Featured Stories
Western Iowa Tech Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Sept. 30 -- Western Iowa Tech Community College posted the following news:
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Western Iowa Tech Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School
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Western Iowa Tech Community College has been named an Apple Distinguished School for the fourth consecutive recognition cycle, recognizing the College's continued innovation in using technology to support teaching and learning.
The latest designation recognizes WIT for the September 2026 through December 2029 program term. The College first earned Apple Distinguished School recognition in 2016 and has maintained the distinction
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SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Sept. 30 -- Western Iowa Tech Community College posted the following news:
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Western Iowa Tech Recognized as an Apple Distinguished School
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Western Iowa Tech Community College has been named an Apple Distinguished School for the fourth consecutive recognition cycle, recognizing the College's continued innovation in using technology to support teaching and learning.
The latest designation recognizes WIT for the September 2026 through December 2029 program term. The College first earned Apple Distinguished School recognition in 2016 and has maintained the distinctionthrough four consecutive recognition cycles.
Apple Distinguished Schools are recognized as centers of leadership and educational excellence with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning goals. Schools are selected based on their commitment to continuous innovation and their use of Apple technology to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning.
WIT is among a small number of community colleges to have earned the Apple Distinguished School designation. The recognition reflects the College's long-standing commitment to making technology an integral part of the student learning experience.
Apple technology is incorporated across programs and classrooms in many ways. Faculty use Mac, iPad, Apple TV, and other digital tools to create interactive lessons, demonstrate concepts, collaborate with students, and connect learning across different environments. The technology also supports creative and hands-on work specific to individual programs, from producing digital media to completing coursework and developing projects.
"My students are working on real-world projects in a real-world environment while working to better themselves both personally and professionally," said Chris Mansfield, WIT instructor of Audio Engineering and Video and Media Production. "Apple technology allows them to create, collaborate, and produce content using the same tools and workflows used in the industry."
The College's one-to-one technology program is another part of that approach. Students receive a MacBook loaded with curriculum-specific software, providing access to the technology they need in the classroom and beyond. WIT has also invested in technology and training that connects its campuses and supports faculty in finding new ways to incorporate digital tools into teaching and learning.
Looking ahead, WIT continues to explore new ways technology can support learning, expand possibilities, and create meaningful opportunities for students. Through creativity, accessibility, collaboration, and innovation, the College remains focused on preparing students for their future.
For more information, stories and details about technology at WIT, visit witcc.edu/apple.
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Original text here: https://www2.witcc.edu/about/news/western-iowa-tech-recognized-as-an-apple-distinguished-school/
Wayne State Research Team Leads $5.7 Million NIH Study on Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- Wayne State University issued the following news:
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Wayne State research team leads $5.7 million NIH study on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
September 29, 2026
Dr. Zhengping Yi, professor of pharmaceutical sciences in Wayne State University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was awarded a $5.7 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health focused on discovering the biological mechanisms that may help explain why some lean people develop insulin resistance
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DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- Wayne State University issued the following news:
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Wayne State research team leads $5.7 million NIH study on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
September 29, 2026
Dr. Zhengping Yi, professor of pharmaceutical sciences in Wayne State University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was awarded a $5.7 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health focused on discovering the biological mechanisms that may help explain why some lean people develop insulin resistancewhile some people with obesity remain sensitive to insulin.
The interdisciplinary project is co-led by Dr. Charlie Fehl, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and includes co-investigators Dr. Berhane Seyoum and Dr. Seongho Kim of the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
The five-year project, "Insulin-resistant Leanness and Insulin-Sensitive Obesity in Humans: Role of Skeletal Muscle Phosphoproteome and O-GlcNAc Glycoproteome," will support research examining molecular mechanisms in skeletal muscle that may contribute to insulin resistance, an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar by allowing cells to absorb glucose and use it for energy.
When a person develops insulin resistance, cells do not respond to insulin as effectively as they should. Over time, this can contribute to elevated blood sugar and the development of type 2 diabetes. These higher blood sugar levels redirect cellular processes, which this project seeks to reveal and exploit as therapeutic targets to prevent at-risk individuals from progressing to diabetes.
Yi and Fehl and their collaborators will study skeletal muscle tissue from four groups: lean people who are insulin sensitive, lean people who are insulin resistant, people with obesity who are insulin sensitive and people with obesity who are insulin resistant. Comparing these groups will allow the researchers to investigate molecular differences associated with insulin resistance separately from those associated with body weight. The study will recruit volunteers from metro Detroit, positioned to directly promote health within the local community.
The researchers will focus on two types of chemical changes to proteins, known as phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc glycosylation. These modifications can affect how proteins function and communicate within cells. By examining them on a large scale, the team aims to identify biological pathways that distinguish insulin-sensitive muscle from insulin-resistant muscle.
