Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Harris ’18

Civically minded work does not end when students conclude their time with the Gephardt Institute, which holds true for alumna Rachel Harris ‘18. During her time at WashU, Harris double majored in Educational Studies and Spanish while working at the Institute, which led her to the work she does today.   For the last four […]

Students develop civic interests in Gephardt internships and fellowships

Behind all the Gephardt Institute does is a team of student staff doing vital work to drive the institute’s efforts.  Through internship positions for both undergraduate and graduate students, the institute offers students the ability to develop and practice skills in a workplace environment on campus. These internships are perfect opportunities for students to explore […]

Civic Scholars reflect on summer experiences in Share Out

“This experience grew my confidence and my ability to execute my vision.”   Elisabeth-Monique Tossa ‘24 was one of 16 Civic Scholars in the senior class to present their work from the summer to family, friends and other members of the WashU and St. Louis community at the Civic Scholars Share Out. Held on Oct. […]

Gephardt enlists student advisors to help inform programming

In a new effort to further boost student input and collaboration, the Gephardt Institute launched a new Student Advisory Council this fall. The Student Advisory Council (SAC) is comprised of 18 students who will advise on key opportunities and needs related to Gephardt’s mission. In the spirit of active listening, Gephardt will engage the advisory […]

WashU celebrates LGBTQ+ experiences through “Joy as Resistance” art show

Opening night for “The Queer Experience: Joy as Resistance” art exhibition was held at Stix House on Oct. 20.   Curated by WashU students Chethan Chandra ‘26, Sophie Lin ‘26, and Aspen Schisler ‘26, the multimedia art exhibit showcases work by queer, trans, and other WashU students who want to highlight and uplift the LGBTQIA+ experience.   […]

Photos: Students connect with civic-focused groups at Civic Engagement Fair

On Friday, Sept. 13, the Gephardt Institute hosted it’s annual Civic Engagement Fair, in which nearly 50 WashU students groups and community organizations that promote community service and civic engagement sought members and helped students find a civic interest. A beautiful afternoon for the fair, students also enjoyed ice cream and the music of On […]

Past and present Civic Scholars getting into trubel (&co)

“I have a strong passion for people and that has led me to this path toward education. I received a lot of great education in my childhood and my parents came here from Nigeria because of education, so I always understood the power of giving back.”   Knowing the power of mentoring and engaging others in […]

Students eager to learn about Gephardt at orientation events

From the Danforth campus to the School of Medicine and even the St. Louis Zoo, the Gephardt Institute is involved with orientation efforts to meet with students of every background at WashU. In the incoming class of 2027 alone, there is representation from all 50 states and 33 other countries. Over half of the class […]

Mack using intersection of humanity and data to address violence

For Dylan Mack, a Class of 2024 Bob and Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar humanity should always be at the core of data science.   “As someone who is interested in data, it’s so important to always have in the forefront of your mind that every single data point is a person, first and foremost,” Mack said.  […]

Immersion trips for Fellows offer in-depth experiences in STL neighborhoods

As a part of their commitment to serve St. Louis effectively and responsibly, Gephardt Institute’s 2023 St. Louis Fellows listen and learn from local St. Louisans through Engage STL Days, where they visit local neighborhoods and hear from community members. The institute’s 33 fellows had the opportunity to interact with two cultural hubs in St. […]

Fellows supporting St. Louis, building civic skills through local organizations

“It takes time to heal from the trauma of gun violence,” Dr. LJ Punch, the founder of the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, told St. Louis Public Radio at the end of 2022.   “Unfortunately, in St. Louis, bullet-related injury is endemic,” Punch said. “It brings up all the other traumas that you didn’t get the chance […]

St. Louis Fellows’ first days on the job

The 2023 St. Louis Fellows—the largest group ever, with 33 students representing the WashU Classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026—began their summer internships with 29 organizations in the St. Louis region at the beginning of June. Their internships involve analyzing data about marginalized populations, meeting with local officials about legislation, working with patients with Alzheimer’s and […]

