After more than four decades of dedicated service to the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, we celebrate the impressive career of Cheri Casanova as she prepares to retire from Washington University in St. Louis.

Joining WashU in October 1982, Cheri began her journey with passion for working at a major university and a particular interest in the field of psychology. With little initial guidance in the role, she embraced the opportunity to shape the position into something uniquely her own. Cheri truly molded the position into what it is today. Now, after years of commitment and change, she looks forward to passing the book.

Over the course of her tenure, Cheri worked alongside many distinguished chairs, beginning with Tom Sandel in 1982, followed by Ira Hirsh (1983–1987), John Stern (1987–1996), Roddy Roediger (1996–2004), Randy Larsen (2004–2014), Deanna Barch (2014–2022), and Jeff Zacks (2022–present). Each transition brought fresh perspectives and opportunities. Cheri made the transition seamless for each new chair and guided them through. The most rewarding aspect of her career has been working alongside each of the chairs. Cheri really enjoyed working with and learning the new processes with each transition. Every new chair felt like starting a new job and would bring something fresh and exciting to the position. 

One of the most memorable periods was the transition from Eads Hall to the current Psychology Building. It was an exciting time filled with anticipation and hands-on involvement, even wearing hard hats for daily visits to see construction progress, and spending hours clearing out Eads Hall while deciding what furnishings would make the move. A legacy of that transition is the building’s distinctive green throughout from room signs to file cabinets and door trim, this was chosen by the architects and is still (for better or worse) a defining feature today.

Cheri’s career at WashU can be likened to a book series, with each chair representing a volume, each chapter filled with exciting faculty searches, tenure cases, faculty meetings, staff awards, events, building renovations, department name changes, and many other moments that have shaped the department. Cheri is one of the main characters. Her presence is intertwined on every page, she has been our constant, truly guiding the stories from the first floor of Eads and the second floor of Somers Family Hall. Her contributions to the department and the university as a whole have helped define who P&BS is today, she leaves behind a legacy that is not just lasting, but worthy of a sequel. 

As retirement begins, the future holds many exciting possibilities: traveling, gardening, volunteering, reading, and enjoying well-earned quiet moments. She also plans to spend time with her family and plans to visit Jasper, Indiana - her hometown - and Los Angeles, where her son lives.

We extend our deepest gratitude for 40+ years of dedication, flexibility, and service. Cheri’s contributions have left a lasting impact on the department, and they will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in this next chapter.