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WNMU Regents Approve Key Strategic Initiatives Ahead of Presidential Transition
SILVER CITY, New Mexico, June 27 -- Western New Mexico University issued the following news release:
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WNMU Regents Approve Key Strategic Initiatives Ahead of Presidential Transition
The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents convened for a regular session on Thursday, June 25, with in-person attendance from Chairman Steven Neville, Vice Chairman John V. Wertheim, Regent Treasurer J. Dean Reed, Student Regent Keana Huerta, and online participation from Gregory ("Greg") Trujillo. The Board was joined by the university's executive leadership team, and the meeting was open to the public.
The
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SILVER CITY, New Mexico, June 27 -- Western New Mexico University issued the following news release:
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WNMU Regents Approve Key Strategic Initiatives Ahead of Presidential Transition
The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents convened for a regular session on Thursday, June 25, with in-person attendance from Chairman Steven Neville, Vice Chairman John V. Wertheim, Regent Treasurer J. Dean Reed, Student Regent Keana Huerta, and online participation from Gregory ("Greg") Trujillo. The Board was joined by the university's executive leadership team, and the meeting was open to the public.
TheBoard and executive leadership mapped out the institution's structural, technological and infrastructure priorities for the upcoming academic year. Under Neville, the meeting marked a transitional moment for the university as it prepares to welcome incoming President Jose E. Coll, Ph.D., while honoring the conclusion of Christopher Maples, Ph.D., as interim president.
A primary focus of the meeting was the university's long-term infrastructure health and physical modernization. Vice President for Business Affairs Kelley Riddle presented the Five-Year Capital Outlay plan and the Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Projects list. The Board approved the plans, aligning campus facilities with evolving academic needs and local economic developments. Riddle noted that these strategic approvals establish the formal institutional baseline required for state funding requests during the next legislative session.
Additionally, the university advanced its commitment to clean energy and student-led environmental responsibility. The Regents approved a Capital Project Transmittal for the Student Solar Project, an initiative driven by the student body to expand renewable energy integration across the Silver City campus. This project underscores a collaborative effort between administration and student government to lower the campus carbon footprint while providing hands-on learning opportunities.
The meeting featured administrative updates ahead of a campus-wide evening reception celebrating the WNMU leadership transition. Maples provided an update on the university's trademark application for Mariachi Plata, the WNMU award-winning student mariachi ensemble. Legal protections for the ensemble's brand will secure its long-term commercial and performance rights as a hallmark cultural program.
The regents expressed deep appreciation to Maples for his steady guidance during this transitional period. They noted that the foundation built under his leadership sets a clear path forward for Coll, who assumes office on July 1, to build upon regional economic partnerships, academic programming and student success initiatives.
In recognition of decades of dedication to university operations, the Board approved a Staff Emeritus Designation for retiring Facilities Department staff Tim Perez. This honor recognizes Perez's decades of exceptional service, leadership, and invaluable contributions to maintaining and enhancing the university's campus infrastructure.
Operational updates included an informational briefing regarding a Request for Proposals for internal audit services. Riddle outlined the institution's routine procurement process for external auditing to ensure rigorous financial compliance, transparency and fiscal responsibility as the new fiscal year begins. The board also reviewed and approved a standard asset-disposal list, a necessary housekeeping measure that ensures aging university property is accounted for and retired efficiently in accordance with state regulations.
The board also approved a revised resolution regarding the Student Regent Scholarship, prioritizing student leader compensation and ensuring equitable support for student representation on the governing board. This measure adjusts the historical framework to better match modern cost-of-attendance realities for students serving in the role.
The next regular session of the WNMU Board of Regents will be announced later this summer as the university prepares for the fall semester.
A recording of the meeting is posted on the WNMU Board Meetings video archive webpage at: https://wnmu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Sessions/List.aspx#folderID=%225adab8d0-1f22-4dc1-926e-ad6b013b0012%22.
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Original text here: https://wnmu.edu/wnmu-regents-approve-key-strategic-initiatives-ahead-of-presidential-transition/
Virginia Military Institute: Cadet Uses 3D Printer to Make Prosthetic Bones
LEXINGTON, Virginia, June 27 -- Virginia Military Institute issued the following news:
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Cadet Uses 3D Printer to Make Prosthetic Bones
Imagine living in an impoverished country and being a parent of a child in need of a prosthetic bone. The cost of one prosthesis would be prohibitive, but over the lifetime of a developing child, it would have to be replaced multiple times to keep up with the child's growth. Xavier Zarza '28, a biology major at Virginia Military Institute, envisions a substantially less expensive alternative in his Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) project, "Electroplating
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LEXINGTON, Virginia, June 27 -- Virginia Military Institute issued the following news:
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Cadet Uses 3D Printer to Make Prosthetic Bones
Imagine living in an impoverished country and being a parent of a child in need of a prosthetic bone. The cost of one prosthesis would be prohibitive, but over the lifetime of a developing child, it would have to be replaced multiple times to keep up with the child's growth. Xavier Zarza '28, a biology major at Virginia Military Institute, envisions a substantially less expensive alternative in his Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) project, "Electroplating3D Prints for Antiseptic and Inert Properties in Prosthetics."
