Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Texas Lutheran University Sumners Scholar Announced: Andie Lozano-Lomeli Awarded $40,000 Scholarship
SEGUIN, Texas, May 1 -- Texas Lutheran University issued the following news:
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Texas Lutheran University Sumners Scholar Announced: Andie Lozano-Lomeli Awarded $40,000 Scholarship
Andie Lozano-Lomeli, a sophomore communication studies and political science double major at Texas Lutheran University was recently awarded a $40,000 scholarship by the Sumners Foundation of Irving, Texas. Scholarships are awarded by the Foundation based on civic engagement, academic excellence, a capacity for leadership, and a desire to further our democracy. Andie is one of just 36 students nationally to receive
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SEGUIN, Texas, May 1 -- Texas Lutheran University issued the following news:
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Texas Lutheran University Sumners Scholar Announced: Andie Lozano-Lomeli Awarded $40,000 Scholarship
Andie Lozano-Lomeli, a sophomore communication studies and political science double major at Texas Lutheran University was recently awarded a $40,000 scholarship by the Sumners Foundation of Irving, Texas. Scholarships are awarded by the Foundation based on civic engagement, academic excellence, a capacity for leadership, and a desire to further our democracy. Andie is one of just 36 students nationally to receivea Sumners scholarship in 2026.
TLU has a longstanding relationship with the Sumners Foundation going back more than two decades, including support for TLU's Washington Semester partnership with American University. Andie is the first TLU student ever to compete for and to win this scholarship. "Being awarded the Sumners Foundation scholarship has given me the opportunity to commit to learning about deliberative dialogue and to focus on continuing my education at TLU in political science," Andie said. "Having the space to learn and to grow with the resources to do so is something I'm immensely grateful for, and I'm thankful for Dr. O'Brochta's help in achieving this goal." Dr. William O'Brochta, Assistant Professor of Political Science, remarked that, "Andie has already established herself as a leader in facilitating deliberative dialogues on campus, engaging in the scholarly study of vocation and civic engagement, and using what she learns to improve our community. This scholarship will help provide her space to explore these passions and to connect with other people and organizations working in this arena."
"The Sumners Scholarship program has been at the core of the Sumners Foundation's purpose since shortly after its inception in 1949. Our Scholars are selected from the very best students at colleges and universities after a rigorous interview process. To be selected as a Sumners Scholar is an honor that will remain with the Scholar throughout his or her lifetime," said Board Chairman Scott Higginbotham. "Over the decades Sumners Scholars have made significant contributions to their communities, their states and America. Following in the footsteps of Congressman Hatton W. Sumners, the Foundation is pleased to support students striving to improve our political system, address societal challenges through crafting public policies based upon the fundamental principles of American democracy, educate all Americans about their civic obligations as citizens, and be active, productive members of our Republic."
Sumners Scholar alumni include such notables as TLU alumnus and U.S. District Judge Fred Biery who received the scholarship while in law school, former Senior Deputy Attorney General of Oklahoma Dara Derryberry, Chairman of Matador Resources Joe Foran, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Nathan Hecht, President of the University of Texas at Arlington Jennifer Cowley, and past Chancellor of the New Mexico Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Charles L. Moore.
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Original text here: https://www.tlu.edu/news/texas-lutheran-university-sumners-scholar-announced-andie-lozano-lomeli-awarded-40-000-scholarship
SUNY Chancellor King Announces Second Class of Awardees of Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship
ALBANY, New York, May 1 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release:
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SUNY Chancellor King Announces Second Class of Awardees of Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship
Award Honors Early Career Faculty Whose Scholarly or Creative Activities Have Achieved Significant Recognition and Hold Strong Promise for Field-Defining Impact
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State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the second class of faculty member awardees of the Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship. The award honors early-career
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ALBANY, New York, May 1 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release:
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SUNY Chancellor King Announces Second Class of Awardees of Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship
Award Honors Early Career Faculty Whose Scholarly or Creative Activities Have Achieved Significant Recognition and Hold Strong Promise for Field-Defining Impact
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State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the second class of faculty member awardees of the Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship. The award honors early-careerfaculty research and scholarly achievements across SUNY's colleges and universities.
