Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Virginia Tech: How a 1990 Gift Enables Today's Breakthrough Research
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Jan. 29 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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How a 1990 gift enables today's breakthrough research
An endowed professorship is a catalyst for breakthrough research, unlocking innovations that transform what is possible in science and education.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the work of Giulio Menciotti. He creates stunning three-dimensional images of cats' hearts beating in real time--a sight that makes his students gasp, "Oh, wow." Their reactions highlight the remarkable progress that strategic funding can achieve.
This freedom to innovate comes directly
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Jan. 29 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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How a 1990 gift enables today's breakthrough research
An endowed professorship is a catalyst for breakthrough research, unlocking innovations that transform what is possible in science and education.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the work of Giulio Menciotti. He creates stunning three-dimensional images of cats' hearts beating in real time--a sight that makes his students gasp, "Oh, wow." Their reactions highlight the remarkable progress that strategic funding can achieve.
This freedom to innovate comes directlyfrom the Anne Hunter Endowed Professorship in Veterinary Medicine, established in 1990. While Hunter could not have imagined 3D cardiac imaging in cats, her support ensured a permanent capacity to pursue ideas before anyone knew they would work.
After thirty-five years, Anne Hunter's gift remains a driving force behind today's innovations.
How permanent funding works
An endowed professorship is a permanent academic position funded by the returns on an invested donation. The original donation, called the principal, remains untouched and continues to earn money. The annual returns from the investment, typically 4 to 5 percent of the principal, provide ongoing financial support for the professor's work.
"Endowed professorships help us recruit and retain exceptional faculty in areas like infectious disease research and clinical specialties. They also provide the flexibility for faculty to pursue preliminary work that can lead to major grant applications--breaking the cycle where you need funding to get data, but need data to get funding," said Dean Givens.
For the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, this kind of permanence directly addresses challenges that grants alone cannot solve, like a national specialist shortage and rising student debt.
It helps attract top talent
When Mohamed Seleem was considering positions at multiple universities, he focused specifically on opportunities with endowed support.
"I was really focused on endowed professorships," said Seleem, who now holds the Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Chair in Bacteriology. "When I was applying, there were only two I was interested in."
An endowed position signals stability and provides resources beyond federal grants, ensuring security even amid budget changes.
"In a very competitive environment now, this is how you can hire and attract exceptional faculty," Seleem said. "Moving is very difficult for established faculty. The one way to attract them is to have the ability to offer an endowment."
Seleem's lab focuses on infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a major cause of death worldwide. He holds 21 U.S. patents for repurposing medications--meaning he investigates new ways to use drugs already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat these hard-to-kill infections more quickly and at lower cost than developing new drugs from scratch.
Two of Seleem's patented technologies have been licensed to companies and are advancing toward real-world use. He has also been named a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
The support compounds over time
John Rossmeisl holds the Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professorship of Neurology and Neurosurgery--the same chair his mentor, Greg Troy, held before him.
"That means something," Rossmeisl said. "It's not just funding. It's carrying forward someone's legacy who believed in you."
His endowment helps pay for his laboratory manager, an essential staff member who federal grants typically do not cover. It also funded preliminary data for his Maryland collaboration --work that led to a major grant that would not have happened without that initial support.
Creates opportunities for innovative research
Menciotti's research into three-dimensional evaluation of feline hearts didn't come from a safe bet. Federal grants favor established methods. Corporate partnerships favor marketable outcomes.
"Endowed professorships give you access to unrestricted, uncommitted funding," Menciotti said. "Unrestricted means you can use the money for any research needs you determine, with no specific limitations. If you need this money, you do you. We trust you. You don't have to write a grant and wait for that to come through."
Preliminary data often determine whether a major grant application succeeds or fails. Endowed professorships break the trap where you cannot get preliminary data without funding, or funding without preliminary data.
The Menciotti story
When Menciotti received the Anne Hunter Endowed Professorship this fall, he had been at Virginia Tech since 2013, first as a Ph.D. student from Italy, then as a resident, and finally as faculty in 2020.
