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University of South Alabama: National Nurse Practitioner Week - Faculty Perspectives
MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 13 -- The University of South Alabama posted the following news release:
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National Nurse Practitioner Week: Faculty Perspectives
November 12, 2026
Daniel Curtis
In recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, the University of South Alabama College of Nursing is honoring graduate faculty members whose teaching, clinical practice and mentorship help shape the future of advanced practice nursing.
From primary care clinics and international health outreach to neonatal intensive care units, nurse practitioners combine advanced clinical knowledge with compassionate
... Show Full Article
MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 13 -- The University of South Alabama posted the following news release:
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National Nurse Practitioner Week: Faculty Perspectives
November 12, 2026
Daniel Curtis
In recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, the University of South Alabama College of Nursing is honoring graduate faculty members whose teaching, clinical practice and mentorship help shape the future of advanced practice nursing.
From primary care clinics and international health outreach to neonatal intensive care units, nurse practitioners combine advanced clinical knowledge with compassionatepatient care. Through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on clinical preparation, South Alabama graduate faculty prepare master's and doctoral students to lead across diverse care environments.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Penni Huffman
As part of the graduate faculty, Dr. Penni Huffman focuses on preparing advanced practice nursing students for high-acuity, specialized environments, particularly in neonatal care. Her work emphasizes clinical precision, family support and student mentorship.
"What keeps me passionate about teaching is watching graduate students develop the confidence and clinical reasoning needed to care for our most vulnerable patients," Huffman said. "Preparing nurses to step into specialized advanced practice roles requires high standards, but supporting them through that process is deeply rewarding."
Her advice for prospective graduate students is to remain focused on the core purpose of advanced practice care.
"Commit to continuous learning and remember that your clinical precision directly impacts patient outcomes and family experiences during critical moments," she said.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kristina Miller
Dr. Kristina Miller brings real-world service and global health perspectives into the classroom, integrating primary care expertise with international clinical outreach. Through service trips to Guatemala, she demonstrates how advanced practice nurses deliver essential care in diverse and resource-limited settings.
"Exposing students to global health outreach helps them understand the broad scope and adaptability required in primary care," Miller said. "Whether practicing locally or abroad, advanced practice nursing is centered on building trust, improving access and meeting community health needs."
She encourages nurses considering graduate study to seek broad clinical experiences and embrace service-learning opportunities.
"Step out of your comfort zone whenever possible," Miller advised. "The clinical adaptability and cultural competence you gain through unique service experiences will serve your patients throughout your career."
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kirsten Pancione
Dr. Kirsten Pancione plays a key role in guiding graduate students through advanced clinical education, emphasizing clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice and student mentorship. Her work highlights the importance of expanding access to care and addressing complex patient needs in modern healthcare systems.
"Mentoring the next generation of nurse practitioners is about fostering critical thinking and clinical judgment," Pancione said. "Our graduate programs focus on equipping students with the tools to navigate complex care settings while keeping patient wellbeing at the center of their practice."
Her advice for nurses advancing their education is to build strong professional networks and prioritize patient-centered communication.
"Focus on developing strong listening skills and strong clinical foundations," Pancione said. "As an advanced practice nurse, your ability to evaluate evidence and communicate effectively is just as vital as your clinical skills."
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Original text here: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/publicrelations/pressreleases/aroundsouth/111226npweek.html
USC programs, faculty, students and alumni work to address rural health
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Nov. 13 -- The University of South Carolina posted the following news:
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USC programs, faculty, students and alumni work to address rural health
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Last month, the American Hospital Association released a report about the increasing risk to rural healthcare throughout the United States. More than 40 percent of rural hospitals operate at a financial loss, and hundreds are at high financial risk.
"In the past two decades, close to 200 rural hospitals have closed -- 44 since 2020 alone," writes Kevin J. Bennett, director of USC's Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare,
... Show Full Article
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Nov. 13 -- The University of South Carolina posted the following news:
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USC programs, faculty, students and alumni work to address rural health
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Last month, the American Hospital Association released a report about the increasing risk to rural healthcare throughout the United States. More than 40 percent of rural hospitals operate at a financial loss, and hundreds are at high financial risk.
