Washington University to posthumously award Ph.D. to Kennedy Reed

Washington University School of Medicine has announced it will posthumously award a doctoral degree to Kennedy Reed, a 26-year-old Ph.D. candidate in molecular microbiology who died following a car crash in St. Louis.

Reed, a native of Mississippi, was killed on August 4 after her vehicle was struck at the intersection of North Euclid Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, a sedan traveling westbound failed to stop at a stop sign, colliding with Reed’s northbound vehicle. While the driver of the sedan sustained minor injuries, Reed succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

The university is also establishing a scholarship in Reed’s name to support future students in their research pursuits. Her family plans to accept her Ph.D. degree during the May 2027 hooding ceremony.