3D printing is the process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file by building them layer by layer. Farming equipment, virtual reality simulators, non-essential car parts, and hobbyist models are all examples of ordinary items made from 3D printers. Zarza purchased a printer for his own daily use in high school. He has designed his own prints using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and has created many items including fitted containers, fishing gear, a remote control airplane, luggage ID tags, and planters.
The goal of Zarza's SURP project is to provide low-cost prosthetics for use in developing countries that do not have access to high-tech facilities. His ideal production method should be simple enough to complete with readily available equipment, and capable to assist a growing child needing replacements. He explained his process for designing and printing external and internal prosthetics. "I spent a lot of time with CAD software grafting the shapes and getting the right measurements. I printed the prosthetics using two different substances: polylactic acid (PLA), a non-conductive plastic filament; and ABS-like photopolymer resin, which is a light-sensitive material that mimics the durability and flexibility of ABS plastic. Resin printing requires three separate machines, while filament printing only requires one machine. The primary difference between the two materials is their strength. Resin is much stronger and smoother than filament, although prolonged exposure to resin is toxic to the human body."
In addition to the toxicity of resin, Zarza observed metal plating would provide increased strength, sterility, and flexibility, as well as preventing cracking or deformation under a heavy load. Additionally, copper and gold contain antiseptic qualities. He was unsure though how to apply the metal. He came up with the idea of electroplating while conducting an experiment in his general chemistry lab course taught by Maj. Christopher Shingledecker, assistant professor in the chemistry department. "The experiment was on redox chemistry, where we were consuming part of a metal by dissolving it into solution. That's essentially electroplating in reverse. Zarza very perceptively asked me if it could be run the other way--building the metal up instead of stripping it off--and I told him absolutely, that's electroplating," explained Shingledecker.
In order for the electroplating to be successful, Zarza first coated his prosthetic with low electrical resistance graphene. This enabled the electroplated metal to better adhere.
For his capstone project during the next academic year, Zarza will attempt to simulate gold plated bones in the human body to ensure of their safe use. If successful, he has no aspirations of selling his findings for personal gain. "The goal is to lower the cost and make it much more applicable for anyone else," he said.
Zarza is from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, where he attended Red Land High School. He is the son of Noel and Cecilia Zarza. He plans to commission into the Army medical corps.
-- Marianne Hause, Communications & Marketing, VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
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Original text here: https://www.vmi.edu/news/headlines/2025-2026/cadet-uses-3d-printer-to-make-prosthetic-bones.php
University of Nebraska: Cruise Named Next Director of Center on Children, Families and the Law
LINCOLN, Nebraska, June 27 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Cruise named next director of Center on Children, Families and the Law
By Mindy Liebelt, Center on Children, Families and the Law
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center on Children, Families and the Law named Dr. Keith Cruise as its director. Cruise will also hold a faculty position as a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The center, established in 1987, serves as a home for research and public service on child and family policy issues. Cruise, a juvenile forensic psychologist,
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LINCOLN, Nebraska, June 27 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Cruise named next director of Center on Children, Families and the Law
By Mindy Liebelt, Center on Children, Families and the Law
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center on Children, Families and the Law named Dr. Keith Cruise as its director. Cruise will also hold a faculty position as a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The center, established in 1987, serves as a home for research and public service on child and family policy issues. Cruise, a juvenile forensic psychologist,will assume the director role on Aug. 17.
"After conducting a national search, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Keith Cruise as our next director," said Christine Henningsen, associate director of the center. "Keith possesses a unique blend of expertise in clinical psychology, research and program development, along with a deeply collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with our mission. CCFL helps the helpers by providing resources, training, and evaluation to helping professionals. We look forward to the leadership and vision Keith will bring to this important work in Nebraska and beyond."
Cruise earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas. He began his career at Sam Houston State University and later spent several years as a clinical assistant professor of public health at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and adjunct assistant professor of psychology at the University of New Orleans.
