Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Virginia Tech: Study to Examine If Water Filters Can Improve Health for Households in Rural Appalachia
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
* * *
Study to examine if water filters can improve health for households in rural Appalachia
By Kevin Myatt
A team led by Virginia Tech's Alasdair Cohen is launching the first major U.S. study to test whether simple countertop water filters can reduce illness in households that rely on private wells and springs for drinking water.
The study, supported by a $3.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, includes faculty members from four universities and will focus on rural Appalachia in Southwest Virginia
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
* * *
Study to examine if water filters can improve health for households in rural Appalachia
By Kevin Myatt
A team led by Virginia Tech's Alasdair Cohen is launching the first major U.S. study to test whether simple countertop water filters can reduce illness in households that rely on private wells and springs for drinking water.
The study, supported by a $3.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, includes faculty members from four universities and will focus on rural Appalachia in Southwest Virginiaand northeast Tennessee. Findings from Cohen and colleagues' prior studies indicate that lower-income families in that region face higher risks of waterborne diseases because of contaminated private water sources that are not monitored and regulated like public water systems.
Cohen, assistant professor of environmental epidemiology in the Department of Population Health Sciences, part of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, is the principal investigator for the study. Titled "Expanding Safe Water Access to Improve Health Outcomes in Appalachia: The Rural Water Filtration and Health (RWELL) Trial," the study will continue through 2030.
The research team plans to enroll approximately 480 households and more than 1,500 people across 10 counties in Southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. All households will be provided countertop water filters in a randomized fashion, half receiving them initially and half receiving them after a 12-month period. Scientists will track rates of reported illnesses, test saliva and stool samples for waterborne germs, and comprehensively analyze water quality in both groups over the study period.
Preliminary research has shown that some households with private wells or springs have harmful bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants in their water supply.
The study's goal is to determine whether affordable point-of-use filters can significantly reduce gastrointestinal and other water-related illness in rural communities without access to treated municipal water.
"We share the water testing results back with the households," Cohen said. "We also provide gift cards as a token of thanks for people's time and participation."
As many as 40 million Americans get their drinking water from private wells that are not monitored by health officials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This creates a significant data gap about water quality and health risks, especially in rural areas where many families cannot afford expensive water treatment systems.
If successful, the study could provide evidence for policies and programs to expand safe drinking water access in underserved rural areas throughout Appalachia and similar rural regions nationwide.
"This could be very promising as a kind of stopgap, semi-permanent option for households that for a variety of reasons don't have better options, or can't afford to have wells repaired or regularly tested," Cohen said.
Cohen is hopeful the results will spur public officials to take action.
"If we find that yes, the filters are used, that people like them, and that filter use is associated with improved health outcomes, then at that point I'd hope state or local governments, federal agencies, or nonprofits, would take what we've done and scale it up," Cohen said. "That's also why it's so important that the intervention provision is relatively straightforward and that the filters are relatively affordable, easy to use, and hopefully even improve the taste of well and spring water for many households."
Co-investigators from Virginia Tech on the project include Leigh-Anne Krometis, professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Erin Ling, coordinator of the Virginia Household Water Quality Program and senior Extension specialist in biological systems engineering; and Marc Edwards, University Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering within the College of Engineering.
East Tennessee State University is a key partner in the study, with collaboration from Beth O'Connell, associate professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health; Phillip Scheuerman, professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences; and Md Rasheduzzaman, formerly a postdoctoral associate working with Cohen at Virginia Tech but now assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences.
"We are excited to continue this collaborative work to address the basic need for safe drinking water and serve the people of our region," O'Connell said.
Also collaborating on the project are Joe Brown, professor and engineering programs director in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and interim director of the UNC Water Institute at the University of North Carolina; Professor Alan Hubbard, biostatistician and co-director of the Center for Targeted Machine Learning at the University of California, Berkeley; and Professor Isha Ray in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley.
The two pilot studies Cohen led to inform the design of this study were conducted in collaboration with Tim Wade, Andrey Egorov, Shannon Griffin, and other scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Cohen hopes to continue working with them for this study.
For Cohen, this study is a capstone of much prior research into Appalachian water quality issues.
