Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Education (Colleges & Universities)
Featured Stories
Westmont College: Faculty Bring Faith, Excellence to Classroom
SANTA BARBARA, California, Sept. 2 -- Westmont College issued the following news:
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New Faculty Bring Faith, Excellence to Classroom
By Scott Craig
Five tenure-track professors, including a returning alumnus and an international design expert, join the Westmont faculty this fall, bringing a shared commitment to integrating faith with academic excellence. The new tenure-track appointments include Stephen Owusu (economics and business), Gregg Ten Elshof '92 (philosophy), Demetrius Tucker (English), Jarrett Walbolt (kinesiology) and Kristen Wood (engineering).
Owusu, who taught last year ... Show Full Article SANTA BARBARA, California, Sept. 2 -- Westmont College issued the following news: * * * New Faculty Bring Faith, Excellence to Classroom By Scott Craig Five tenure-track professors, including a returning alumnus and an international design expert, join the Westmont faculty this fall, bringing a shared commitment to integrating faith with academic excellence. The new tenure-track appointments include Stephen Owusu (economics and business), Gregg Ten Elshof '92 (philosophy), Demetrius Tucker (English), Jarrett Walbolt (kinesiology) and Kristen Wood (engineering). Owusu, who taught last yearat Westmont, says the college is "a place filled with faithful servants of God whose true intentions are not only to train students academically but also shepherd them in the light of God's Word." He also learned that teaching is truly his calling. "I always knew I wanted to teach, but I have been surprised by how passionate I am about teaching economics," he says. "I also learned that my life is more meaningful when I am at a place where I can easily connect with people spiritually."
He graduated from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana before earning a master's and doctorate from the University of New Mexico. This year, he hopes to work on three separate research projects. The first evaluates the impact of a city-level development program on crime against women in India. The second determines the impact of free elementary school on language dynamics. And the third assesses the impact of the implementation and rollback of extended secondary schooling in Ghana.
Ten Elshof, who graduated from Westmont with a degree in business and economics, taught philosophy at Biola University for 27 years, serving as the founding director of the Center for Christian Thought. In his final semester at Westmont, he took his first philosophy course -- taught by Bob Wennberg and attended by history professor Shirley Mullen. "Wennberg was sort of laid back and Shirley would fire questions at him," he says. "There was such genuine affection, respect and friendship, and yet they seemed to disagree about everything. I was so taken, I thought, this is what I should have been doing for four years at Westmont. This is what I'm going to do when I leave here."
He earned a Master of Arts in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology and a doctorate from the University of Southern California. He specializes in metaphysics, epistemology and Confucianism, and has authored several books, including "I Told Me So" and "Confucius for Christians." "There's always been something very special about this place in my mind," he says. "There's a passion for the liberal arts." He says he fell in love with learning and his wife, Laurel '92, at Westmont. Their children, Silas '24 and Larkin '26, both graduated from Westmont, and Gideon '30 is a first-year student.
Tucker credits his undergraduate work at Boyce College, a private Christian institution in Louisville, Kentucky, with preparing him well for Westmont's academic and community setting. "Westmont's integration of faith in the classroom, my love for reading, and work in African American literature intersected," he says. "It seemed like this could be a great fit and a place to grow and grow with the students as well."
Tucker earned a master's degree at the University of Louisville and a doctorate at Georgia State University. At Westmont, he is looking forward to teaching a seminar on Frederick Douglass, drawing on Douglass's autobiographies to examine the American experience and explore his efforts to shape and reform the nation. "Douglass carries an awareness of his own social power, and that makes everything he writes deeply charged," Tucker says. "It'll be exciting for students to understand this type of American identity -- where we were, where we are, and where we're still trying to go. Frederick Douglass can help mediate that for students. I'm most looking forward to being a carrier of culture -- almost like a missionary of culture."