"Throughout the SUNY system, our faculty are conducting extraordinary research and scholarship that is having a remarkable impact across all fields of study," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Our Horizon awardees have positioned themselves as leaders in their disciplines early in their careers, while also demonstrating the depth of SUNY's excellence and expertise. I applaud this year's awardees for their hard work and look forward to seeing how they continue to lead innovation and scholarship in their fields."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Across our campuses, SUNY's faculty are at the forefront of exceptional research and scholarship that is spurring innovation, improving lives, and deepening knowledge. We congratulate the recipients of this year's Horizon Awards for their leadership in their fields and thank Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for their steadfast support and continued investment in research at SUNY."
The Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship honors early career tenured and tenure-track faculty whose scholarly or creative activities have achieved significant recognition, and, crucially, hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future. This year's awardees have conducted research on topics including glass science, archeological textiles, and disability studies. The 10 awardees are:
* Dr. Elizabeth Bowen, Assistant Professor, Bioethics and Humanities, SUNY Upstate Medical University
* Dr. Phyllis Chen, Assistant Professor, Music, SUNY New Paltz
* Dr. Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, Assistant Professor, Program in Public Health, State University of New York at Stony Brook
* Dr. Hilary Davidson, Associate Professor and Chair, Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice, Fashion Institute of Technology
* Dr. Xiaoping Fan, Assistant Professor, Physical Education Department, SUNY Cortland
* Dr. Elizabeth Garner-Masarik, Assistant Professor, History, SUNY Brockport
* Dr. Thomas D. Grant, Assistant Professor, Structural Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo
* Dr. Roger Figueroa, Assistant Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, New York State College of Human Ecology at Cornell University
* Professor Claire Luchette, Assistant Professor, Department of English, State University of New York at Binghamton
* Dr. Collin Wilkinson, Assistant Professor, Glass Engineering Science, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University
Candidates' nomination portfolios were reviewed by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost. Up to 10 awards are conferred each year.
The Chancellor's Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship builds on SUNY's commitment to highlighting the excellent research taking place in all disciplines across SUNY campuses, and to achieving Governor Hochul's goal of doubling research and innovation throughout the SUNY system. SUNY has undertaken major actions to advance research efforts throughout the system, including:
* In March, SUNY hosted the SUNY Research Expo to highlight faculty and student research excellence throughout the SUNY System.
* In February, SUNY announced the launch of the SUNY Research Connect Portal to showcase the research profiles of nearly 7,000 SUNY researchers from 26 campuses.
* In January, Governor Hochul announced that the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent AI research center at any public university in the United States, would be established at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
* In November 2025, Governor Hochul announced an investment to construct a new biofabrication research and imaging facility on the State University of New York at Buffalo campus that will help discover new medicines and cures to save lives.
* Also in November 2025, Governor Hochul announced the major expansion of the State University of New York at Albany's RNA Institute to advance world-class research, training, and workforce development.
* In October 2025, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Brain Institute, a multi-campus initiative focused on expanding SUNY's groundbreaking neuroscience research.
* In September 2025, Governor Hochul established the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, further catapulting New York's national leadership in groundbreaking research that saves lives, grows the economy, and improves national security.
* In July 2025 SUNY launched the SUNY Research Leadership Academy to advance inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields.
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About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/4-26/4-30-26/horizon.html
Northwestern University: Treatment of Rare Childhood Epilepsy Could Begin Before Birth
EVANSTON, Illinois, May 1 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release:
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Treatment of rare childhood epilepsy could begin before birth
RNA therapy may calm abnormal brain activity of epilepsy in utero, before seizures emerge
* Kids with treatment-resistant KCNT1-related epilepsy can have 100 seizures a day, may die prematurely
* If given early, treatment may help protect developing brain, reduce long term neurological harm
* 'If we miss a therapeutic window, it becomes much harder to reverse the damage later as we manage symptoms in patients'
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CHICAGO --- Research
... Show Full Article
EVANSTON, Illinois, May 1 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release:
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Treatment of rare childhood epilepsy could begin before birth
RNA therapy may calm abnormal brain activity of epilepsy in utero, before seizures emerge
* Kids with treatment-resistant KCNT1-related epilepsy can have 100 seizures a day, may die prematurely
* If given early, treatment may help protect developing brain, reduce long term neurological harm
* 'If we miss a therapeutic window, it becomes much harder to reverse the damage later as we manage symptoms in patients'
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CHICAGO --- Researchhas shown early diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy disorders can improve outcomes. The question of when to administer treatment so it gets ahead of the disease, however, has remained stubbornly elusive.
