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VCU: Meet-a-Ram - Carlton Goode Helps Develop the Next Generation
RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 1 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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Sept. 30, 2026
Meet-a-Ram: Carlton Goode helps develop the next generation
The VCU administrator and educator will be recognized on Oct. 27 by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
By Haley Tenore
Meet-a-Ram is an occasional VCU News series about the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make Virginia Commonwealth University such a dynamic place to live, work and study.
When Carlton Goode is honored next month for his dedication to student success, he will be included in esteemed company.
Goode,
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RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 1 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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Sept. 30, 2026
Meet-a-Ram: Carlton Goode helps develop the next generation
The VCU administrator and educator will be recognized on Oct. 27 by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
By Haley Tenore
Meet-a-Ram is an occasional VCU News series about the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make Virginia Commonwealth University such a dynamic place to live, work and study.
When Carlton Goode is honored next month for his dedication to student success, he will be included in esteemed company.
Goode,who earned his Ed.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022, is the director of intercultural success and initiatives in VCU's Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Global Initiatives. And as the faculty advisor for Developing Men of Color at VCU, he has propelled mentorship, academic support, professional development, leadership opportunities and community service to help students thrive in college and beyond.
Goode, whose research has focused on the retention of men of color, developed a course - Dynamic Principles for Professional Development - that supports that audience, and he is also the author of "Melanin Mind: Creating a Path of Excellence in College for Men of Color."
On Oct. 27, Goode will be among six recipients this year of a Richmond Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Previous honorees have included Arthur Ashe Jr., Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Jennifer McClellan, as well as former VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.
"I was stunned and incredibly grateful to them for recognizing me for the stuff that I've been doing for so many years," Goode said of the award.
VCU News caught up with Goode for some insight into this path.
How did your own experiences inspire your mission of mentoring men of color in college?
I went to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, for my undergraduate degree, and then I went to the University of Iowa for my master's program. One thing I recognized about coming from an HBCU, then going to the University of Iowa, is that they were two completely different schools. And once I got to the University of Iowa, I was like, "Where's the rest of us?"
Because the University of Iowa is in the Midwest, and you don't have too many people of color there, particularly at the University of Iowa. And I just started doing my research on why men of color, particularly African American males, are not attending colleges and universities.
I saw it, and I was like, "Wow, that's me!" And I can see how this stuff is having an impact. And I started digging into it with research, and then I started putting the research into practical theory.
At the University of Iowa, in one of my classes in graduate school, I was the only person of color. It was in a student development class. You know, how do students develop? And what impact does it have on them on that journey? Many times, those questions were asked, especially when it came to different populations. Everybody looked at me, and I can't speak for the whole community of Black males. I got tired of just raising my hand and everybody looking at me. And my one thought does not speak for everybody. That was one of the things that impacted me.
You serve as faculty advisor for Developing Men of Color at VCU. How does this community help with student retention?
Through all our programs and committees, we keep our guys active. For example, recently, we had a huge mixer. About 400 people attended. Right after the mixer, we had a flag football game.
Every day, two or three programs are going on. We need to keep our members engaged. If you keep them engaged, they feel like they are part of something. And again, that's where that sense of belonging comes into play.
The course you developed at VCU, Dynamic Principles of Professional Development: Men of Color, originated at Shaw University. What did bringing it to VCU involve?
We traveled to Shaw University once a week and had a team of folks from Shaw helping me out. I think any institution could use it. And Developing Men of Color is also at Old Dominion University right now, and we have a chapter at James Madison University.
One topic we teach in the class is proper dining etiquette, and we do it with a seven-course meal. The guys need to know which fork is a salad fork, and we consider issues like, when do I start a conversation? When do I leave the conversation? Where does my napkin go? How do I be excused from a table?
Things like that, young men don't talk about. I believe our guys are going to be in those spaces, in those five-star restaurants, those five-star hotels, where they need to know how to use these skills. They're little skills that everybody should know.
