WashU Brown School

Congratulations to Jessica Backman-Levy, associate professor of practice at the Brown School, on being selected for WomenLift Health’s 2025 North America Leadership Journey! This prestigious program helps advance women into senior leadership roles in global health.

Mustafa Rfat, a PhD candidate in Social Work, recently served as a panelist on the first-ever Disability Discussion Panel hosted by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Conference in Atlanta.⁠ Alongside scholars like Dr. Franz Castro from Johns Hopkins University, Rfat, and fellow panelists called for immediate action on several urgent issues impacting forcibly displaced individuals with disabilities, including:⁠ ⁠ ➡ Record Displacement: The number of forcibly displaced individuals has reached an all-time high, according to UN data.⁠ ➡ Legal Protections: Better integration of Article 11 of the CRPD into national disability laws is essential to safeguard persons with disabilities during humanitarian crises.⁠ ➡ Inclusive Data Collection: Current disability measurements need improvement, with leadership from persons with disabilities themselves.⁠ ➡ Global Collaboration: Stronger partnerships between international agencies are crucial to address urgent needs and ensure disaggregated data collection, particularly for refugees.⁠ ⁠ Rfat called the panel a significant milestone in bringing disability rights to the forefront of global health discussions.⁠ ⁠ 📸 Rfat (front row, from right) with fellow panelists.

Congratulations to Professor Amy Eyler for receiving the Energy Award from Girls on the Run St. Louis! ⁠ Eyler is an executive board member and vice chair for Girls on the Run St. Louis. This year’s Energy Award honorees are true champions for the Girls on the Run mission, embody the Core Values and are ensuring access to and impact of the program across the St. Louis community.⁠ ⁠ Eyler and the other honorees will be recognized at the annual Power of One Gala on Feb. 27 at the Third Degree Glass Factory.

The Brown School celebrates 100 years, of leaving an indelible mark on communities around the world. The latest issue of WashU Magazine highlights the school’s century of influence! ➡️ Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gwF7W2Cw

Researchers from the Brown School’s Evaluation Center and the The Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis are teaming up to assess the impact of a new financial initiative aimed at closing the racial wealth gap in St. Louis. The team will collaborate with Mobility Capital Finance, Inc. (MoCaFi), a financial technology company, to conduct initial evaluation planning, baseline data collection, and a mixed-methods analysis of the Junior Bonds Pilot. The pilot program will provide $5,000 in investment accounts to 300 seventh graders from historically disadvantaged neighborhoods across St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. The funds will grow over time in investment accounts and can be used when recipients turn 18 for education, entrepreneurship, or homeownership. Assistant Professor Stephen Roll, CSD co-director of research and policy innovation, and Rachel Barth, evaluation manager at the Evaluation Center, will co-lead the project.

🗓️ Save the date! We can't wait to see you—sign up now for these upcoming events! 🍎 NYC: https://lnkd.in/gc-7G7px 🌸 DC: https://lnkd.in/gRShYw5c 💻 Virtual: https://lnkd.in/gNmWVuz3

The Brown School's Sarah Moreland-Russell has received a four-year $2.65 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to understand how schools respond to changes in policy guiding school lunch and breakfast programs affect health. The grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) aims to understand how schools followed changes to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program nutrition guidelines, which offered schools some flexibility. Ultimately, researchers hope to learn the changes’ impact on student health and education outcomes.

The Brown School’s Rainbow Resilience Summit: Advancing LGBTQ+ Wellbeing has officially SOLD OUT—two months early! This incredible demand shows just how vital education, advocacy, and action are for supporting LGBTQ+ communities. It’s also a huge milestone in the Brown School’s mission to expand professional development and lead the way in lifelong learning. Thank you to everyone who made this possible! A waitlist is available for those still hoping to attend. https://lnkd.in/dQDWPcF3

This Brown School Profiles of Purpose video features Michael Sherraden, the founding director of the Center for Social Development and the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor, and Margaret Clancy⁠ CSD Policy Director. Together, they discuss building assets in low income families.⁠ 🔗 Click to watch video: https://lnkd.in/gdk2sNZp ⁠ This video series was produced by Susan Stiritz, professor of practice.

Looking to advance your social work career? Join us for a virtual lunchtime session on Friday, Feb. 14 to learn about our Part-Time Master of Social Work program—designed for busy professionals who need flexible course options to balance work and life. Hear from our Admissions team and MSW faculty about: ✅ Flexible course offerings ✅ Program timeline and application process ✅ Scholarship opportunities, including tuition benefits for WashU employees! Register today! ⤵️