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David Conner joined OCBC Bank (“OCBC”) as Group Chief Executive Officer and Director on 15th April 2002. He was last elected to the OCBC Board in April 2010 and stepped down as non-executive director on 31st August 2014 after stepping down as Group CEO on 14th April 2012. During his 10-year career with OCBC, David […]

Betsy Cohen is a Philanthropic Futurist at FutureGood, a consultancy that helps foundations, nonprofits, wealth advisors and visionary leaders develop plans for better future outcomes. FutureGood partners with clients to envision their ideal future, craft actionable strategies, and address emerging challenges using expert futurism tools and practices. The company emphasizes the importance of future thinking for sustaining […]

Dr. Jaymin Amin was appointed senior vice president and chief technology officer in June 2022. In this role, Amin oversees Corning’s Research, Development, and Engineering functions. He is responsible for advancing the company’s innovation portfolio – creating important growth opportunities that stem from a complementary set of three core technologies, four proprietary manufacturing and engineering […]

“Unity is strength…where there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek This quote perfectly reflects how I approach working with the incredible team at the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, our WashU colleagues, and—most importantly—the amazing graduate students we serve. For nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of helping the […]

Scholar Voices Rfat Elected as Missouri Delegate to the National Refugee Congress May 2025 McDonnell Scholar, Mustafa Rfat, has been elected to represent the State of Missouri in the Refugee Congress (RC), a leading organization that champions the rights and well-being of refugees. Refugee Congress is a national, nonpartisan group built and led by former refugees and […]

Scholar Voices Insight to Exhibition: VaNetta Clark’s Research Findings Showcased at Olin Library October 2025 VaNetta Clark’s first research study, “High-Quality Education: Insights from Exemplary Teachers on Pedagogy and In-School Community,” has been transformed into an inspiring exhibit at WashU’s John M. Olin Library, Gingko Reading Room. The study reveals significant findings that underscore the […]

Scholar Voices Global Leadership Vision Op-Ed | More Than a Destination: How Ghana Turned Hospitality into Global Leadership By Kwabena Boateng | November 2025 In 2019, the world paused to mark a somber anniversary — 400 years since the first recorded enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. Ghana transformed that moment into an opportunity for healing […]

Jessica serves as the Interim Director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy at WashU, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting an international community of scholars and fostering global connections. Jessica also serves as the Assistant Provost, Graduate Education and International Community in the Office of the Provost. In this capacity, she sets the […]

Rajan Chakrabarty obtained his PhD in Chemical Physics from the University of Nevada, Reno with dissertation research conducted at the Desert Research Institute. He also holds degrees in Atmospheric Physics (MS) and Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (BEng). His research contributions have been recognized with several prestigious honors, most notably the 2019 Kenneth T. Whitby award […]

Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, is the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where he serves as the Director of Translational Research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and is a Professor in the Department of Developmental Biology and Medicine. Dr. Apte received his […]