Featured Stories
University of California Davis School of Law: Professor Ziegler Elected to the American Law Institute
DAVIS, California, Aug. 8 -- The University of California Davis School of Law issued the following news:
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Professor Ziegler Elected to the American Law Institute
Professor Mary Ziegler has been elected to the American Law Institute, the nation's premier nongovernmental law reform organization.
UC Davis Law now counts 21 current and nine emeriti faculty in the ALI, which consists of judges, lawyers and law professors and caps membership at 3,000.
It has been a year of accolades for Ziegler, a Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Guggenheim Fellow and one of the world's foremost experts
... Show Full Article
DAVIS, California, Aug. 8 -- The University of California Davis School of Law issued the following news:
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Professor Ziegler Elected to the American Law Institute
Professor Mary Ziegler has been elected to the American Law Institute, the nation's premier nongovernmental law reform organization.
UC Davis Law now counts 21 current and nine emeriti faculty in the ALI, which consists of judges, lawyers and law professors and caps membership at 3,000.
It has been a year of accolades for Ziegler, a Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, Guggenheim Fellow and one of the world's foremost expertson the law, history and politics of reproduction, health care and conservatism in the United States.
In April, she received the second-ever award for Contributions to Public Policy from the Organization of American Historians. In July, Ziegler was named a UC Davis Chancellor's Leadership Professor, a five-year appointment that includes $25,000 in research support funds per academic year.
A UC Davis Law faculty member since 2022, Ziegler is the author of several critically acclaimed books, including Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction, which drew national attention upon its release in 2025 and became the subject of UC Davis Law Review Online's inaugural symposium. Ziegler's 2015 book After Roe: The Lost History of the Abortion Debate won the Harvard University Press Thomas J. Wilson Prize for best first manuscript in any discipline.
Ziegler's articles have appeared or are forthcoming in leading legal, medical, and public health journals, including the California Law Review, Columbia Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Harvard Law Review, Michigan Law Review, NYU Law Review, UCLA Law Review and Yale Law Journal. She is the nation's fifth-most cited legal scholar writing about health, according to HeinOnline.
Among the most sought-after legal commentators on reproductive rights, Ziegler or her work have appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, PBS and NPR and in the New York Times, Washington Post and The Atlantic.
Ziegler has advised governors and members of Congress, submitted congressional testimony on questions involving reproduction, and served on the committee of scholars charged with helping create a museum of U.S. Women's History.
Before coming to Davis, Ziegler served as the Daniel P.S. Paul Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School and the Stearns Weaver Miller Professor at Florida State University School of Law.
Ziegler holds a J.D. and B.A. from Harvard.
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Original text here: https://law.ucdavis.edu/news/professor-ziegler-elected-american-law-institute
Reinhardt University: Faculty Member Brings Mental Health First Aid Training to Campus
WALESKA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- Reinhardt University issued the following news:
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Faculty Member Brings Mental Health First Aid Training to Campus
Reinhardt faculty go above and beyond to bring educational excellence to their students, even during summer break. Wanting to offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to students this Fall, Assistant Professor Hollye Petty took a summer certification course through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
MHFA training explains how to support, recognize, understand, and respond to signs of a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.
Petty,
... Show Full Article
WALESKA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- Reinhardt University issued the following news:
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Faculty Member Brings Mental Health First Aid Training to Campus
Reinhardt faculty go above and beyond to bring educational excellence to their students, even during summer break. Wanting to offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to students this Fall, Assistant Professor Hollye Petty took a summer certification course through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
MHFA training explains how to support, recognize, understand, and respond to signs of a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.
Petty,a nurse for 34 years, began teaching mental health and community health courses at Reinhardt in the Fall of 2025. She will spread her MHFA knowledge campus-wide, including within the Cauble School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
"Mental Health First Aid is an incredible initiative to raise awareness and support for those with mental illness and crisis. Recognizing the signs and early intervention have proven to increase favorable outcomes," she explained. "I love teaching the students and am looking forward to bringing the Mental Health First Aid course to faculty, students and community leaders!"
The MHFA courses are for everyone, not just health professionals. The training helps take the fear or worry out of talking about mental health, resulting in more people getting the help they need.
