Speeches & Writings

At institutions of distinction like WashU, we value diversity of opinion and we grow in civil debate. We choose WashU because we want to be challenged. And one way we do this is to expose ourselves to ideas that push us out of our intellectual comfort zones. 

As we prepare to step away from our daily routines for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reflecting upon the role of tradition in our lives. Just like family life, university life is full of traditions. They may change over time, but some, like the alma mater that now rings out from Graham Chapel at noon each day, or the annual wonder of yellow leaves raining down on Ginkgo Allée each November, have been part of the fabric of WashU culture for a century.

The concentric circles model of human behavior was created by the second-century Stoic philosopher Hierocles and further developed by modern psychologists. It depicts a continuum of impact in which the innermost circle ripples out into broader and broader spheres of influence – all of which, of course, are connected at the center.

Welcome, all, to the 2024-2025 academic year at Washington University in St. Louis.

Starting today, you’ll see a new look and refreshed visual identity for the university appearing in many of our physical and digital spaces.

Class of 2024, congratulations. Everyone on this stage — our administrators, faculty leaders and trustees — and everyone who showed up to support you today — all stand in awe of what you’ve overcome as a class to make it to this milestone. Your experience has been uniquely challenging in so many ways. I mean, […]

This has been a tumultuous time for our WashU community. And unfortunately, we know it’s not over.

Saturday was a dark, sad day for WashU. A large group of individuals came to campus intending to disrupt, do harm, and interfere with educational activities and campus life.

January is a time for new beginnings as we turn the calendar to a fresh page for 2024, get back into the classroom for the start of the spring semester, and renew our commitment to our personal, academic, and professional goals in the new year.  This is also a time for reflection for all of us, as individuals and as a community.

Good afternoon.  I am pleased to join all of you this afternoon for WashU’s annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the essential work that he did to advance equal human dignity for every person in this country.  Thank you to the committee who planned and organized this event for putting together a thoughtful program today.