"I didn't want to be a veterinarian," he said. "I wanted to be a human doctor. When I started vet school, I really enjoyed it, and I stuck with it. I was sure that I didn't want to do research. And then as soon as I started doing it, I loved it. I thought, 'I can do this, but I don't want to teach.' And then sure enough, as I was teaching during my Ph.D., I loved it."
His career followed discovery, not a plan. Each exposure to something new changed what he thought was possible.
The 3D echocardiography work followed the same pattern. "It's definitely a challenge," he said. "That's why it hasn't been done before."
The challenges come from biology. Pets are smaller than humans. Their hearts beat faster. Both create technological barriers for 3D imaging.
"We started with feasibility. Let's see if this is possible," Menciotti said. "That worked out very well and put us in a unique spot as experts in three-dimensional echocardiography in veterinary medicine. So that was a good challenge. Let's bring it up a notch and try even smaller animals with even faster heart rates. And that would be cats."
The current study, led by resident physician Lezith Desiree Chavez, is recruiting 120 cats. They are about 70 percent finished signing up participants. After analyzing the data, they expect to have a full, three-dimensional picture of cat heart anatomy, offering more detail than the two-dimensional images veterinarians have used for decades.
"You look at a three-dimensional object, and if you cut a slice through it, all you see is the shape within that single flat layer--kind of like looking at just one piece of a puzzle. For example, if you slice a cylinder at an angle, the flat surface you see might look like an oval, making it hard to know the true shape. With three-dimensional echocardiography--a technique that uses ultrasound to build a complete 3D image of the heart's chambers--you get to see the entire heart structure, not just the slice.
That complete picture matters for diagnosis, treatment decisions, and cats whose heart disease might be caught earlier and managed better.
The Anne Hunter Endowed Professorship enables Menciotti to start this work without waiting for a federal grant. He does not have to spend a year writing an application, then hope a review panel sees value in an unproven approach.
"Not having to wait for a grant to come through -- that takes usually like a year between writing it and getting it funded -- and you cannot even start collecting data in the meantime," he said. "That impact is seen and really appreciated."
The endowment also covers the unglamorous essentials, such as paying students to organize medical records, comb through data, and perform measurements. The time-intensive work frees him to think about the next project.
The credibility factor
When Seleem talks about his endowed chair, he uses business language.
The endowment "comes with huge rewards," provides "credibility," and signals achievement. When he submits grant applications, reviewers see the endowed title after his name.
"Having an endowment name associated with you gives credibility," he said. "I always recognize people with endowed names. You see their names, and you see their endowment, you always feel they achieved something."
Credibility creates opportunity. Opportunity attracts more funding. Funding produces discoveries. Discoveries attract better students and collaborators.
For Seleem, the endowment meant he could hire a manager. His research group expanded beyond what he could manage on his own. But hiring a manager isn't something you can typically fund through NIH grants.
The endowments maintain accountability, too. Every five years, Seleem must document his productivity and undergo a review to maintain his endowed chair.
"You have to really be productive," he said. "Every five years, they review what you did and renew your appointment. Otherwise, you're not really worthy of that endowment."
The new donors
Support for veterinary endowed professorships comes from people with urgent reasons to give. Pet owners whose animals received exceptional care at teaching hospitals. Alumni who want the next generation to have what they had. Breeders who see critical expertise disappearing.
What's changed is that donors aren't writing general checks. They're solving specific problems they've seen firsthand, and they're bringing different expectations.
Take Karen Waldron. She has been working with the veterinary college since it opened. Over the decades, she has brought hundreds of horses, llamas, and nearly 100 pets through the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's doors--mostly for emergency care.
When she watched regional equine emergency services disappear, she faced a choice: relocate her horse operations to North Carolina, where emergency care was available, or help build the capacity here.
She and her partner, Shawn Ricci, chose to invest $4 million to create dedicated equine emergency positions at the hospital.
