Academic Advisors and Student-Affairs Professionals provide valuable advice and feedback to students. As part of our HHMI Inclusive Excellence Project, we are partnering with academic advisors to ensure that information is being communicated in ways that make all students feel that they belong and can be successful in STEM disciplines at WashU.


March 2020 Inclusive Advising Workshop: Cancelled due to COVID-19. A 90-minute interactive workshop will be held on March 13th, and is open to all interested advisers, student affairs professionals, and staff serving students from the Danforth and Medical campuses. The workshop will be focused on how to have difficult conversations with students and how to use evidence-based methods to best support students who are underrepresented minorities, women, first-generation college students, and student on PELL-grant status.

Kathy Obear September 2019 Event : On Sept. 25, a day-long workshop was presented by nationally recognized social justice expert, Dr. Kathy Obear. Dr. Obear is the founder and president of The Center for Transformation and Change, author of three books, and consultant to hundreds of universities, human services organizations, and corporations. Dr. Obear has over 30 years of experience specializing in conflict resolution, change management, and creating inclusive environments; and she is a leading expert in helping to establish socially just environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

The training focused on helping participants become better mentors and advisors to students – particularly in supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students who are underrepresented minorities, women, first-generation college students, or on PELL-grant status. The training was sponsored by CIRCLE, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Division of Student Affairs. In addition, partial support was provided through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence Initiative.