Joseph Steensma Installed as E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Professor

The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship is proud to celebrate the installation of Joseph T. Steensma as the inaugural E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

Steensma, a professor of practice in WashU’s School of Public Health, was formally installed during a ceremony Feb. 11 in Ridgley Hall. The event brought together faculty, students, collaborators, and community partners from across the university, highlighting the interdisciplinary reach of his work.

The E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Professorship, housed within the Skandalaris Center, supports faculty whose work bridges disciplines and translates research into real-world impact.

Bridging Research, Public Health, and Entrepreneurship

Throughout his career, Steensma has exemplified the kind of interdisciplinary thinking the Skandalaris Center champions.

His work integrates science, entrepreneurship, and public health, focusing on how research can yield scalable solutions to environmental and population health challenges.

In addition to his academic leadership, Steensma has founded and led several ventures focused on measuring and managing environmental and occupational exposures, improving workplace safety, and strengthening environmental health communication.

This blend of scholarship and entrepreneurial experience reflects the Skandalaris Center’s mission: helping faculty and students transform ideas and research into meaningful impact.

Teaching the Next Generation of Innovators

At Washington University, Steensma teaches courses in biostatistics, environmental health, and climate-related public health issues, equipping students with analytical tools to understand complex global challenges.

His work demonstrates how academic research can intersect with entrepreneurship, policy, and public health to create innovative solutions.

For students engaged with the Skandalaris Center, Steensma’s approach offers a model for how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive innovation.

Perspective as a Tool for Innovation

During the installation ceremony, Steensma reflected on how perspective shapes discovery and problem-solving.

Drawing from a formative lesson in a college botany lab, he explained that even powerful tools require the right illumination to reveal what matters.

He suggested that a liberal arts education offers different forms of “light,” perspectives that help leaders understand complexity and develop solutions others might miss.

For entrepreneurs and innovators, the lesson is clear: new perspectives often reveal new opportunities.

Honoring the Lee Family Legacy

The professorship honors philanthropists E. Desmond Lee and Mary Ann Lee, whose support for education, entrepreneurship, and the St. Louis community has had a lasting impact.

Their vision continues to shape WashU’s commitment to innovation, opportunity, and community engagement.

Advancing the Mission of the Skandalaris Center

Steensma’s installation highlights the Skandalaris Center’s ongoing mission: fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting entrepreneurial thinking, and translating research into solutions that benefit society.

As the inaugural holder of the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Professorship, Steensma embodies the spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and impact that defines Washington University’s innovation ecosystem.

For students, faculty, and mentors across campus, his work is a reminder that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.