Finding community at the intersection of art and mindfulness

By Sophie Devincenti, Student Engagement Specialistsdevincenti@wustl.edu Take a second to feel where you are. Sitting, standing, walking. What are the sensations you are taking in? (At WashU’s campus in spring, it feels like buzzing lawn mowers, tilled mulch, the haze of pollen, and students picnicking or huddled over laptops on Mudd Field.) What do you […]

Cultivating the next generation of civic leaders

More students than ever have committed their time, their energy, and their minds to civic change by joining the Gephardt Institute’s civic leadership programs.   The new cohorts of Civic Scholars and St. Louis Fellowship programs were selected after a rigorous recruitment and selection cycle, which included an application process that urged students to meaningfully […]

Graduate Impact Forum: The effects of climate change on mental health

On Monday, Jan. 30, the Graduate Impact Forum welcomed Chris Weatherly, a Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work at the Brown School. Weatherly’s research focuses on the intersection of mental health and climate change, building on his work with farmers, victims of natural disasters, and livestock and wildlife veterinarians.   Joined by more than 30 WashU graduate […]

“Pitch Panels” help Civic Scholars sharpen proposals for Civic Summer Projects

Civic Scholars in the junior cohort presented their proposed Civic Summer projects to panelists in February. This summer, the 18 Civic Scholars in the junior cohort will each receive a $6,000 stipend in lieu of summer earnings to implement the Civic Summer plans they have been developing throughout the academic year.   The goal of the […]

STL County prosecutor talks equity in justice system at Civic Café

The Gephardt Institute welcomed Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, to its Jan. 31 Civic Café. A weekly event, Civic Café hosts guest speakers from WashU and the St. Louis region with students for salon-style conversations on civic topics and civic skillbuilding.  Elected in 2018, Wesley Bell became the first African American to […]

Civic Scholar Mariah Davis ’24: Work with Gephardt Institute has “lit a fire in me”

Mariah Davis ’24, a Kleinhandler Civic Scholar, reflects on her civic journey during her time working with the Gephardt Institute. The following essay by Davis exemplifies the Gephardt Institute’s goal of empowering and challenging students to meet the issues facing our society with passion, care and, above all, hope for the future.  The American experiment […]

New ChangeMaker Series hosts alumnus Marcus Brown

As part of a new event series created to make meaningful connections between civic leaders who are impacting their community and current students who aspire to do the same, Marcus Brown AB ’13, MSW ’16 spoke before a crowd of students and faculty/staff about his career experience at U.S. Bank.   His talk kicked off the […]

New Gephardt staff complete leadership team

Marking the culmination of an intentional hiring process conducted over the course last year, the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement announces the completion of its new leadership team.   “Our new leadership team represents an important milestone for the Gephardt Institute as we conclude our 18th year and build for the future,” said Stephanie […]

Civic Scholars launch spring semester with immersion trip

Junior and senior Civic Scholars embarked on a four-day immersion through the St. Louis region, capping their winter break with an in-depth experience of the history, issues and political structures of the area.   On Jan. 10-13, 30 Civic Scholars joined Gephardt Institute facilitators Dr. Alannah Glickman, Associate Director for Civic Engagement; Sarah Nash, Community Engagement […]

Civic Scholars to Present Projects in Rapid-fire “PechaKucha” Events

The Gephardt Institute’s Civic Scholars Program provides a rigorous, in-depth curriculum for undergraduate students with an interest and passion for civic leadership. Sophomores are selected through a competitive process and learn together through their junior and senior years. During the summer before their senior year, each Civic Scholar develops and implements an independent Civic Summer project […]

A Fond Farewell to the Class of 2022

“Kindness, enthusiasm, curiosity, and solidarity, which often show up in small acts, are some of the best ways to make an impact.” Noor Ghanam ’22 Noor Ghanam delivered a commencement speech that invoked common themes from her career at WashU, as Gephardt Institute staff fought back tears of joy and pride. Ghanam, a Kleinhandler Civic […]

Otto Brown: 2022 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll Recipient

Today, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge announced the names of 82
college students who were selected for the Student Voting Honor Roll. Representing Washington University in St. Louis, Civic Scholar and WashU Votes President Otto Brown was selected as the 2022 honoree.