A new Northwestern University study suggests intervention could start during pregnancy -- as early as 15 weeks gestation -- well before symptoms appear, highlighting the potential benefit of treating certain epilepsy disorders as early as possible.
"We want to better understand things happening in the brain in utero that result in deficits to hopefully establish models and therapeutics that prevent the damage so the brain can develop under its normal timeline," said corresponding author Richard Smith, assistant professor of pharmacology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
The study reveals for the first time how a novel RNA based treatment affects brain cell signaling when applied at early stages of development in a rare, severe and treatment resistant form of epilepsy caused by changes in a gene called KCNT1. If given very early -- possibly even in utero, or for preterm infants -- the treatment may help protect the developing brain from hyper-excitation, a means to reduce long term neurological harm, the study found.
"The early brain is an amazingly plastic structure," Smith said. "If we miss a therapeutic window, it becomes much harder to reverse the damage later as we manage symptoms in patients."
The findings were published April 29 in Nature Communications.
What is KCNT1-related epilepsy?
KCNT1-related epilepsy affects approximately 3,000 people worldwide. Children with KCNT1-associated epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) can have dozens or even hundreds of seizures a day, often don't respond to standard treatments and face a high risk of early death.
Using brain cells grown in the lab from children with a severe KCNT1 mutation, the scientists showed these cells produce excessive electrical activity, which helps explain why these children have seizures.
The scientists then tested an experimental RNA-based therapy, called an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) aimed at reducing KCNT1 activity on lab-grown neurons. The therapy co-developed by the Smith lab recently showed promising results in patients. In the new study, it successfully reduced the abnormal electrical currents in patient-derived excitatory neurons (functional brain cells manufactured in the lab from a patient's own cells).
The scientists also tested the therapy in developing human brain cells equivalent to the middle of pregnancy (15 to 21 weeks gestation) and found it reduced excessive firing at this early stage, too. These findings establish a key clinical basis for targeting the perinatal period, Smith said.
Why timing matters
Early treatment of a disease depends on early diagnosis, which remains a major challenge, Smith said.
Although most genetic changes are present at conception, they might not be detectable or cause symptoms until later. For instance, some conditions can be observed early in gestation (e.g. spina bifida), some after birth (e.g. infantile epileptic encephalopathy), while others don't appear until childhood (e.g. muscular dystrophy) or even adulthood (e.g. Huntington's disease). This wide range can make it difficult to know when it's possible to diagnose a genetic disease, let alone begin to treat it. Most routine prenatal tests can only detect large genetic changes while often missing single gene disorders like KCNT1 related epilepsy.
"A big thrust of my lab is thinking how far back we can go to understand a disease to build prophylactic therapies," Smith said. "First, we have to know whether there's even a biological target to engage because early brain development can be a black box."
When a condition is not identified before birth, rapid genetic testing after delivery can now provide a diagnosis within days, allowing treatment to begin soon after birth, Smith said.
What's next
The study found adjusting the brain's natural "cooldown" signal after a neuron fires (a process known as afterhyperpolarization) can meaningfully influence how brain cells behave. Future research aimed at strengthening this cooling off process, particularly in living brains where neurons fire in complex patterns, could help scientists better understand and eventually treat a wide range of neurological disorders driven by overly excitable brain cells, Smith said.
The study is titled, "RNA targeting therapy for a prenatally enriched potassium channel associated with severe childhood epilepsy and premature death."
Other Northwestern study authors include Sean Golinski, Karla Soriano, Alex Briegel, Madeline Burke, Sheng Tang and Gemma Carvill.
Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grants R00NS112604 and R01NS140046) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DP2NS148744), both part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Bachrach Family Foundation.