The MHFA courses are for everyone, not just health professionals. The training helps take the fear or worry out of talking about mental health, resulting in more people getting the help they need.
-- By Suzy Alstrin
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Original text here: https://www.reinhardt.edu/news/faculty-member-brings-mental-health-first-aid-training-to-campus/
Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia Concludes Its 8-Days Online NEP-2020 Orientation & Sensitization Programme on 31th July, 2026
NEW DELHI, India, Aug. 8 -- Jamia Millia Islamia issued the following news release:
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Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), JMI concludes its 8-Days Online NEP-2020 Orientation & Sensitization Programme on 31th July, 2026
The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, New Delhi, in collaboration with Vardhaman College (Jain Minority Institution), Kiratpur Road, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, successfully concluded its 43rd 8-Days Online NEP-2020 Orientation and Sensitization Programme held from 23rd - 31st July, 2026. The programme witnessed
... Show Full Article
NEW DELHI, India, Aug. 8 -- Jamia Millia Islamia issued the following news release:
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Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), JMI concludes its 8-Days Online NEP-2020 Orientation & Sensitization Programme on 31th July, 2026
The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, New Delhi, in collaboration with Vardhaman College (Jain Minority Institution), Kiratpur Road, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, successfully concluded its 43rd 8-Days Online NEP-2020 Orientation and Sensitization Programme held from 23rd - 31st July, 2026. The programme witnessedenthusiastic participation of 101 faculty members (Professors, Associate and Assistant Professor), Research Scholars from 08 states, representing central, state, deemed and private universities across 16 different disciplines.
Prof. Kulwinder Kaur, Hony. Director of MMTTC warmly welcomed all the participants. She highlighted the paradigm shift envisioned by NEP 2020, which seeks to build an education system that is holistic, skill-driven, and rooted in lifelong learning. The course was coordinated by Dr. Reshu Sharma, Head, Department of Education, Vardhaman College Bijnor.
The programme was inaugurated with a session on 'Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education' by Prof. (Dr.) C. B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, who spoke on the NEP 2020 vision of holistic education, the role of higher education in nation building, and NEP's vision for Higher Education Institutions by 2040. This was followed by a session on 'Student Diversity and Inclusive Education' by Dr. Munesh Kumar, Professor, University of Lucknow, who discussed teacher competencies for inclusion in institutions of higher education in the light of NEP 2020.
On the second day, sessions on 'Indian Knowledge System (IKS)' were addressed by Dr. Shaheer Siddiqui, Associate Professor, Aligarh Muslim University, who dwelt upon the philosophical and historical foundations of IKS and the rationale for its inclusion in NEP; and CS Dr. (H.C.) S. N. Mishra, Registrar cum Secretary, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ministry of Education, Government of India, who elaborated on the practical integration of IKS in curriculum design, and in research and pedagogy across disciplines.
The third day featured sessions on 'Information and Communication Technology'. Dr. Krishna Sankar Kusuma, Professor, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, spoke on digital infrastructure under NEP such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM and virtual labs, ICT for access and equity, and the challenges of the digital divide; while Prof. Gaurav Singh, Professor, School of Education, IGNOU, New Delhi, discussed blended and online learning models, virtual labs, digital pedagogy, teacher capacity-building for ICT integration, and ICT-enabled assessment and evaluation. The programme observed a break on 26th July (Sunday).
On the fourth day, Prof. P. K. Sahoo, Former Vice Chancellor, Allahabad University, spoke on 'Academic Leadership and Governance', focusing on quality management of higher education institutions; while Prof. Sunil Kumar, from Acharya Narendra Dev Teacher Training College, Sitapur, addressed 'Higher Education and Society', covering employability and social responsibility, equity and inclusion in higher education, and institutional accountability to society.
The fifth day covered 'Skill Development' by Dr. Neena Pahuja, Former Executive Member, National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, who spoke on vocational education integration from school to higher education, the skill-credit framework, and industry partnerships, internships and apprenticeships; followed by a session on 'Pedagogy and Assessment' by Prof. Amit Gautam, Department of School and Non-Formal Education and Director, MMTTC, NIEPA, who discussed next-generation digital pedagogy through AI-centric flipped learning in higher education, including hands-on approaches.