Adaptive Apparel: Changing How We Conceptualize Fashion

Shelei Pan can attest that some of the best ideas are sparked without much intention.   In high school, one of her close friends who uses a walker expressed how difficult it was to find attire for the Homecoming Dance. “Finding a dress, suit, or pant, is so crucial to your comfort and how confident you […]

Next Steps for Civic Scholars Program Graduates

Over the past two years, the Civic Scholars Class of 2018 completed four semesters of academic coursework, received multiple levels of mentorship, and developed substantial summer civic engagement projects. Like the 40 program alumni who have come before them, they acquired advanced civic leadership skills and demonstrate a significant commitment to civic engagement post-graduation. Learn more about their current and […]

Gephardt Institute Receives Major Gift to Enhance Civic Scholars Program

Mickey and Debbie Stern, longtime supporters of Washington University in St. Louis, have made a $1 million commitment to the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement in support of our Civic Scholars Program. “For more than two decades, Mickey and Debbie Stern have been tremendous volunteers and benefactors of Washington University,” said Chancellor Mark […]

Announcing 2018 Goldman Fellows

Congratulations to the 2018 Goldman Fellows! The Goldman Fellows Program, funded by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, is a competitive fellowship that provides $5,000 summer stipends for continuing undergraduate students who secure unpaid internships at nonprofit, community, or governmental organizations in the St. Louis region. Through the program’s cohort experience, Goldman Fellows are […]

Behind the Scenes with the Blood Drive Leadership Team

Blood drives are a life-saving tradition at Washington University. Sponsored by the Gephardt Institute in partnership with American Red Cross and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, drives take place four times a year at multiple locations across campus. Although they have become a routine part of the university’s culture, few people realize that a majority […]

Students “Meet St. Louis” on City-Wide Excursions

During their first week of college, new students encounter many exciting firsts. In addition to experiencing first classes and on-campus activities, many students start to explore their new city through Meet St. Louis, a program that provides a unique opportunity to discover, engage, and reflect on community development efforts and service opportunities in St. Louis. Meet St. […]

Looking Beyond the “Whats” to the “Hows”

Molly Brodsky, a senior and Stern Family Civic Scholar, delivered a powerful speech to first-year students and their families at convocation in August 2017. Brodsky is double majoring in anthropology: global health and the environment, and women, gender, and sexuality studies. I love semi-colons. I think the semi-colon does something pretty magical. It takes two […]

WashU Named a Voter Friendly Campus

voter registration volunteers

Washington University in St. Louis has been nationally recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus. Following a competitive application process, 83 universities received the designation, which recognizes campuses doing excellent work to empower their students to participate in the democratic process. The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement is responsible for overseeing the voter registration, compliance, and engagement processes for students […]

Beijing Forum Inspires Cross-Cultural Reflections on University Social Responsibility

Civic Scholar Laken Sylvander ‘17 joined research manager Matthew Bakko to represent Washington University in Beijing at the University Social Responsibility Network Summit and the Beijing Forum. When I was informed I was selected to serve as the WashU student representative to travel to Beijing and present at the University Social Responsibility Network Summit, I […]

Empowering Students to Vote

Cassie Klosterman served as the Gephardt Institute’s first Voter Engagement Fellow. Beginning her role in her final semester at WashU, Cassie led campus voter registration efforts through the November election. Cassie mobilized a team of students to register over 3,600 new voters on campus. Here she reflects on her experiences before embarking on a new journey […]

Crash Course in Politics

A student providing testimony to mock legislators.

Just Do It! Courses Provide Students with the Fundamentals of Political Engagement