"In the past two decades, close to 200 rural hospitals have closed -- 44 since 2020 alone," writes Kevin J. Bennett, director of USC's Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare,in a 2026 article for The Conversation.
"Hundreds more have cut much-needed health services, such as maternity care and chemotherapy treatments. Nearly half are losing money on their day-to-day operations, putting them at risk of closure."
The state of South Carolina has only three critical access hospitals in rural areas, serving a population of around 1.7 million. More than 425,000 residents cannot drive from their home to a hospital within half an hour. From travel distances to an overall shortage of practitioners, rural communities face significant barriers to adequate healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes and an increased mortality rate.
The University of South Carolina is bringing major players to the fight for better rural health.
USC's Rural and Minority Research Center and South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare are leading research both within the state and nationwide. Health science researchers from across the university system are working to understand and address the rural health care gap. Many of our graduates are making a difference in rural areas, and future practitioners are training to serve South Carolina and beyond through innovative programs in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, behavioral health and more.
For National Rural Health Month, we've gathered a few highlights of the work being done by the USC community.
On average, rural residents live farther away from hospitals compared to urban residents. Cassie Lewis Odahowski, an assistant professor of public health, says those longer distances can lead to worse health outcomes.
"Too often our rural population struggles to overcome barriers to access consistent care," she says. "That impacts people's experience and survival."
Odahowski specializes in spatial epidemiology -- how geography impacts disease and health outcomes. In analyzing data, she uses ArcGIS, an advanced online mapping tool that allows researchers to dig deeper into data for findings that may not be readily apparent.
Consider travel distance: Looking at the data, researchers could say that South Carolina residents need to travel an average distance of 12.9 miles to reach a hospital.
That's true, but Odahowski says this average doesn't factor in the population density of the metropolitan areas. In rural areas, people are much more spread out. Traditional mapping techniques may overlook the time it takes to drive winding back roads.
"The map created with ArcGIS shows us the areas across our state that are beyond a 30-minute travel time based on our road network. In actuality, South Carolina has more than 425,000 residents who live more than 30 minutes from a hospital," she says.
In rural Newberry, Casey Purcell ('19 MSN) is helping patients address barriers to care while providing the education they need to take control of their health. After earning her nursing degree from Newberry College, Purcell realized she wanted to take her career further -- and make an even bigger impact in the lives of her patients.
While working, she enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at USC's College of Nursing. She knew earning her master's would equip her to counsel patients on preventing major hospitalizations and illnesses associated with lifestyle choices or unmanaged medical conditions.
After graduation, Purcell became a provider at the Newberry College Clinic, which is open to the public. Working at the clinic exposed her to a larger need within the Newberry community -- access to primary and specialty care.
"Part of the reason the clinic sees so many people is because of the lack of primary care and specialty offices," she says.
Now, Purcell is a provider at Newberry Health Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center. Through this work, Purcell is fulfilling the purpose that first led her to advanced clinical practice: expanding access to quality care in a rural community while helping patients understand their conditions and take an active role in their health.
Two young girls walked into a hospital one afternoon after school. Their grandmother had gone to the emergency department the day before with respiratory symptoms. She had traveled an hour from her rural home in Taiwan to the city hospital for treatment. Instead, the girls found her lying in a hallway, given a bed but not a room.
Peiyin Hung was about 10 years old that day, but she still remembers her grandmother's words: "Study hard so your voice will be heard."
Just a few days later, Hung's grandmother died of complications from her illness.
"Every time I talk about my path to public health, I come back to that moment," says Hung, associate professor and co-director of the Rural Health Research Center. "That day when my cousin and I went to visit our grandmother, we asked each other: 'In the future, how can we do better?'"
Hung became a public health researcher, eventually finding her academic home in the Arnold School of Public Health.