"This is the culmination of years of work since coming to Virginia Tech," Cohen said. "It's rewarding to see all that collaboration, fieldwork, long days collecting samples, working with students in the lab, and analyzing data come together -- to now have the opportunity, and funding support, to take things to the next level and hopefully help to further expand safe water access and improve health outcomes for people and communities in this region and beyond."
* * *
Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/11/vetmed-water-appalachia.html
University of Birmingham: Cheaper Cars Pollute More Than Expensive Cars, Leading to Emissions Inequality
BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 15 (TNSjou) -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
* * *
Cheaper cars pollute more than expensive cars, leading to emissions inequality
More expensive cars emit lower levels of pollution, meaning motorists on lower-incomes are more likely to contribute disproportionately to urban air pollution.
*
Research by University of Birmingham scientists highlights a previously overlooked inequality - that lower-income individuals are more likely to own cheaper, higher-emitting vehicles and, therefore, contribute disproportionately to their local urban air
... Show Full Article
BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 15 (TNSjou) -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
* * *
Cheaper cars pollute more than expensive cars, leading to emissions inequality
More expensive cars emit lower levels of pollution, meaning motorists on lower-incomes are more likely to contribute disproportionately to urban air pollution.
*
Research by University of Birmingham scientists highlights a previously overlooked inequality - that lower-income individuals are more likely to own cheaper, higher-emitting vehicles and, therefore, contribute disproportionately to their local urban airpollution.
Publishing their findings in Journal of Cleaner Production, the researchers' analysis suggests that spending an additional pound sterling10,000 on a diesel vehicle is associated with a more than 40% reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx), emissions per litre of diesel.
Their discovery reverses the usual pattern, where wealthy households typically cause more greenhouse gas emissions through higher consumption.
Scientists analysed over 50,000 vehicles using advanced remote sensing technology measuring in real-time emissions from vehicles on the city's streets.
They combined machine learning-based price estimation with real-world emission data to connect pricier vehicles and lower pollutant emissions -- particularly NO2, NOx, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM).
The research was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) via the WM-Air project. The researchers report that:
* Higher-priced vehicles emit significantly fewer pollutants, even within the same Euro emission class. Average NOx emissions are approximately 8.8 g/litre of diesel for pound sterling5,000 cars, compared with 5.6 g/litre for pound sterling15,000 cars.
* Diesel vehicles show greater emission reductions per pound sterling1,000 increase in price than petrol vehicles - for every additional pound sterling1,000 spent on a diesel car, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions decrease by around 0.4 g/litre of fuel.
* Older diesel models (Euro 5) exhibit emission reductions 1.5 times steeper with price than newer Euro 6 models, suggesting that price is a stronger proxy for emissions in older vehicles.
Report co-author Professor Francis Pope from the University of Birmingham said: "Our study provides the first clear evidence to support vehicle price being a reliable indicator of emission performance - powerfully illustrating how citizens' economic capacity can directly influence environmental outcomes and urban air quality.
"Individuals from lower-income households may be more likely to own older, cheaper, and higher-emitting vehicles -- contributing disproportionately to local air pollution."
The study calls for policy makers to take several actions to help reduce emissions while promoting social equity. These include:
* Progressive tax structures based on vehicle emissions and price to incentivise cleaner vehicle adoption.
* Rebate schemes or scrappage incentives for lower-income households to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport.
* Enhanced inspection and maintenance programmes for older vehicles may offer a cost-effective way to reduce emissions in the short term.
Report co-author Dr Omid Ghaffarpasand from the University of Birmingham said: "Our findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to address environmental injustice. Lower-income communities bear the brunt of local air pollution due to limited access to cleaner vehicles - exacerbating health risks and pollution exposure in disadvantaged urban areas."
The researchers also advocate for further investigation into how vehicle affordability, emissions, and urban planning interact with each other to contribute to urban air pollution; stressing the importance of integrating socioeconomic data into transport and environmental policy frameworks to ensure equitable outcomes.