On the sixth day, Prof. (Dr.) Rihan Khan Suri, Honorary Director, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Training and Placement Officer, Jamia Millia Islamia, spoke on 'Skill Development', emphasizing the integration of skill development in higher education through NATS, NAPS and AEDP; while Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dean, Research and Development, Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU), Kanpur, addressed 'Research and Development', highlighting multidisciplinary research, industry-academia linkages, and funding and incentive structures.
The seventh day featured 'Curriculum Development' by Dr. Anju Rawlley, Professor and Head, Department of Curriculum Development and Assessment Education, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Bhopal, who spoke on NEP's approach to curriculum flexibility, reducing curriculum load, and competency-based design; and 'Autonomy to the Institution and Choice to the Students' by Prof. Kaushal Kishore, Department of Educational Studies, Faculty of Education, Jamia Millia Islamia, who discussed graded autonomy for colleges, multiple entry-exit and choice-based credit systems, the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and student-centric flexibility.
The valedictory day, the eighth of the programme, began with a session on 'Research and Development' by Dr. B. C. Das, Senior Faculty Member, Department of Education, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, who shared best practices in higher education delivery and highlighted tribal education as a means of increasing NEP's reach; followed by the valedictory session on 'Holistic and Multi-disciplinary Education' by Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Rawlley, Former Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-AMPRI, who summarized the major takeaways from the sensitization programme and outlined NEP's vision for a robust research culture.
The programme concluded on a note of optimism and shared commitment, with participants expressing deep appreciation for the enriching sessions and initiatives to take forward the vision of NEP 2020.
-- Prof. Saima Saeed, Chief Public Relations Officer
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Original text here: https://jmi.ac.in/upload/publication/pr1_English_2026August7.pdf
Kansas State University: Lindsey Roles Receives Nationally-competitive Richard Frinier Design Scholarship
MANHATTAN, Kansas, Aug. 8 -- Kansas State University issued the following news:
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Lindsey Roles receives nationally-competitive Richard Frinier Design Scholarship
By Thom Jackson, College of Architecture, Planning & Design
Lindsey Roles, a master's student in industrial design, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Richard Frinier Design Scholarship, a national honor recognizing exceptional emerging talent in furniture and product design.
Named for internationally acclaimed designer Richard Frinier, the scholarship recognizes students whose work demonstrates creativity, innovation
... Show Full Article
MANHATTAN, Kansas, Aug. 8 -- Kansas State University issued the following news:
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Lindsey Roles receives nationally-competitive Richard Frinier Design Scholarship
By Thom Jackson, College of Architecture, Planning & Design
Lindsey Roles, a master's student in industrial design, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Richard Frinier Design Scholarship, a national honor recognizing exceptional emerging talent in furniture and product design.
Named for internationally acclaimed designer Richard Frinier, the scholarship recognizes students whose work demonstrates creativity, innovationand excellence in design. Roles' work distinguished itself among a competitive field of applicants, earning recognition from industry leaders and the International Casual Furnishings Association.
In addition to the national recognition, Roles will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support her continued design education, helping further her academic and professional development as she prepares for a career in the design profession.
As the scholarship recipient, Roles will participate in an exclusive professional development experience during Casual Market Atlanta, one of the premier events in the outdoor and casual furnishings industry. The scholarship provides opportunities to meet nationally recognized designers, manufacturers and industry executives while exploring the latest innovations, products and market trends shaping the future of furniture design.
During the multi-day experience, Roles will receive a professional headshot, tour leading showrooms with Richard and Catherine Frinier, participate in meetings with industry professionals, and attend the prestigious ICFA Awards Gala. The experience is designed to provide meaningful networking opportunities while offering firsthand insight into one of the design industry's most influential marketplaces.
"It's great to see our students' work recognized at the national level," said Richard Thompson, instructor in the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design. "Lindsey's project started with the simple idea of enjoying a morning cup of coffee and through her iteration and persistent dedication to detail she produced more than just a good design, but a great story. On top of the competition requirements, our students produce fully functional prototypes which allow them to refine the comfort and test the feasibility of their designs."
Roles' selection for the scholarship reflects the caliber of work and dedication of K State design students, said Nathan Howe, professor and head of the Department of Interior Architecture & Industrial Design.
