Native St. Louisans Suzanne Mizera and James Risch received the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award. Suzanne and James graduated from WashU in 1974, Suzanne with majors in Classics, comparative literature, and philosophy, James in psychology. Suzanne continued with her AM in Classics at WashU before going to Princeton for her PhD. The two share a passion for the classical world, which has taken them to Greece, Italy, Turkey, and the Aegean in search of the history, archaeology, and ancient civilizations of the classical past. As a result of this passion, they partnered with the Department of Classics in 2024 to establish a fund to support independent student research, travel, and related exploration.
To read and hear more about Suzanne Mizera and James Risch, please visit 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