WM-Air has been working with partners to bring research organisations together with businesses, policy bodies and other actors contributing to economic development specific to their location, to deliver significant regional impact from NERC environmental science. Previous studies from WM-Air have highlighted major contributions of domestic woodburning to PM2.5 emissions, and that air pollution in the West Midlands has caused up to 2,300 premature deaths each year.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/cheaper-cars-pollute-more-than-expensive-cars-leading-to-emissions-inequality
McMahon Foundation Gives Cameron University $3 Million Gift to Establish New Business School
LAWTON, Oklahoma, Nov. 15 -- Cameron University issued the following news release:
* * *
McMahon Foundation gives Cameron University $3 million gift to establish new business school
The McMahon Foundation has awarded Cameron University $3 million to enhance its business program. The Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University formally accepted the gift and approved the naming of the school earlier this week. The McMahon School of Business is the first "named" school in Cameron University history.
"The McMahon School of Business will have a
... Show Full Article
LAWTON, Oklahoma, Nov. 15 -- Cameron University issued the following news release:
* * *
McMahon Foundation gives Cameron University $3 million gift to establish new business school
The McMahon Foundation has awarded Cameron University $3 million to enhance its business program. The Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University formally accepted the gift and approved the naming of the school earlier this week. The McMahon School of Business is the first "named" school in Cameron University history.
"The McMahon School of Business will have atransformational impact on our students, our regional workforce and the economic development of southwest Oklahoma," said Cameron University president Dr. Shane Hunt. "Thank you to the McMahon Foundation for this gift, which will help ensure that faculty excellence, student support and innovative programming are sustained for decades to come."
"The McMahon Foundation is honored to continue our legacy of investing in the growth and vitality of southwest Oklahoma through this $3 million gift to establish the McMahon School of Business at Cameron University," said board chair Mark Henry. "This partnership reflects our belief in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities. We are proud to help create opportunities for students to lead, innovate, and give back - values that have guided the McMahon family's philanthropy for generations."
The McMahon School of Business will be part of Cameron's College of Graduate and Professional Studies and report to the dean of that college.
Key elements of the gift include the creation of two endowed chairs that will enable CU to attract and retain top business faculty; two endowed professorships supporting faculty who advance innovative teaching and research; and an executive-in-residence program that will bring accomplished industry leaders to campus and emphasize mentorship, applied learning and career development opportunities.
The McMahon gift will also provide comprehensive student support for tuition and books, housing, internships and stipends. It will fund collaborative faculty-student research, professional conference participation and presentations on regional, national and international stages. Business and entrepreneurship summer camps will be established for middle school, high school and college students to spark interest in business careers through hands-on projects and faculty mentorship.
The infrastructure portion of the gift will create an "innovation lab" - a collaborative space for research that provides students with real-world learning opportunities. A $500,000 building endowment will ensure that the new school remains modern and functional to meet evolving workforce and curricular needs, and an additional $500,000 will support upgrades to technology and facilities.
"Together, these create a powerful ecosystem for business education - one that expands student opportunities, enhances faculty excellence and ensures that facilities meet the demands of a dynamic economy," Hunt noted. "By naming the School of Business, the McMahon Foundation has further secured a visible and permanent legacy, directly tied to the prosperity and vitality of southwest Oklahoma."
This week's gift is the second largest ever received by Cameron, exceeded only by $4 million given by the McMahon Foundation in 2006. In all, the foundation has given Cameron more than $24 million since its first gift in 1947, when Louise McMahon wrote a check for $59 to provide assistance to students hoping to attend Cameron State Agricultural College, as the university was known at the time.
The McMahon Foundation is the leading donor in Cameron's 117-year history. Its support has funded countless scholarships, provided support for academic programs, and funded campus improvements that include the Louise D. McMahon Fine Arts Complex, the Academic Commons, the McMahon Centennial Complex and various athletic facilities.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cameron.edu/press-releases/mcmahon-foundation-gives-cameron-university-3-million-gift-to-establish-new-business-school
Louisiana Tech University: Educators Attend UFLI Workshop to Enhance Literacy and Phonics Instruction Education and Human Sciences
RUSTON, Louisiana, Nov. 15 -- Louisiana Tech University issued the following news:
* * *
Educators attend UFLI workshop to enhance literacy and phonics instruction
Education and Human Sciences
Teacher candidates from Louisiana Tech University, educators from A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, and literacy leaders from Lincoln Parish Schools came together to strengthen small group phonics instruction during a recent professional development workshop.
