Fall 2015 Issue

After a nearly 10-year wait, planetary scientist William McKinnon, PhD, provides an inside look at New Horizons’ spectacular flyby of Pluto and its first discoveries coming into focus.

The university unveils plans to enhance the east end of the Danforth Campus.

Though he doesn’t consider himself a pathfinder, James L. Sweatt helped integrate some of the country’s top institutions, including Washington University School of Medicine.

While at Washington University, Kelsi Singer noticed Bill McKinnon’s bumper sticker, “My other vehicle is on its way to Pluto.” Today, she works on the New Horizons mission and has her own sticker: “My other vehicle explored Pluto.”

The Gephardt Institute celebrates its ­10-year anniversary with a renewed focus on engagement. Its Civic Scholars Program exemplifies the mission: to develop engaged citizens and build strong communities.

Across higher education, colleges and universities refer to a tripartite mission of teaching, research and service. Today, the shift in service is one away from a charitable orientation toward one that embraces a problem-solving, partnership-based approach.

Two weeks after he turned 18, Jimmy Loomis, Arts & Sciences Class of ’17, became Missouri’s youngest elected official.

Over his career, alumnus Michael Castro has published 10 collections of poetry. His poems exhibit a keen ear and a fearless eye, which may be why he was selected to be St. Louis’ first poet laureate.

In 2005, Dora Hughes, was working for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy when she met a junior senator from Illinois named Barack Obama, and this meeting changed the trajectory of her career.

Songwriter Sean Douglas’ job is just like yours — except his office is the recording studio. And his co-workers are stars like Jason Derulo and David Guetta.