Leading through connection: From research to advocacy
Tiffany Zhu, Class of 2026, is the first in her family to attend college. Well into her fourth year, she is still drawing deeply on the opportunities that WashU provides. In doing so, she is positioning herself to become a leading public health physician, committed to creating a system of holistic care so that more people feel connected to healthcare.
Grounded in global community
Claudia Romeu, AB ’08, grew up in Puerto Rico, where she was raised with strong values, including a deep sense of social responsibility toward others. At the same time, her upbringing was shaped by a relative lack of cultural diversity. Studying social anthropology at WashU helped open her eyes to other ways of living and the breadth of human experience.
Expert hands, timely hope
WashU Medicine’s Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery is home to the latest innovations in neurosurgery and neurotechnology to address complex brain tumors. Eric C. Leuthardt, MD, performed a groundbreaking, minimally invasive procedure in 2010.
From Buder scholarship to community champion
Kerry Bird, MSW ’98, applied for a scholarship to study at the Brown School almost by chance — and last minute. Inspired by the possibility of making a meaningful impact in his community, he rushed out of the meeting, found a pay phone, and called the recruiter. A month later, he was enrolled at Brown on a Buder Scholarship. That call set him on a leadership path. Today, he serves as the director of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission.
Cohen scholarship creates opportunities for families of educators
When Steve Cohen, BSBA ’89, and his wife, Jocelyn, established a scholarship at WashU in 2012, the gift was about more than supporting the university — it also had personal significance. In honor of Steve’s mother, who was a teacher, they set up the scholarship to benefit students who had educators in their families.
Powered by design, anchored in community
Having grown up in Atlanta, Angelyn Chandler, AB ’89, made it her goal to settle in a highly walkable city with robust public transportation. Upon finishing her graduate degree from Princeton University, she landed in New York
The healing power of neuroscience
Physician-scientist Michael Avidan, MBBCh, leads WashU Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology, a world leader in anesthesiology research, education, and patient care.
How an undergraduate scholarship paved the way for a student’s journey to WashU
Davin Hickman-Chow, BS ’25, intends to become a neurosurgeon — and he’s fully aware of the steep odds. With only 240–260 residencies available each cycle, this competitive reality shaped his academic journey from the start.
The long game: A leader for life
At WashU, Chris Swenson, AB ’93, BSBA ’93, learned to explore and embrace diversity of thought that would shape his leadership in the legal and business worlds.
Building healthier communities
Growing up in the City of St. Louis, Doneisha Bohannon, MPH ’14, witnessed how neighborhoods shape health and opportunity. This upbringing, combined with her undergraduate studies in geography and sociology, motivated her to address disparities in her community.