"Without the veterinarian support required, equine business people are not going to be able to stay in the region," Waldron said.
Her gift was a strategic investment, ensuring the infrastructure on which her business, community, and the region's horse owners depend remains strong.
That's the modern donor archetype: They've seen the problem up close, they understand the solution, and they're willing to fund it if it solves something that matters to them.
"There are so many donors now, billions of dollars, that are business-oriented or investment-oriented," Seleem said. "They would like to have a product at the end. They would like to invest in something where you're not just doing research, but solving a problem, having an impact on society."
When Seleem was at Purdue during their $200 million veterinary hospital expansion, he spent time explaining his research to potential donors.
"Explaining what we do, sharing stories of how we impact animals, humans, and the environment -- all those things help attract the money," he said.
Rossmeisl has noticed the same evolution. Modern donors do their homework before walking through the door.
"Most donors I've worked with are very savvy and understand what you're actually doing," he said.
Rossmeisl stays ready. "I always try to be prepared for the elevator talk. A donor walks in and says, 'I'm going to give you $30 million, what are you going to do with it?' I've got a big chunk of that ready."
This shift makes the endowed professorship the perfect vehicle for the modern donor. It is specific. It is permanent. It is tied to a person and tangible outcomes.
What it takes
At the veterinary college, establishing an endowed professorship requires a gift of $1 million to $3 million. These amounts are calculated to generate enough annual income to meaningfully support a professor's work -- research expenses, equipment, laboratory personnel, travel, and professional development. The resources beyond salary that federal grants often can't or won't cover.
Both the Young Chair that recruited Seleem and the Anne Hunter Professorship that supports Menciotti's work were established in the 1990s. The discoveries these gifts enable decades later would have been impossible to predict.
"Additional endowments would strengthen our ability to address workforce shortages in food animal medicine and rural practice--areas where Virginia communities have urgent needs," said Dean Givens. "Each endowment supports not just one faculty member's research and teaching, but also the students and residents they mentor who will serve animals and communities for decades to come."
That's the point. Permanent funding creates possibilities that short-term thinking can't imagine.
The honest answer
When asked what he wants donors to understand about endowed professorships, Menciotti didn't give the polished pitch.
"It's more practical than I thought it was going to be," he said. "I want donors to know that their support is unbelievable. Not only is it practical, but the effect of receiving it sparks new ideas and a refreshing of the field or the mindset."
Freedom matters as much as money. Knowing you don't have to wait a year for grant approval changes how you think about research. It changes what questions you're willing to ask.
Seleem frames it as institutional trust. "We trust you in this field. We give you these things so that you don't have to write a grant and wait. If you need this money, you do you."
The return
When asked what Anne Hunter would think if she could see the 3D imaging work enabled by her 1990 gift, Menciotti hopes she'd be impressed.
"She would be very much like one of our students," he said. "I hope she will be wowed by how far we have come. If you think about the capabilities we had, particularly in cardiology for cats in the '90s, compared to what we have now and how far we have come in understanding diseases, it's great. We haven't cracked the code quite yet, but we're getting closer. I hope she will be proud. I hope she would trust me with this endowment."
Rural areas can't find food animal veterinarians. Shelters can't staff their clinics. Pet owners are skipping necessary care. Young veterinarians are burning out and leaving the profession. These problems won't be solved by grants that run out in three years.
An endowed professorship is a multiplier. It recruits faculty like Seleem. It enables research like Menciotti's. It provides stability like Rossmeisl's. That's not just giving money to a professor to spend. That's building the future of veterinary medicine.
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/01/vetmed-endowed-professorship.html
SHSU Online Programs Earn 'Best' Status From U.S. News & World Report
HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 29 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news:
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SHSU Online Programs Earn "Best" Status from U.S. News & World Report
Online education at Sam Houston State University has opened exceptional higher learning led by industry experts to individuals across the nation. For SHSU's continued demonstration of this commitment to high-quality, affordable online learning, U.S. News & World Report has once again awarded the university favorable rankings.
