kemper as chair of the board and named Stephen F. Brauer as chair-elect and vice chair, and John F. McDonnell as vice chair, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
Kemper is chairman, president and CEO of Commerce Bancshares Inc. Brauer is president of Hunter Engineering in Bridgeton, Mo., and immediate past U.S. ambassador to Belgium. McDonnell is retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Trustees also returned three past trustees to the board: Corinna Cotsen, owner of Edifice Complex, a design firm in Manhattan Beach, Calif.; John P. Dubinsky, president and CEO, Westmoreland Associates, St. Louis; and Eugene S. Kahn, CEO, Claire’s Stores, St. Louis.
Four new student representatives also were named to the board. Undergraduate representatives are Marius Johnson, an Arts & Sciences junior, and Kavya Reddy Naini, a junior from the School of Engineering & Applied Science.
The new graduate student representatives are Timothy J. Bono, a 2011 doctoral candidate in psychology, and Tracy F. Nicholson, a 2009 doctoral candidate in molecular microbiology in engineering.
Outgoing student representatives are Kimia H. Ferdowsi, a student in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts who graduates this month; Kristopher R. Kelley, an Arts & Sciences student who graduates this month; Emma B. Cottler, who will receive her MBA from the Olin Business School this month; and Elliott M. Weiss, a member of the School of Medicine class of 2010.
In his remarks to the board, Wrighton noted three significant appointments:
• The naming of Executive Vice Chancellor Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., dean of Arts & Sciences and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, as provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009;
• The appointment of Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., the Spencer T. Olin Professor and chair of the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences, as interim dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences, effective July 1;
• The appointment of Salvatore P. Sutera, Ph.D., senior professor of biomedical engineering, former chairman of mechanical engineering and the first chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, as interim dean of engineering, effective July 1.
In recognizing the continuing strength of the University’s undergraduate students, Wrighton said that the fall 2008 freshman class of about 1,400 students will be the strongest in University history.
Wrighton reported that construction on the Medical Campus includes the largest building ever constructed by the University — the BJC Institute of Health at Washington University. Major earth work is complete, nearly all the foundation work has been prepared and structural steel is now being erected over a portion of the building site. Completion is scheduled for late 2009.
On the Danforth Campus, Wrighton said work continues on three major projects, all of which are slated for occupancy when students return in the fall. These are the Harry and Susan Seigle Hall for law and social sciences; the William H. and Elizabeth Gray Danforth University Center; and Village East, a residence hall. He also said design preparations have begun for new residential facilities on the South 40.
Wrighton closed his comments by noting that WUSTL is enjoying its strongest year in history in NCAA Division III sports — leading the Director’s Cup standings as the No. 1 Division III program in the nation, as well as holding national championships in men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
Three national councils reported on their strategic plans as part of the Plan for Excellence process.
The National Council on Undergraduate Experience presented its plan for excellence, as did the Olin Business School and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
Co-presenting from the undergraduate experience national council were trustee Ronald L. Thompson, retired chairman of the board and CEO of Midwest Stamping Co., and James E. McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
Presenting for the Olin Business School was James V. O’Donnell, a trustee who is president and CEO of Busch-O’Donnell and Co. Co-presenting was Mahendra R. Gupta, Ph.D., dean and the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil Professor of Accounting and Management.
The Sam Fox plan for excellence presentation was made by John D. Weil, a trustee and president of Clayton Management Co. Co-presenting was Carmon Colangelo, dean and the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Collaboration in the Arts.
The outgoing student representatives to the board provided reviews of the year, as did the outgoing faculty representative, Jeffrey Lowell, M.D., professor of surgery.
In other actions, the following trustee standing committees provided reports: compensation, development, educational policy, honorary degree, medical finance, university finance, audit and alumni board of governors.