"This recognition places Lindsey alongside some of the nation's most promising emerging designers and provides an extraordinary opportunity to engage directly with leaders who are shaping the future of the furnishings industry," Howe said. "We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and look forward to seeing how this experience influences Lindsey's continued growth as a designer."
The Department of Interior Architecture & Industrial Design in K State's College of Architecture, Planning & Design has long emphasized experiential learning and close collaboration with industry partners, providing students with opportunities to apply their creativity to real-world design challenges. National recognitions such as the Richard Frinier Design Scholarship underscore the department's commitment to preparing graduates who are equipped to lead the future of design.
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Original text here: https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/08/lindsey-roles-richard-frinier-design-competition.html
Georgia Tech Strengthens Atlanta's Innovation Ecosystem Through Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- The Georgia Institute of Technology issued the following news:
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Georgia Tech Strengthens Atlanta's Innovation Ecosystem Through Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South
Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South showcase Georgia Tech's leadership in strengthening Atlanta's growing innovation ecosystem.
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As Atlanta continues to grow as one of the nation's leading technology and innovation hubs, Georgia Tech is helping to shape that growth through strategic partnerships, entrepreneurial programs, and community-driven experiences that connect innovators across the region.
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- The Georgia Institute of Technology issued the following news:
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Georgia Tech Strengthens Atlanta's Innovation Ecosystem Through Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South
Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South showcase Georgia Tech's leadership in strengthening Atlanta's growing innovation ecosystem.
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As Atlanta continues to grow as one of the nation's leading technology and innovation hubs, Georgia Tech is helping to shape that growth through strategic partnerships, entrepreneurial programs, and community-driven experiences that connect innovators across the region.
Last year's Tech Square Tech Hop welcomed more than 940 attendees. This year, the event returns Aug. 14 with even more opportunities to explore the people, ideas, and organizations driving the momentum.
Presented by Avant South during ATL Tech Week, Tech Square Tech Hop transforms Tech Square into a walkable showcase of startups, research, and entrepreneurship, inviting the public to experience firsthand the people, ideas, and technologies shaping Atlanta's future.
More than an event, Tech Hop reflects Georgia Tech's broader commitment to strengthening Atlanta's innovation ecosystem by bringing together founders, researchers, students, corporate partners, investors, and community organizations in one of the country's most dynamic innovation districts.
Attendees can explore live startup demonstrations, interactive exhibits, research showcases, food and beverage experiences from local entrepreneurs, and the organizations moving ideas from the lab to the marketplace.
Georgia Tech continues to work with the City of Atlanta, higher education institutions, industry leaders, startups, and community partners to advance Atlanta's vision of becoming one of the nation's premier technology hubs. Through these partnerships, the Institute is creating new pathways for commercialization, startup growth, workforce development, and economic opportunity.
"Sustaining a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem takes an intentional, holistic approach," said Michael "Dixon" Dixon, senior director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations. "Atlanta has all the right ingredients. Our role is to connect the dots, bring the right people to the table, and help move bold ideas into action. Tech Hop celebrates the people, partnerships, and entrepreneurial spirit that make Atlanta's innovation ecosystem thrive."
Avant South
Hosted by Georgia Tech, Avant South returns Oct. 12 - 13 with a focus on AI in Action, convening leaders across industry, academia, government, and the startup community to explore the technologies shaping the future.
Together, Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South create opportunities for entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, industry leaders, and the broader community to connect and experience Atlanta's innovation ecosystem. While Tech Hop brings that ecosystem to life during ATL Tech Week, Avant South continues the conversation on a larger stage each fall.
The two events reflect Georgia Tech's commitment to accelerating innovation, fostering collaboration, and strengthening Atlanta's position as a national destination for entrepreneurship and commercialization.
Experience Atlanta's Innovation Ecosystem
Join us for Tech Square Tech Hop, presented by Avant South, on Friday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tech Square.
Explore a self-guided route featuring startup demonstrations, research exhibits, innovation organizations, food and beverage experiences, and opportunities to connect with the people building what's next.
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP today.
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Original text here: https://news.gatech.edu/news/2026/08/07/georgia-tech-strengthens-atlantas-innovation-ecosystem-through-tech-square-tech-hop
Emory University School of Medicine: Bruce Ribner Leaves Legacy of Redefining Infectious Disease Care
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- Emory University School of Medicine issued the following news:
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Bruce Ribner leaves legacy of redefining infectious disease care
Mary Loftus
In December 2014, TIME magazine named its Person of the Year.