Walbolt graduated from Bethel University and earned a doctorate in exercise and nutrition sciences, exercise physiology at Baylor University. "Westmont is a great school that combines the liberal arts with an amazing environment," he says. "The philosophy of the institution plays a huge role in the way I approach my teaching: How do we bring kinesiology alive right here?"
His early research explored low-cost treatments for PTSD using nutritional and exercise interventions. Since then he has diversified to examine ways to build physiologic resilience, the ability to keep moving under stress and adapt to the environment. "I've taken some of my interdisciplinary research with nutrition and exercise, and included the psychological components to look at how your personality affects your stress response to exercise, and would different exercise treatments work better with certain personalities versus others."
Wood, who served as an adjunct professor and instructor in Westmont's engineering department last year, says that taste of the college is what brought him back as a tenure-track professor. "The students are fabulous, and I felt God's calling to come back and work with them," he says.
He earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering at Colorado State University and a master's and doctorate in engineering and applied sciences at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) before becoming a faculty member in engineering at the University of Texas at Austin for over two decades. He was also a professor and founding Head of Pillar (Engineering Product Development) at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where he directed the MIT International Design Center.
"It's basically a leadership role in design thinking and design innovation," he says. "I am currently engaged with a robotics program at SUTD that received a $7 million grant for the next few years, and I hope to get my students here involved. I'm wholly looking forward to bringing my faith into my teaching to assist and mentor these young folks to grow in their faith and connect it to their academic discipline."
The college also welcomes several new, full-time, one-year professors. Kaydie Carr and Mia Pasini join the nursing faculty. Jack Keefer (business and economics) returns after teaching as an adjunct professor at Westmont in spring 2025. Alumnus Winston Gee '21 will teach general chemistry labs and physical chemistry.
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Original text here: https://www.westmont.edu/westmont-news/new-faculty-bring-faith-excellence-classroom
* * *
New Faculty Bring Faith, Excellence to Classroom
By Scott Craig
Five tenure-track professors, including a returning alumnus and an international design expert, join the Westmont faculty this fall, bringing a shared commitment to integrating faith with academic excellence. The new tenure-track appointments include Stephen Owusu (economics and business), Gregg Ten Elshof '92 (philosophy), Demetrius Tucker (English), Jarrett Walbolt (kinesiology) and Kristen Wood (engineering).
Owusu, who taught last year ... Show Full Article SANTA BARBARA, California, Sept. 2 -- Westmont College issued the following news: * * * New Faculty Bring Faith, Excellence to Classroom By Scott Craig Five tenure-track professors, including a returning alumnus and an international design expert, join the Westmont faculty this fall, bringing a shared commitment to integrating faith with academic excellence. The new tenure-track appointments include Stephen Owusu (economics and business), Gregg Ten Elshof '92 (philosophy), Demetrius Tucker (English), Jarrett Walbolt (kinesiology) and Kristen Wood (engineering). Owusu, who taught last yearat Westmont, says the college is "a place filled with faithful servants of God whose true intentions are not only to train students academically but also shepherd them in the light of God's Word." He also learned that teaching is truly his calling. "I always knew I wanted to teach, but I have been surprised by how passionate I am about teaching economics," he says. "I also learned that my life is more meaningful when I am at a place where I can easily connect with people spiritually."
He graduated from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana before earning a master's and doctorate from the University of New Mexico. This year, he hopes to work on three separate research projects. The first evaluates the impact of a city-level development program on crime against women in India. The second determines the impact of free elementary school on language dynamics. And the third assesses the impact of the implementation and rollback of extended secondary schooling in Ghana.
Ten Elshof, who graduated from Westmont with a degree in business and economics, taught philosophy at Biola University for 27 years, serving as the founding director of the Center for Christian Thought. In his final semester at Westmont, he took his first philosophy course -- taught by Bob Wennberg and attended by history professor Shirley Mullen. "Wennberg was sort of laid back and Shirley would fire questions at him," he says. "There was such genuine affection, respect and friendship, and yet they seemed to disagree about everything. I was so taken, I thought, this is what I should have been doing for four years at Westmont. This is what I'm going to do when I leave here."
