SLU News Archive
Headlines from Saint Louis University – from research breakthroughs to student achievements to major campus events.
11/15/24- Ryan Teague, Ph.D., professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine, and his team are now trying to uncover the exact mechanism underlying the metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity that directly impact T-cell function.
11/15/24- SLU Science and Engineering students tested their engineering skills in a timed innovation challenge building bridges out of cardboard tubes and duct tape.
11/15/24- Saint Louis University will host GIS (Geographic Information System) Day on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The one-day conference will feature speakers who work on GIS projects in the St. Louis region.
11/15/24- The study, recently published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal, found that 34% of mothers said stay-at-home orders facilitated easier breastfeeding at home, stronger mother-child bonding, and extended breastfeeding duration for many women. However, the pandemic also presented significant barriers, including limited access to lactation support and heightened maternal stress.
11/14/24- Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA) opens The Past Beneath Our Feet and Renaissance Man on Friday, Nov. 15. "The Past Beneath Our Feet" presents findings from two decades of exploration in Ireland by SLU professor Thomas Finan, Ph.D. "Renaissance Man" presents selected works by the Honorable Nathan B. Young Jr.
11/12/24- Two Saint Louis University faculty members received Emerson's 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award. Jennifer Buehler, Ph.D. (Education) and Christina Garcia, Ph.D. (Spanish) were both recognized for their teaching prowess. The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards Program recognizes educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area annually for their leadership in and passion for teaching, their contributions to student learning, and their knowledge and creativity.
11/11/24- The Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University inducted two new members to its Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame at a dinner on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.
11/05/24- Saint Louis University's School of Education has partnered with St. Louis Catholic Academy, beginning a first-of-its-kind affiliation for SLU's School of Education. The SLU School of Education will provide resources to St. Louis Catholic Academy's middle school, starting with the current school year.
11/05/24- For patients facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a compassionate approach to care can be transformative. Yet, a new study published in Healthcare reveals that palliative care, a service focused on enhancing the quality of life for those with serious illnesses, remains significantly underutilized among pancreatic cancer patients in the United States.
11/05/24- A study by researchers at Saint Louis University shows that only one in eight patients with heart failure in the United States receive palliative care consultations within five years of diagnosis. The study also highlighted significant racial and geographic disparities. Black people were 15% less likely to receive palliative care compared to their white counterparts.
10/31/24- Saint Louis University wrapped its year-long institutional process of discernment with an on-site peer visit this week. The visit was conducted by colleagues from three peer Jesuit universities.
10/31/24- Students in SLU's School of Science and Engineering participated in a Halloween innovation challenge, carving pumpkins that represented STEM majors in the school.
10/29/24- Students at Saint Louis University honored those who donated their bodies for medical education with an Interfaith Memorial Service on Friday, Oct. 25.
10/28/24- Saint Louis University will wrap up its year-long institutional process of discernment with an on-site peer visit this week. The visit will be conducted by colleagues from three peer Jesuit universities. The Mission Priority Examen (MPE) is a self-led process intended to reaffirm a Jesuit university’s commitment to its Catholic, Jesuit mission and the ways the University might continue to live out the mission in the future.
10/18/24- At Saint Louis University, an interprofessional wellness team is enhancing the health and well-being of SLU's student-athletes. It has a framework for how others can do the same.
10/18/24- Hadi Alhorr, Ph.D., the Paul Lorenzini Professor of International Business and the director of the Boeing Institute of International Business, was honored with the 2024 World Trade Center St. Louis - Global Ambassador Award, during the organization's annual Growing Global luncheon.
10/16/24- Saint Louis University received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
10/15/24- SLULaunch, a student-led entrepreneurship incubator for Saint Louis University students, recently held its inaugural launch night. The new program builds on the original goals of its predecessor, MEDLaunch, while broadening opportunities for students.
10/10/24- Tina Chen, M.D., associate dean of simulation and clinical skills at Saint Louis University's School of Medicine, was named a St. Louis Business Journal 40 Under 40 for 2024.
10/07/24- Robert H. Brockhaus, Ph.D. professor emeritus in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. He was 84.
10/04/24- Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing hosted its White Coat Ceremony, a rite of passage for students as they begin their clinical training and progress toward becoming baccalaureate nurses.
09/30/24- The Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at Saint Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education leads in educating future pediatric dentists to treat patients with disabilities and complex medical needs.
