History of the Academy

Kurt Dirks, the Bank of America Professor of Managerial Leadership and co-director of the Bauer Leadership Center at Olin Business School, succeeds James Wertsch as director of the McDonnell Academy and Vice Chancellor for International Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis.

The McDonnell Academy 7th International Symposium: Global Challenges for Today’s Research Universities: Health, Energy & Environment, and Agriculture was cohosted with McDonnell Academy partner Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Outcomes were as follows: Sustainability Commitment signed by university partner presidents and formation of Wertsch Fellowship.

The McDonnell Academy Scholar Engagement Committee (SEC) was formed in September 2017 with the mission of connecting Scholars. Its members are current Scholars who volunteer in subcommittees which lead initiatives that strengthen the bonds among all McDonnell Scholars (alumni and current Scholars) and help current Scholars better connect to the St. Louis region.

One of the most anticipated U.S. Midwest events of the year, the 2017 total solar eclipse, was experienced by McDonnell Scholars and guests at the home of Mr. John F. McDonnell, founding benefactor of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

The McDonnell Academy adds Keio University – Tokyo, Tecnologico de Monterrey – Monterrey, and Xi’an Jiaotong University – Xi’an to the university partner network.

The McDonnell Academy 6th International Symposium: Addressing Global Challenges through International Collaboration in Education and Research was cohosted with the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The following student initiatives were established: 3MT® Competition and all in-resident McDonnell Academy Scholars attended.

McDonnell Academy adds Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Hong Kong to its university partner network.

The McDonnell Academy hosted the 5th International Symposium: The Role of Research Universities in Addressing Global Challenges on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Outcomes include the funding for 10 Friedman Center for Aging collaborations, MAGEEP Education Network formed, Solar Energy Research Institute for India and U.S. (SERIIUS) — Linking to a MAGEEP Visiting Scholar Program formed, launching of Solar Energy and Energy Storage (SEES) Initiative and World Access to the Sun (WATTS) Program, launching of CCCU Phase II and U.S.– China Clean Energy Center, and established Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering (CASE).

The McDonnell Academy adds the University of Ghana – Accra to the university partner network, establishing at least one partner on every living continent.

The McDonnell Academy 4th International Symposium on Energy & Environment: Abundant Clean Cost-Effective Energy Systems for Sustainability (ACCESS) hosted in Mumbai, India launched Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS) and introduced the book: Fires, Fuel, and the Fate of 3 Billion: The State of the Energy Impoverished by Professor Gautam Yadama, McDonnell Ambassador, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Two university partners from Australia join the McDonnell Academy partner university network: The University of Queensland and The University of Melbourne.

Some 40 graduate and professional students within the McDonnell International Scholars Academy at Washington University in St. Louis shared their respective cultures with the general public Nov. 19 during “Planet Passport: Your Journey to Our Multicultural World,” an interactive fair at the Saint Louis Science Center. An estimated 700 people attended the event.

The Cabot Corporation–Xinsheng Zhang Lectureship series features distinguished global leaders speaking on U.S.–China issues. Created in 2011, this endowed lectureship honors Dr. Xinsheng Zhang, a member of the Cabot leadership team who was critical to Cabot’s operations in China.

The McDonnell Academy third International Symposium on Global Energy Future was hosted on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Outcomes include the release of the Global Energy Future Study Report “America’s Energy Future”, funding of 11 MAGEEP collaborative projects, and eight CCCU collaborative projects.

The McDonnell Academy adds o Utrecht University – The Netherlands and Tata Institute of Social Sciences– Mumbai to its university partner network.

The S.T. Lee Endowed Lecture Series made possible by a generous gift from Dr. Seng Tee Lee, hosts distinguished guest speakers in business, academia, government, and the nonprofit sector from around the world.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars ring the closing bell of the Stock Exchange during their first cohort trip to New York City.

The McDonnell Academy adds Budapest University of Technology and Economics – Budapest, State University of Campinas – Campinas, and University of Chile – Santiago to its university partner network.

The McDonnell Academy second International Symposium on Energy and Environment in Hong Kong was our first overseas symposium, hosted in Hong Kong. Outcomes include the formation of the Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization (CCCU) and the funding of 14 MAGEEP collaborative projects.

The McDonnell Academy adds Jawaharlal Nehru University – New Delhi, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology – Haifa, Bogaziçi University – Istanbul, Middle East Technical University – Ankara, and Interdisciplinary Center-Herzliya – Herzliya to its university partner network.

Environmental challenges bring world leaders to St. Louis when McDonnell Academy hosts the first McDonnell International Symposium on the campus of Washington University.

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 cohort trip was to Washington, DC.

McDonnell Academy welcomes 17 students as it’s first cohort, and names 13 distinguished faculty members as McDonnell Ambassadors to partner universities.

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.