He earned a Master of Arts in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology and a doctorate from the University of Southern California. He specializes in metaphysics, epistemology and Confucianism, and has authored several books, including "I Told Me So" and "Confucius for Christians." "There's always been something very special about this place in my mind," he says. "There's a passion for the liberal arts." He says he fell in love with learning and his wife, Laurel '92, at Westmont. Their children, Silas '24 and Larkin '26, both graduated from Westmont, and Gideon '30 is a first-year student.
Tucker credits his undergraduate work at Boyce College, a private Christian institution in Louisville, Kentucky, with preparing him well for Westmont's academic and community setting. "Westmont's integration of faith in the classroom, my love for reading, and work in African American literature intersected," he says. "It seemed like this could be a great fit and a place to grow and grow with the students as well."
Tucker earned a master's degree at the University of Louisville and a doctorate at Georgia State University. At Westmont, he is looking forward to teaching a seminar on Frederick Douglass, drawing on Douglass's autobiographies to examine the American experience and explore his efforts to shape and reform the nation. "Douglass carries an awareness of his own social power, and that makes everything he writes deeply charged," Tucker says. "It'll be exciting for students to understand this type of American identity -- where we were, where we are, and where we're still trying to go. Frederick Douglass can help mediate that for students. I'm most looking forward to being a carrier of culture -- almost like a missionary of culture."
Walbolt graduated from Bethel University and earned a doctorate in exercise and nutrition sciences, exercise physiology at Baylor University. "Westmont is a great school that combines the liberal arts with an amazing environment," he says. "The philosophy of the institution plays a huge role in the way I approach my teaching: How do we bring kinesiology alive right here?"
His early research explored low-cost treatments for PTSD using nutritional and exercise interventions. Since then he has diversified to examine ways to build physiologic resilience, the ability to keep moving under stress and adapt to the environment. "I've taken some of my interdisciplinary research with nutrition and exercise, and included the psychological components to look at how your personality affects your stress response to exercise, and would different exercise treatments work better with certain personalities versus others."
Wood, who served as an adjunct professor and instructor in Westmont's engineering department last year, says that taste of the college is what brought him back as a tenure-track professor. "The students are fabulous, and I felt God's calling to come back and work with them," he says.
He earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering at Colorado State University and a master's and doctorate in engineering and applied sciences at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) before becoming a faculty member in engineering at the University of Texas at Austin for over two decades. He was also a professor and founding Head of Pillar (Engineering Product Development) at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where he directed the MIT International Design Center.
"It's basically a leadership role in design thinking and design innovation," he says. "I am currently engaged with a robotics program at SUTD that received a $7 million grant for the next few years, and I hope to get my students here involved. I'm wholly looking forward to bringing my faith into my teaching to assist and mentor these young folks to grow in their faith and connect it to their academic discipline."
The college also welcomes several new, full-time, one-year professors. Kaydie Carr and Mia Pasini join the nursing faculty. Jack Keefer (business and economics) returns after teaching as an adjunct professor at Westmont in spring 2025. Alumnus Winston Gee '21 will teach general chemistry labs and physical chemistry.
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Original text here: https://www.westmont.edu/westmont-news/new-faculty-bring-faith-excellence-classroom
Tufts University: Melissa Mazan Named Interim Dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts, Sept. 2 -- Tufts University issued the following news release:
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Melissa Mazan Named Interim Dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
An internationally recognized expert in equine medicine with decades of experience at Tufts, Mazan takes the reins on September 1
By Angela Nelson
elissa Mazan, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM, V93, professor of large animal internal medicine and an internationally recognized equine veterinarian, researcher, educator, and longtime academic leader at Tufts University, has been named dean ad interim of Cummings School of Veterinary ... Show Full Article SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts, Sept. 2 -- Tufts University issued the following news release: * * * Melissa Mazan Named Interim Dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine An internationally recognized expert in equine medicine with decades of experience at Tufts, Mazan takes the reins on September 1 By Angela Nelson elissa Mazan, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM, V93, professor of large animal internal medicine and an internationally recognized equine veterinarian, researcher, educator, and longtime academic leader at Tufts University, has been named dean ad interim of Cummings School of VeterinaryMedicine at Tufts University, effective September 1, 2026.