09/26/24- During the organization’s 2024 gala, SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., was noted for leading SLU to become a driving force in the revitalization of Midtown St. Louis. His spouse, Fran Pestello, Ph.D., was highlighted as a champion of the St. Louis Literary Award and for connecting the work of great authors to the broader community.
09/26/24- Saint Louis University and the Archdiocese of St. Louis will host a Solidarity Walk and Mass for immigrants and refugees on Sunday, Sept. 29, in conjunction with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR).
09/20/24- Saint Louis University’s Center for Supply Chain Excellence will host its first Tech-Chain conference on Friday, Oct. 18, at SLU’s Busch Student Center. The conference will bring together experts from academia and industry to share insights on the practical applications of AI, machine learning, GenAI and digital twins in the supply chain industry. The day-long event will feature expert presentations and a hands-on workshop.
09/19/24- Missouri voters will hear from gubernatorial candidates Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and Representative Crystal Quade Friday, Sept. 20, in the first debate in the race for Missouri governor. The SLU/YouGov Poll asked 450 likely Missouri voters in August: “What issue in the 2024 Election is the most important factor in your vote for Governor of Missouri?” Voters then answered in their own words what was important to them when voting for Governor.
09/18/24- Researchers at Saint Louis University School of Medicine investigated differences in T-cell responses between male and female patients with lung cancer that may help direct future treatments. T-cell responses are part of the adaptive immune system, which is part of the body's "smart system" that monitors for threats and fights them with customized defenses.
09/18/24- Saint Louis University has received a $964,848 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create a Climate Resilience Center at SLU. The project is one of 10 centers funded by the DOE in states nationwide.
09/17/24- Nominees are put forth by their peers and selected by an independent panel based on their professional achievements and contributions to the community. Farzana Hoque, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine and acting internship co-director, will be honored at the 44th Annual YWCA Leader Lunch on Friday, Dec. 13.
09/17/24- Alec Pollard, Ph.D., professor emeritus of family and community medicine, recently received the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)’s 2024 Outstanding Career Achievement Award. The IOCDF Awards recognize exceptional individuals and professionals for their dedicated efforts in advancing awareness, advocacy, and understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
09/17/24- Denise Côté-Arsenault, Ph.D., the Hemak Endowed professor of maternal child nursing, has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award, the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board recently announced.
09/16/24- Saint Louis University announced a historic donation to the University’s School of Education from physician and alumna Virginia (Ginny) Herrmann, M.D. The $7.3 million gift will establish the Herrmann Center for Innovative Catholic Education, as well as support education programs at every educational level and underserved students throughout the St. Louis region.
09/13/24- Thursday morning a record crowd attended the sixth Geo-Resolution conference at Saint Louis University. The annual event, co-hosted by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and SLU, was focused this year on the future -- the event's theme was "Modeling the Future for Today's Decisions."
09/12/24- Members of the St. Louis community came together on the Saint Louis University campus on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to celebrate "The Legacy of Mill Creek," a new public art installation by world-renowned St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc.
09/10/24- Saint Louis University has been awarded $250,000 from the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as part of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence program.
09/05/24- The Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs dominate their home turf in Missouri as voters in the state overwhelming chose the team as their favorite NFL franchise.
09/02/24- Team USA's Paralympic wheelchair rugby team kept their medal streak alive by winning the silver medal on Monday in Paris. Japan claimed gold following the 48-41 win over Team USA. First-time Paralympian Sarah Adam, OTD, assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at Saint Louis University, played a key role for Team USA.
08/29/24- The August 2024 SLU/YouGov Poll surveyed 900 likely Missouri voters about their opinions regarding the 2024 election, political issues facing the state and country, Missouri education issues, and matters considered by the Missouri state government.
08/29/24- In August 2024, the SLU/YouGov Poll interviewed 900 likely Missouri voters, asking them to name their favorite Major League Baseball team. The poll found that 41% of Missourians polled say the St. Louis Cardinals are their favorite team. The Kansas City Royals were the favorite team of 20% of those polled.
08/28/24- Open Source with SLU (OSS), a pioneering software engineering lab at Saint Louis University, has received a $654,610 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to continue advancing open scholarship and developing open-source software.