"My goal is that I want to see all rural families, whether in Taiwan, South Carolina or anywhere in the world, to have the ability to access care where they live," she says. "That's what drives my work."
The College of Pharmacy is helping bridge health care gaps in rural communities through its participation in RURAL-CP, the nation's first multistate, practice-based research network dedicated to supporting rural community pharmacies.
RURAL-CP represents a collaboration among eight schools and colleges of pharmacy across the southeastern United States.
Tessa Hastings, assistant professor and executive director of the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, serves as South Carolina's liaison for the innovative network, which spans more than 160 pharmacies, including 22 in South Carolina.
"Pharmacies are an incredible health care resource, and, in many rural communities, they're often the only point of care," Hastings says. "There's so much vital work happening in these settings that deserves support and recognition."
The network takes a unique approach by allowing member pharmacies to drive the research agenda. RURAL-CP asks participating pharmacies to identify their communities' most pressing needs.
"We want to hear directly from pharmacists what issues they are seeing in their communities and how research can best support their needs," Hastings says.
Clay County, Kentucky, is a small Appalachian community that for decades has faced economic hardship, elevated cancer rates and lingering effects of the opioid epidemic. Access to general health care can be limited and specialized services often require hours of travel.
Ashton Farmer, a genetic counseling student at the Floyd School of Medicine, hopes to change that.
"I was born and raised there, so I saw firsthand the level of health need, the low health literacy, and the barriers to access, and how all of that impacted people," Farmer said.
She set her sights on going into genetic counseling, but with a very specific track in mind: studying rural health care access in Appalachian Kentucky.
When Farmer applied for graduate schools with the goal, the response was mixed.
"At some schools, I got blank stares," she said. "Rural health isn't really a focus in genetic counseling yet."
But at the Floyd School of Medicine, faculty responded differently.
"They didn't just say they valued rural health. They showed it," she said.
Faculty supported her thesis proposal, and the school provided funding assistance for her research. Classroom discussions actively encouraged diverse regional perspectives. "They've truly championed this work," Farmer said.
When USC established a new medical school at its Greenville campus in 2012, it made the innovative decision to entwine aspects of nutrition, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle behaviors extensively throughout its curriculum.
Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions to prevent, treat and, in some cases, reverse chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
In addition to reducing blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health, lifestyle interventions have shown remission potential for patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes diagnoses -- areas of growing need in South Carolina, especially in rural communities.
Many rural areas are food deserts or food swamps -- where low-income residents have to travel more than 10 miles to reach a grocery store or available food suppliers don't have fresh, nutrition-dense food.
That's why lifestyle medicine is a valuable tool for medical providers, including those who will work in rural and underserved communities. The curriculum, created and directed by Professor Jennifer Trilk, includes required lifestyle content across every year of training. The school added culinary medicine opportunities for all first- and fourth-year students in 2017 and plans to launch a mobile teaching kitchen in communities of need in 2026.
An initiative funded by a grant from the Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare is helping to prepare Master of Social Work students for rural behavioral health practice. The Rural Occupations Workforce Expansion will place 14 students during the two years of the grant in internships in rural areas.
U.S. Army and National Guard veteran Landon Pitts is among seven students named as a ROWE Scholar in its inaugural year.
"My journey began with serving fellow veterans, but over time volunteering within my community, especially rural areas like my home county become a calling for me," says Pitts, who will complete his MSW in 2027.
ROWE Scholars receive a stipend, complete a leaning module on rural behavioral health practice and participate in online case-based discussions as well as conferences and trainings. The program also offers trainings for behavioral health care practitioners.
"South Carolina is a largely rural state, and those communities have unique strengths and some challenges for access to services," says principal investigator Aidyn Iachini. "Our goal is to both prepare our students with specialized training for the complexities of serving in these communities and to support current practitioners."
Last spring, Carolinian visited several alumni whose small-town efforts are having a big impact in rural areas. These proud health care workers showed us the meaning of dedication and their commitment to the people and communities they serve.