One tradition you brought to VCU was the annual MLK vigil that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. hosts. Where did this idea come from?
I borrowed it from Shaw University. Martin Luther King Jr. was an Alpha, and I think he should be recognized here through the Alpha chapter on this campus. Dr. King wanted everybody to be involved, and VCU is extremely inclusive. And so, I think King's vision matches the same vision as VCU of inclusivity as well as diversity.
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/carlton-goode-helps-develop-the-next-generation
In Rome, Notre Dame Convening Engages Women's Voices to Help Shape Afghanistan's Future
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, Oct. 1 -- The University of Notre Dame Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies issued the following news:
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In Rome, Notre Dame convening engages women's voices to help shape Afghanistan's future
September 30, 2026
Author: Rebekah Go
What is the role of religion in Afghanistan? Should a future state have an official religion? How -- or should -- the international community engage with the Taliban, or does doing so confer legitimacy on a repressive regime?
These questions were at the heart of a recent convening hosted by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and
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NOTRE DAME, Indiana, Oct. 1 -- The University of Notre Dame Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies issued the following news:
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In Rome, Notre Dame convening engages women's voices to help shape Afghanistan's future
September 30, 2026
Author: Rebekah Go
What is the role of religion in Afghanistan? Should a future state have an official religion? How -- or should -- the international community engage with the Taliban, or does doing so confer legitimacy on a repressive regime?
These questions were at the heart of a recent convening hosted by the Afghanistan Program for Peace andDevelopment, part of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.
Hosted by Notre Dame Rome, the gathering brought together 20 women from the Afghan diaspora to wrestle with a variety of issues and imagine a peaceful and pluralistic future. The convening, which was organized to elevate women's voices, united this diverse group around a singular task: contributing to a larger vision for a just, inclusive and peaceful Afghanistan. It is part of a larger effort by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development to promote ongoing dialogue in an effort to build that future.
"Hope was a difficult word for me to say," one participant said, reflecting a sentiment shared by other participants amid ongoing uncertainty over Afghanistan's future. But hope animated the conversations that unfolded over several days.
Discussion explored core themes that included the role of religion and the importance of inclusion. Participants grappled with how to ensure meaningful representation across ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and regional lines, and called for the inclusion of people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and rural communities.
A central question was whether religious pluralism remains viable when some conservative interpretations of Islam disenfranchise vulnerable groups, including women. Participants recognized that religion would likely be part of Afghanistan's future governance, thus making the work of reimagining its role even more important.
Conversation also focused on international engagement with the Taliban. Participants expressed concern that even minimal diplomatic contact by European and regional powers risks conferring tacit approval on an oppressive regime. This was in tension with another concern: finding leverage to demand that the regime uphold basic human rights.
Navigating this dilemma was further complicated by the reality articulated by an attending diplomat: There is no appetite globally or domestically for armed resistance. This dynamic has led the Afghan diaspora to seek accountability without relying on it.
Following virtual solidarity exchanges with veteran activists from Indonesia, Gaza, Syria, Myanmar and Northern Ireland, the focus shifted from vision to action. Drawing on insights from these contexts, participants formally committed to continuing their work together as they support building a diverse coalition to help shape Afghanistan's future.
The Rome gathering is part of the broader Dialogue and Visioning Process organized by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development. The process brings together multiple constituencies, including scholars, human rights experts, political leaders, economists and activists.
The program has tasked each cohort with drafting a vision document of shared principles for the country's future. Earlier contributions had highlighted the need to elevate women's voices as part of the conversation.
"Afghan women particularly from marginalized minorities bear the weight of the crisis like no other group," said Aref Dostyar, program director for the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development. "That's why we built a dedicated space for women to facilitate internal dialogues. Their conversations will ripple outward and enrich the ongoing discussions we continue to support."