08/26/24- Featuring 22 sports and 4,400 athletes from around the world, the Paris Paralympics will see Paralympians battling for gold in individual and team events, beginning on Aug. 28 and lasting through Sept. 8. Sarah Adam, OTD, assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy, is among six athletes from the St. Louis region who will represent the area on Team USA.
08/20/24- D. Graeme Thomas, former executive director of Saint Louis University's Research Innovation Group, died Sunday, Aug. 11. He was 86. As the executive director, Thomas was responsible for commercializing the products of SLU research, including all aspects of IP protection, contract management, and industry collaboration.
08/19/24- Saint Louis University has many new faculty members joining the University this year. Check out the list of who is new at SLU.
08/17/24- The 2024 New Student Convocation and Family Welcome ceremony took place Saturday morning. The ceremony is designed to be one of the first opportunities for the new class of Billikens to develop a sense of cohesion and identity. Members of the SLU community shared how they serve a higher purpose and seek the greater good.
08/13/24- Kasey Fowler-Finn, an associate professor of biology at Saint Louis University, and Noah Leith, a recent Ph.D. graduate from Saint Louis University, published a paper in Functional Ecology that examined the thermoregulatory tendencies in plant-living insects. They determined that, while this thermoregulation improved survival in the species, it did not increase reproduction, pointing to a long-term concern for the insect.
08/13/24- A Saint Louis University study, published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Network Open, shows that treating post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with better overall well-being and lower risk of some chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.
08/12/24- Saint Louis University Libraries joined the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) this week as a full voting member. The CRL is an international consortium of more than 200 university, college and independent research libraries.
08/06/24- It's one thing to read about an ancient civilization in the history books, but it's a completely different matter when you hold that history in your hands. Saint Louis University students, along with SLU faculty, volunteers and visiting students from universities across the country, got a chance to unearth history this summer at archeological excavations at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois.
08/06/24- The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Saint Louis University will co-host the Geo-Resolution 2024 conference, "Modeling the Future for Today's Decisions," Thursday, Sept. 12, at SLU's Busch Student Center. The event is supported by Taylor Geospatial Institute.
08/01/24- Attendees were seeing double at this year’s Saint Louis University School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Sunday, July 28. Aarti and Arjun Sahai, siblings in a triplet set, were part of the incoming Class of first-year medical students at SLU.
08/01/24- The Saint Louis University School of Medicine welcomed the next generation of physicians during the school’s 2024 White Coat Ceremony on Sunday, July 28, in St. Francis Xavier College Church. The ceremony is the official start of first-year students’ journey into medicine.
07/30/24- The Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University is hosting its inaugural New Venture Accelerator (NVA) Demo Day. At the event, the first cohort of GenAssist, Moii Coffee, Posie Pots and EMBr will make final pitches to potential investors and partners interested in the future growth of the four companies.
07/26/24- Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing education in the U.S., and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, recently announced that Austin DesJardin and Joy Stark, Ph.D. students at Saint Louis University, have been selected as Jonas Scholars for the program's 2024-2026 cohort.
07/25/24- Dyan McGuire, J.D., Ph.D., director and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to teach criminology and criminal justice in India for the 2024-25 academic year.
07/18/24- In a bid to jump-start the campaign against HIV in the region, Saint Louis University, in partnership with Washington University School of Medicine, will establish the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The center, slated to open in September, will aim to create a platform for researchers and public health workers to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to fight the HIV epidemic together.
07/16/24- Saint Louis University School of Medicine researchers led by Krista Lentine, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, will assess how the use of genetic testing may mitigate racial disparities in the health outcomes of people with chronic kidney disease, including organ donors and transplant recipients.
07/01/24- Saint Louis University's Psychological Services Center, in partnership with the St. Louis Mental Health Board, will begin offering free psychological assessments for St. Louis city residents on a first come, first serve basis beginning July 1.
06/20/24- Research from Saint Louis University School of Medicine finds improvements in survival in both Veterans and men across the country over the last 20 years in metastatic prostate cancer, which correlates with new hormonal treatments.
06/14/24- St. Louisans soon will have the opportunity to join a first-of-its kind, national effort to advance medical research and assess how biology, lifestyle, and environment impact health. SLU and SSM Health are joining the NIH's All of Us Research Program, a historic effort to collect and study data from one million or more people who reflect the diversity of the United States with the goal of elevating the health of all.
06/11/24- Leo Jackson "Jack" Malone Jr., Ph.D., a former professor of Chemistry and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School at Saint Louis University, died on April 22, 2024. He was 85.
