In St. Louis, For St. Louis

Dr. Cryslynn Billingsley, Jennings Senior High and College Prep Academy Principal, is among more than 22 educators from the Jennings School District participating in The Art of Coaching Book Club, a guided set of professional learning sessions facilitated by Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership (ISP) and the Center for Education Leadership at the St. Louis Community Foundation. Based on Elena Aguilar’s book, “The Art of Coaching Teams: Building Resilient Communities That Transform Schools,” the sessions provide a safe place for shared learning on the importance of building trust, listening, and asking effective questions.

Andrew Taylor, an emeritus trustee of Washington University in St. Louis, and his wife, Barbara, have made a $50 million gift to WashU Medicine’s neurosurgery department to enhance groundbreaking research, innovative patient care and the training of the next generation of neurosurgery leaders. In recognition of the Taylors’ generosity, the department has been named the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery. “This gift marks a new era in the history of innovative science and compassionate healing at WashU Medicine,” said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. “Andrew and Barbara’s generosity is further strengthening the department’s research infrastructure and helping WashU Medicine deliver world-class, life-changing care right here in St. Louis, while also providing life-saving innovations to the world. Their investment in new discoveries and treatments will give many more families reasons to feel grateful for decades to come.”

In a testament to the quality and national competitiveness of biomedical research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the school secured $683 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in federal fiscal year 2024 – a record high for WashU Medicine and an affirmation of its leadership in shaping the future of medicine. WashU Medicine’s NIH-funding success acts as a magnet for the brightest minds in medicine, drawing top-tier scientists, physicians and students from around the world to work and train at WashU Medicine. This influx of talent fosters collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies, driving further medical advancements and spurring local and regional economic growth.

In May 2024, the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) at Washington University in St. Louis launched Empower, the first no-cost program of its kind designed specifically for educated refugees. The 26-week program gives students the next-level English and professional skills they need to find jobs that match their talents and training. It also provides career coaching and an opportunity to earn a CAPS certificate in health care, data analytics, project management and other high-demand fields at no cost. 

Students from Washington University’s Brown School recently took their classroom lessons to the frontlines of local policy, offering public testimony on a bill aimed at expanding non-traditional housing options in the City of St. Louis. Their participation was part of the “Domestic Social and Economic Development Policy” course, designed to give students real-world experience in legislative advocacy and policymaking. 

Shortly before Thanksgiving, sixteen leaders from non-profits across the St. Louis region gathered with their families to celebrate a unique milestone—the completion of a new professional credit program created through a partnership between WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) and the United Way of Greater St. Louis. The Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management Professional Certificate program was designed to equip regional non-profit leaders with essential training in three key pillars of organizational success: management, finances, and human resources.

In recognition of a transformative commitment to WashU Medicine from St. Louisan Richard Frimel and his late husband, Gary C. Werths, Siteman Cancer Center’s new building for outpatient care will be named the Gary C. Werths Building. The historic pledge will fund groundbreaking cancer research and medical student scholarships to support aspiring physicians. Additionally, the gift will benefit cancer patients in St. Louis and beyond.

Arch Grants recently announced its 2024 cohort, awarding $1.7 million in equity-free grants to 20 groundbreaking startups. A quarter of them have current WashU ties.

AIA St. Louis, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has presented awards to the Office for Socially Engaged Practice for the Gateway Pavilion designed by Assistant Professor Wyly Brown and Cody Heller, MArch ’24, for his Year End Show 13.0 exhibition design.

Arch Grants has announced its 2024 cohort, awarding $1.7 million in equity-free grants to 20 groundbreaking startups. These companies, selected for their potential to drive economic impact and innovation, reflect the strength and growth of St. Louis’ entrepreneurial ecosystem. Among this year’s winners, five startups boast ties to Washington University in St. Louis, underscoring not only the university’s focus on fostering innovation but also a desire to see WashU entrepreneurs engage in St. Louis, grow their businesses here, and contribute to the economic development of the region.