Cruise comes to Nebraska from New York, where he has spent the past 20 years as a professor of psychology at Fordham University, including four years as an adjunct professor of law. He is also co-director of the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice, a National Child Traumatic Stress Network Category II training and technical assistance center focused on enhancing a trauma-informed care framework for youth and families involved in the justice system.
He provides consultation, technical assistance and training to local and state juvenile justice systems on behavioral health screening, evidence-based use of risk and needs assessments, trauma treatment implementation and collaborative, system-level coordination to strengthen trauma-informed care.
Cruise has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications; is cited in mental health assessment manuals and encyclopedias; and has contributed chapters to multiple edited books in forensic psychology and juvenile justice. He has secured funding for research, training and service delivery through federal and foundation grants. Cruise also serves on several editorial and professional boards and frequently presents at national and international conferences.
His overarching focus is adopting, implementing and sustaining evidence-based practices that increase access to appropriate services, enhance adolescent and family functioning and capitalize on strengths to support recovery while also maintaining community safety.
"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Keith Cruise as the new director of the Center on Children, Families, and the Law," said Pat Dussault, interim dean of arts and sciences. "CCFL serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching and public service focused on policies that affect children and families, and Dr. Cruise brings an outstanding record of scholarship, leadership and externally funded research related to youth and their families within the legal system. We are especially pleased to welcome him back to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln."
For Cruise, becoming the center's next director represents an exciting new chapter and a chance to return home to Nebraska.
'"Returning to CCFL, and UNL as my original academic home, is a fantastic opportunity to serve youth, families and systems within Nebraska while also expanding the scope and reach of CCFL's critical mission beyond the state," Cruise said. "I look forward to supporting continuity and continued growth of projects and people at CCFL in our shared mission of helping the helpers."
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Original text here: https://news.unl.edu/article/cruise-named-next-director-of-center-on-children-families-and-the-law
University of Cincinnati: World Cup Watch Parties Unite Fans, Communities
CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 27 -- The University of Cincinnati posted the following news:
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World Cup watch parties unite fans, communities
UC sociology professor explains why we want to watch together
By Michael Miller, 513-556-6757, michael.miller3@uc.edu
Spectrum News turned to a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati to explain the appeal of watch parties for sporting events and entertainment.
Thousands of fans gathered recently in public places to watch World Cup games and the NBA Finals on big screens set up for these watch parties.
UC College of Arts and Sciences Assistant
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CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 27 -- The University of Cincinnati posted the following news:
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World Cup watch parties unite fans, communities
UC sociology professor explains why we want to watch together
By Michael Miller, 513-556-6757, michael.miller3@uc.edu
Spectrum News turned to a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati to explain the appeal of watch parties for sporting events and entertainment.
Thousands of fans gathered recently in public places to watch World Cup games and the NBA Finals on big screens set up for these watch parties.
UC College of Arts and Sciences AssistantProfessor Letisha Brown teaches a class on the sociology of sports. She said people feed on each other's excitement at these events.
"There's this concept of collective effervescence. When you're around enough people who are enjoying the same thing, it builds inside of you," Brown told reporter Katie Kapusta from Spectrum News.
"When you're around people in a group, even if you don't know the people in that group, you're having that shared experience. It brings out a certain type of energy and joy."
Brown is the author of the 2025 book "Say Her Name: Centering Black Feminism and Black Women in Sport."
Fans told Spectrum News that watching games together is much more fun than watching alone at home.
Watch the Spectrum News report (https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2026/06/24/why-are-watch-parties-so-popular-).
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Original text here: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2026/06/world-cup-watch-parties-unite-fans-communities.html
Nine Ukrainian Leaders Selected for Inaugural McCain Institute Fellowship
WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Arizona State University McCain Institute issued the following news:
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Nine Ukrainian Leaders Selected for Inaugural McCain Institute Fellowship
The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of its McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship (MGLU).
Nine fellows have been selected to join the three-month pilot program, which runs July through September 2026. Focused on post-war reconstruction, the program will provide Ukrainian fellows with the opportunity to hone their leadership and technical skills, as well as engage
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WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Arizona State University McCain Institute issued the following news:
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Nine Ukrainian Leaders Selected for Inaugural McCain Institute Fellowship
The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of its McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship (MGLU).
Nine fellows have been selected to join the three-month pilot program, which runs July through September 2026. Focused on post-war reconstruction, the program will provide Ukrainian fellows with the opportunity to hone their leadership and technical skills, as well as engagewith international experts in post-war reconstruction.