A major goal of the project is to create a comprehensive database of these protein modifications in human skeletal muscle from the four groups. The resource is intended to support the broader research community in studying insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disease.
"This project is an excellent example of the important work our researchers are conducting that aims to impact the health and well-being of our local community and beyond," said Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State University. "Dr. Yi and Fehl are bringing together teams of researchers across our campus that will combine their expertise to accelerate discoveries beyond a single lab. I look forward to the new knowledge and data they will provide to the broader scientific community to improve the health of many."
The findings could also help researchers identify potential therapeutic strategies. The team will examine whether its findings could support repurposing U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved kinase inhibitor drugs and provide a scientific rationale for further study of inhibitors targeting O-GlcNAc transferase, or OGT, as a potential approach to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Additional research, including clinical trials, would be necessary to determine whether therapeutic approaches emerging from this work are safe and effective in people.
"Dr. Yi's research highlights the kind of collaborative, forward-looking science we strive to advance," said Dr. Christine Rabinak, associate dean for research for WSU Applebaum. "By bringing together expertise from across Wayne State to better understand the complex biology of insulin resistance, this project has the potential to advance our knowledge to guide future approaches to preventing and treating type 2 diabetes."
Yi's research focuses on insulin signaling, insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and proteomics and the large-scale study of proteins. His work combines clinical, biological, biochemical, proteomic and bioinformatic approaches. He joined Wayne State in 2011 and is director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program and the Proteomics Research Laboratory.
Fehl's research focuses on how O-GlcNAc glycosylation levels modulate cell behavior in hyperglycemia versus normoglycemic settings. His group designs chemical systems to track and treat these sugar levels in diseases like diabetes. He joined Wayne State in 2018.
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Original text here: https://applebaum.wayne.edu/news/wayne-state-research-team-leads-57-million-nih-study-on-insulin-resistance-and-type-2-diabetes-70237
Virginia Tech: Carolina Tallon Awarded the William Halley Faculty Fellowship
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Carolina Tallon awarded the William Halley Faculty Fellowship
By Anne Kroemer Hoffman
29 Sep 2026
Carolina Tallon, associate professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the William Halley Faculty Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The William Halley Faculty Fellowship was established with a generous gift from the estate of William G. Halley. The creation of this fellowship enables the Department
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BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Carolina Tallon awarded the William Halley Faculty Fellowship
By Anne Kroemer Hoffman
29 Sep 2026
Carolina Tallon, associate professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the William Halley Faculty Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The William Halley Faculty Fellowship was established with a generous gift from the estate of William G. Halley. The creation of this fellowship enables the Departmentof Materials Science and Engineering to recruit and retain outstanding faculty.
Tallon excels in teaching, delivering more than 65 class sections/courses including undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in physical ceramics, advanced ceramics, and fundamentals of materials engineering. Her teaching evaluations consistently and appreciably exceed those of her peers.
She is regarded as an exceptional mentor and has advised 13 graduate students (currently advising four more), two postdoctoral researchers, 35 undergraduate students, and eight senior design teams.
Tallon has demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship, with a record of 35 journal publications, including three cover articles and two book chapters. She has delivered more than 80 conference presentations, including two keynote addresses and 15 invited talks, and is the named inventor on one U.S. patent.
An exceptional departmental citizen who is committed to the betterment of the department, the university, and the scientific community at large, Tallon is held in high regard by her peers and has led key initiatives in the department around research growth and community engagement.
Tallon earned a bachelor's degree from Universidad de Granada and a Ph.D. from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and Institute of Ceramic and Glass, CSIC, in Spain.
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/09/eng-coe-tallon-halley-fellowship-materials-science.html
VCU School of Education Receives $7.2 Million Grant for Student Mental Health Support
RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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Sept. 29, 2026
VCU School of Education receives $7.2 million grant for student mental health support
The Partnership for People with Disabilities will collaborate with school divisions in Amelia, New Kent and Pulaski counties to develop comprehensive mental health systems.
By Sian Wilkerson
Virginia Commonwealth University's Partnership for People with Disabilities, part of the School of Education, has received federal funding to strengthen mental health support systems in three Virginia school
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RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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Sept. 29, 2026
VCU School of Education receives $7.2 million grant for student mental health support
The Partnership for People with Disabilities will collaborate with school divisions in Amelia, New Kent and Pulaski counties to develop comprehensive mental health systems.
By Sian Wilkerson
Virginia Commonwealth University's Partnership for People with Disabilities, part of the School of Education, has received federal funding to strengthen mental health support systems in three Virginia schooldivisions.
Supported by a five-year, $7.2 million Project AWARE grant - Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education - from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Project AWARE Virginia is partnering with Amelia, New Kent and Pulaski counties to help each school division build and sustain a comprehensive system that promotes mental health, improves access to behavioral health services and improves outcomes for students.
