After studying chemistry, math, and art history in her undergraduate years, JoAnne Stubbe went into graduate school thinking she would study the chemical effect of light on paintings. She had no idea she would go on to unravel protein mechanisms that replicate and repair DNA and win a National Medal of Science, the nation’s top science award, for this work.

Ayr Muir ’00 tastes a forkful of potato salad, savoring the bite. “More olive oil,” he suggests to the cook. After more oil has been added, Muir takes another bite. “Much better,” he confirms.