06/11/24- Saint Louis University's Varsity League of Legends Esports team are now National Champions. The Billikens defeated Maryville University on Saturday, June 8, to claim the national title.
06/07/24- William Johnson, J.D., outgoing dean of the Saint Louis University School of Law, has been named rector and vice president of SLU's Madrid campus, effective Oct. 1.
06/06/24- Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, Ph.D., the Irene Riddle Endowed Chair and professor at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University, was honored with the 2024 Distinguished Researcher Award by the Oncology Nursing Society.
06/05/24- Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States and offers a fun and social way to increase physical activity levels. With the explosion in participation has come a significant increase in pickleball-related injuries seen in U.S. emergency rooms. SLU TIP Lab researchers aim to describe the most common pickleball-related injuries and devise data-driven prevention strategies through multiple phases of the SPIN Project.
06/05/24- The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) announced Monday, June 4, that Saint Louis University physician Ajay Jain, M.D., will be the organization's 48th president.
05/30/24- Elaine Young, DNP, assistant professor of nursing, was recognized at the annual Excellence in Nursing Awards and is featured in St. Louis Magazine's May issue.
05/30/24- Saint Louis University has appointed Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., as the next Edward Jones Dean of the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at SLU. His appointment is effective July 1.
05/24/24- Where does your recycling go? Neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis will soon be able to track their recycling and solid waste thanks to a geospatial sensor developed by a Saint Louis University researcher.
05/24/24- Following a lengthy battle with cancer, Robert W. Wilmott, M.D., former dean of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and vice president of medical affairs, died on Sunday, May 19, 2024. He was 75. Wilmott led SLU’s School of Medicine and SLUCare medical practice through the turbulent first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, punctuating a long career that included serving at the helm of SLU’s department of pediatrics.
05/23/24- Saint Louis University's Billiken Teacher Corps, in an effort to meet the demand for Catholic school educators throughout St. Louis, will add a new pathway for the 2024-25 school year for participants to earn their Master of Arts in Teaching with Certification. The program, the Billiken Teacher Corps: MAT Magis, will join the Billiken Teacher Corps: Cura Community as an option to earn an MAT while also dedicating themselves to education and deepening their faith.
05/23/24- Molly Craig, a recent graduate from the Saint Louis University School of Education, was recognized as one of the 2024 Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow by the Missouri Milken Educators. The award, a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and previous Milken Educator award winners, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated high potential to achieve greatness in education and gives them the tools to continue that greatness as they become first-year teachers.
05/18/24- As Saint Louis University wraps up a week of commencement celebration, meet a few members of the Class of 2024 and learn more about what they plan to do next.
05/18/24- Four years ago, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school graduation ceremonies were dramatically altered or canceled outright. Referred to numerous times throughout the ceremony as "resilient," the Class of 2024 donned their caps and gowns and filed into Chaifetz Arena for Saint Louis University's Spring Commencement.
05/16/24- Amogh Chariyamane, a senior majoring in health sciences at Doisy College of Health Sciences, has a passion for health care and improving lives. As he prepares to enter the SLU School of Medicine, Chariyamane reflects on the last four years and what he hopes to achieve next.
05/16/24- Gabrielle Chiodo, a senior at the College of Arts and Sciences, talks about what inspired her studies and what she plans to do next.
05/16/24- Quinn Riordan, a senior majoring in international studies, has spent her entire undergraduate career at Saint Louis University’s campus in Madrid. As she prepares to graduate this spring, Riordan shares what inspired her to pursue her studies in Madrid and what she hopes to do next.
05/16/24- Saloni Shringarpure, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering (BME), shares how her service to others has helped nurture her love of science.
05/13/24- Peyton Kennedy, a senior at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business and member of the women's basketball team, shares her experiences at SLU and what she hopes to do after graduation.
05/09/24- Saint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in January out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, announces the first cohort of participants. The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 to launch their businesses.
05/08/24- A team of aviation science students from Saint Louis University's School of Science and Engineering are heading to Janesville, Wisconsin this weekend for the 2024 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Competition.
