Inside SSA
A group of students passionate about research has been working tirelessly to make this year’s Science, Society and the Arts 2025 conference an event to remember.
Research Archive (78 Stories)
Positivity Meets Personal Connections
Mariam Drammeh ’25 has approached research, internships and campus involvement with an eye toward a future rooted in service to others.
W&L to Host ‘Slices of Research’ Program at Salerno Wood Fired Pizza & Taphouse
Newly promoted faculty members will present their research in a PechaKucha format on Jan. 28.
The Science of Sleep
Associate professor Ryan Brindle’s sleep lab gives students unparalleled opportunities to conduct hands-on research at the undergraduate level.
Students Share Entrepreneurial Ideas in Video Pitch Competition
Students polished their pitching skills at a video pitch competition on Dec. 6 in the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning.
Florence As It Was Chosen for National Competition
The interdisciplinary research project has been selected to participate in an open competition among medieval digital humanities projects for K-12 students.
Meet Emma Marvelli ’27
Marvelli enjoys building a community on campus as an RA and through her academic work.
Project Uplift
Three W&L students partnered with an NGO in Ghana this summer to create a training program for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Spooky Action on Campus
W&L’s quantum computing program is among the first in the nation offered at a small liberal arts institution.
Opportunity to Thrive
Adhip Adhikari ’27 spent much of his summer creating a library at a secondary school near his family's home in Katmandu, Nepal.
Inspiring Minds
George Bent, Sidney Gause Childress Professor in the Arts, has spent his career at W&L inspiring and being inspired by his students.
From Shakespeare to Sci-Fi
While exploring the connections between “Station Eleven” and William Shakespeare, professor of English Holly Pickett and her crew of summer research students examined the foundational value of the humanities to society.
Compassion in Action
This summer, students working with associate professor of theater Stephanie Sandberg explored the practice of compassion through the eyes of documentarians.
Reconstructing the Past
Summer Research Scholars are spending their summer helping to bring one of the world's oldest cities to life through modern technology.
Summer Research Record
The Summer Research Scholars program at W&L is welcoming a record number of undergraduate students and supervising faculty and staff from a variety of academic disciplines.
Running Up the Hill
Students in Washington and Lee's six-week Washington Term program learn the pace of Washington, D.C. during their Spring Term.
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Mark Drumbl
In this month’s episode, Professor Drumbl examines the function and limitations of law through his experiences, research and teachings in mass violence and human rights.
Unearthing History
Students, faculty and alumni gathered April 12-13 to recognize the archaeological evolution of W&L’s back campus.
W&L Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Wythe Whiting
"W&L After Class" invites listeners to join W&L faculty to discuss their teaching, research and passion projects.
Voices from the Generals
The Harte Center for Teaching and Learning is bringing student voices to a new podcast designed to share perspectives on transitioning to college life.
W&L’s Librarians Recommended Library Finds
Washington and Lee’s library staff share their recommendations for your next trip to the University Library.
Meet Tiwaniya Tyler ’24
With medical school on the horizon, Tyler embraces many opportunities such as research fellowship, studying abroad and sorority life.
W&L After Class Podcast Begins its Fifth Season
“W&L After Class,” now entering its fifth season, invites listeners to join conversations with W&L’s expert faculty about their teaching, research and passion projects.
Mock Con’s Presidential Gala Creates Convention Buzz
The 28th Mock Convention’s Presidential Gala on Nov. 12 offered the campus a glimpse of the upcoming excitement for the 2024 mock presidential convention.
W&L Around the World
Washington and Lee students explored the world this summer thanks to grant funding opportunities through the Center for International Education.
Meet a Colleague: Matthew Loar
Matthew Loar serves as director of fellowships and student research.
The Road Less Traveled
Washington and Lee’s Class of 2023 includes nine recipients of the Certificate of International Immersion awarded by W&L’s Center for International Education.
W&L Professors and Students Co-Author Peer-Reviewed Paper on Web-Weaving Spiders
Professors Nadia Ayoub and Kyle Friend, and students Jamal Magoti ’23, Maria Luzaran ’23, Cooper Lazo ’24 and Eman Muamar ’24 all contributed to the paper that appeared in the open science platform Frontiers.