Rather than honoring a politician, business leader or celebrity, the magazine recognized "the Ebola fighters" -- the doctors, nurses, scientists and caregivers who stood on the front lines of the largest Ebola outbreak in history.
Among them was Dr. Bruce Ribner, an infectious diseases physician from Emory University Hospital, who became the face of one of
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 8 -- Emory University School of Medicine issued the following news:
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Bruce Ribner leaves legacy of redefining infectious disease care
Mary Loftus
In December 2014, TIME magazine named its Person of the Year.
Rather than honoring a politician, business leader or celebrity, the magazine recognized "the Ebola fighters" -- the doctors, nurses, scientists and caregivers who stood on the front lines of the largest Ebola outbreak in history.
Among them was Dr. Bruce Ribner, an infectious diseases physician from Emory University Hospital, who became the face of one ofEmory's most defining moments: caring for the first patients with Ebola virus disease in the United States.
Ribner, who retired from Emory in 2021, died July 19 at age 80. Colleagues say he will be remembered for his contributions to the field of infectious disease, his devotion to patient care and his attention to his medical teams' well-being.
Pieced together from archival videos, news articles and interviews with Ribner and his colleagues conducted during and after the outbreak, this account reflects the lasting impact that Ribner and Team Ebola had on Emory and the world.
"Bruce's legacy can be viewed through the lens of the Ebola response and how the decision to care for the first patients in the U.S. with Ebola virus disease at Emory fundamentally changed the conversation around the treatment of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases," says Colleen Kraft, current medical director of the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU) and professor of infectious diseases, and pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory.
"That moment elevated Emory's role on the global stage and continues to shape biocontainment care today," she adds.
Emory at the ready
Ribner joined Emory in 2000 as the epidemiologist for Emory University Hospital and spent more than a decade building a biocontainment unit capable of safely treating patients with the world's most dangerous infectious diseases.
He joked that he sometimes felt like Noah, building an ark before anyone believed a storm was coming.
"Part of me said, 'Gee, this is frustrating that we've had this open all these years and spent all these resources and we haven't really been needed,'" he later told TIME. "But I always felt there was value in having that level of insurance."
Indeed, on July 30, 2014 -- his birthday -- the storm arrived.
Ribner received a call that a plane was leaving for Liberia and would return carrying two American healthcare workers infected with Ebola virus disease. Upon their arrival in Atlanta, the seriously ill patients would be transported to Emory University Hospital.
They would be the first individuals with Ebola ever to set foot on U.S. soil, and the world was watching.
Building Team Ebola
The SCDU had opened in 2002 in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose headquarters sit down the street from Emory University Hospital. The isolation unit was intended to provide a place where CDC personnel or others exposed to rare, highly dangerous pathogens could receive advanced medical care without placing healthcare workers or the public at risk.
A select group of physicians, nurses, laboratory specialists and environmental services personnel would staff the unit. They rehearsed scenarios, practiced putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE), and stayed up to date on emerging infectious diseases. "It was really more in a training mode," Ribner recalled. "The basic tenor of the program was one of watchful waiting and preparedness."
From 2002-2014, the unit activated twice, once for a patient suspected of having SARS, and the other for suspected Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Ultimately, neither patient fell ill.
But Ribner never wavered in believing the unit was necessary: "I think the one thing nature has taught us is that we will have an outbreak of a serious communicable disease, and it will be with something we didn't anticipate."
"This is what we've been training for"
As a specially equipped ambulance carried the first patient from the airport to the SCDU, television cameras followed every step of the journey. News crews camped outside the hospital and satellite trucks lined Clifton Road. Some commentators and politicians questioned whether patients with Ebola should have been brought to the U.S. at all.
And Emory began receiving panicked calls from community members asking: How are you keeping everyone safe? Is there a chance this disease could spread outside the walls of the hospital?
As fear and rumors spread, Ribner and his team met the arrival of the patients and the accompanying global media storm as a teachable moment.
"We viewed this as an opportunity for education," he said later. "We knew that most of the anxiety that was being voiced was due to lack of knowledge about this infectious disease, about our ability to treat it, and about our ability to contain it within our unit."