Hosted by the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership (CIL) in the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS), the session was
... Show Full Article
RUSTON, Louisiana, Nov. 15 -- Louisiana Tech University issued the following news:
* * *
Educators attend UFLI workshop to enhance literacy and phonics instruction
Education and Human Sciences
Teacher candidates from Louisiana Tech University, educators from A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, and literacy leaders from Lincoln Parish Schools came together to strengthen small group phonics instruction during a recent professional development workshop.
Hosted by the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership (CIL) in the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS), the session waspart of an ongoing partnership with Lincoln Parish Schools through the implementation of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) curriculum.
"This workshop builds on the professional development we have been facilitating for the past 2 years," Dr. Libby Manning, CIL professor, said. "It's considered an educative curriculum, meaning it not only helps teachers teach phonics but it helps them learn phonics since many were never formally taught in the subject."
A.E. Phillips is now in its third year of implementing the UFLI program, while Lincoln Parish Schools are in their second year. Faculty from CEHS have been observing classrooms, supporting implementation, and collecting data as part of an ongoing research project.
The project is also expanding through innovative tools funded by the Emergent Learning Research Institute (ELRI) in CEHS.
"During this workshop, we have different levels of individuals working with this curriculum," Manning added. "Our students even use the UFLI manual as part of their course work, so this experience builds their confidence to go into classrooms to help teachers facilitate small group instruction that is better aligned for their students."
AEP first grade teacher Megan Hunt said that UFLI has transformed her classroom and helped her students make measurable progress in reading.
"I saw the need for my students to have a systematic phonics program, and I wanted to dig deeper into learning how to meet their needs," Hunt said. "I have learned so much about best practices in teaching phonics and my students have seen a lot of growth as a result."
Through this collaboration, CEHS and Lincoln Parish Schools are hopeful that educators and teacher candidates build stronger literacy foundations for every student.
"We are truly excited to be engaged in such a dynamic partnership that influences so many learners and teachers," Dr. Henrietta Williams Pichon, dean of CEHS, said. "The results are astonishing and we are very excited about being able to share these experiences. Hats off to all involved in making this a success."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.latech.edu/news/educators-attend-ufli-workshop-to-enhance-literacy-and-phonics-instruction.php
Leeds Beckett Academic and Students Support BBC Presenters in Children in Need Challenge
LEEDS, England, Nov. 15 -- Leeds Beckett University issued the following news:
* * *
Leeds Beckett academic and students support BBC presenters in Children in Need challenge
Dr Ieuan Cranswick, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Therapy and Sport and Exercise Medicine in the School of Health, joined a group of Leeds Beckett University students in supporting BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield presenters, Gayle Lofthouse and Colson Smith, as they completed a unique two-day Children in Need fundraising challenge.
The challenge, held on 4 and 5 November, saw the presenters take on a three-legged
... Show Full Article
LEEDS, England, Nov. 15 -- Leeds Beckett University issued the following news:
* * *
Leeds Beckett academic and students support BBC presenters in Children in Need challenge
Dr Ieuan Cranswick, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Therapy and Sport and Exercise Medicine in the School of Health, joined a group of Leeds Beckett University students in supporting BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield presenters, Gayle Lofthouse and Colson Smith, as they completed a unique two-day Children in Need fundraising challenge.
The challenge, held on 4 and 5 November, saw the presenters take on a three-leggedwalk through two Yorkshire cities - with Gayle completing the Leeds route and Colson tackling the Bradford leg. In preparation, Gayle visited Leeds Beckett's Headingley Campus to train at the Carnegie School of Sport, where she received guidance from Dr Cranswick and hands-on support from students, including sports massage to help her get ready for the event.
The Leeds Beckett team then supported both presenters across the two challenge days, offering expertise in exercise therapy, motivation and injury-prevention strategies.
BBC Radio presenter Gayle Lofthouse said: "It was an absolute joy to work with Ieuan and his students. I'm so grateful for their involvement. Not only did they help with my training program and provide practical support on the days, but they also got enthusiastically immersed in the challenge! They were great to work with, helpful, knowledgeable, fun and there were so many incredible highlights that we simply would not have had without them. They really went above and beyond what anyone would expect."
