Our goal is for alumni to rely on the McDonnell Academy networks and track-two diplomacy throughout their careers to address global issues. As the numbers of McDonnell Academy alumni increase, we continue to organize opportunities for engagement and networking as reminders that they are Scholars for Life.
McDonnell Academy alumni initiatives are supported with the help of our generous sponsors, Cho-Yee and Patricia To.
Scholars for Life
Mentorship network
McDonnell Academy alumni mentors provides guidance and relationships among current Scholars and McDonnell alumni.
Alumni Stay Connected
Our academy provides a life-long network of faculty, staff, alumni, and Scholars in communities near you and globally. We encourage alumni to continue to network, attend events, volunteer, and keep up-to-date with the academy.
Wrighton Award
The Mark S. Wrighton Award for McDonnell Academy Alumni recognizes individual alumni that have a significant impact on their communities or professional career, based directly on their experience in the program.
McDonnell Alumni news
Congratulations to our 2025 Graduates
We are honored to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating McDonnell Scholars at the 2025 Recognition Ceremony on May 13—a remarkable group of WashU students representing a wide range of disciplines and global perspectives.
Enhancing Impact: Wrighton Award Receives Generous Boost
WashU’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy is pleased to share that the Mark S. Wrighton Award will now be $25,000, beginning in 2025—more than doubling from its previous amount of $10,000.
A warm welcome: Alumni unite to support incoming McDonnell Scholars
Thanks to the incredible support of our McDonnell Academy Alumni, we achieved our goal of providing 22 personalized welcome letters to the 2024 cohort of McDonnell Scholars.
McDonnell Alumni engagement pathways
The McDonnell Academy Scholar for Life Initiative aims to enhance and sustain alumni engagement with the McDonnell Academy, WashU, and the St. Louis region through targeted initiatives aligned with WashU’s Here and Next strategic plan. Welcome Letter Writing Alumni write personalized welcome letters to new Scholars, sharing their own experiences and offering guidance. This initiative […]
McDonnell Academy Alumni stay connected
Staying engaged with the McDonnell International Scholars Academy can connect you to a network of alumni and Scholars in your community and around the world.
Fueling connections with McDonnell Academy alumni
Celebrating Connections: Highlighting the St. Louis McDonnell Academy Alumni Reception We recently had the pleasure of hosting the St. Louis McDonnell Academy Alumni Reception, a great event that brought together a wonderful group St. Louis alumni, along with their families. The event facilitated the reconnection of old friends and the formation of new connections amid […]
From campus to continents: Scholars for Life, leaders for a global network
Fostering stronger connections, McDonnell Academy introduces Alumni Regional Events—a new initiative for global community engagement. This initiative seeks to engage the St. Louis McDonnell Academy alumni and expand professional networks. We hope this local initiative will serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives among our regional alumni, both in the US and abroad. Join our […]
Academy Director connects with McDonnell alumni
McDonnell Academy alumna Chuanmei Zhu, who earned her PhD in Plant and Microbial Bioscience from WashU in 2014, recently reconnected with Laura Benoist, director of the McDonnell Academy. Zhu currently serves as the VP of Data Science, Partnership, and Outreach at Premier Strategy Consulting, LLC. Her success is a testament to how McDonnell Academy graduates […]
Empowering women through gaming
Sherria Ayuandini, a devoted board game fan, frequently hosted game nights with the McDonnell Academy Scholars when she lived in St. Louis. Dr. Ayuandini is a McDonnell Academy alumnus and partner Scholar from the University of Indonesia. Her 30th birthday bash, a colossal game night, became the “highlight of her decade” as many Scholars joined […]
Virtual mentorship provides insight and advice
This year, the McDonnell Academy Flash Mentoring sessions provided opportunities for engagement through a virtual model. Open to all McDonnell Academy Scholars and our alumni around the world, we hosted two sessions during the fall semester and plan to host more sessions in Spring 2023. Scholars were able to chat one-on-one with multiple alumni about academics, career experiences, […]