At its spring meeting May 2, the Board of Trustees at Washington University in St. Louis elected two new members as well as the 2014-15 officers, among other actions, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
The two new board members elected for four-year terms are Todd M. Bluedorn, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Lennox International Inc., and Michael F. Powell, PhD, general partner of Sofinnova Ventures.
Five trustees were re-elected for a second four-year term: Howard N. Cayne, a partner in Arnold & Porter; David P. Conner, director of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd.; William J. Marshall, president of NISA Investment Advisors LLC; Dennis A. Muilenburg, vice chair, president and chief operating officer of Boeing Co. and president and CEO of Defense, Space & Security; and Ralph J. Nagel, president of Top Rock LLC.
In addition, two former trustees returned to the board: Andrew E. Newman, chairman of Hackett Security Inc.; and Ronald L. Thompson, retired chairman and CEO of Midwest Stamping Co.
One current trustee also was elected an emeritus trustee: James H. Hance Jr., retired vice chairman of Bank of America Corp.
In addition, the board elected its officers for 2014-15: Chair Craig D. Schnuck, chairman of the executive committee of Schnuck Markets Inc.; and vice chairs Stephen F. Brauer, chairman of Hunter Engineering; and David W. Kemper, chairman and CEO of Commerce Bancshares Inc.
Key appointments
In his report to the Board of Trustees, Wrighton noted the recent appointments of four key university positions: Nancy Staudt, JD, PhD, vice dean for faculty and academic affairs at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, as dean of the School of Law; William F. Tate, PhD, the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences and chair of the Department of Education, as dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and vice provost for graduate education; Heather Corcoran, chair of the design program in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, as director of the school’s College & Graduate School of Art; and Dedric Carter, PhD, associate dean for international education and research in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, as associate provost and associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship, a newly created position.
Wrighton said the Admissions Office had a high number of admitted high school seniors as well as high school juniors beginning their college search visit the university this spring. A final report on the fall 2014 freshman class will be given at the October board meeting.
Construction update
Wrighton gave an update on construction projects on both the Danforth and Medical campuses.
On the Danforth Campus, he noted the opening of the Olin Business School’s new Knight and Bauer halls, which are being dedicated during activities May 2-3, and the April 12 farewell event for Rubelmann House, which will be replaced with a new residence hall, slated to open in August 2015.
He reported that work is on schedule on the Brown School and Institute for Public Health expansion, with completion by May 2015, as well as on The Lofts of Washington University, the Delmar Loop Student Living Initiative, with completion by June.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the fitness, recreation and athletic facilities was held April 11. Construction will begin after Commencement, with completion by August 2016.
On the Medical Campus, Wrighton reported construction is underway on the new Scott McKinley Research Building, with completion by June 2015, as well as on the new Environmental Health & Safety Processing and Central Services Building.
He also said the new cyclotron in the East Building was installed, and that work continues on Interstate 64 access ramps at Tower Grove Avenue, with a June completion.
Wrighton also reported to the board about a Student Union resolution calling for the university to divest in the fossil-fuel industry and to consider the social and environmental impact of specific companies and investment strategies.
He said the subject of the political and social issues surrounding global challenges, including divestment, will be the subject of continuing conversations with the board. He also announced plans for a major symposium on corporate responsibility to be held on campus in the coming year.
He encouraged board members to attend this planned symposium, as well as this fall’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy 5th International Symposium, titled “The Role of Research Universities in Addressing Global Challenges,” which will be held on campus in October.
Commencement news
Wrighton noted that Baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, considered one of the best managers in baseball history, will deliver the Commencement address on May 16.
La Russa also will receive an honorary degree at the university’s 153rd Commencement exercises, as will five other individuals: Henry W. Bloch, co-founder of H&R Block and a civic leader and philanthropist; Temple Grandin, PhD, a professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University whose insights into animal behavior and her innovations in livestock handling have revolutionized farm-animal welfare; Vivian W. Pinn, MD, a senior scientist emerita at the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center and a highly regarded pioneer in women’s health; David E. Robertson, music director of the St. Louis Symphony and one of today’s most sought-after American conductors; and Diana Chapman Walsh, PhD, the 12th president of Wellesley College, who initiated a number of new programs during her tenure.
The university’s annual Faculty Achievement Awards were announced recently, Wrighton said. David Balota, PhD, a leader in the study of cognitive breakdowns that occur in Alzheimer’s, and Steven L. Teitelbaum, MD, a world-renowned bone biologist, will receive their awards during a dinner in December.
Wrighton recognized the extraordinary accomplishments of many of the university’s athletic teams, including the No. 1-ranked women’s golf team in NCAA Division III that will take part in the 2014 NCAA Division III Championship May 13-16 in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.; the No. 2-ranked men’s tennis team that won its second straight UAA Championship with a 7-2 win over Carnegie Mellon University and will make its 15th straight NCAA appearance; and the men’s and women’s track-and-field teams that claimed the UAA Outdoor Championships in Chicago.
The board heard an update from the Olin Business School on Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University from Dean Mahendra R. Gupta, PhD, the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil Professor of Accounting and Management.
During the meeting, the trustees heard year-in-review reports from the four student representatives to the board as well as from the faculty representative.
Presenting were Arts & Sciences graduating seniors Taylor Docking, from Adrian, Mich., and Tiffini Hyatt, from Edwardsville, Ill.; Hugh Bender, a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences; Timothy McHugh, a third-year JD candidate in the School of Law; and William W. Clark, PhD, Faculty Senate Council chair and professor of otolaryngology.
The board also acknowledged the death of Murray Weidenbaum, PhD, the Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences and honorary chairman of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy, who died March 20 in St. Louis at the age of 87.
In other action, the board received reports from the following standing committees: nominating and governance, compensation, development, global engagement, educational policy, honorary degree, medical finance, university finance, audit and the alumni board of governors.
The two new trustees:
