OUR VISION
Launch the next generation of global leaders. Address humanity’s most pressing challenges through international education and research.
OUR MISSION
The McDonnell Academy has a dual mission. First, we recruit top scholars from partner universities, the U.S., and international universities across the globe, and mentor them as they pursue graduate and professional degrees at Washington University, preparing them to become future global leaders. Second, we leverage the Academy’s international partnership network to incubate new ideas and foster collaborative research across countries and disciplines.
McDonnell Scholars Defining Attributes
The three pillars of the McDonnell Scholars program represent the defining attributes of every McDonnell Academy Scholar, beyond being an expert in one’s discipline. These competencies focus our programming and help Scholars track their progress.
McDonnell Scholars Defining Attributes
The three pillars of the McDonnell Scholars program represent the defining attributes of every McDonnell Academy Scholar, beyond being an expert in one’s discipline. These competencies focus our programming and help Scholars track their progress.
What are the expectations and responsibilities of being a McDonnell Scholar?
McDonnell Scholars build community with scholars across disciplines and cultures, participate in leadership development training, deepen their understanding of global challenges, and engage in rich dialogue on important issues. Participation and active engagement in the McDonnell Scholars programming are essential to enrich your experience.
McDonnell Scholars are expected to put forth the effort and time necessary to meet leadership development and community-building objectives, which include, but are not limited to, the following programming components:
- Attend Welcome Week community-building events to kick off the start of the fall semester. Events include:
- First-Year Fest
- Scholar Team-Building Retreat
- Fun community-building activities Annual
- Welcome Reception
- Complete the first semester leadership seminar in their first year
- Participate in the annual McDonnell Academy Scholar Team Building Retreat
- Engage in ongoing leadership training workshops and lectures
- Participate in scheduled monthly community-building sessions
- Complete communications workshops and present at a McDonnell Academy community forum – Global Leadership Visions
- Take an active leadership role in the Scholar community – McDonnell Academy Panel of Scholars (MAPS)
- Attend cohort trips to Washington D.C. and New York City in your 1st and 2nd year
- Participate in the bi-annual McDonnell Academy International Symposium
What to expect in your first year and beyond!
The McDonnell Academy works very closely with our professional degree/PhD students and their degree programs to help enhance the WashU graduate student experience. While there are expectations and commitments to the Academy, our goal is to support Scholars in completing their degrees. As a result, we are mindful of the requirements for the program to ensure balance for all students.
The fellowship duration is for the entirety of your professional or PhD degree program with financial support for up to 5 years. Here is a brief listing of McDonnell Scholar activities by year, (*indicates a required programming component):
Year 1
- *Annual Welcome Week Events
- *Leadership Seminar: one-semester course on leadership
- *First-Year Cohort Trip
- McDonnell Academy Monthly Meet-Ups
- Workshops & Endowed lectures
Year 2
- *Global Leadership Visions Presentation: a 7-minute talk with an associated op-ed
- *McDonnell Scholars Team-Building Retreat
- *2nd Year Cohort Trip
- McDonnell Academy Monthly Meet-Ups
- Workshops & Endowed Lectures
Years 3 & 4
- *Take a leadership role on campus
- *McDonnell Scholars Team-Building Retreat
- McDonnell Academy Monthly Meet-Ups
- Workshops & Endowed Lectures
Year 5
- *PhD-in-3D presentation
- *McDonnell Scholars Team-Building Retreat
- McDonnell Academy Monthly Meet-Ups
- Workshops & Endowed Lectures
*indicates a required programming component