W&L Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Jeff Schatten
"W&L After Class" invites listeners to join a conversation with W&L’s expert faculty on their teaching, research interests and passion projects.
W&L’s DeLaney Center Launches Research Project on Black Women and Desegregation
The DeLaney Center’s latest research project connects current students with a rich legacy.
Mock Convention’s Spring Kickoff Features Former Vice President
Mock Convention made its Spring Kickoff event an informative preview of upcoming convention conversations.
Ehsan ’13 to Give Public Lecture on the Algorithmic Imprint
Washington and Lee’s Philosophy Department will host a talk by Upol Ehsan ’13 on Monday, March 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library.
W&L After Class Podcast Begins Its Fourth Season
The monthly podcast explores Washington and Lee faculty's research, teaching and passion projects.
Washington and Lee’s DeLaney Center Builds Momentum During Fall Term
Center announces new personnel, supports research opportunities and introduces programs for the campus community.
Marcais Presents Nobel Prize Symposium Talk
Tom Marcais, senior technology integration specialist, will present this year's Nobel Prize for Physics on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Summer of Hands-On Research
Bridget Osas ’25 is researching behavioral impacts on the development of metabolic syndromes like obesity.
The Flow of Influence
After receiving a great deal of support from upperclassmen at Washington and Lee University, Hannah Puckett ’23 pays it forward by dedicating her time to mentoring and counseling first-year students.
‘The Honor of Learning’
Lauren Hoaglund '22 has parlayed her passion for medieval and Renaissance history, literature, classics and theater into a busy but rewarding four years at W&L.
‘A Serendipitous Experience’
Everything has fallen into place at W&L for Alankrit Shatadal '21, who complemented her academic experience with research, peer counseling and membership in University Singers.
Mapping the Past
As part of a community-based learning course in collaboration with Rockbridge Regional Tourism and the Rockbridge Historical Society, Washington and Lee University students researched and mapped Black-owned businesses that thrived in Lexington during the Jim Crow era.
A Place That Checked All the Boxes
Rafay Hassan '22 was looking for a liberal arts university that would give him individualized attention and put his critical thinking skills to the test. He found that and more at W&L.
Washington and Lee’s Troy Larsen ’22 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Each scholar is awarded $7,500 to support undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.
‘Pay Forward the Kindnesses’
Melissa Yorio '21 has received support from many corners during her college career, so when the pandemic broke out, she found a way to give back within her hometown community.
A Rewarding Experience
Enuma Anekwe-Desince '22 has found her niche at Washington and Lee University through her involvement in the Advanced Immersion and Mentoring Program, leadership roles in student organizations, and work as a research assistant in the sociology and psychology departments.
Becoming a Global Citizen
Studying philosophy and Arabic, traveling to Morocco and Beirut, and working with Professor Anthony Edwards to translate a Beiruti book have helped Tanner Hall '21 understand and appreciate other cultures.
‘You Won’t Want to Go Anywhere Else’
At W&L, Eric Herrera did field work in Ghana, created a biotech startup, and discovered the original location of the Alamo.
‘Passion for Service’
Working with Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee has made Hannah Witherell '20 determined to continue helping others after she leaves W&L.
Diving into Research
This summer, Ginny Johnson '20 served as a peer mentor to nine rising sophomores as part of the Keck Geology Consortium trip to Belize, where Professor Lisa Greer continued her research project into the staghorn coral population.
A Goal in Mind
Working with ICU patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the Allen Grant has reaffirmed neuroscience major Laney Smith's desire to become a surgeon.
Lunch with a Side of Love
Through coursework and connections, Hannah Archer '20 helped to create a school food service program to ensure that local children have enough to eat during the summer.
Kalady Osowski ’19 Awarded a Fulbright to Study in India
Her scholarship will fund a nine- to 12-month study of small-scale cultural heritage looting operations in the Golden Triangle of India.
In Their Own Words
MaKayla Lorick '19 is collecting oral histories from African-American alumni, faculty and staff as part of a project that aims to include those missing perspectives in Washington and Lee University's history of desegregation and integration.