The annual report lists the top degree-granting distance-education programs at the undergraduate and graduate
... Show Full Article
HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 29 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news:
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SHSU Online Programs Earn "Best" Status from U.S. News & World Report
Online education at Sam Houston State University has opened exceptional higher learning led by industry experts to individuals across the nation. For SHSU's continued demonstration of this commitment to high-quality, affordable online learning, U.S. News & World Report has once again awarded the university favorable rankings.
The annual report lists the top degree-granting distance-education programs at the undergraduate and graduatelevels. Also included in the report are program rankings based on veteran enrollment, an inclusion that highlights the university's dedication to serving those who have served the country.
No. 3 in Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice for Veterans Programs (Tie)
No. 5 in Best Online Master's Criminal Justice Programs (Tie)
No. 14 in Best Master's in Education Programs for Veterans Programs
No. 15 in Best Online Master's in Computer Information Technology Programs for Veterans
No. 30 in Best Online Master's in Information Technology Programs (Tie)
No. 36 in Best Online Master's in Education Programs (Tie)
No. 55 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans (Tie)
No. 71 in Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans (Tie)
No. 77 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs (Tie)
No. 96 in Best Online Master's In Business Programs (Excluding MBA)(Tie)
No. 98 in Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs (Tie)
No. 119 in Best Online MBA Programs (Tie)
SHSU offers over 60 fully online degree programs, including two doctoral programs and 54 online certificate programs across undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate levels. For more information on any of SHSU's online programs, follow this link (https://www.shsu.edu/academics/online/).
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Original text here: https://www.shsu.edu/news/2026-news-stories/best-status-us-news-world-report
SFA's Department of Biology to Host Darwin Day
NACOGDOCHES, Texas, Jan. 29 -- Stephen F. Austin State University issued the following news:
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SFA's Department of Biology to host Darwin Day
Stephen F. Austin State University's Department of Biology is set to celebrate Darwin Day at noon Feb. 12 in the Kennedy Auditorium with special guest speaker Dr. James Albert from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Albert is a leading zoologist and evolutionary ecologist whose research focuses on the diversity and evolution of tropical freshwater fish. Using morphological and phylogenetic approaches, his work explores how fish species evolve
... Show Full Article
NACOGDOCHES, Texas, Jan. 29 -- Stephen F. Austin State University issued the following news:
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SFA's Department of Biology to host Darwin Day
Stephen F. Austin State University's Department of Biology is set to celebrate Darwin Day at noon Feb. 12 in the Kennedy Auditorium with special guest speaker Dr. James Albert from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Albert is a leading zoologist and evolutionary ecologist whose research focuses on the diversity and evolution of tropical freshwater fish. Using morphological and phylogenetic approaches, his work explores how fish species evolveover time. He has authored more than 100 scientific papers and is a recognized expert on Neotropical electric fish. Together with his colleagues, Albert has described 50 new fish species to date.
"We are delighted to have Dr. James Albert join us for this special event as we celebrate, remember and reflect on the contributions of both Darwin and the vital work of scientists across all disciplines," said Dr. Carmen Montana-Schalk, associate professor of biology.
During the event, Albert will present "Ecology and evolution of Amazonian fishes: Assembling the most diverse continental vertebrate assemblage."
The presentation examines how South America's freshwater fish became the most diverse vertebrate fauna on Earth. Based on the book "Ecology and Evolution of Amazonian Fishes," it brings together new evolutionary, ecological and geological data to test leading ideas about how this remarkable diversity arose.
For more information about SFA's Department of Biology, visit sfasu.edu/biology.
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Original text here: https://www.sfasu.edu/about-sfa/newsroom/2026/sfas-department-biology-host-darwin-day
RCCD Distance Education Launches Podcast Series Spotlighting Innovation in Online Teaching and Learning
RIVERSIDE, California, Jan. 29 -- The Riverside Community College District issued the following news:
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RCCD Distance Education Launches New Podcast Series Spotlighting Innovation in Online Teaching and Learning
Riverside Community College District (RCCD) Distance Education has launched a new podcast series designed to elevate conversations around online teaching, course design, and student engagement across the district. The series brings together RCCD faculty, staff, and experts in educational technology to explore topics that shape the future of digital learning.