05/07/24- Saint Louis University’s Emerson Leadership Institute held its third annual Be Heard! Women in Leadership conference on Friday, May 3. The event, “Breaking and Powering Through the Bamboo Ceiling,” kicked off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
05/03/24- Two faculty members in Saint Louis University’s School for Professional Studies are being honored for their work in emergency management. Shawn Steadman, director of the emergency management program, and Jesse A. Scott, Ph.D., instructor in emergency management, were honored Thursday, May 2, at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Capt. Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Awards.
05/02/24- The Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA) will present a new, limited exhibition by Nick Leeper, S.J., a Jesuit scholastic and graduate student in philosophy at Saint Louis University. "What Is Christ," a collection of Leeper's paintings and sculptures, opens Friday, May 3, and will run through May 26.
05/01/24- Sarah Adam, OTD, assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at Saint Louis University, is one of 12 athletes who will represent the U.S. at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
04/29/24- Saint Louis University’s Emerson Leadership Institute will host its third annual Be Heard! Women in Leadership conference on Friday, May 3. The free event, “Breaking and Powering Through the Bamboo Ceiling,” will kick off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The half-day event will focus on cultural differences, the history of stereotyping, unconscious bias, and the myth of the model minority.
04/29/24- In a new study, Saint Louis University School of Medicine researchers and colleagues have identified biomarkers in high-risk infants with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). This is a condition that is life-threatening in some infants but very mild in others. For the first time, predicting which children need lifesaving intervention is possible.
04/26/24- Renowned Antigua-born author Jamaica Kincaid received the 2024 St. Louis Literary Award on Thursday, April 25. In her works, Kincaid explores themes of colonialism, gender and sexuality, racism, class, and familial relationships.
04/25/24- Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead will receive the 2025 St. Louis Literary Award from Saint Louis University. Whitehead will come to St. Louis next spring to accept the award. The award ceremony will be held in April 2025. Whitehead is the author of the novels “The Intuitionist,” “John Henry Days,” “Apex Hides the Hurt,” “Sag Harbor,” “The Underground Railroad,” “The Nickel Boys,” and “Harlem Shuffle,” among others.
04/25/24- Saint Louis University has one finalist for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and one alternate for a Research/Study Award. Grace Almgren received an English Teaching Assistant and will be teaching in Spain. The research/study alternate is Anuj Gandhi, who applied for a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant. An alternate is a candidate who can be promoted to Finalist status if additional funding becomes available.
04/23/24- Two Saint Louis University students, Liz Pfau and Natalie Walsh, have won Goldwater Scholarships after a lengthy application process. The Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious national undergraduate award for students in STEM who intend to pursue a career in STEM research after graduation.
04/23/24- Renowned Antigua-born author Jamaica Kincaid will receive the St. Louis Literary Award this week.
04/16/24- A new state-of-the-art computer lab in Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business will analyze how humans interact with computers, improving web experiences across various platforms.
04/12/24- John George Severson Jr., Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Biology, died Saturday, March 23, 2024. He was 83. Severson was a professor at Saint Louis University from 1971 until his retirement in 2011.
04/12/24- Saint Louis University held a conference focused on educating the next generation on AI practice in national security. The event featured top industry experts, government leaders, and researchers. This was the second conference hosted by SLU’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.
04/09/24- A team of student researchers, led by Robert Pasken, Ph.D. associate professor of Meteorology at Saint Louis University, studied the meteorological impacts of the 2024 solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.
04/05/24- Emmy-award-winning actor Jon Hamm will return to his hometown of St. Louis to deliver the spring commencement address this year at Saint Louis University. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, in Chaifetz Arena. The event also will be live-streamed on slu.edu and archived on SLU’s YouTube channel.
04/05/24- Research published in Atmosphere has shown that in 2017, temperature cooling expected during a total solar eclipse was moderated by St. Louis' Urban Heat Island (UHI). The findings have changed how meteorologists will study the 2024 eclipse.
04/04/24- The second St. Louis Tech Week, an event highlighting the St. Louis technology sector, is April 8-12 and Saint Louis University will host several events throughout the week.
04/03/24- The Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) at Saint Louis University presents Open Hands: Crafting the Spiritual. Open Hands contains works by six artists who use everyday materials, found objects, and elements of craft production to explore issues related to faith and spirituality, personal and cultural identity, and tradition and community.
03/28/24- Saint Louis University beat Webster University in the title match on Sunday, March 24, to claim the 2024 spring title. The win continued the Billikens' run of success in CCL action after SLU swept the 2023 season by winning both the spring and fall titles.