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Original text here: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/4/treatment-of-rare-childhood-epilepsy-could-begin-before-birth?fj=1
Johns Hopkins: Synthetic Biologist Reza Kalhor Receives $250,000 President's Innovation Award
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 1 -- Johns Hopkins University issued the following news:
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Synthetic biologist Reza Kalhor receives $250,000 President's Innovation Award
Kalhor recognized for his work developing technologies to aid understanding of how early-life biological signals influence disease decades later
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Synthetic biologist Reza Kalhor recently received the $250,000 President's Innovation Award, which recognizes early- to mid-career faculty at Johns Hopkins University who are translating breakthrough discoveries into real-world solutions. Kalhor, an associate professor in the Department
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 1 -- Johns Hopkins University issued the following news:
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Synthetic biologist Reza Kalhor receives $250,000 President's Innovation Award
Kalhor recognized for his work developing technologies to aid understanding of how early-life biological signals influence disease decades later
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Synthetic biologist Reza Kalhor recently received the $250,000 President's Innovation Award, which recognizes early- to mid-career faculty at Johns Hopkins University who are translating breakthrough discoveries into real-world solutions. Kalhor, an associate professor in the Departmentof Biomedical Engineering, was honored for his work developing genomic recording technologies that allow scientists to track biological events over time.
Kalhor's research addresses a fundamental challenge in medicine: understanding how early-life biological signals influence disease decades later. His approach converts these signals into durable DNA records, allowing researchers to trace how conditions such as cancer, aging-related diseases, and developmental disorders emerge and evolve.
"I'm really excited to bring these technologies to address important questions in aging, cancer, and birth defects," Kalhor said.
By bridging fundamental discovery with real-world application, Kalhor's work reflects the broader goal of the President's Innovation Award--to accelerate the translation of promising science into meaningful advances in human health.
The President's Innovation Award and others were presented earlier this month at the 2026 Celebration of Innovation in Medicine event, an event for faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders co-hosted by Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Across the program, a consistent message emerged: Advancing human health requires more than discovery. It requires infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships to move ideas forward.
"To realize the ultimate potential of our institution, ... we must ensure our innovations reach the people who need them," said Theodore DeWeese, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Other awards and honors include:
* The Emmett Cunningham Distinguished Lectureship in Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship, made possible through the support of entrepreneur and Johns Hopkins alumnus Emmett Cunningham, featured Elizabeth Jaffee, an internationally recognized leader in cancer immunotherapy. Jaffee has advanced therapeutic cancer vaccines and helped reshape our understanding of pancreatic cancer--demonstrating how sustained research can lead to entirely new treatment approaches. Her lecture emphasized the collaborative nature of innovation. "One person doesn't accomplish what is really important in innovation," she said. "It's who you work with."
* The Dean's Distinguished Faculty Innovator Award honored Barbara Slusher, whose career includes more than 100 patents and multiple FDA-approved therapies. As director of the Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery Program, Slusher has helped build an integrated model for advancing therapeutics from concept to clinic. "Innovation never ... is the work of a single person," she said. "It really takes a village."
* The Dean's Distinguished Alumni Innovator Award was presented to Saurabh Saha, SOM '04, a biotech executive who has led companies from early discovery through commercialization. Reflecting on his training at Johns Hopkins, Saha noted the importance of maintaining a clear connection between research and patient impact. "You're reminded all the time that there's a patient at the end of all this," he said. "That shapes how you think about the work."
Following the award presentation, Saha joined Christy Wyskiel, executive director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, for a conversation that explored the realities of translating science into successful ventures. The discussion highlighted the importance of aligning scientific discovery with market need, communicating value to investors, and making disciplined, data-driven decisions throughout the commercialization process.
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Original text here: https://hub.jhu.edu/2026/04/30/presidents-innovation-award-reza-kalhor/
CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Expands Educational Access and Opportunity Across the Coachella Valley Through Pre-college Programs
SAN BERNARDINO, California, May 1 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
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CSUSB Palm Desert Campus expands educational access and opportunity across the Coachella Valley through pre-college programs
The pre-college programs at CSUSB deliver comprehensive academic and personal support services designed to increase high school graduation rates, college enrollment and degree completion.
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The California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) Palm Desert Campus continues to play a transformative role in expanding access to higher education across
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SAN BERNARDINO, California, May 1 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
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CSUSB Palm Desert Campus expands educational access and opportunity across the Coachella Valley through pre-college programs
The pre-college programs at CSUSB deliver comprehensive academic and personal support services designed to increase high school graduation rates, college enrollment and degree completion.