Sport and Exercise Therapy student Kate Smith described the experience as a highlight of her time at Leeds Beckett: "Getting to be a part of the children in need 3-legged challenge was an incredible experience. The entire day was filled with pure joy and happiness as everyone came together as a team to keep the spirits high. I'm so grateful that the University presented me with the opportunity to be involved in this event for such a lovely cause."
Dr Cranswick said the event was a valuable opportunity for students to apply their learning in a real-world, high-profile setting while contributing to an important charitable cause.
The team's support helped ensure Gayle and Colson completed the demanding two-day challenge safely, all while raising vital funds for BBC Children in Need.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/2025/11/children-in-need-challenge/
Industry Insiders: Princeton SPIA Alumni in Philanthropy
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 15 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following Q&A on Nov. 13, 2025, by David Pavlak with Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, Michelle Feist, senior program officer at the Gates Foundation, and Seyron Foo, chief engagement and intergovernmental relations officer at the Los Angeles Affordable Housing Solutions Agency:
* * *
Industry Insiders: Princeton SPIA Alumni in Philanthropy
For more than 90 years, alumni from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs have had meaningful careers in a multitude
... Show Full Article
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 15 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following Q&A on Nov. 13, 2025, by David Pavlak with Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, Michelle Feist, senior program officer at the Gates Foundation, and Seyron Foo, chief engagement and intergovernmental relations officer at the Los Angeles Affordable Housing Solutions Agency:
* * *
Industry Insiders: Princeton SPIA Alumni in Philanthropy
For more than 90 years, alumni from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs have had meaningful careers in a multitudeof industries, perhaps none more so than the federal government. But as government cuts reduce opportunities for a new group of civil servants, Princeton SPIA alumni have stepped up to offer everything from advice to job references for their fellow Tigers.
Three alumni with prominent careers in philanthropy -- Kathy Roth-Douquet MPA '91, CEO, Blue Star Families; Michelle Feist MPA '97, senior program officer, Gates Foundation; and Seyron Foo MPA '14, chief engagement and intergovernmental relations officer, Los Angeles Affordable Housing Solutions Agency -- came together to share why they chose to work for foundations, how the lessons learned in a SPIA classroom translated to the real world, and offer guidance to future graduates seeking similar careers.
Princeton SPIA: Broadly, what interested you in working for a foundation? Was there a moment when you could see yourself pursuing a career in this field?
Kathy Roth-Douquet: At SPIA, I was struck by the question "How can we as a society organize ourselves better so that people in our society can lead the best lives possible?" It strikes me that there are many approaches to that problem: politics and government, policy and academia, for-profit, nonprofit, and, of course, philanthropy. Philanthropy, by having dollars untethered from strict ROI and risk/reward calculations, is better able to test ideas and achieve good results.
Seyron Foo: Philanthropy helps test-and-learn what government and the market are unable to do. It offers the resources to support creativity, relationships, and innovation in service to the communities we serve. At its best, philanthropy offers flexible dollars to supplement public resources, which are often constrained.
Michelle Feist: Before joining philanthropy, I spent over two decades working for a nonprofit organization that partnered with K-12 schools/districts. That experience helped me understand what it takes to improve educational systems and student outcomes. Moving into philanthropy felt like a natural next step for me since it gave me an opportunity to apply what I'd learned with greater impact and scale. Working at a foundation has allowed me to develop and fund programs that are innovative, responsive to the needs of communities, and that elevate the voices of students and teachers. I get to support a portfolio of amazing organizations that are developing fresh approaches to longstanding challenges. The work has been very rewarding.
PS: How did Princeton SPIA prepare you, or alter your preparations, for this field after graduation?
KRD: Princeton SPIA provided excellent preparation for a career in philanthropy. It's rigorous -- that's the most important part. It stresses systems thinking and skepticism, which is important because there are few, if any, checks and balances to philanthropy. It also exposes you to a broad range of thinking, and philanthropy is best when it is cross-disciplinary.
MF: Across my classes at SPIA, I learned how to frame problems, ask the right questions, quickly synthesize information, and make informed decisions. I also learned to absorb new information and content quickly in a way that was rigorous and data-informed. These skills have been as important in my career as field-level expertise. On a more practical level, SPIA helped me find the internship that led to my 20-year career before entering philanthropy. When I switched my career focus, I was able to tap into the SPIA network for guidance in navigating this new field. When I got to the final interview for my current position, I was happy to see that the person interviewing me was also a SPIA graduate.