When necessities were in short supply during COVID, the people of Hartsville took care of Dr. Leroy Robinson. "I would come home from work, and there would be toilet tissue on my porch, there would be hand sanitizer, there would be Lysol," says Robinson, '90 M.D. "They made sure I had it. They wanted me to stay healthy."
That's because Robinson, an OB-GYN with Carolina Pines, is one of the most beloved physicians around. Since coming to Hartsville more than 30 years ago, he has delivered more than 5,000 babies. In a community with a population of approximately 7,400 within the city limits, it's safe to say he has touched the lives of virtually every resident.
"No matter what, I think I've made a difference, even if it's just here in small town Hartsville, South Carolina," he says. "I've delivered babies who are all over the world now... I've made a difference, and that difference is going to make a difference elsewhere."
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Original text here: https://www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2026/11/fighting-for-rural-communities-health-care-access.php (TNSmrp)
Pause and reset: Murdoch Vice Chancellor challenges the case for WA universities merger
PERTH, Australia, Nov. 13 -- Murdoch University posted the following news:
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Pause and reset: Murdoch Vice Chancellor challenges the case for WA universities merger
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Murdoch University is calling on the State Government to "pause and reset" the process for a three-way merger of Murdoch, Curtin and UWA with Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks arguing the evidence does not establish that a merger is either needed or in the public interest.
On October 11, the State Government announced it was developing a business case to help guide a potential merger of the three universities. Along
... Show Full Article
PERTH, Australia, Nov. 13 -- Murdoch University posted the following news:
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Pause and reset: Murdoch Vice Chancellor challenges the case for WA universities merger
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Murdoch University is calling on the State Government to "pause and reset" the process for a three-way merger of Murdoch, Curtin and UWA with Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks arguing the evidence does not establish that a merger is either needed or in the public interest.
On October 11, the State Government announced it was developing a business case to help guide a potential merger of the three universities. Alongwith the announcement, the Government publicly released the 2023 University Sector Review, the 2025 University Feasibility Study and the now widely discredited Deloitte Rapid Cost Benefit Analysis.
Professor Deeks has now written a detailed analysis and rebuttal of the evidence cited in all three reports, saying a reform of this size and consequence for the State must be grounded in credible evidence, with merger proposals tested against genuine alternatives through a transparent, consultative and impartial process.
In a letter to Premier Roger Cook, Professor Deeks said: "Western Australia's public universities have served our community with distinction over many decades, and each have developed a distinct identity and strengths unique to their institution.
"The State should not commit to the largest restructuring of the sector in our history without compelling and credible evidence that a merger is necessary, achievable and in the public interest.
"Decisions made now will shape student choice, educational opportunity, research capacity and Western Australia's international standing as a hub for educational and innovation excellence for decades to come.
"They could also expose the State to substantial cost and disruption that may be difficult - if not impossible - to reverse, and at a time when cost of living, housing and health pressures are front of mind for most people in the community."
In his analysis of the government's case for a merger, Professor Deeks said Murdoch's concerns centred on the implications for student choice, educational opportunity, teaching, research and Western Australia's international standing.
He has identified several key shortcomings in the evidence and process, including:
* The 2023 university review did not demonstrate why incremental reform was inadequate or explain how a merged university would operate.
The widely discredited Deloitte cost-benefit analysis compared merger scenarios with the status quo, rather than with improvements that could be achieved without merging.
* The evidence linking a merger to high completion rates, increased research funding and fee gains, as well as the funding sources and measures used, relies on unproven assumptions.
* The feasibility study treats scenarios as firm evidence, underplays recent improvements and introduces untested reasons for the merger.
* The terms of reference and the steering committee's remit, composition and prior advocacy for a merger undermines public confidence in an impartial assessment of the evidence.
Professor Deeks is now calling for any further consideration of a merger to be independently commissioned and overseen, with no predetermined outcome.
This assessment should examine the causes of the performance trends identified in the 2023 Review and subsequent changes, and compare merger and credible non-merger options, using consistent methods and evidence for their claimed benefits.