Mazan succeeds Alastair Cribb, D.V.M., Ph.D., FCAHS, and brings decades of experience at Cummings School as a student, clinician, researcher, teacher, and administrator.
Over the course of her career, she has served in numerous leadership roles at the school, including associate dean for professional education, associate chair of clinical sciences, director of the Isaam M. Fares Equine Sports Medicine Program at the Hospital for Large Animals, and director of the Tufts Equine Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Cytology Laboratory. At the university level, she was a founding member of the Faculty Senate and served as its president.
"Stepping into this role comes with a real sense of awe and responsibility," Mazan said. "I've spent my entire professional life here, and it's an honor to help lead this school into its next chapter."
A Career Built at Cummings School
Mazan first came to Cummings School as a veterinary student after completing an undergraduate degree in history from Yale University. After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1993, she completed advanced training in equine medicine, including internships and residencies, before joining the faculty.
Since then, she has helped shape nearly every aspect of the school's mission. Her work has ranged from clinical practice and hospital leadership to teaching, curriculum development, faculty governance, research, and international outreach. Along the way, she established herself as a leading expert in equine asthma and respiratory disease--becoming a founding member of the international Equine Asthma Group--while building a reputation as a collaborative leader and mentor.
Her research has included studies in physiology, regenerative medicine, stem cell science, and respiratory disease. She directs the Tufts BAL Cytology Laboratory, which provides BAL cytology interpretation for veterinarians and horses across the country. She has also led educational and international initiatives, including helping to establish a mobile veterinary clinic in Rwanda.
Throughout her career, Mazan has eagerly embraced a range of responsibilities.
"I've experienced every part of this school firsthand," she said. "I've been deeply immersed in clinics, research, teaching, and administration. That experience has helped me understand how all the pieces of the school fit together."
That breadth of experience, she said, will help her guide the school during a period of continued growth and innovation.
Advancing Veterinary Education
Among Mazan's most significant contributions has been her leadership in veterinary education. She has played a central role in examining and redesigning the school's curriculum to ensure that graduates are prepared for an increasingly complex profession.
"The curriculum wasn't broken," Mazan said. "Our graduates have been extraordinarily successful. The challenge was that veterinary medicine continues to evolve, and the amount of information students need to master continues to expand."
The redesigned curriculum emphasizes clinical reasoning, communication skills, critical thinking, and hands-on learning alongside foundational scientific knowledge. Students are introduced earlier to clinical experiences and practical skills while also being challenged to analyze emerging research and solve complex problems. Mazan credits the expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication of the faculty and staff for making the new curriculum a reality. "The entire campus stepped up to deliver on the promise of a transformative education," she said.
Mazan points to the accomplishments of Cummings School graduates as evidence of the strength of the school's approach. The school consistently ranks among the top veterinary schools in licensing examination performance, and its alumni hold leadership positions throughout the profession in academia, clinical practice, industry, and public service.
"We strive not for adequacy but for excellence," she said. "Our goal is to prepare students to succeed on day one and well beyond day one."
Priorities for the Future
As dean ad interim, Mazan said she will focus on supporting the school's core missions and building on the foundation of Strategic Vision 2030 and its goals of exceptional education, extraordinary clinical care, transformative research, and sustainable culture. This vision is already gaining external recognition, as the school continues to rise in rankings, recently reaching #22 in the world and #11 in the United States in the QS World University Rankings for Veterinary Science.
"For us, this recognition isn't the finish line," Mazan said. "It is motivation to keep building the education, research, and clinical excellence that will carry Cummings School into the top five."