Rooted in its mission
... Show Full Article
RIVERSIDE, California, Jan. 29 -- The Riverside Community College District issued the following news:
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RCCD Distance Education Launches New Podcast Series Spotlighting Innovation in Online Teaching and Learning
Riverside Community College District (RCCD) Distance Education has launched a new podcast series designed to elevate conversations around online teaching, course design, and student engagement across the district. The series brings together RCCD faculty, staff, and experts in educational technology to explore topics that shape the future of digital learning.
Rooted in its missionto support the social and economic mobility of students, RCCD Distance Education ensures access, success, and equity by providing faculty with the tools, training, and resources needed to deliver effective, high-quality online instruction. This new podcast series expands those efforts by offering a platform for dialogue, innovation, and shared best practices.
Hosted by Michael J. Cennamo, an instructional designer and podcaster at Columbia University, the series features thoughtful conversations centered on online pedagogy and the evolving needs of today's learners. Cennamo has been part of the Columbia University community since 2006 and currently serves as the Associate Director of Educational Technology at the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.
"We are excited to provide a space where RCCD faculty can share experiences, challenges, and solutions," said Shawna BuShell, Ed.D., RCCD Dean of Educational Services and Distance Learning. "Our goal is to support faculty as they engage, inspire, and motivate students in online environments, while also addressing the unique barriers online students face--such as isolation, mental health challenges, and limited connection to campus life."
Inaugural Episodes Now Available
The first three episodes of the podcast series highlight diverse voices and expertise within RCCD:
1. Episode 1: Dr. Shawna BuShell
BuShell discusses her vision for online education at RCCD, focusing on building strong support systems that help faculty and students thrive in virtual learning environments.
2. Episode 2: Dee Thompson
Thompson, a Computer Information Systems instructor at Riverside City College, shares her experience teaching CIS and cybersecurity courses. She also discusses her work leading Soulful Circle, an online community supporting the mental well-being and academic success of African American women in RCCD.
3. Episode 3: Corey Timberlake
Timberlake teaches sociology and ethnic studies courses at Riverside City College. He is the Director of RCC Umoja, a program dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experience of African American students at the college.
Faculty and staff are invited to visit the RCCD Distance Education Resource Shell to preview video clips and watch full episodes.
Call for Future Guests
RCCD Distance Education plans to expand the series with additional interviews featuring faculty across the district. Those interested in participating as a guest speaker are encouraged to contact Shawna BuShell, Ed.D.
"This podcast is an opportunity for RCCD to foster connection and collaboration within our online teaching community," Cennamo said. "By sharing knowledge and elevating faculty voices, we strengthen the student experience districtwide."
For more information and to view the full podcast series, visit here (https://www.rccd.edu/admin/ed_services/de/faculty/meet_our_faculty.html).
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Original text here: https://rccd.edu/news/rccd-distance-education-launches-new-podcast-series.html
Georgetown Law: O'Neill Institute's Center for Health and Human Rights Hosts High Court Justices for Second Annual 'Judicial Dialogues on Health and the Law'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Georgetown University Law Center issued the following news:
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O'Neill Institute's Center for Health and Human Rights Hosts High Court Justices for Second Annual "Judicial Dialogues on Health and the Law"
High court judges from across Latin America and the Caribbean were joined last month at Georgetown Law by scholars and legal advocates for the second annual "Judicial Dialogues on Health and the Law" hosted by the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law's Center for Health and Human Rights.
The two-day event, held in partnership with Rios Strategic Lawyering
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Georgetown University Law Center issued the following news:
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O'Neill Institute's Center for Health and Human Rights Hosts High Court Justices for Second Annual "Judicial Dialogues on Health and the Law"
High court judges from across Latin America and the Caribbean were joined last month at Georgetown Law by scholars and legal advocates for the second annual "Judicial Dialogues on Health and the Law" hosted by the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law's Center for Health and Human Rights.