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Original text here: https://kroc.nd.edu/news-events/news/in-rome-notre-dame-convening-engages-womens-voices-to-help-shape-afghanistans-future/
Former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Brings Leadership Lessons to Embry Riddle as Executive in Residence
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Oct. 1 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the following news:
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Former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Brings Leadership Lessons to Embry Riddle as Executive in Residence
Author: Melanie Stawicki Azam
September 30, 2026
Gen. Norton A. Schwartz -- who served as the 19th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and commanded joint special operations in northern Iraq during the Gulf War -- recently spent three days speaking with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University students, faculty and Air Force ROTC cadets during his second visit as Executive in Residence at
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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Oct. 1 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the following news:
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Former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Brings Leadership Lessons to Embry Riddle as Executive in Residence
Author: Melanie Stawicki Azam
September 30, 2026
Gen. Norton A. Schwartz -- who served as the 19th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and commanded joint special operations in northern Iraq during the Gulf War -- recently spent three days speaking with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University students, faculty and Air Force ROTC cadets during his second visit as Executive in Residence atthe renowned David B. O'Maley College of Business.
"The aviation enterprise is both a national security necessity and an economic engine," said Schwartz, who retired after an illustrious 39-year Air Force career. "I hope to help enable students who have aspirations for aviation-related career paths to find their way and deliver."
In his role as an Executive in Residence, Schwartz will help mentor the next generation of aviation and aerospace business leaders. The program is a product of a generous gift from Embry Riddle Trustee David B. O'Maley and his wife, Karen.
"General Schwartz's second visit demonstrates exactly what we want the Executive in Residence program to be -- not a one-time encounter, but an ongoing relationship between our students and extraordinary leaders," said Joe Gibney, dean of the O'Maley College of Business. "Each time he returns, our students have another opportunity to learn from someone who has led complex organizations, made consequential decisions and spent a lifetime in service to our country and the aviation enterprise."
During his visit to the Daytona Beach Campus, Schwartz joined students for classes, one-on-one meetings and discussions. In Dr. Tom Tacker's Economics of Air Transport class, Schwartz spoke with students about the aviation system, national policy and economics. He also shared his experiences in decision-making, management and leadership, particularly in high-pressure situations.
Schwartz, a command pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours in a variety of aircraft, served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama from 2008 to 2012. As the Air Force's highest-ranking military officer, Schwartz was responsible for the organization, training and equipping of approximately 680,000 active-duty, National Guard, reserve and civilian personnel serving in the United States and overseas.
Before assuming his position as chief of staff, Schwartz commanded U.S. Transportation Command, where he was the principal manager of global air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense.
"There is no substitute for experience and Gen. Schwartz shared his wealth of achievements and experiences with students," said Tacker, a professor in the Department of Accounting, Economics, Finance and Information Sciences.
Schwartz also talked about his commitment to public service. In 1991, Schwartz led the Joint Special Operations Task Force for Northern Iraq in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1997, he led the Joint Task Force that prepared for the noncombatant evacuation of U.S. citizens in Cambodia.
"One of the main reasons I attended Embry Riddle is because of the amazing connection with individuals such as Gen. Schwartz," said Saule Kondra, a junior Aviation Business Administration student who interviewed Schwartz. "It is invaluable for students to have the chance to learn from the wisdom of industry veterans and to truly learn how their degree can be the stepping stone to a career of greatness."
Benefits to Students
Launched in 2018, the Executive in Residence program has brought a prestigious cohort of prominent executives and industry leaders to Embry Riddle to share career insights with faculty and students. Executives in Residence serve for two-year terms and spend several days on campus every semester.
"We curate each Executive in Residence visit to create meaningful interaction," said Gibney. "Over a two-year term, students have multiple opportunities to build a real mentoring relationship."
During his tenure as an Executive in Residence, Schwartz will discuss leadership, decision-making, public service, aviation and national security issues with students and faculty. Beyond the classroom, he will also join small-group conversations and one-on-one meetings where students can ask questions and have genuine conversations. The Executive in Residence program's events and opportunities are open to all students, regardless of major, meaning Eagles across all campuses can benefit from the visiting executives' leadership and experience, Gibney said.