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The California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) Palm Desert Campus continues to play a transformative role in expanding access to higher education acrossthe Coachella Valley through the university's Office of Pre-College Programs (OPP). Serving more than 10,000 students annually across 21 school districts in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, OPP delivers comprehensive academic and personal support services designed to increase high school graduation rates, college enrollment and degree completion.
Housed within CSUSB's Division of Student Affairs, OPP supports a diverse population that includes middle and high school students, adult learners returning to education, youth experiencing homelessness or foster care, children of farmworkers, and CSUSB students engaged in K-12 community service. At the Palm Desert Campus, OPP staff are deeply embedded in the region, offering targeted programs that meet the unique needs of Coachella Valley residents.
One cornerstone initiative is the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), which supports adults ages 19 and older in completing a high school diploma or equivalent and pursuing higher education. EOC provides free services such as academic advising, financial aid guidance, college and career exploration, application assistance and connections to essential community resources including housing, mental health services, childcare, and utility support.
Participants come from a wide range of educational backgrounds--some returning after more than a decade, others beginning college pathways or vocational training.
"Being part of the Educational Opportunity Center has continued to influence my journey, even as I pursue my college education," said Mariana Garcia Sanchez, an EOC participant. "Through consistent advising, I've been able to define my long-term goals and better prepare for life after graduation. Career workshops helped me explore internships and career paths aligned with my major, while support with financial aid renewal and academic planning has strengthened my confidence in navigating college. Most importantly, the program has empowered me to move forward with purpose and confidence in my chosen path."
The program's long-term impact is reflected in success stories like Alicia Hernandez, who joined EOC in 2023 while transferring to CSUSB to study psychology. With guidance from advisors, she navigated financial aid, developed professional skills and discovered a passion for community service--ultimately inspiring her to pursue a master's degree in social work. Today, she gives back to families across the Coachella Valley while advocating for the importance of TRIO programs.
OPP also leads innovative initiatives funded through the K-16 education collaborative, including Coyote BLUE and Coyote PRIME, both designed to strengthen college readiness among high school students.
Coyote BLUE expands access to dual enrollment opportunities through the High School University Program (HSUP), allowing students to take college-level courses while still in high school. These experiences provide transferable credits, build academic confidence and introduce students to the rigor of higher education--often reducing time to degree completion. A summer residential component further fosters a sense of belonging and a shared college-going identity.
Coyote PRIME (Pre-College Readiness Instruction in Math and English) supports high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are on track with A-G requirements but need additional academic support. Through summer residential programming and year-round services, students strengthen critical skills in math and English while gaining the tools and confidence needed for college success.
Together, these programs are helping to close equity gaps and ensure students from historically underrepresented backgrounds are prepared to thrive academically and personally.
Another key initiative, CaliforniansForAll College Corps, connects CSUSB students with meaningful service opportunities in climate action, food insecurity and K-12 education. At the Palm Desert Campus, fellows provide tutoring, mentorship and college-readiness support in local schools while completing 450 hours of service. Participants receive financial benefits, including a living allowance and education award, along with leadership and professional development training.
CSUSB's College Corps program has been selected as a 2026-2029 College Corps campus, securing nearly $3.7 million in state funding to support fellows over the next three years.
"Being a part of College Corps has been life changing," said student fellow Yajaira Florencio Villicana. "I've met so many amazing people and expanded my network professionally and personally. I've learned valuable skills that I have used and will continue to use throughout my college and career journey. Seeing the different challenges youth in my community face has reinforced my goal of giving back to my community through mental health and wellness resources. The experience I've gained through College Corps is invaluable. The support I've received from the College Corps team has been incredibly encouraging. Because of their support, I've learned to step out of my comfort zone and become more resilient. I will be forever grateful to the College Corps team and program."
The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) further supports students from migrant and seasonal farm working backgrounds during their transition into college. CAMP provides first-year students with academic advising, financial aid support, leadership development and cultural enrichment opportunities to ensure persistence into their second year.
Brian Gaytan, a Coachella Valley High School graduate who joined CAMP in 2023, credits the program with helping him adjust to university life and build confidence.
"Being part of CAMP has shaped my journey in ways that continue to impact me," he said.