Universities, staff and students - who have largely been shut out of the process - should have a genuine oversight role, and the community kept engaged and informed at every stage.
"The stakes are simply too high, and the consequences too serious, to get this wrong," Professor Deeks said.
Read the report: Putting the cart before the horse - An evaluation of the evidence presented to support a WA university merger
REPORT: https://cdn.murdoch.edu.au/mu-docs/newsportallibraries/default-document-library/putting-the-cart-before-the-horse---an-evaluation-of-the-evidence-presented-to-support-a-wa-university-merger.pdf?sfvrsn=153713e9_1
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Original text here: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/pause-and-reset--murdoch-vice-chancellor-challenges-the-case-for-wa-universities-merger (TNSmlt)
Monash University welcomes the signing of Australian-EU Horizon Europe agreement in Brussels
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 13 -- Monash University issued the following news:
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Monash University welcomes the signing of Australian-EU Horizon Europe agreement in Brussels
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Today in Brussels Australia's Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon Tim Ayres, signed the agreement between Australia and the EU for access to its Horizon Europe initiative.
This marks a moment when Australia's research and development enters into a relationship with the world's largest research and innovation funding programme, worth EUR95.5 billion.
Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor
... Show Full Article
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 13 -- Monash University issued the following news:
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Monash University welcomes the signing of Australian-EU Horizon Europe agreement in Brussels
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Today in Brussels Australia's Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon Tim Ayres, signed the agreement between Australia and the EU for access to its Horizon Europe initiative.
This marks a moment when Australia's research and development enters into a relationship with the world's largest research and innovation funding programme, worth EUR95.5 billion.
Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President, ProfessorSharon Pickering, said the commencement of Australia's association with Horizon Europe will be an important piece of elevating Australia's research as a national asset.
"Formal association with Horizon Europe represents a transformative opportunity for Australia's higher education sector. It will enable our researchers with access to research and development, collaborations with industry and universities and commercialisation opportunities that Australia has, to date, only ever dreamed of," Professor Pickering said.
"As a nation, our economic prosperity is closely linked to our reputation for delivering world-leading and life-saving breakthroughs. Our researchers, universities and research institutions are world class, and this agreement will unlock the door to more of that work being funded for a truly global impact."
From 1 January 2027 Australian researchers will be able to partner with European institutes, universities and industry under the Horizon Europe agreement.
Monash University has had a campus in Prato, Italy for more than 25 years and, via its Monash University European Research Foundation (MUERF) is already deeply integrated into the European research ecosystem, has formed collaborations with Horizon Europe members such as Warwick University, and has been successful in attracting Horizon Europe Pillar 1 and 2 funding.
In July this year Monash researchers, through MUERF, joined a prestigious international group of researchers, cultural practitioners, public institutions and policymakers to secure a EUR5 million Horizon Europe Pillar 2 grant for Project CULTURAI. The four-year initiative is part of the EU's effort to shape a future in which AI strengthens rather than diminishes creative autonomy.
Monash University contributes a uniquely integrated research team whose expertise spans cultural governance, creative AI and digital design. Monash's team, led by Associate Professor Xin Gu, from the Faculty of Arts, holds the scientific lead on CULTURAI, setting the research agenda for an eleven-partner consortium across Europe.
Associate Professor Gu said that how societies respond to generative AI is a cultural and political choice that must be guided by artistic freedom and social justice.
Professor Robyn Ward AM, Monash University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise and Senior Vice President, said the Australia-Horizon Europe agreement would open new opportunities and deliver lasting benefits for Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
"This landmark agreement is a game-changer for Australian researchers and our partners across the Asia-Pacific. Horizon Europe association offers far more than funding: it unlocks a new era of global impact for our research community. By opening unprecedented investment channels in critical areas like antimicrobial resistance, we will accelerate life-saving medical breakthroughs, protect global health security, and empower Australian expertise to lead multi-national teams addressing our greatest shared challenges."
Professor Cecilia Hewlett, Monash University's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Europe) was present at the Australian-EU Innovation and Industry Roundtable and signing ceremony in Brussels with Minster Ayres, bringing together senior government, research and industry representatives.