"The goal is to create the kind of sustained, personal interaction with extraordinary leaders that can genuinely shape how a student thinks about his or her career," Gibney said.
During his second visit, Schwartz said he was "impressed with the savvy and passion" of Embry Riddle's students.
"This is a unique place," he said, "and it's a privilege to have the opportunity to offer insights and coaching points for the next generation."
Exceptional Executives in Residence
Prior to Gen. Norton Schwartz, Embry Riddle's David B. O'Maley College of Business has named six Executives in Residence. They are listed in alphabetical order below:
* Pete Agur, chairman and founder, The VanAllen Group
* Leanne Caret, senior advisor to Blackstone; director on the boards of Deere & Company and RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies); former executive with The Boeing Company; member of the Embry Riddle Board of Trustees
* Candace J. Covington, member of Air Charter Safety Foundation Board of Governors; former senior director for aviation, Adobe
* Ravi Dharnidharka, senior vice president, Cirrus Services; Embry Riddle alumnus
* Barry Eccleston, retired CEO and president, Airbus Americas, Inc.
* Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Textron Aviation, and president of McCauley Propeller Systems and Able Aerospace
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Original text here: https://erau.edu/about/news-and-stories/news/former-us-air-force-chief-staff-brings-leadership-lessons-to-embry-riddle-as-executive-in-residence
Coppin State University Awarded $6.25 Million to Expand Teacher-Leader Career Pathways
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 1 -- Coppin State University issued the following news:
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Sep 30 2026
Coppin State University Awarded $6.25 Million to Expand Teacher-Leader Career Pathways
BALTIMORE -- Coppin State University has been awarded $6.25 million through the federal Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program, part of a partnership between the U.S. departments of Education and Labor.
The award will support Pathways to Professions (P2P): Career-Wide Teacher-Leader Pathways for Workforce Advancement from 2026 through 2029. The initiative includes $5 million in federal
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 1 -- Coppin State University issued the following news:
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Sep 30 2026
Coppin State University Awarded $6.25 Million to Expand Teacher-Leader Career Pathways
BALTIMORE -- Coppin State University has been awarded $6.25 million through the federal Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program, part of a partnership between the U.S. departments of Education and Labor.
The award will support Pathways to Professions (P2P): Career-Wide Teacher-Leader Pathways for Workforce Advancement from 2026 through 2029. The initiative includes $5 million in federalfunding and $1.25 million in matching support.
The new award marks more than a decade of continuous funding for P2P and introduces two pathways designed to support educators throughout their careers. TeachForward will provide an alternative pathway to state teacher licensure, while LeadForward will offer stackable credentials leading to advanced degrees and progress toward National Board Certification.
"For more than 10 years, P2P has created opportunities for educators to enter the profession and continue advancing throughout their careers," said Yi Huang, Ph.D., Executive Director and P2P Principal Investigator at Coppin State University.
Building on that foundation, the next-generation initiative will be jointly implemented by the P2P Consortium, including Coppin State University, Salisbury University, University System of Maryland, Baltimore City Public Schools, Somerset County Public Schools, and St. Mary's County Public Schools.
The P2P strategic workforce development initiative is broadly endorsed by executive leadership from the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland State Board of Education, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Accountability and Implementation Board, and the University System of Maryland.
"With its powerful statewide partnership supporting high-need communities, comprehensive dual pathways, rigorous research design, and a decade of research distinction in credential innovations, the P2P Consortium is well positioned to establish a scalable and replicable national model for career-wide teacher-leader advancement," said Dr. Huang.
"P2P builds upon Coppin State University's longstanding commitment to preparing highly qualified educators who serve and strengthen their communities," said Mintesinot Jiru, Ph.D., interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Education. "This investment allows us to expand innovative pathways that support aspiring teachers, current educators and emerging education leaders at every stage of their professional journey."