The two-day event, held in partnership with Rios Strategic Lawyeringfor Social Justice, featured thematic closed-door discussions on timely issues at the intersection of health and human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and the regulation of private actors in healthcare. The discussions were followed by a public conference on Dec. 3 that brought together judges and attendees to explore the judiciary's role in upholding the right to health.
Speakers and panelists included Justice Natalia Angel Cabo of the Constitutional Court of Colombia, Justices Army Ferreira Reyes and Maria del Carmen Santana de Cabrera of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Dominican Republic, Chief Justice Daniela Marzi Munoz of the Constitutional Tribunal of Chile, Justice Rubenia Galeano Barralga of the Supreme Court of Justice of Honduras and Justice Ali Lozada of the Constitutional Court of Ecuador. The event also included contributions from Christian Courtis of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Professor Gonzalo Garcia Pino of Universidad Alberto Hurtado, former justice of the Constitutional Tribunal of Chile.
At the capstone public conference, "The Judicial Protection of the Right to Health: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities," moderated by Fernanda Rodriguez-Pliego, an associate with the O'Neill Institute's Center for Health and Human Rights, high court justices from across Latin America and the Caribbean shared their experiences with rights-based rulings on health in their countries, underscoring the importance of collaboration and exchange among courts and academics in safeguarding health and related rights.
"The Center for Health and Human Rights is proud to continue to create spaces for critical discussions between experts and members of high courts from across Latin America and the Caribbean," said Center for Health and Human Rights Co-Director Silvia Serrano-Guzman following the event. "This year's 'Judicial Dialogues' event demonstrated the importance of transnational judicial engagement, and how such dialogue can foster innovative, rights-based approaches to the complex health-related challenges facing courts throughout the region."
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Click here to view a recording of the public conference, "The Judicial Protection of the Right to Health: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities" (in Spanish) on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kynmJOlTh7E).
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Original text here: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/oneill-institutes-center-for-health-and-human-rights-hosts-high-court-justices-for-second-annual-judicial-dialogues-on-health-and-the-law/
Dean of UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine Ranked Global Expert in Field
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 29 -- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley issued the following news:
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Dean of UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine ranked global expert in field
Urges early detection for diabetic foot-related complications
By Karen Villarreal
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS - JAN. 28, 2026 - Dr. Javier La Fontaine, dean of the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, has made it his goal to keep diabetic patients from losing their toes, feet and legs to untreated infections known as diabetic foot-related osteomyelitis. Through his research into early detection techniques, he's finding
... Show Full Article
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 29 -- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley issued the following news:
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Dean of UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine ranked global expert in field
Urges early detection for diabetic foot-related complications
By Karen Villarreal
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS - JAN. 28, 2026 - Dr. Javier La Fontaine, dean of the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, has made it his goal to keep diabetic patients from losing their toes, feet and legs to untreated infections known as diabetic foot-related osteomyelitis. Through his research into early detection techniques, he's findingother avenues to help patients suffering with this bone infection.
For decades, he has researched the potentially deadly soft-tissue foot infection seen in patients with diabetes, which can spread from non-healing chronic ulcers, or skin wounds, deeper into the bone.
"Typical 'treatment' is amputation," said La Fontaine, whose expertise on the topic was recognized in 2025 by a study published in the journal, Medicine. He ranked as the number five contributor worldwide to the topic of osteomyelitis, or bone infection, with 23 studies to his name to date.
The 2025 bibliometric study based its findings on a review of the past 30 years of literature available on diabetic foot-related osteomyelitis, and aimed to identify research hotspots and collaboration trends. The body of research grew from 25 relevant articles published in 2000, to a significant 140 published in 2022.
La Fontaine collaborated on many of those articles even before joining UTRGV, with Dr. Lawrence A. Lavery from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) in Dallas - listed in the same study as the second-most published author on diabetic foot related osteomyelitis.