"One of the things that makes this project exciting is that we aren't entering these communities with a predetermined solution," said Kim Dupre, Ed.D., Project AWARE Virginia's director and principal investigator. "We will begin by listening, understanding what is already working, identifying needs alongside each division and then building systems that make sense for their students, families, schools and communities."
Dupre will lead the project alongside Partnership for People with Disabilities colleague Kris Herakovich-Curtis, Ed.D., who will serve as project manager.
At Project AWARE Virginia's outset, Dupre and Herakovich-Curtis will work with colleagues in the partnering school divisions and community services boards to: 1) identify what is already working, as well as what needs and gaps exist; 2) map existing school and community resources; and 3) develop individualized plans based on the strengths and priorities of each division.
Following this initial work, the project will then provide coaching and professional learning for educators and administrators, strengthen mental health promotion and prevention efforts, improve screening and referral pathways, and give schools, families, students and community behavioral health providers the tools to work together more effectively.
The long-term goal is sustainability, Dupre said: "The intent is not to create services that disappear when federal funding ends, but to help divisions develop the people, partnerships, practices and systems needed to continue the work."
Throughout the Project AWARE Virginia timeline, the team will use what they learn to develop, test and refine a comprehensive school mental health implementation framework and toolkit, which will then be shared to help other Virginia school divisions strengthen their own systems.
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/vcu-school-of-education-receives-72-million-grant-for-student-mental-health-support
University of Delaware's First Surgeon General to Headline Jefferson Life Sciences Lecture
DOVER, Delaware, Sept. 30 -- The University of Delaware issued the following research news:
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Delaware's first surgeon general to headline Jefferson Life Sciences Lecture
Dr. Neil Hockstein to discuss public health, healthcare and the factors shaping the wellbeing of communities at Oct. 7 lecture
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Delaware's first Surgeon General will bring his expertise in medicine, public health and healthcare leadership to the University of Delaware for the Edward G. Jefferson Life Sciences Lecture on Oct. 7.
Dr. Neil Hockstein will speak from 1-2 p.m. at the Roselle Center for the Arts. The lecture
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DOVER, Delaware, Sept. 30 -- The University of Delaware issued the following research news:
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Delaware's first surgeon general to headline Jefferson Life Sciences Lecture
Dr. Neil Hockstein to discuss public health, healthcare and the factors shaping the wellbeing of communities at Oct. 7 lecture
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Delaware's first Surgeon General will bring his expertise in medicine, public health and healthcare leadership to the University of Delaware for the Edward G. Jefferson Life Sciences Lecture on Oct. 7.
Dr. Neil Hockstein will speak from 1-2 p.m. at the Roselle Center for the Arts. The lectureis free and open to the public. Please register for the event at this link.
A Delaware native and otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon, Hockstein was appointed the state's first Surgeon General in July 2026. He brings more than two decades of experience in clinical practice and health care leadership, including leadership and faculty roles at ChristianaCare, Thomas Jefferson University and The Wistar Institute.
Hockstein has also played a key role in advancing the establishment of Delaware's first medical school, which will be operated by Thomas Jefferson University on the UD campus. As chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission, he has led initiatives focused on strengthening primary care, expanding access to care, reducing health care costs and developing Delaware's health care workforce.
Hockstein's career also includes pioneering work in transoral robotic surgery and contributions to surgical innovation and cancer care. He is the founder and chief medical officer of Parallel ENT & Allergy and a partner at ENT & Allergy of Delaware.
"The University of Delaware is honored to welcome Dr. Neil Hockstein as this year's Edward G. Jefferson Life Sciences Lecturer," said Fabrice Veron, interim vice president for research, scholarship and innovation. "His leadership in advancing health care access, strengthening Delaware's health care workforce and helping establish the state's first medical school exemplifies the impact that can be achieved when expertise, innovation and service come together. We look forward to the insights he will share with our students, faculty, staff and broader community."
The Edward G. Jefferson Lecture
Endowed by a gift from the Unidel Foundation, the Edward G. Jefferson Lecture is named in honor of the late chairman and chief executive officer of the DuPont Co., UD trustee emeritus and UD benefactor. The lecture highlights distinguished work in the life sciences.
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Original text here: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/september/jefferson-lecure-surgeon-general-neil-hockstein/
Rhodes Named a Best Value College for 2027 by The Princeton Review
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 30 -- Rhodes College issued the following news:
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Rhodes Named a Best Value College for 2027 by The Princeton Review
September 29, 2026
Rhodes College is one of the nation's "Best Value Colleges for 2027," according to The Princeton Review.
For its Best Value Colleges for 2027 report, the education services company chose 209 schools out of the more than 650 institutions it surveyed and evaluated based on academics, costs, financial aid, debt, graduation rates, and alumni career and salary data. Institutions are not ranked hierarchically.