The initiative also reflects Coppin State's university-wide approach to addressing complex workforce and community needs.
"This reflects something core to who we are at Coppin State -- the belief that solving real problems for the communities we serve requires connecting disciplines, not working in silos," said Dr. Chanta M. Haywood, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "P2P is exactly that kind of work: education, research and workforce development in service of the same goal."
Through P2P, Coppin State and the Consortium will continue expanding access to the education profession, developing teacher-leaders, and producing research that supports innovation across the field.
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Original text here: https://www.coppin.edu/news/coppin-state-university-awarded-625-million-expand-teacher-leader-career-pathways-0
Columbia Engineering Scientists Honored for Advancing Unique Fusion Approach
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University issued the following news:
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Columbia Engineering Scientists Honored for Advancing Unique Fusion Approach
New approach could reduce the complexity of fusion power plants, researchers say.
September 30, 2026
Mohamed Abdelfattah
Two Columbia Engineering scientists have won the 2026 John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research from the American Physical Society as part of a team from the U.S. Department of Energy's DIII-D National Fusion Facility.
Carlos Paz-Soldan and
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University issued the following news:
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Columbia Engineering Scientists Honored for Advancing Unique Fusion Approach
New approach could reduce the complexity of fusion power plants, researchers say.
September 30, 2026
Mohamed Abdelfattah
Two Columbia Engineering scientists have won the 2026 John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research from the American Physical Society as part of a team from the U.S. Department of Energy's DIII-D National Fusion Facility.
Carlos Paz-Soldan andOak Nelson, alongside an international team, were recognized for advancing a plasma shaping concept called "Negative Triangularity" (NT) as an alternative strategy for a tokamak fusion power plant. The traditional approach in operating a tokamak relies on positive triangularity, where the straight part of the D-shaped plasma faces the "donut hole" side of the donut-shaped tokamak. Negative triangularity reverses this shaping, placing the straight part of the "D" on the outside of the device.
A month-long effort co-led by Paz-Soldan and Kathreen E. Thome, staff scientist at General Atomics, featured the highest power NT scenarios ever realized. The researchers were able to achieve high confinement, high plasma current, and high normalized pressure simultaneously. Other members of the international team also demonstrated high density, favorable particle confinement, and a detached diverter without impurity seeding. The results suggest a possible pathway towards a less complex fusion power plant.
Nelson, postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia Engineering, made key contributions to the project through preemptive simulations and scenario design that helped to realize the theorized NT shapes. He also led a dedicated thrust characterizing the ability of NT shaping to suppress harmful plasma instabilities.
"It's an honor to be part of the international team receiving this distinguished award and demonstrating the value of charting unexplored pathways to realize fusion energy," said Paz-Soldan, associate professor of applied physics and applied mathematics at Columbia Engineering and director of the Columbia Fusion Research Center.
"Negative triangularity could solve the exhaust problem faced by conventional tokamaks and provide a pathway towards a less complex fusion power plant," said Nelson, associate research scientist in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia Engineering.
These efforts amplify student-led activities at Columbia Engineering to develop concept designs for negative triangularity fusion devices, including the recent CENTAUR breakeven fusion demonstration device and the MANTA prototypic fusion power plant.
Columbia fusion researchers look forward to continuing to contribute to negative triangularity research, on DIII-D as well as tokamak facilities worldwide.
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Original text here: https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/about/news/columbia-engineering-scientists-honored-advancing-unique-fusion-approach
Adelphi Universit: Is Your Phone Actually Rotting Your Brain? 'Why Your Attention Span Feels Broken--And How the Algorithm Intended It That Way'
GARDEN CITY, New York, Oct. 1 -- Adelphi University issued the following news:
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Is Your Phone Actually Rotting Your Brain? Why Your Attention Span Feels Broken--And How the Algorithm Intended it That Way"
September 30, 2026
By Olivia Rubino-Finn, Contributing Writer
After a long, hard day at work, all we want to do is unplug. Figuratively, that is. For many of us, scrolling endlessly on social media has become a go-to method of relaxation. But, as much research has shown, what we do to soothe our minds may actually be causing us harm.