La Fontaine said he experienced a "citation burst" between 2016 and 2021, and their research focus became of interest in the podiatric medicine arena starting about 2013. He was surprised when he found out he was listed as a global expert, since their work began more than 10 years ago.
"It's a good reminder that even though you don't find out right away, you can make worldwide impact by doing good research," said La Fontaine, who is still adding to his global ranking by coauthoring UTRGV SOPM studies.
THEORY INTO PRACTICE
Through the School of Podiatric Medicine, La Fontaine, faculty and students are putting the latest research into practice - working on bringing down the lower-limb amputation rates in the Rio Grande Valley to match other border communities in the state.
* Like the rate of diabetes itself, diabetes-related lower-limb amputation rates in 2023 were higher in the Valley than the state average of 5% of every 10,000 hospital discharges.
* Of those 10,000 discharged patients, Hidalgo reported 6.8% were for lower-limb amputation; Cameron reported 7.8%, Starr reported 11%, and Willacy reported 12.9%.
"Researching this so we can prevent amputation can reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life, but also save lives."
In 2021, La Fontaine contributed to a study that calculated the $9 billion annual cost of diabetic foot care in the United States alone. Among the study's findings:
* Diabetic foot care costs totaled more than that of breast or colorectal cancers.
* The amputation procedure increased life expectancy by only two years in half of the diabetic subjects studied.
* And only 56% of those with ulcerative infections were found to survive five years after initial onset of the foot ulcer.
Seeking alternatives, he and co-researchers found that early diagnosis is possible through screening and bone biopsies - at which point, intravenous antibiotics can still treat the infected tissue.
"With this research, we can change lives - without resorting to amputation," La Fontaine said.
In 2025, Texas Senate Bill S.B.1677 was filed and passed, directing the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct a study on the prevention and reduction of diabetes-related amputation by September 2026.
Still, major changes to the standard of care have been slow to manifest, he said, as the topic has been largely understudied despite the need and surge of interest in the past 20 years.
"I hope it inspires the students I work with every day," La Fontaine said. "We have many students here at the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine who are interested in research and have a lot of potential to change podiatric medicine."
To learn more about UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/school-of-podiatric-medicine/.
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ABOUT UTRGV
Celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2025-2026 academic year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is on a mission to transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world. As one of the country's largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Seal of Excelencia certified, UTRGV has earned national recognition for its academic excellence, social mobility, and student success since opening in Fall 2015. Ranked among the Best Colleges for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars in 2025 by Washington Monthly (7 nationally; 1 in Texas), UTRGV continues to break enrollment records, launch new academic and athletics programs and progress toward achieving R1 research status. Additionally, UTRGV holds the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded in 2020 and 2025, reflecting its commitment to strengthening community ties and addressing local challenges.
The only university in Texas with schools of Medicine and Podiatric Medicine, UTRGV's regional footprint spans South Texas - with locations, teaching sites, and centers established in Edinburg, Brownsville, Rio Grande City, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Laredo, Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
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Original text here: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2026/01/28/dean-of-utrgv-school-of-podiatric-medicine-ranked-global-expert-in-field.htm
Columbus State University: Getting to the 'Why' - Data Science Intern Impacts Decision-making at Fort Benning
COLUMBUS, Georgia, Jan. 29 -- Columbus State University issued the following news:
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Getting to the 'why': Data science intern impacts decision-making at Fort Benning
Born and raised in Germany, Emily-Tabea Johnson moved with her family to the United States and Fort Benning in 2021 and soon enrolled at Columbus State University. After initially studying art, she shifted her focus to the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies program. The program has allowed her to combine several interests--including data science and global communication--into a single program of study with a minor
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Georgia, Jan. 29 -- Columbus State University issued the following news:
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Getting to the 'why': Data science intern impacts decision-making at Fort Benning
Born and raised in Germany, Emily-Tabea Johnson moved with her family to the United States and Fort Benning in 2021 and soon enrolled at Columbus State University. After initially studying art, she shifted her focus to the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies program. The program has allowed her to combine several interests--including data science and global communication--into a single program of study with a minorin data analytics.
