On November 7, 2025, students from the Medicine & Society Program, alongside members of the Department of Anthropology and the organization Operation Smile, participated in a community service project in St. Louis. They crafted cards for veterans and hospice patients served by Unity Hospice and Palliative Care. In addition to the heartfelt messages, the group assembled care kits for local children in need and collected food and personal-care items to support Operation Food Search.
Such initiatives highlight the collaborative efforts of the Medicine and Society Program to positively impact the St. Louis community. The program works alongside various organizations to foster engagement and support for local residents.
Fashion Fundraiser Features Wes Gordon
On November 18, the St. Louis Fashion Fund hosted a fundraiser featuring Wes Gordon, the creative director at Carolina Herrera. The event took place in Graham Chapel, where Gordon engaged in a discussion about fashion. Prior to the event, he met with fashion design students from the Sam Fox School in Weil Hall, including Madeline Carlson, to share insights and experiences from the industry.
Recognizing Educational Leaders
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin was among six local educational leaders honored at the 19th annual luncheon of Girls Inc. of St. Louis on November 7 at the Ritz Carlton in St. Louis. He received recognition for Washington University’s ongoing support of the organization, which aims to cultivate the next generation of strong, smart, and bold leaders in the region. Joining him at the event were Cheryl Jones, president and CEO of Girls Inc. of St. Louis, and event chairs Rochelle Griffin and Angela Grady.
The Brown School launched the Social System Design Lab’s “Double Loop Learning Seminar Series” on November 12. The kickoff featured Ellis Ballard, who shared reflections from his extensive career working with communities worldwide. This seminar series aims to foster dialogue and learning on complex social systems.
Academic Discussions and Workshops
On November 9, Tanzil Shafique from the University of Sheffield School of Architecture and Landscape participated in the Sam Fox School’s Informal Cities Workshop held in Givens Hall. The workshop focused on the theme “Inhabiting Wet-Lands: Exploring Popular and Natural Design Assemblages in the Fragile Edges of Dhaka in Bangladesh,” encouraging students to think critically about urban design challenges.
Additionally, on November 11, Weidenbaum Center fellows Steven Fazzari and Chris Varvares were involved in a discussion titled “High Stakes, Uncertain Gains: Trump’s Economic Experiment So Far” at Anheuser-Busch Hall’s Bryan Moot Courtroom. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to engage with insights on current economic policies.
On the same day, a collaborative event titled “St. Louis Reads Dante” took place in Olin Library’s Ginkgo Reading Room, featuring presentations by Nicolò Sassi, assistant professor of theological studies at Saint Louis University, and Paolo Scartoni, a lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures in Arts & Sciences.
These events underscore a vibrant commitment to community engagement, education, and the arts in St. Louis, showcasing the collaborative spirit of local institutions and organizations dedicated to social betterment.