Two faculty members in Adelphi University's Department
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GARDEN CITY, New York, Oct. 1 -- Adelphi University issued the following news:
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Is Your Phone Actually Rotting Your Brain? Why Your Attention Span Feels Broken--And How the Algorithm Intended it That Way"
September 30, 2026
By Olivia Rubino-Finn, Contributing Writer
After a long, hard day at work, all we want to do is unplug. Figuratively, that is. For many of us, scrolling endlessly on social media has become a go-to method of relaxation. But, as much research has shown, what we do to soothe our minds may actually be causing us harm.
Two faculty members in Adelphi University's Departmentof Communications are addressing today's scrolling epidemic from different--though complementary--scholarly perspectives.
Anna Akerman Berman, PhD, associate professor of communications and a social psychologist who specializes in child development, is taking a stand against a global media machine that's designed to keep us hooked on content. Once a media consultant for the likes of Nickelodeon, MTV, Scholastic and Disney, Dr. Akerman Berman now uses her insider knowledge to help parents wean their children off of screens.
Peggy Cassidy, PhD, professor of communications and an expert in the history of children's interactions with media, is looking to the past to understand our potential digital future. Dr. Cassidy has published at length on the evolution of American media environments. Her tips for a healthy media diet take their cues from 200 years of history: how generations of parents and children have adapted to the disruptive effects of new forms of media.
From attention-grabbing TV to attention-proofing phones
After earning her PhD, Dr. Akerman Berman applied the scientific theories she'd studied in school as an audience researcher for Sesame Workshop and Noggin. She analyzed children's "eyes on screen"--when they were paying attention to the screen, when they were bored enough to look away--and worked with creative teams to modify programming accordingly. "Before I started working for these companies, I hadn't realized the extent to which psychology was being used to create content," she said.
Dr. Akerman Berman went on to provide consulting services to executives at some of the world's top media and entertainment brands. "The question we always returned to was: How can we keep kids watching?"
Today, she's determined to keep children's eyes off of screens. Why? There's nothing wrong with scrolling for 10 minutes to decompress, she says. The problem is, 10 minutes often turns into several hours. That's by design. "These algorithms are using more data points than we could ever imagine. They're catered specifically to individual interests, and they reward scrolling behaviors in a very precise, individualized way."
The science behind our scrolling addiction
According to Dr. Akerman Berman, scrolling seems to satiate our most basic human needs: competence, connection and autonomy. In a world where it's all too easy to feel disconnected and disempowered, scrolling can generate instant satisfaction. But, Dr. Akerman Berman says, the feeling is "brief and disingenuous," nothing like the satisfaction that comes from real-life experiences.
People trying to meet their basic needs--particularly children and adolescents--are easy targets for big business. They always have been. The tactics that tech companies use to keep us scrolling, Dr. Akerman Berman argues, are not so different from the manipulative marketing campaigns run by tobacco companies throughout the 20th century. However, it's been proven that young people are less likely to use tobacco once they've been exposed to the tobacco industry's manipulations. Dr. Akerman Berman is confident we can apply the same logic to social media addiction.
Education is the best weapon against "brain rot"
"The first step," Dr. Akerman Berman said, "is educating our kids and ourselves. The second is becoming aware of our behaviors." People of all ages should start collecting data of their own: logging their screen time and noticing how they feel before and after scrolling. Armed with this "metacognitive awareness," they might begin to turn to other activities instead of opening TikTok or Instagram.
But going from 100 to zero won't happen overnight, Dr. Akerman Berman stresses. "Our nervous system has learned that discomfort equals phone. In moments of stress, we will fall back on this habit. Still, we absolutely can re-habituate ourselves to a new normal where we're replacing scrolling with taking a walk or listening to music."