"I've been able to pursue my interests and mash them together into one degree," she explained of the Interdisciplinary Studies program. "I am passionate about leveraging data to solve complex problems, and I thrive on challenges and adapting to new situations--all of which I've seen the need for during my internships."
Various on- and off-campus data-related internships allowed her to apply what she was learning in her classes and to further customize her studies. When Dr. Kristin Seamon Lilly, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, suggested an internship at nearby Fort Benning, Johnson jumped at the opportunity. She also sought guidance through the university's Center for Career Design on registering for internships and how the internship would qualify for academic credit.
Johnson described her duties during her four-month Fort Benning internship last fall as helping Army decision-makers solve problems by cleaning and organizing data sets, and developing dashboards in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power BI. One of her projects involved examining data on how enlisted soldiers progressed through training and duty assignments, and where bottlenecks in that progression might occur.
"Interning has shown me what 'real-world' work problems look like. Understanding patterns and answering the 'why' can be the most exciting part of data analytics," she explained. "That made everything feel real and meaningful [during my internship]--like my work actually contributed to something bigger."
Outside of team meetings and projects during her internship, she attended high-level meetings that included the posts' generals and other top leadership. She said that hearing them provide decision updates and discuss situations gave her a whole new perspective on the problems her team worked on.
"Emily brought a rare blend of curiosity, technical skill and maturity that immediately elevated the work of our team," said Col. Corey Woods, the Maneuver Center of Excellence's deputy chief of staff who oversees the internship program and supported Johnson's efforts throughout her internship. "She didn't just build dashboards; she helped us see our data differently. Her ability to break down complex problems, ask sharp questions and turn raw information into clear, actionable insights made a genuine impact on how we support soldiers and leaders across the installation. Emily has a bright future ahead of her, and we were fortunate to have her on the team."
"This project provided an excellent opportunity to leverage a motivated two-person intern team, of which Emily was a key member, to tackle an analytical effort we had long identified but lacked the bandwidth to pursue," added Lt. Col. (ret.) Dan Evans, the Maneuver Center of Excellence's chief data and analytics officer and Johnson's supervisor. "The problem set was intentionally ambiguous, and the learning curve was steep; however, the team ramped up quickly, demonstrated initiative from the outset, and ultimately applied their own creative perspective to the work. In an analytics environment, a fresh set of eyes can often surface insights or approaches that established teams may overlook, and Emily's contributions exemplified the value of that outside perspective."
In addition to applying what she learned, Johnson said one of the greatest advantages of her Fort Benning experience was contributing to projects and witnessing life in a professional environment.
"The classroom can be very organized, and the problems and solutions clearly defined," she said. "[During my internship], I was able to see my fellow team members and supervisors struggle with the same questions and problems I did. It was an eye-opener to realize you don't always have the immediate answer, and that's okay."
She also credits her internship with helping her better understand team dynamics and hone her project-management skills.
"Working in a team was its own adventure," she said. "I learned how differently people collaborate, how to communicate clearly, and how to ask the right questions--both about my work and others'. It pushed me in good ways and helped me figure out how I like to work."
Outside her studies and internship experiences, she's built strong social and professional connections as an officer of the Women in Tech student organization and as its representative to the Student Government Association.
"It's really helped me connect with others in the tech environment--classmates, professors and professionals in the field," she said of her co-curricular experiences. "It's also helped me with my public speaking skills and collaborating with others."
Interning at Fort Benning has expanded Johnson's understanding of the military, which will serve her well in her post-graduation plans. She is heavily leaning toward commissioning as an officer in either the Army or Air Force while continuing to apply her data analytics expertise.
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Original text here: https://news.columbusstate.edu/posts/getting-to-the-why-data-science-intern-impacts-decision-making-at-fort-benning/
