For over 20 years, the McDonnell Academy has been a distinguished global fellowship that unites exceptional students from around the world to pursue graduate and professional degrees at Washington University in St. Louis, equipping them with the knowledge, networks, and experiences to lead across borders and disciplines.
Timeline of achievements
2020 – 2025
The McDonnell Academy leadership course was established, and core programming competencies were published, marking a key milestone in the Academy’s evolution. The fellowship model pivoted from a university-partner structure to a globally engaged and student-driven approach, welcoming all international and US students to pursue advanced study at WashU. This shift led to a 650% increase in applications and significantly enriched the WashU community with a dynamic, diverse, and globally minded cohort of Scholars.
The international symposia model was reimagined to emphasize WashU’s faculty research collaborations, supported by diverse funding mechanisms and the university’s strategic seed grant initiatives.
2015 – 2019
The McDonnell Academy received additional funding for public programming including The ST Lee and Cabot Zhang Endowed Lectures, bringing leading experts to campus to enrich the conversation at WashU, and the McDonnell Scholar community engagement initiative, sharing cultural insights and experiences while fostering connections with the St. Louis community. Two more international symposia were hosted, one in Brisbane one in Beijing; and another 4 university partners were added to the network.
2010 – 2014
The McDonnell Academy expanded its global footprint to include 28 international partner universities across every continent. During this time, the Academy hosted five international symposia—three at WashU, one in Hong Kong, and one in Mumbai—deepening global academic collaboration.
Locally, the first corporate showcase spotlighting St. Louis industry was held at Peabody Energy, and the Academy hosted a special lunch for graduate students as part of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) held at WashU. Strengthening community ties, the McDonnell Academy also partnered with WashU partner, the Gephardt Institute, to launch Planet Passport, a global education event for local youth at the St. Louis Science Center.
2005 – 2009
With a $10 million endowment commitment from John F. McDonnell and the JSM Charitable Trust, the McDonnell Academy was launched by Washington University in St. Louis with 15 international universities comprising the partner network. The first cohort of Scholars were welcomed to campus the following fall. The Academy incorporated Scholar cohort trips to Washington DC and New York City as part of our political and social education program designed to prepare them as future leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries and critical international issues.
The McDonnell Scholars’ first community service initiative brought them into the heart of St. Louis to support a local garden revitalization project. Co-organized with the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, the effort gave Scholars an opportunity to connect with the local community, contribute to a sustainable urban space, and begin a tradition of service that continues to be a core part of the McDonnell Academy experience.