The "grasshopper mind" of the endless scroller
Dr. Cassidy sees scrolling as a cultural practice--and a cultural problem. As a media ecologist, she's more interested in media's form rather than its content. While we should be thinking critically about the content we're consuming online, we also need to consider the "ways of thinking, knowing and interacting" that are encouraged or discouraged by scrolling. She cites a concept coined by scholar Maryanne Wolf, EdD, called "grasshopper mind," or "the impulse to just scroll away, to jump from one thing to another as soon as things get boring or hard or confusing."
That impulse could very well erode the foundations of our society. If we disengage as soon as we're faced with something we don't understand, what will happen to our interpersonal relationships, our cultural norms, our politics? Dr. Cassidy believes the cracks are already visible. "We as citizens are not engaging deeply with ideas," she said. "We tend to have superficial emotional responses to political messaging, which has contributed to this intense polarization we see today. We don't stick around long enough to hear someone's full perspective."
New media fears have old precedents
For Dr. Cassidy, the fears around social media addiction and scroll culture are well founded. But they're nothing new. In her book Children, Media, and American History: Printed Poison, Pernicious Stuff, and Other Terrible Temptations (Routledge, 2017), she charts 200 years of panicked reactions to emerging media environments, from 19th century dime novels and nickelodeons to rock 'n' roll and TV.
"As a media historian, I resist the temptation to use the word unprecedented," Dr. Cassidy said. In fact, she even takes a "certain comfort in knowing we're not that unique. Our species has been here a long time, and other changes in media have disrupted us, upset us, required us to adapt."
At the same time, historical precedent shouldn't become its own deterministic force. "Just because adults were afraid of dime novels in the 1800s and it all worked out okay doesn't mean we don't need to worry about social media and smartphones. Throughout history, there have been missed opportunities for citizens to organize themselves around resisting the direction that certain technologies are taking us." In other words, to create the future we want to see for ourselves and our children, we have to act now.
The secrets of a healthy media diet
Like Dr. Akerman Berman, Dr. Cassidy prescribes moderation--and an open mind--to adults and adolescents alike. "I would encourage people, especially parents, to take a breath and not throw the baby out with the bathwater," she said. "Yes, so much of what our children are consuming is not developmentally appropriate. But we should stay open to wondering about what's captured their attention."
In social media, young people are finding benefits that prior forms of media never enabled. Adolescents who feel alienated in their immediate communities, for instance, can reach out to allies halfway across the world with the press of a button. These connections may be mediated by technology, but they're indisputably human.
Scrolling addicts may be able to rewire their psychic habits by leaning into that innate human-ness, too. "We have to learn to stay with hard things, to struggle, to make mistakes," Dr. Cassidy said. "That's the only way we'll get better."
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Original text here: https://www.adelphi.edu/news/is-your-phone-actually-rotting-your-brain-why-your-attention-span-feels-broken-and-how-the-algorithm-intended-it-that-way/
16 New Faculty Join Gonzaga University for 2026-2027 Academic Year
SPOKANE, Washington, Oct. 1 -- Gonzaga University issued the following news:
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16 New Faculty Join Gonzaga University for 2026-2027 Academic Year
September 30, 2026
Gonzaga begins the 2026-2027 academic year with an incredible 16-person new faculty cohort, as well as three Fulbright scholars.
Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli states, "I am excited to welcome the new faculty members to Gonzaga for the 2026-27 academic year. They bring remarkable expertise spanning critical areas of study, including healthy aging and cognition, neurodevelopmental disorders, literacy and language, educational
... Show Full Article
SPOKANE, Washington, Oct. 1 -- Gonzaga University issued the following news:
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16 New Faculty Join Gonzaga University for 2026-2027 Academic Year
September 30, 2026
Gonzaga begins the 2026-2027 academic year with an incredible 16-person new faculty cohort, as well as three Fulbright scholars.
Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli states, "I am excited to welcome the new faculty members to Gonzaga for the 2026-27 academic year. They bring remarkable expertise spanning critical areas of study, including healthy aging and cognition, neurodevelopmental disorders, literacy and language, educationalleadership, health workforce development, ethical business practice, criminal justice, international and family law, and technologies that improve quality of life. As teachers, scholars, practitioners and mentors, they will expand opportunities for our students to learn, discover, and apply their knowledge to complex, real world challenges while advancing Gonzaga's commitment to academic excellence and empowering students to not only be successful, but to flourish in their lives."
Learn more about our new faculty members in each area:
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College of Arts and Sciences
Jessica Eliason, Lecturer in Biology -- PhD, Emory University. Expertise in genetics and neuroscience.
Adriane Mayda, Lecturer in Psychology and Neuroscience -- PhD, University of California, Davis. Expertise in neuroscience with a focus on the effects of aging and cerebrovascular disease on cognition.
Sara Pardej, Assistant Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience -- PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Expertise in the development of individuals with neurogenetic and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Tyler Smith, Assistant Professor in Sociology -- PhD, University of Washington. Expertise in the intersection of the criminal legal system and labor processes.
Learn more about all of the new College of Arts & Sciences faculty here (https://www.gonzaga.edu/college-of-arts-sciences/about/new-faculty).
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Foley Library
Cambria Sheridan, Lecturer - MLIS, University College Dublin. Expertise in information literacy and research and publishing skills. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/academics/faculty-listing/detail?person=cambria-sheridan-1dae0cad).
School of Education
Kenneth Renner-Singer, Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Administration - EdD, University of Washington. Expertise in teaching, educational administration and instructional leadership. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-education/faculty/detail?person=kenneth-renner-singer-edd-b2c83a74#tabContainer).
Maria Ruiz-Martinez, Assistant Professor in Teacher Education -- PhD, University of Colorado Boulder. Expertise in transborder community language and cultural knowledge. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-education/faculty/detail?person=mara-ruiz-martnez-phd-144f66af).
Katherine Trautman, Assistant Professor in Teacher Education -- PhD, University of Austin Texas. Expertise in elementary literacy and multilingual and translingual pedagogies for teacher preparation. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-education/faculty/detail?person=mara-ruiz-martnez-phd-144f66af).
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School of Engineering & Applied Science
Joshua Fleck, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering -- PhD, Rice University. Expertise in haptic touch-feedback technology for prosthetic devices. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-engineering-applied-science/faculty/detail?person=joshua-fleck-d93723d8).
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School of Health Sciences
Chrysta Cress, Lecturer in Nursing -- MSN, Gonzaga University. Expertise in simulation-based learning experiences that develop clinical competence, critical thinking, and safe patient care practices. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-health-sciences/faculty/detail?person=chrysta-cress-msn-eeec6570).
Molly Sperry, Assistant Professor in Nursing -- DNP, American Sentinel University. Expertise in strengthening the nursing workforce utilizing academic partnerships, regulation and effective on-boarding programs. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-health-sciences/faculty/detail?person=molly-sperry-20b00e9a).
Rachel Winegart, Lecturer in Nursing - MSN, Belmont University. Expertise in procedural skills for neurosurgery and family medicine. See profile (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-health-sciences/faculty/detail?person=rachel-winegart-rn-msn-arnp-bc-020b2265).
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School of Law
Robert Hsu, Lecturer in Law -- JD, Indiana University. Expertise in business law, ethics and real estate.
Andrew Lah, Visiting Assistant Professor in Law -- JD, University of California Los Angeles. Expertise in policing, criminal law and procedure and trial advocacy.
Maria Veronica Saladino, Assistant Professor in Law - JD, William S. Boyd School of Law. Expertise in private international law.
Mirisa Torres, Lecturer in Law - JD, University of Houston. Expertise in wills and trusts and elder law.
Learn more about the School of Law faculty here (https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/about/faculty-staff/regular-faculty).
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Original text here: https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/fa27-new-faculty