"We are thrilled to offer these innovative pre-college programs at CSUSB," said Summer Steele, executive director of the Office of Pre-College Programs. "At our Palm Desert Campus, we take immense pride in serving the Coachella Valley, supporting not only students, but also their families and the educators who guide them every day. These programs are more than services; they are lifelines that open doors to higher education and economic mobility."
As federal policymakers consider potential changes to college access programs such as TRIO, GEAR UP, and Migrant Education, CSUSB leaders emphasize the importance of sustained investment.
"These proposed changes risk diminishing access and disrupting pathways that so many students rely on," Steele added. "At stake is not just funding, but the continued success of programs that have transformed lives and strengthened entire communities."
For more information about CSUSB's Office of Pre-College Programs, visit the program's website (https://www.csusb.edu/pre-college-programs).
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About the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus: The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience in the Coachella Valley. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, the campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the region.
For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Marketing and Communications at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the PDC website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.
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Original text here: https://www.csusb.edu/inside/article/595968/csusb-palm-desert-campus-expands-educational-access-and-opportunity-across
Beekeeper's Homecoming: Renowned Honey Bee Scientist Jamie Ellis Returns to Lead UGA Bee Program
ATHENS, Georgia, May 1 -- The University of Georgia issued the following news:
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A beekeeper's homecoming: Renowned honey bee scientist Jamie Ellis returns to lead UGA Bee Program
Takeaways
* Mentorship legacy: On June 1, CAES alum Jamie Ellis will succeed his former mentor, Keith Delaplane, as director of the UGA Bee Program.
* Proven track record: During his tenure at the University of Florida, Ellis built a program that secured over $9.3 million in grants and produced nearly 1,000 publications.
* Comprehensive leadership: His goal is to make the UGA Bee Program preeminent in research,
... Show Full Article
ATHENS, Georgia, May 1 -- The University of Georgia issued the following news:
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A beekeeper's homecoming: Renowned honey bee scientist Jamie Ellis returns to lead UGA Bee Program
Takeaways
* Mentorship legacy: On June 1, CAES alum Jamie Ellis will succeed his former mentor, Keith Delaplane, as director of the UGA Bee Program.
* Proven track record: During his tenure at the University of Florida, Ellis built a program that secured over $9.3 million in grants and produced nearly 1,000 publications.
* Comprehensive leadership: His goal is to make the UGA Bee Program preeminent in research,instruction and Extension to improve the sustainability of beekeeping.
By Maria Lameiras
On the first day of his undergraduate career at the University of Georgia, Jamie Ellis did not head to orientation or wander the quad. He reported for work in the lab of Keith Delaplane, the bee scientist who had called Ellis the spring before to personally recruit him.
That morning set the tone for everything that followed.
More than two decades later, Ellis is walking back through those same doors -- this time as the new director of UGA's Bee Program. He arrives trailing an extraordinary record built at the University of Florida, where he helped build a highly successful honey bee program -- one that generated nearly 1,000 publications, attracted more than $9.3 million in grants and contracts, and earned him national recognition as the top Extension specialist in his field. Now he is coming home.
"There is a bittersweet feeling associated with leaving something I built at UF," Ellis said. "But this feels right. UGA has made a tremendous investment in its honey bee program, and I genuinely believe we can make it preeminent."
A small town start to global stages
It started with a middle school science teacher in Glascock County who saw something in Ellis before he saw it in himself -- and pushed him toward science with the kind of stubborn conviction that can change lives.
It continued with Joseph Miller, a beekeeper and coworker of Ellis's father, who gave him his first colony and became his first mentor in the craft. And it found institutional shape through Holly Hadden, a high school science teacher and mentor, and David Spade, a Georgia 4-H leader in Glascock County, whose investment in Ellis's science fair projects and academic interests opened doors Ellis didn't yet know existed.
"Those individuals essentially would not let me fail," Ellis said. "They just poured into me. And of course, I credit my parents for supporting my beekeeping dream."
What Ellis learned through 4-H turned out to matter in ways that went beyond ribbons and science fairs. It taught Ellis to speak in public, a skill he has since deployed in more than 1,200 talks across dozens of countries. It also instilled a sense of belonging beyond the small-town environment where he was raised.