SF: Just by highlighting careers in philanthropy, SPIA has played an instrumental role for me. I remember coming to Princeton's Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Program as a rising senior at UC Berkeley, and in addition to the rigor of the summer preparation, JSI brought back SPIA alums to talk about their careers. One of them was a person who talked about her time at the Rockefeller Foundation. It was because of SPIA alum Trina Gonzalez MPP '13 that I made my foray into philanthropy. I was two years shy of starting my career in local government when Trina reached out about a job at SoCal Grantmakers. That really started my 10-year hiatus from government service. Of course, SPIA provided the skillset training, but it was ultimately learning from SPIA alums about their careers that helped me prepare for this field.
PS: Princeton SPIA's graduates want to better their communities. What are some ways that a career in philanthropy allows them to do so?
MF: Philanthropy gives you a powerful platform to make changes by directly funding community organizations and partnering with local governments. Working in this field also allows you to fund innovative solutions to community challenges that are most meaningful to you. In a lot of cases, foundations can focus on longer-term investments and fund more creative solutions than governments. On a personal level, many foundations, including mine, invest heavily in programs that support employee volunteerism and giving. These dollars provide additional resources to the local communities where we live and the specific organizations we care about.
KRD: I highly recommend a stint in philanthropy for those interested in public good, and entry early can be a strategic choice because it's otherwise a difficult field to break into. Philanthropy allows for experimentation, and that is extremely important for discovering promising policies or changes. You can discover and uplift nonprofits or political leaders with local initiatives that can have real impact. Also, the relationships and exposure you get from philanthropy can help your future aspirations. I was better able to launch my nonprofit later in life because of my experience in philanthropy. It helped me understand how foundations think and invest and gave me relationships that were instrumental in my success.
SF: Philanthropy should be about moving resources to communities -- quickly and flexibly. And we know that's not always the case, depending on the type of philanthropy. But when grounded deeply in people and the community, philanthropy can be a partner to help a community achieve its aspirations. But we should be honest - philanthropy can also thwart these aspirations. It's the responsibility of each of us who enter these positions of power in philanthropy to keep the north star of resource mobilization.
PS: What have been some of your big "wins" in your current role?
MF: The work that my team funds is focused on improving math outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. We will be investing over $1 billion as we focus on making math more relevant, engaging, and motivating. The work is ambitious, exciting, and personal. As someone who never considered myself a "math" person or found much joy in the subject, I love seeing students of color finding joy and empowerment in their math experience.
KRD: We've worked with some fantastic philanthropies in my organization, Blue Star Families, which have made a tremendous impact in our growth, direction, and community work. Plus, we have become a philanthropy ourselves, regranting to help shape other organizations that serve our community. We recently completed a three-year longitudinal study funded by USAA, where we identified four key factors for resilience in military families. As a result, all of our programming is clustered around ideas that improve those factors. During our "Welcome Week" programming, where we help host events for the 600,000 military families who relocate every year and are at risk of becoming isolated, our programming has shown an increase in personal and family wellbeing, and increased sense of belonging.
SF: Working in grantmaking, I always say I'm a resource mobilizer, and I'm not an implementer. What I will say, however, is that I've been fortunate and privileged to work with extraordinary people who are creating durable and sustainable change for many different communities.
PS: What advice do you have for Princeton SPIA students who might be interested in pursuing a career with a foundation?
MF: There are many pathways into philanthropy -- some people enter early, while others, like me, come after years of direct field experience. No matter the route, it is really important to stay grounded in the realities and needs of the communities you support. Even though you will bring a lot of expertise to your job, your role is not the "expert" but a supporter and enabler. Doing the job well requires humility and curiosity. Philanthropy is a diverse field, so it is important to do your homework when looking at positions. While you may find jobs related to your field and interests, each funder has a different approach to grantmaking and impact. Take time to explore organizations that align with your own interests and values. Philanthropy is an amazing field where you get to give money away and support work that you care about. It is an incredible opportunity. However, it is up to you to be a good steward of these dollars and invest in the most impactful work. This requires you to be nimble, disciplined, rigorous, collaborative, curious, and strategic -- skills that SPIA helps you develop.
