 Professor James Wertsch served as the Academy’s founding director.In 2018, Kurt Dirks, Bank of America Professor of Managerial Leadership, succeeded Wertsch as both director of the McDonnell Academy and vice chancellor for international affairs of Washington University.The McDonnell Academy supports doctoral and professional Master’s degree students from around the world to pursue their studies at Washington University and prepares them for future leadership in government, business and other professional fields.