Adding Vibrancy through Our People: Bringing the World to St. Louis

Historically, Washington University in St. Louis has brought to the community the latest ideas, technology, and techniques in the sciences; advances in the social sciences; and some of the world's finest artists and their work as faculty, visiting faculty, and visitors.

Presidential Debates
On October 2, 2008, Washington University in St. Louis is scheduled to host the nation's vice presidential debate. This debate marks the fifth consecutive time the University has been selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates. When Washington University hosted a presidential debate between John Kerry and George W. Bush on October 8, 2004, the event was viewed by 46.7 million people. The commission had earlier selected the University to host the October 17, 2000, presidential debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Washington University also hosted the first presidential debate of the 1992 campaign, which was the first nationally televised three-person presidential debate in U.S. history; George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot participated in this landmark event. The University had been selected to host a 1996 presidential debate, but the debate was canceled when the candidates decided to reduce the number of debates.

International Students and Scholars
In the 2008-09 academic year Washington University's 1,467 international students and 1,362 international scholars enriched the St. Louis community. These undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, and doctoral researchers came from across the globe.

A global education and research initiative, the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, partners Washington University with premier international universities and leading multinational corporations and foundations. The McDonnell Academy supports exceptional graduate and professional students as Academy Scholars from its 25 partner universities in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. These Scholars not only receive rigorous graduate instruction, but also immerse themselves in a cultural, political, and social education program designed to prepare them as future leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries, and critical international issues. Since admitting its first cohort of scholars in 2006, the Academy has grown to about 40 scholars in residence and a growing number of alumni, who now reside in St. Louis and elsewhere in the world.

St. Louisans can learn about other cultures by serving as host families or as language partners to international students. In academic year 2008-09 approximately 195 volunteers or families were matched with international students through the Host Family and Speak English with Us! programs. Approximately 151 international students met once a month for family dinners, movies, baseball, or sightseeing in the Host Family program, while approximately 102 international students developed their English skills through Speak English with Us!, meeting with volunteers to exchange ideas and learn about life in each other's countries.

Seminars and Symposia
As a world-renowned institution, Washington University in St. Louis attracts participants from throughout the world to its seminars and symposia covering such wide-ranging topics as Miles Davis, the Nuremberg war crimes trials, and AIDS.