KRD: I recommend people seek to break in young, immediately out of SPIA when it might be more accessible, and then to not only stay in philanthropy, but move in and out. There is a great moral hazard in philanthropy. You have money, and other people want it. People will not be honest with you; they will flatter you, and it can be hard to have a true perspective because it is hard not to be susceptible to the deference with which people treat those in philanthropy.
SF: On the other hand, I would say to think twice about jumping into a foundation from the onset. It's tempting, but I think there's something about building deep relationships with a community before taking on a grantmaking role. I think understanding the philanthropic challenges as the recipient of these dollars has made me a more effective grantmaking partner and keeps me humble. The power differential is real, and being able to remain grounded in humility, in the values of service, is essential for a career in philanthropy.
* * *
Original text here: https://spia.princeton.edu/news/industry-insiders-princeton-spia-alumni-philanthropy
Brown University senior, Class of 2025 graduate named two of nation's 32 Rhodes Scholars
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 15 -- Brown University posted the following news:
* * *
Brown University senior, Class of 2025 graduate named two of nation's 32 Rhodes Scholars
*
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] Brown University senior Keidy Palma Ramirez and Class of 2025 alumnus Nicholas Sanzi were elected to the Rhodes Scholar Class of 2026 on Saturday, Nov. 15.
The Rhodes Scholarship, widely considered to be one of the most prestigious academic awards available to undergraduate students, provides 32 recipients funding to cover all expenses for two or three years of graduate study at
... Show Full Article
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 15 -- Brown University posted the following news:
* * *
Brown University senior, Class of 2025 graduate named two of nation's 32 Rhodes Scholars
*
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] Brown University senior Keidy Palma Ramirez and Class of 2025 alumnus Nicholas Sanzi were elected to the Rhodes Scholar Class of 2026 on Saturday, Nov. 15.
The Rhodes Scholarship, widely considered to be one of the most prestigious academic awards available to undergraduate students, provides 32 recipients funding to cover all expenses for two or three years of graduate study atthe University of Oxford in England.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Palma Ramirez is pursuing concentrations in education studies and social analysis and research. She co-founded the Brown Dream Team, a student organization dedicated to supporting undocumented community members, and has conducted research with the Immigrant Student Research Project on how immigration status shapes educational access work that she now continues independently as a Royce Fellow. Since June 2025, Palma Ramirez has served as an intern at the Pew Research Center, where she is aiding in the development and implementation of the 2025 National Survey of Black Americans and the 2025 National Survey of Latinos.
At Oxford, Palma Ramirez will pursue concurrent master's degrees in migration studies and social data science.
Sanzi, a Providence native, earned his bachelor's degree in international and public affairs in May 2025. Much of Sanzi's research at Brown where he served as managing editor of the Brown Journal of World Affairs focused on the origins of populist nationalism and democratic renewal. As a Saxena Fellow, he studied industrial policy and local development in Chennai, India, and he received a William R. Rhodes Fellowship to assist the rollout of rural broadband infrastructure grants at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in Washington, D.C. An oil painter and graffiti muralist, Sanzi was also the recipient of the Guiliano Global Fellowship, which supported his filming of a documentary about street art in France.
Sanzi will pursue a master's degree at Oxford, where he plans to study political theory to inform the rehabilitation of contemporary liberal politics and policy.
Rhodes Scholars are chosen based on their academic records, as well as their leadership, personal qualities and demonstrated commitment to the betterment of society. Applicants are first endorsed by their college or university. This year, nearly 2,800 students sought their institution's endorsement, with 965 ultimately endorsed by 264 different colleges and universities. Selection committees in each of 16 U.S. districts invite the strongest applicants for interviews, and each committee makes a final selection of two Rhodes Scholars from the candidates of the states within the district.
Palma Ramirez, Sanzi and 30 other U.S. Rhodes Scholars will join an international group of scholars from more than 60 countries around the world. They will begin studies at Oxford in October 2026.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
***
Original text here: https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-15/rhodes-scholars-ramirez-sanzi