"Our established networks across Europe stand ready to leverage this milestone agreement, deepening scientific integration, driving joint innovation, and expanding high-impact research," Professor Hewlett said.
Professor Pickering said a lot of work over a significant period of time had led to Australia's association with Horizon Europe becoming a reality.
"This pivotal step is made possible through the dedicated efforts of the Federal Government and a decade of strategic advocacy from the Group of Eight universities. It strengthens our partnership with a stable, values-aligned political and economic system that supports science without ideology," Professor Pickering said.
The association deal between Australia and Horizon Europe involves Europe's Pillar II programs which are closely aligned to Australia's national interests across health, climate, digital technologies, industry and agriculture.
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Original text here: https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/monash-university-welcomes-the-signing-of-australian-eu-horizon-europe-agreement-in-brussels
KNUST Students Win Meteorological Innovation Challenge in Denmark
KUMASI, Ghana, Nov. 13 -- The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology issued the following news:
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KNUST Students Win Meteorological Innovation Challenge in Denmark
13th Nov 2026
A team of students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has won a meteorological innovation challenge in Denmark with a proposed digital platform designed to improve access to weather information in Ghana, including in communities with limited internet connectivity.
The team received the Challenge Winner Award and a Euros1,000 accelerator prize at the Next Generation
... Show Full Article
KUMASI, Ghana, Nov. 13 -- The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology issued the following news:
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KNUST Students Win Meteorological Innovation Challenge in Denmark
13th Nov 2026
A team of students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has won a meteorological innovation challenge in Denmark with a proposed digital platform designed to improve access to weather information in Ghana, including in communities with limited internet connectivity.
The team received the Challenge Winner Award and a Euros1,000 accelerator prize at the Next GenerationDigital Action (NGDA) programme. It also won the National Winner Award as the best-performing Ghanaian team in the programme's Young Academics competition.
The competition formed part of Digital Tech Summit 2026, held from November 4 to 5 at 0ksnehallen in Copenhagen.
The KNUST team's proposal addressed a challenge presented by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), in collaboration with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana.
Titled "From Observation to Action, Strengthening the Flow of Meteorological Information in Ghana", the challenge sought practical ways to improve the collection, processing and sharing of meteorological information.
According to GMet, the KNUST team developed a unified digital platform designed to connect the agency's existing systems and support operations where internet access is unreliable.
The proposed platform provides for weather information to be delivered through local-language voice calls, SMS, WhatsApp and alerts incorporating sign language. It also includes aviation-related alerts and impact-based warnings, which explain the likely consequences of weather conditions.
The approach could help GMet address gaps in data collection, system integration and the delivery of early warnings. Further development and testing would be needed to assess its practical use.
Teams from Ghana, Tanzania, Egypt and Denmark competed in the meteorological challenge. The Ghanaian and Tanzanian teams advanced to the final, where they presented their proposals to an international judging panel.
Participants refined their ideas through bootcamp sessions, technical mentoring and pitching exercises with experts and representatives of the partner institutions.
Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations at GMet, served on the judging panel for the final and presented the award to the KNUST team.
He congratulated the participants and urged the institutions involved to explore how the proposed solutions could be further developed, tested and put into use beyond the competition.
Dr. Williams said the programme offered institutions access to fresh ideas and technical expertise while giving young innovators experience in addressing operational challenges. He also acknowledged DMI and the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana for supporting the initiative.
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Original text here: https://www.knust.edu.gh/news/news-items/knust-students-win-meteorological-innovation-challenge-denmark
American University Student Evan Kinnevan's Quest to Save the Chesapeake's Ospreys
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- American University issued the following news:
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American University Student Evan Kinnevan's Quest to Save the Chesapeake's Ospreys
PhD student is searching for clues to a collapse in the Chesapeake Bay's baby osprey population--and racing to understand what is happening to one of the region's most iconic birds
By Patty Housman
November 12, 2026
The Chesapeake Bay's ospreys are in trouble, and American University PhD student Evan Kinnevan is on a mission to understand why.