Delaplane, then a professor of entomology at UGA, came into Ellis's orbit through science fair and 4-H. Ellis, who knew of Delaplane's work, asked him to review his science fair project. Delaplane offered feedback. And then, when Ellis graduated from high school in 1996, Delaplane gave him a call.
"He called my house and said he wanted me to come work for him," Ellis recalls. "I started as his undergraduate laboratory assistant on my first day at UGA."
South Africa and a different kind of education
Ellis spent four years in Delaplane's lab as a pre-med biology major in the way that many college students are pre-med -- because medicine seemed like the thing science was supposed to lead to. Delaplane helped him see different paths.
"Around my junior or senior year, it became clear to me that bees and science belonged together," Ellis said. "I needed someone to tell me, and Dr. Delaplane did. He pivoted me toward a Ph.D."
When Ellis graduated with his bachelor's degree in biology in 2000, the advice Delaplane offered was equally direct: Go somewhere unfamiliar. Delaplane pointed Ellis toward programs in Canada, England and South Africa. Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, won.
The decision shaped him as much as any laboratory work. Ellis arrived in South Africa not knowing the birds, the lizards, the plants, the exchange rate or how to navigate the grocery store. He learned everything at once, and he learned it because he had to.
"I wasn't just learning about bees. I was learning in everything I did," he said. "I wouldn't have had that in the UK or anywhere more familiar."
His doctoral research centered on African honey bee subspecies and small hive beetles -- experience that proved fortuitous. When he returned to UGA for a postdoctoral stint with Delaplane from 2004 to 2006, and then applied for a faculty position in Florida, it was precisely that African fieldwork that set him apart.
"Those experiences really prepared me to take on the job at the University of Florida," he said.
Building a bee program in Florida
Ellis joined UF's Entomology and Nematology Department in 2006 and built a program that reached beekeepers across the country and around the globe, developed a high-demand undergraduate course that eventually ballooned past 200 students per semester, created a podcast that attracted listeners in more than 70 countries, and built an Extension model that answered important industry questions.
The beekeeping teaching load grew organically at UF. What started as a single beekeeping course -- added in 2011 to help reduce the student-to-faculty ratio -- became five courses taught by a new faculty member UF hired to meet the demand. The podcast became one of the most-followed in apiculture, with nearly 200 episodes and listeners in more than 70 countries. Extension talks multiplied until Ellis had given more than 1,200 across five continents, reaching roughly 73,000 individuals in formal Extension settings alone.
"A university will not punish you for doing more than they ask," he said. "I love research. We have 30 active research projects at any given time."
His research is organized into two broad areas: honey bee husbandry -- nutrition, disease and pest management, toxicology, health and productivity -- and honey bee conservation and ecology. The first accounts for roughly 80 to 85% of his program; the second, a more basic scientific itch, examines native honey bee species and their role in supporting healthy ecosystems. He has sent graduate students to South Africa and Thailand to study wild honey bee populations in situ.
The recognition that followed reflects how broadly his influence has been felt. Ellis has received the National Excellence in Extension Award from the American Association for Public Land-Grant Universities -- the highest such honor in his field -- along with the Roger Hoopingarner Award from the American Beekeeping Federation, the Roger E. Morse Award for Teaching/Extension from the Eastern Apicultural Society, and the University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship, among others.
Leadership, he said, was the piece he had to learn deliberately. A program led by UGA -- LEAD21 -- reframed the way he thought about mentorship.
"When I was a new faculty member, I felt like I was struggling to survive," Ellis said. "As I've gotten older, I've realized that investing in the people around me is legacy-defining. It's literally changed my life."
Coming home to Georgia
The UGA position opened when Delaplane retired. Ellis admitted that he'd always kept an eye on his mentor's job, and when the college reached out, he let himself get excited.
"UGA has done a lot for honey bees and apiculture. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences administration is investing in the honey bee program," he said. "They're remodeling a facility, creating positions, allocating resources for cutting-edge equipment. That's a tremendous statement of belief."
Ellis arrives on June 1 with specific ambitions and a deliberate approach to the first phase.
"I need to come in, gather and talk with stakeholders and discuss what is needed. I have things I think will translate well from Florida, but I want to hear from Georgia beekeepers first," he said.