Working closely with Emory's communications team, Ribner became one of the nation's most trusted public voices during the crisis.
"We were very conscious that the way we managed this was potentially going to determine the entire way in which our country addressed future patients," he later explained.
Trust through teamwork
Those who worked beside Ribner at the time saw a calm, competent leader focused on three things: taking care of the acutely ill patients, protecting his team of caretakers and learning as much as possible.
Nurse Jill Morgan, current SCDU site manager, remembers that decisions were made with Team Ebola members instead of for them. When a question about PPE arose that would involve retraining everyone, Ribner asked for, and heeded, her recommendation.
"Dr. Ribner knew that the nurses would be the ones in the PPE the longest and the ones performing tasks that could get them contaminated, so we were the most likely to get infected if things weren't done correctly," Morgan says. "He set the tone that many others have commented on over the years -- this really was a team of equals, each with our own role and expertise."
Twice each day, physicians, nurses, laboratorians, environmental services staff and others on the SCDU team gathered for "family meetings."
"The model that worked for us was a close collaborative effort among all personnel in the unit," Ribner said. "It created an environment where people felt comfortable that they were not placing themselves or their families at risk."
Years later, colleagues would describe building that culture of trust as one of Ribner's greatest accomplishments.
"Bruce was the real deal," says Dr. Carlos del Rio, who worked closely with Ribner for decades. "He was bold, driven, unassuming and humble.
"He always wanted to do what was best for patients or for anyone who asked for his help, yet he rarely took credit for what he did or accomplished," continues del Rio, Emory's H. Cliff Sauls Distinguished Professor of Medicine. "He was always about the team."
Lessons learned and shared
Four patients with Ebola virus disease were treated at Emory's SCDU; all four survived.
Their care overturned assumptions that had shaped Ebola treatment for decades. Before 2014, severe Ebola was considered a disease with few options once patients became critically ill.
A year later, Ribner said, "We've had the opportunity to advance science dramatically, as well as the opportunity to advance the knowledge about how we care for patients with this very serious disease."
Ribner and his team were able to observe patients with the disease in unprecedented detail: profound fluid loss, electrolyte abnormalities that contributed to dangerous heart rhythms, and how the immune system responded.
They saw that patients with Ebola could survive if they received the kind of aggressive supportive care routinely provided in intensive care units across the U.S., including breathing tubes, dialysis and platelet transfusions. And they shared those observations with colleagues around the world.
"We would like to think that, in part, this helped contribute to the fact that as the outbreak proceeded, the fatality rates tended to go down," Ribner said.
Preparing for future outbreaks
The Ebola response also changed the way the U.S. prepared for emerging infectious diseases more broadly. Before 2014, hospitals across the country had limited experience caring for patients with high-consequence pathogens.
The Ebola outbreak exposed a national vulnerability, leading to the creation of the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC), a partnership among Emory University Hospital, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
Through training, consultation and research and exercises, the Serious Communicable Diseases Program at Emory helped establish a tiered national approach to preparedness.
"After the Ebola outbreak subsided, Bruce, Sharon Vanairsdale and I started visiting dedicated international units," says Dr. Marshall Lyon, a member of Team Ebola and an Emory infectious disease physician.
"We visited three countries and five units," Lyon continues. "It was a great time as we built friendships abroad and learned about unit designs and technology that others were using, and incorporated them into the Emory unit when possible. I especially treasure the mentorship he gave me and the professional example he set."
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Bruce S. Ribner died on July 19, 2026, at age 80. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Princeton University, his MD from Harvard Medical School and a master's in public health in epidemiology from the University of Michigan.