"We highly recommend
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MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 30 -- Rhodes College issued the following news:
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Rhodes Named a Best Value College for 2027 by The Princeton Review
September 29, 2026
Rhodes College is one of the nation's "Best Value Colleges for 2027," according to The Princeton Review.
For its Best Value Colleges for 2027 report, the education services company chose 209 schools out of the more than 650 institutions it surveyed and evaluated based on academics, costs, financial aid, debt, graduation rates, and alumni career and salary data. Institutions are not ranked hierarchically.
"We highly recommendthe schools on our Best Value Colleges list for 2027," said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. "In our opinion, they are truly the most exceptional in the nation at delivering outstanding academics, affordable cost, and great career foundations. We salute them for all they do to help students with need afford to attend them via comparatively low sticker prices and/or extraordinarily generous financial aid--all while providing an amazing college experience that's worth every penny."
Rhodes alumni consistently report long-term benefits, employability, and career advancement because of their education at the college. Through The Rhodes Promise, the college promises that every student will have at least one high-impact, hands-on learning experience, such as a research project, internship or fellowship, or a study abroad experience.
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Original text here: https://news.rhodes.edu/stories/rhodes-named-best-value-college-2027-princeton-review
$2.99 Million Federal Grant Awarded to William Peace University Will Expand Career Readiness for Every Student
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 30 -- William Peace University issued the following news:
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$2.99 Million Federal Grant Awarded to William Peace University Will Expand Career Readiness for Every Student
Sep 29, 2026
William Peace University has received a five-year, $2.99 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand career readiness and student success support for every Peace student. The award runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031. It is the first major competitive federal grant, and the first Title III
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 30 -- William Peace University issued the following news:
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$2.99 Million Federal Grant Awarded to William Peace University Will Expand Career Readiness for Every Student
Sep 29, 2026
William Peace University has received a five-year, $2.99 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand career readiness and student success support for every Peace student. The award runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031. It is the first major competitive federal grant, and the first Title IIIaward, in the University's 169-year history.
"This is a milestone for William Peace University and, more importantly, an investment in the future of our students," said President Jennifer Walsh. "It will help us deliver on our promise that every Peace student graduates with the skills, experiences, and confidence to take the next step toward a meaningful career."
The grant also reflects the importance of federal investment in independent colleges and universities that prepare students for careers while strengthening the workforce and economic vitality of their communities.
"I am proud to be a champion of Title III grant funding and the career readiness training it supports," said Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02). "I'm thrilled William Peace University is receiving nearly $3 million for professional development resources, ensuring students can successfully move from the classroom to the workforce. Independent colleges like Peace are the backbone of our communities, creating jobs, driving economic growth, and ensuring our workforce can meet the challenges of the future. As the co-chair of the Independent Colleges Caucus, I will continue to advocate for our independent colleges. I look forward to seeing how this grant helps prepare Peace's next generation of graduates for successful careers."
Currently, Peace prepares students for careers through an immersive learning curriculum, required internship, and professional development opportunities. Recent analysis by the University found that these efforts, while highly effective, do not yet reach every student consistently. Pell-eligible, first-generation, and military-connected students face more barriers in achieving career readiness.
Title III grants are intended to strengthen the resources and systems that support student success. For Peace, these funds will build the staffing, dedicated spaces, support for faculty, and data systems needed to make the University's career readiness model work for all students.
"The grant will help us connect what Peace students learn in the classroom with the support, experiences, and professional connections they need outside of it," said Provost Lynda Szymanski. "Through career-focused spaces on campus, stronger employer partnerships, expanded access to internships, and an intentional second-year experience, students will have more ways to explore their goals and build toward the life they want. Together, these investments will make career readiness a central part of the Peace experience."
Five career readiness initiatives will be supported by the grant.
1. Peace will create a new, student-facing Career Design Studio that builds on existing career services, expanding student access to mock interviews, career counseling, and employer engagement.
2. Internship and work-based learning opportunities will also be expanded through stronger employer connections and virtual internship options.
3. Faculty development will grow to support the integration of career competencies into the curriculum.
4. Second-year students will benefit from a more structured experience focused on career direction.
5. The University will establish data reporting mechanisms that will support future refinement and growth of career readiness efforts.
"These initiatives will help Peace become an even stronger talent partner for Raleigh and the Research Triangle," said Walsh. "With more opportunities to bring employers into the learning experience, we can better connect the talent being developed at Peace with the organizations that are growing and innovating across our region. Our students benefit from those relationships through meaningful experience and professional connections, while our community gains graduates who are prepared to contribute from the beginning of their careers."
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Original text here: https://peace.edu/2-99-million-federal-grant-awarded-to-william-peace-university-will-expand-career-readiness-for-every-student/