"We are thrilled to welcome nine outstanding individuals - all of whom embody Senator McCain's legacy of service over self - to our inaugural McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship," said McCain Institute Executive Director Evelyn Farkas. "This stellar group of leaders represents the policy, business, media, culture, legal, and veteran communities. They are playing a critical role in shaping their country's recovery, strengthening its democratic institutions, and shaping Ukraine's long-term future, and I am confident that they will do great things during the program and beyond."
The 2026 McCain Global Leaders Ukraine fellows include:
* Vitalii Bielobrov, Deputy Mayor of Kherson.
* Oleksandr (Sashko) Chubko, Independent Film Producer and War Correspondent.
* Nataliia Hendel, Researcher and Human Rights Lawyer, National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine.
* Yevhenii Malik, Head of National Security and Defense Programs, Kyiv School of Economics.
* Oleksandr Romanishyn, Founder of UA2USA and former Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade, and Agriculture.
* Anna Serdiuk, Editor-in-Chief, Vilne Radio.
* Olena Shevchenko, Co-Founder and Head, NGO Insight.
* Roman Tychkivskyy, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Veterans Support, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund.
* Oleksandra Ustinova, People's Deputy, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
During the three-month hybrid program, fellows will participate in regular online leadership modules and thematic discussions and attend a week-long workshop in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in August. The cohort will work together on action-oriented cross-sectoral projects focused on reconstruction that put the knowledge, skills, and networks they have gained through the fellowship to practical use in their work and communities.
To learn more about the McCain Global Leaders Ukraine program, click here (https://www.mccaininstitute.org/programs/democracy-programs/mccain-global-leaders-ukraine/).
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Original text here: https://www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/press-releases/inaugural-mccain-institute-fellowship/
Fleming College Hosts Mini Simulation User Network Event in Partnership With Laerdal Medical Canada
PETERBOROUGH, Ontario, June 27 -- Fleming College issued the following news release:
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Fleming College Hosts Mini Simulation User Network Event in Partnership with Laerdal Medical Canada
Fleming College welcomed approximately 55 educators, health professionals, first responders, simulation specialists, and industry partners yesterday for the Mini Simulation User Network, known as Mini SUN.
Hosted in partnership with Laerdal Medical Canada, the event brought together professionals from across the health and community services sectors to explore the theme "Hybrid Realities: Blending People,
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PETERBOROUGH, Ontario, June 27 -- Fleming College issued the following news release:
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Fleming College Hosts Mini Simulation User Network Event in Partnership with Laerdal Medical Canada
Fleming College welcomed approximately 55 educators, health professionals, first responders, simulation specialists, and industry partners yesterday for the Mini Simulation User Network, known as Mini SUN.
Hosted in partnership with Laerdal Medical Canada, the event brought together professionals from across the health and community services sectors to explore the theme "Hybrid Realities: Blending People,Practice, and Technology in Modern Simulation."
Fleming College was selected by Laerdal Medical Canada to host this year's Mini SUN event, which focused on innovative approaches to simulation-based education and experiential learning. Attendees included a mix of leaders, educators, front-line staff, technologists, medical professionals, and first responders.
The day featured a keynote presentation from Fleming's simulation team highlighting the College's Simulated Participants program, followed by interactive breakout sessions on pre- and debriefing, 3D printing, moulage, and augmented and virtual reality modalities. Each attendee had the opportunity to take part in all four sessions throughout the day.
"Fleming College is proud to host Mini SUN in partnership with Laerdal Medical Canada and to welcome professionals who are helping shape the future of simulation-based education," said Nick Stone, Associate Vice President, Health at Fleming College. "Events like this create valuable opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and explore new ways to prepare learners and professionals for the realities of today's health and community services environments."
The event created space for hands-on learning, practical skill-building, and collaboration across institutions and disciplines. It also highlighted the continued evolution of simulation through emerging technology, human-centred practice, and shared expertise.
"Bringing educators and professionals together for hands-on collaboration is one of the most effective ways to advance simulation-based education," said Michael Bowman, Territory Manager with Laerdal Canada. "Laerdal is proud and excited to partner with Fleming College to create a space where ideas, experiences, and practical approaches can be shared to help improve outcomes across a wide range of healthcare and community settings."
For Fleming, hosting Mini SUN reinforces the College's leadership in simulation-based education and its commitment to innovation in health and community services programming. The event also provided an opportunity to strengthen sector partnerships and showcase the work of Fleming's Simulation Centre.