Research Project on Ethiopia Takes W&L Law Student to London
Emily Kendall '20L researched the impact of extractive mining practices on human rights and economic development.
Summertime Stints
Washington and Lee students utilize their summers through research, volunteer work and internship opportunities, both on campus and across the globe.
My Taste of W&L
Emily Perszyk ’18 reflects on what W&L has to offer in the classroom and on the court — and how it led to her interest in the study of taste, smell and flavor.
Ready for the Next Adventure
As she prepares to work for the Equality of Opportunity Project, Amanda Wahlers '18 is grateful for the education, opportunities and research experience she has had in Lexington.
Weaving a Web of Research
Andrew Mah ’18 has spent his undergraduate career studying the circadian rhythms of spiders.
No Such Thing as a Typical Day
As a geology summer research assistant in Crete, Greece, no two days were the same for Chantal Iosso '20.
Down By the River
Over the summer, students worked with Professor Robert Humston to examine the potential effects of smallmouth bass on native brook trout populations in the Virginia watershed.
Investigating Protein Synthesis
Yavuz Durmaz ’20 worked with Professor Kyle Friend to probe mRNA instability.
Tracking Corporate Social Responsibility
Soon Ho Kwon '17 and Claire Meyers '18 spent the summer looking at how Corporate Social Responsibility plays a role in the bottom line.
Analyzing Islamic State Messaging
Zainab Abiza '19 spent the summer analyzing two Islamic State magazines in a timely project with Professor Seth Cantey.
Adding Up the Research
Anukriti Shrestha '19 has found an intersection of mathematics, computer science and research — all in the heart of Lexington.
Advanced Research Cohort Program Marks Second Successful Year
Twelve Class of 2021 students visited W&L for a five-week Advanced Research Cohort program that allowed them to dabble in STEM projects and establish quality relationships.
Rocking Research in Lexington and Greece
Josh Fox '19 has spent his summer conducting geology research on campus and in Crete, Greece, with Professor Jeff Rahl.
Harrison Westgarth Awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to Brazil
W&L senior Harrison Westgarth has been awarded a Fulbright grant to Brazil, where he will study the “Development of an Animal Model of Direct and Congenital Zika Virus Transmission.”
Student Research: The Life and Times of Chauncey Belknap
Chauncey Belknap, a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the subject of a two-year research project by law students Lizzy Williams '17L and Jess Winn '17L.
W&L Researchers See Coral Decline
Geology professor Lisa Greer, who has been taking students to Belize since 2011 to monitor the health of coral reefs, said their research indicates that the latest El Niño, on top of global climate change, may be harming the Belize Barrier Reef.
Melina Knabe Wins a Research Grant from the Virginia Academy of Sciences
The neuroscience major and philosophy minor will use her $500 research grant to fund her senior honors thesis.
W&L Launches Advanced Research Cohort (ARC) Pilot
12 Exceptional Students Experience a Unique Summer Program Aimed at Increasing Retention in STEM
Summer Research Spotlight: Mapping the Literary Railway
Juniors Lizzy Stanton and Lenny Enkhbold use geo-spatial visualizations to explore new interpretations of 19th-century German literature.
In Depth: Summer Research at W&L
Watch the Video.
Summer Research Spotlight: Testing, Testing
Azmain Amin '17 and Mina Shnoudah '17 look to automate testing of web services.
Summer Research Spotlight: Measuring Gastrointestinal Slow Waves
Jamie Hayes '17, Alfred Rwagaju '18 and Rajwol Joshi '18 are applying electrical engineering to create a medical solution for affordable diagnoses.
Summer Research Spotlight: The Salamander Squad
Kate McCreary and Kara Farroni spend their summer researching the endangered Peaks of Otter salamander.
Summer Research Spotlight: Araba Wubah ’17
Araba Wubah '17 conducts immunology research in Ghana.
Community-Based Research: Lainey Johnson ’16
Psychology major Lainey Johnson combines research and service for the benefit of a local non-profit.
Summer Research: Caroline Birdrow ’16
Mathematics major Caroline Birdrow '16 conducts community-based research with Maury River Home Care.
