Professor Steve Fazzari speaking at 2026 Annual Reception.

Elizabeth Larson, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, Former Senator Phil Gramm, and Andrew Reeves at Triumph of Economic Freedom event.

Melanie Fontes Rainer, Sandro Galea, Timothy McBride, and Elizabeth Larson at Healthcare at a Crossroads event.

Award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Center Grantee Simón Ríos speaks on immigration challenges under the second Trump Administration.

Professor Krister Knapp speaks at Rapid Response event on the unfolding situation in Iran.

About the Center

The Weidenbaum Center is a research institute at Washington University in St. Louis that supports social scientific research in the fields of public policy, economics, political science, and sociology. The Center funds faculty research, provides administrative support for research activities, and sponsors a wide range of public affairs programs. In doing so, the Center serves as a bridge between scholars, policymakers, and the general public. Through unbiased empirical research and events, the Center addresses many of the pressing public policy issues facing America and the world today.

AY25-26 End of Year Letter: Celebrating a year of ideas and impact 

Learn more about the Weidenbaum Center 

The Weidenbaum Center is located on the Washington University Danforth Campus in Seigle Hall, Suite 170. Click here for campus map & closest parking 

 

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Constitution Day 2026: SCOTUS Review

An annual overview and discussion of recent important Supreme Court Cases by members of the Law School faculty. Hosted by the WashU Law Public Interest Law & Policy Speaker Series. Cosponsored by the Weidenbaum Center and the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement.

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8th Annual Women's Luncheon and Public Policy Event

90 women participated in this annual event, now in it's 8th year. The brainchild of event organizer Molly Cline, the event is a Weidenbaum Center tradition that connects women, ideas, and policy. Speakers this year were Professor of Political Science Clarissa Hayward who spoke on how shared values and different perspectives reshape politics, and Professor of Sociology Adia Wingfield who shared her research on how workplace dynamics maintain racial equality.

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Governing Past Gridlock: Why Fiscal Responsibility Still Matters

Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of The Concord Coalition and former U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District, offers a candid assessment of the fiscal and political challenges confronting the nation. She outlines ideas for how we can move beyond stalemate to restore stability, political trust, and long-term prosperity and explores what it will take to rebuild cooperation and strengthen America’s fiscal future. The event was cosponsored by Washington University's Olin Business School.
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The Past, Present, and Future of the Federal Reserve

A conversation with Alberto Musalem, the current President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and two past Presidents of the St. Louis Fed, James Bullard and Thomas Melzer. They explore the evolving role of the Federal Reserve in the U.S. economy. Moderated by Karen Branding, President & CEO of the Regional Business Council, with opening remarks by Andrew Martin, Chancellor of Washington University. The event was opened by Elizabeth Larson, Weidenbaum Center Associate Director of Research & Administration, with introductions and closing remarks by Weidenbaum Center Director Andrew Reeves.
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My experience at the Weidenbaum Center has been valuable, formative, and insightful on both the professional and academic levels. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet professors, journalists, and influential figures who have shaped the academic, political, economic, and public policy landscape. Working with Alana, Kristin, Elizabeth, and Andrew has been a pleasure because of the supportive and collaborative environment they created and maintained throughout my four years at the Center. In Summer 2026, I will be working for Summer Discovery, a pre-college summer program hosted at Johns Hopkins University.

― Nia Hardaway Former Weidenbaum Center Undergraduate Student Affiliate and recent recipient of a WashU Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies

Past event videos

Want to see videos of our past events? Check out our YouTube page at the link below.

Past event videos