The Bay is home to the world's largest breeding population of ospreys. Each spring, around
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- American University issued the following news:
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American University Student Evan Kinnevan's Quest to Save the Chesapeake's Ospreys
PhD student is searching for clues to a collapse in the Chesapeake Bay's baby osprey population--and racing to understand what is happening to one of the region's most iconic birds
By Patty Housman
November 12, 2026
The Chesapeake Bay's ospreys are in trouble, and American University PhD student Evan Kinnevan is on a mission to understand why.
The Bay is home to the world's largest breeding population of ospreys. Each spring, around20,000 of these iconic birds return from South America to build nests and raise their chicks. But over the past decade, fewer and fewer chicks have survived. A recent Center for Conservation Biology study found that 2026 was the worst year for osprey reproduction ever recorded in the lower Chesapeake. Eighty-one percent of nests failed to fledge a single chick, and the birds produced an average of just 0.25 chicks per nest.
In other words, it took four nests to yield one baby bird--far below the number needed to sustain their population.
To find out why, Kinnevan (Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences) spent the summer crisscrossing the Bay by boat, searching for clues to the crisis. He found nests where newly hatched chicks had starved to death and others where parents had abandoned their young.
"I saw instances of these tiny little fluff balls, unfortunately dead in the nest because they starved," he says.
For Kinnevan, the crisis became personal. "It's hard to be a scientist and not be an advocate at the same time because of what I've seen on the ground," he says.
Counting Chick by Chick
Last spring, Kinnevan joined researchers from William & Mary's Center for Conservation Biology, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Virginia Osprey Foundation to monitor osprey nests in the lower Chesapeake. They approached each nest by boat and raised a long pole fitted with a mirror, allowing them to count the eggs and chicks inside.
"We go up to a nest with our pole, peek over the side, and call out something like, 'One chick, two eggs,'" he says.
Mindful to not disturb the birds, the team made sure each nest check took no more than 10 seconds. The parent ospreys circled nearby and returned to the nests as soon as the researchers left. The team repeated the checks every two weeks during breeding season, spending six to eight hours on the water tracking trends: when osprey lay eggs, when the eggs hatch, how many babies survive, and how long they survive.
Kinnevan also collected osprey droppings from nests and is using them to identify the species of fish the birds have eaten through DNA analysis. He conducts his research in AU's Koch Marine Lab, led by Environmental Science Professor Chelsea Koch, and is collaborating with US Geological Survey fish biologists to refine his methods. He hopes to find out exactly what the ospreys are eating and how their diets differ across the Bay. Understanding this could be a first step toward finding ways to protect the birds, critical work that reflects AU's commitment to research that tackles pressing problems and makes a difference in the world beyond campus.
The Menhaden Question
While the nest surveys showed how many osprey chicks were dying, they didn't reveal why.
One possible explanation is a shortage of menhaden. It's a small native fish, too oily and bony for most people to eat. But it is filled with fats and nutrients that make it a critical part of the Chesapeake food web, and it provides the energy that osprey chicks need to thrive.
"When baby osprey eat menhaden, they pack on the pounds really well," Kinnevan says. "They get that baby fat, which helps them grow."
Scientists have documented a sharp decline in the number of menhaden brought to monitored osprey nests in the lower Chesapeake, raising concerns that the birds can no longer find enough of one of their most important food sources.
One possible factor is commercial "reduction" fishing. Tens of thousands of menhaden travel together in schools, which look like big dark shadows in the water. Spotter planes can see the schools from the air and point boats toward them. The boats surround the fish with enormous nets called "purse seines," which close at the bottom like a drawstring purse, trapping the fish. They are ultimately processed--or reduced--into fish oil and meal for products such as pet food and fish-oil supplements.
Whether commercial fishing is contributing to the ospreys' decline remains a matter of debate and an area of active research. In November, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted to reduce the Chesapeake Bay's industrial menhaden catch limit by about 27 percent for 2027 and 34 percent for 2028. Conservation groups had pushed for a 50 percent cut.