Ribner served for eight years in the Army National Guard Reserve and held positions in infectious disease and hospital epidemiology before moving to Atlanta in 2000 to work at Emory, where he led the creation of the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Aaron, Adam and Thad (Brie), and Amer Smailbegovic (Zemira); seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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Original text here: https://news.emory.edu/stories/2026/08/bruce-ribner-leaves-legacy-redefining-infectious-disease-care
Celebrating University of New Mexico-Gallup's First Navajo Dean
GALLUP, New Mexico, Aug. 8 -- The University of New Mexico's Gallup campus issued the following news:
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Celebrating UNM-Gallup's first Navajo dean
Navajo Nation Council honors Joe Kee for his leadership, dedication
By Renaldo Fowler
Window Rock, Ariz. -- The first Navajo dean for The University of New Mexico-Gallup received a certificate of recognition and appreciation for his dedicated service as an educator, scholar, and academic leader during the 2026 Navajo Nation Council Summer Session on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley presented UNM-Gallup
... Show Full Article
GALLUP, New Mexico, Aug. 8 -- The University of New Mexico's Gallup campus issued the following news:
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Celebrating UNM-Gallup's first Navajo dean
Navajo Nation Council honors Joe Kee for his leadership, dedication
By Renaldo Fowler
Window Rock, Ariz. -- The first Navajo dean for The University of New Mexico-Gallup received a certificate of recognition and appreciation for his dedicated service as an educator, scholar, and academic leader during the 2026 Navajo Nation Council Summer Session on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley presented UNM-GallupInterim Dean of Instruction Joe Kee with a certificate for his recent appointment as the top academic official for the branch campus.
"We congratulate you, and we'll be behind you, supporting you," Curley said. "Thank you for all that you do."
Curley said this is a historic milestone and a prestigious title, as Kee is the first Navajo person to serve as dean of instruction for UNM-Gallup.
Curley added that having a familiar face, like Kee's, in high positions at universities makes Navajo students feel welcome and encourages them to do more.
The Navajo Nation Council recognizes Navajo citizens for their impactful work in the community every quarter.
T'aa hwo' aji t'eego
When Kee accepted his recognition from the council, he reflected on the teachings of his elders, "T'aa hwo' aji t'eego," a Navajo phrase that translates to, "It's entirely up to you to succeed."
Kee shared the responsibilities of his new role and what it means to him.
"As dean, my work has already begun, and I enjoy the academic unit that I have been bestowed the responsibilities at The University of New Mexico-Gallup branch campus," he said. "I enjoy it because children are very sacred, and I think that they will one day lead us, but we first have to help in taking care of that seed that we've planted."
Kee also highlighted a quote from the historic Navajo headman Chief Manuelito, saying, "Education is the ladder."
He noted that young people are an inspiration in his work and urged them to continue to work hard and to honor the teachings of their families when they enter a formal education system.
"That's very important because they have laid the foundation for us, and we must protect that road, that journey that we are making into the future," he said.
Lastly, Kee acknowledged the hard work of educators and expressed deep respect for the Navajo government.
Kee received the recognition with gratitude and shared his achievement with his wife Karessa Kee, their daughter Alyson Tsosie, son-in-law Jeffery Tsosie, and other family members.
"Exciting and rewarding"
Kee was named the interim dean of instruction for UNM-Gallup, effective July 1. Kee took over the role after the former dean, John Zimmerman, was appointed as interim chancellor.
Kee described his first month on the job as "exciting and rewarding."
During the month of July, Kee engaged in outreach across campus to ensure a smooth and welcoming start of the new academic year for new and returning students and faculty. He also serves on the chancellor's executive team, allowing him to be involved in supporting UNM-Gallup's growth and success.
Kee's primary goals as interim dean are to support student success, meet the education and workforce needs of the community, and create clear transitions into higher education from local schools and neighboring communities.
UNM-Gallup Interim Dean of Instruction Joe Kee gives a speech during his recognition ceremony inthe Navajo Nation Council Chambers in Window Rock, Arizona, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
UNM-Gallup Interim Dean of Instruction Joe Kee gives a speech during his recognition ceremony inthe Navajo Nation Council Chambers in Window Rock, Arizona, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening UNM-Gallup's collaboration with local schools, tribal communities, and local organizations.
"UNM-Gallup is uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between higher education and the communities we serve," he said.
Kee's leadership is rooted in his upbringing on the Navajo reservation and the teachings of his elders.
"Although my career has taken me into higher education and leadership, I still carry the lessons I learned growing up in Steamboat on the Navajo Nation," he said. "It inspires me to continue serving students and communities with humility, respect, and dedication."
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Original text here: https://www.gallup.unm.edu/news/august-2026/celebrating-unm-gallups-first-navajo-dean.php