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Original text here: https://flemingcollege.ca/news/fleming-college-hosts-mini-simulation-user-network-event-in-partnership-with-laerdal-medical-canada
AI-assisted Colonoscopy Enhances Polyp Detection at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 27 -- The University of Texas Health San Antonio issued the following news release:
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AI-assisted colonoscopy enhances polyp detection at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital
A routine colonoscopy may last less than an hour. But what happens during that procedure can change, or even save, a life years before cancer ever has a chance to develop.
Physicians at The University of Texas at San Antonio's academic health center, UT Health San Antonio, are now using artificial intelligence-powered technology during colonoscopies to help detect precancerous
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 27 -- The University of Texas Health San Antonio issued the following news release:
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AI-assisted colonoscopy enhances polyp detection at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital
A routine colonoscopy may last less than an hour. But what happens during that procedure can change, or even save, a life years before cancer ever has a chance to develop.
Physicians at The University of Texas at San Antonio's academic health center, UT Health San Antonio, are now using artificial intelligence-powered technology during colonoscopies to help detect precancerouspolyps in real time. The advanced system, housed at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, expands access to leading-edge colorectal cancer prevention and early detection services for patients across South Texas.
The computer-aided detection system, known as CADe, acts as an additional observer during a colonoscopy procedure to help physicians identify subtle or difficult-to-see polyps that could otherwise be overlooked.
A second set of eyes
"It's basically like an extra pair of eyes," said Prabhleen Chahal, MD, MASGE, FACG, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition at UT Health San Antonio. "It does not perform the colonoscopy, it does not replace the physician and it does not make treatment management decisions. But it serves as a second observer working with you in real time."
A colonoscopy remains one of the few screening tools capable of detecting cancer early, and preventing it altogether, by identifying and removing adenomas, precancerous polyps that can develop into colorectal cancer over time.
According to Chahal, a nationally recognized expert in advanced endoscopy, one of the most important measures of a high-quality colonoscopy is adenoma detection rate, or ADR, which reflects how often physicians detect precancerous polyps during screening procedures.
"Studies have shown the higher the ADR, the lower post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer incidence is," Chahal said.
By helping physicians, especially new physicians, recognize small, flat or indiscernible polyps in real time, the AI-assisted system supports more thorough examinations, increasing ADR.
"There is data which shows this technology does increase the adenoma detection rate and, in essence, may reduce the overall risk of colon cancer burden in society," Chahal said. "As a result, there is also a cost savings attached to it."
By identifying and removing precancerous polyps earlier, physicians help patients avoid more invasive, complex treatments and higher healthcare costs associated with advanced colorectal cancer later in life.
Don't delay screening
The most important message Chahal has for patients isn't about the new technology. It's encouraging them to prioritize screening and educate themselves regarding any concerns that may be preventing them from scheduling a colorectal cancer screening.
Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of developing colorectal polyps.
"There may be misconceptions, myths, taboos or genuine concerns about getting a colonoscopy," Chahal said. "But the most important thing you can do for that is arm yourself with knowledge about why this procedure matters for your health."
For many patients, colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stages, making routine screening one of the most effective tools for prevention and early intervention. Unlike many cancer screenings that focus primarily on detection, a colonoscopy helps prevent cancer by identifying and removing precancerous polyps.
Current guidelines generally recommend screening beginning at age 45 for adults at average risk, although individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or certain hereditary conditions may need to seek screening earlier.
Colorectal cancer affects more than just the individual patient, Chahal said.
"If you don't do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones," she said. "If somebody in the family is going through a health challenge, it's not just that person, it's the entire family that suffers. We can help prevent that."
Learn more about UT Health San Antonio's colorectal cancer screening services by visiting the Advanced Interventional Gastroenterology Program website or call 210-450-9880.
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UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital is a premier patient- and family-centered hospital providing specialty surgeries, pioneering procedures and advanced cancer care, integrating our research, teaching and patient care services that make us unique in the market. We have a multidisciplinary approach to complex care and provide access to more clinical trials to advance care than any other hospital in South Texas. It delivers treatment for both common and complex conditions, from cancer and neurological diseases to spine and joint conditions, through personalized care rooted in discovery. Uniting breakthrough research, modern technology and world-class clinical expertise, the hospital stands as a beacon of hope for patients and those who love them.
It is the inaugural hospital of UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) that offers a comprehensive network of inpatient and outpatient care facilities staffed by health professionals who provide more than 2.5 million patient visits each year.
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Original text here: https://news.uthscsa.edu/ai-assisted-colonoscopy-enhances-polyp-detection-at-ut-health-san-antonio-multispecialty-and-research-hospital/