One thing he is committing to: bringing a beekeeping institute back to Georgia. UGA's Young Harris Beekeeping Institute -- a model that grew, in part, from an idea Delaplane encountered when he was invited to speak at a similar program at Florida -- shaped a generation of Georgia beekeepers before it was discontinued in 2022. It inspired Ellis to create the Bee College at UF, which he describes as the "son and grandson" of that lineage. He wants to bring the great-grandchild home to Athens.
He is clear about his ambitions for UGA's Bee Program.
"I want our program to be preeminent in all missions of the land grant university," Ellis said. "Not just in research, but also in Extension and instruction. In all of it. I want people to find us, our content, and our programs everywhere they look. Our goal will be to improve the health and productivity of honey bee colonies and the sustainability of beekeeping."
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Original text here: https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/news/jamie-ellis-to-lead-uga-bee-lab/
Barnard Seniors Research: Postnatal Mental Health and Charismatic Religion
NEW YORK, May 1 -- Barnard College issued the following news:
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Barnard Seniors Research: Postnatal Mental Health and Charismatic Religion
Almost all Barnard students complete an independent research project in their final year: the senior thesis. Two members of the Class of 2026 shared their projects with us.
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For many Barnard alumnae, the senior thesis is the highlight of their college education: the moment when all of their tools, knowledge, and resources come together to produce independent research on the topic of their choice.
In the second edition of our three-part series (read
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 1 -- Barnard College issued the following news:
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Barnard Seniors Research: Postnatal Mental Health and Charismatic Religion
Almost all Barnard students complete an independent research project in their final year: the senior thesis. Two members of the Class of 2026 shared their projects with us.
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For many Barnard alumnae, the senior thesis is the highlight of their college education: the moment when all of their tools, knowledge, and resources come together to produce independent research on the topic of their choice.
In the second edition of our three-part series (readthe first edition here: https://barnard.edu/news/barnard-seniors-research-infectious-disease-and-reconstruction-era-politics), seniors in the Class of 2026 share what they're researching, where it's taken them, and how their final projects got done.
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Ellen Keefe: Psychology
Title: Under-Screened and Underserved: Examining Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Non-Birthing Parents
What's your thesis about?
Did you know that dads can experience postpartum depression, too? So can adoptive parents and parents who use surrogacy. However, non-birthing parents of all types are rarely screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and often struggle to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
Is there a finding that surprised you?
One finding that surprised me is that when a non-birthing parent has a partner with a perinatal mood disorder, they are more likely to score higher on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale -- the standard screening tool for postpartum depression used by doctors and psychologists.
Where did the project take you?
I've had the opportunity to conduct virtual interviews with participants from all over the country and received over 100 viable survey responses. It has been especially interesting to observe regional trends in how parental mental health is recognized and treated; for instance, large metropolitan areas tend to have better resources in terms of providing diverse parent groups for dads and adoptive parents.
What was your go-to research spot on campus?
I spent a lot of time on the fourth floor of Milstein. I love the quiet atmosphere and the view of campus.
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Dani Winkler: Religion
Title: Examining Holiness-Pentecostal Congregations Through the Eyes of Eleanor Dickinson
What's your thesis about?
My research centers on the archival materials of Eleanor Dickinson, a visual artist and figure draftsman whose artistic projects led her to conduct 18 years of fieldwork in Southern Appalachia. Though the aims of Dickinson's fieldwork were not related to religious studies scholarship, the interviews she conducted and the sermons she recorded were largely oriented around religious life.
My research has focused on how Dickinson interacted specifically with Holiness-Pentecostal congregations in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky in order to study the presence of particular rituals unique to the branch and the region.
Is there a finding that surprised you?
I was definitely surprised to learn how little attention has been paid to Eleanor Dickinson in academic scholarship. When I visited the repositories in person, I was stunned by the width and breadth of the materials, but there are no records of her work in journals of religious studies or art history. I'm honored to be giving her flowers, although I think they are well overdue!
Where did the project take you?
I've gone to Washington, D.C. -- twice! With the help of the Alan Segal Award, I was able to spend two cumulative weeks at the Library of Congress, looking at the archives of Eleanor Dickinson in person.
What was your go-to research spot on campus?
It has to be on the second floor of Milstein, probably at one of the tables by the window.
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Original text here: https://barnard.edu/news/barnard-seniors-research-postnatal-mental-health-and-charismatic-religion
