Abdul-Jabbar to deliver Commencement address

NBA great and social justice advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will deliver the 2021 Commencement address for Washington University, announced Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. The university plans to hold in-person ceremonies for the Class of 2021 on May 20 and 21.

Black, Hispanic women affected by COVID-19 job losses

The current recession created by the COVID-19 pandemic has especially impacted women — particularly Black and Hispanic women — and less educated workers, magnifying existing U.S. employment inequality, according to new Washington University research.

New type of microbiome-directed food boosts growth

A new study shows that a therapeutic food designed to repair the gut microbiomes of malnourished children is better than standard therapy. The study included researchers at the School of Medicine and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Bears baseball is back and looking to go all the way

The Bears baseball team was No. 1 in the nation when COVID-19 cut short their season. Now they’re back and undefeated. The team has several crucial games this weekend.

Notables

Abby L. Spencer, MD, has been named vice chair of education and professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine; director of the School of Medicine’s Academy of Educators; and to the editorial board of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Research Wire

Claire Masteller, assistant professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, won a $149,417 grant from the U.S. Army Research Office’s Early Career Program.