More Than Birds
Along the Chesapeake, ospreys are an important part of the community. Residents build nesting platforms for them, celebrate their return each spring with festivals, and watch them raise their young. Residents were the first to notice that fewer chicks were surviving--and to alert scientists.
For Kinnevan, the disappearing chicks may be a sign of a much larger problem. "Ospreys are a sentinel species," he says. "When they struggle, it can be a warning that something is wrong with the broader Chesapeake Bay ecosystem."
Kinnevan has three years left in his PhD to build on what he learned during his first summer on the Bay. He plans to expand his sampling to more locations, refine his DNA analysis and bring the techniques to AU, and continue raising awareness about the birds' decline.
There are still more questions than answers about why the chicks are dying. Kinnevan hopes his research will help change that--and give scientists a clearer picture of what it will take to protect them.
"Unfortunately, I only see the ongoing crisis with osprey getting worse," he says. "I hope my research will contribute to policy changes that reverse the declines osprey are already experiencing and promote the conservation of everything living in the Chesapeake Bay."
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Original text here: https://www.american.edu/cas/news/au-student-kinnevan-quest-save-chesapeake-ospreys.cfm
Adkins awarded prestigious fellowship for veteran advocacy
LINCOLN, Nebraska, Nov. 13 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Adkins awarded prestigious fellowship for veteran advocacy
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When Cameron Adkins decided to go to college after eight years of service in the U.S. Navy, he wasn't sure how he'd feel making the transition to student life. He'd grown accustomed to the structure offered by the military, as well as the close camaraderie shared among those who have served.
At Nebraska U, Adkins saw a reputation for supporting and fostering community among student veterans that felt like the exact kind of environment that could
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LINCOLN, Nebraska, Nov. 13 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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Adkins awarded prestigious fellowship for veteran advocacy
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When Cameron Adkins decided to go to college after eight years of service in the U.S. Navy, he wasn't sure how he'd feel making the transition to student life. He'd grown accustomed to the structure offered by the military, as well as the close camaraderie shared among those who have served.
At Nebraska U, Adkins saw a reputation for supporting and fostering community among student veterans that felt like the exact kind of environment that couldhelp him thrive.
"I was trying to find something similar to that structure and support system I had in the military," he said. "Visiting Nebraska, I met all these amazing people down at the Military and Veteran Success Center, and that's really what drew me here -- I saw a support system that reflected what I needed."
After becoming a Husker, Adkins did more than lean on that support system -- he became a crucial part of it.
By taking a job at the Military and Veteran Success Center, Adkins began playing his own role in upholding Nebraska's legacy of supporting fellow student veterans. That work led to his selection as a 2026 National Veterans Leadership Foundation Leadership Fellow.
"The NVLF is amazing," Adkins said. "They focus on making the transition from military service to the civilian world a little easier, whether it be transitioning into college or other forms of civilian life."
Adkins was one of 22 fellows nationwide selected to attend a conference on military community advocacy. There, he learned leadership and mentorship skills from senior military leaders and industry professionals. The training gave fellows new tools to educate people without military affiliations about the unique challenges service members may face when transitioning to college.
"This work isn't just geared toward helping veterans, but empowering the whole campus," Adkins said. "By educating more people on these issues, we can all be mindful of how we can support our veterans when they need it."
The NVLF Fellowship recognizes student veterans who have demonstrated a commitment to strengthening their campus military communities, a description that fits Adkins. Throughout his college career, he has worked in the Military and Veteran Success Center, helping fellow veterans find the resources they need to succeed -- or simply being there to listen.
"Transition into civilian life alongside other veterans has really been a difference maker for me, and I think the center is such a great way to build those connections," he said. "By being there to share in each other's struggles, help people face a unique challenge or just answer questions they have, you can really turn someone's day around, and maybe even more."
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Original text here: https://news.unl.edu/article/adkins-awarded-prestigious-fellowship-for-veteran-advocacy