In addition to her focus on the educational mission, Mazan's other priorities are investing in faculty success and supporting the clinical, translational, and basic science research that form a vibrant biomedical enterprise. "It will also be important," she said, "to strengthen collaboration across schools and disciplines at Tufts, continuing to connect faculty to colleagues throughout the university."
She will also help oversee major facilities initiatives designed to support the school's continued growth. She plans to champion the development of the Veterinary Clinical Education Center, which will house centers of clinical excellence for Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals along with clinical and translational research.
Together with the soon-to-be-completed Veterinary Learning Center for preclinical education, Mazan anticipates these investments will help the school produce veterinary clinicians ready to meet the demands of an increasingly advanced field, advance research that benefits animal and human health, and provide innovative, compassionate patient care. She noted that as the school's clinical and preclinical facilities take shape, she also hopes to look at what more can be done to support research infrastructure over time.
"We have extraordinary faculty, staff, and students," Mazan said. "My job is to help create the environment where they can do their best work."
Part of what makes that possible, she said, is the combination of D.V.M. students and graduate students learning and working alongside one another. "Clinical questions help to push the science forward, and the science comes back to inform how we practice medicine. As our graduate student population continues to grow, that combination is becoming an even greater source of strength for us."
Building on a Strong Community
Mazan said one of the school's greatest strengths is its culture.
"When you have talented people, you have to give them the support and the stage to succeed," she said. "That's true for students, faculty, and staff."
She hopes to continue fostering the collaborative and supportive environment that has distinguished Cummings School throughout its history while helping prepare the next generation of veterinary and biomedical leaders.
For Mazan, the opportunity is especially meaningful because of her deep ties to the institution.
"This school has been my home for a very long time," she said. "I care deeply about its future, and I'm excited about what comes next."
* * *
Original text here: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/09/01/melissa-mazan-named-interim-dean-cummings-school-veterinary-medicine
* * *
Melissa Mazan Named Interim Dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
An internationally recognized expert in equine medicine with decades of experience at Tufts, Mazan takes the reins on September 1
By Angela Nelson
elissa Mazan, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM, V93, professor of large animal internal medicine and an internationally recognized equine veterinarian, researcher, educator, and longtime academic leader at Tufts University, has been named dean ad interim of Cummings School of Veterinary ... Show Full Article SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts, Sept. 2 -- Tufts University issued the following news release: * * * Melissa Mazan Named Interim Dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine An internationally recognized expert in equine medicine with decades of experience at Tufts, Mazan takes the reins on September 1 By Angela Nelson elissa Mazan, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVIM, V93, professor of large animal internal medicine and an internationally recognized equine veterinarian, researcher, educator, and longtime academic leader at Tufts University, has been named dean ad interim of Cummings School of VeterinaryMedicine at Tufts University, effective September 1, 2026.
Mazan succeeds Alastair Cribb, D.V.M., Ph.D., FCAHS, and brings decades of experience at Cummings School as a student, clinician, researcher, teacher, and administrator.
Over the course of her career, she has served in numerous leadership roles at the school, including associate dean for professional education, associate chair of clinical sciences, director of the Isaam M. Fares Equine Sports Medicine Program at the Hospital for Large Animals, and director of the Tufts Equine Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Cytology Laboratory. At the university level, she was a founding member of the Faculty Senate and served as its president.
"Stepping into this role comes with a real sense of awe and responsibility," Mazan said. "I've spent my entire professional life here, and it's an honor to help lead this school into its next chapter."
A Career Built at Cummings School
Mazan first came to Cummings School as a veterinary student after completing an undergraduate degree in history from Yale University. After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1993, she completed advanced training in equine medicine, including internships and residencies, before joining the faculty.
Since then, she has helped shape nearly every aspect of the school's mission. Her work has ranged from clinical practice and hospital leadership to teaching, curriculum development, faculty governance, research, and international outreach. Along the way, she established herself as a leading expert in equine asthma and respiratory disease--becoming a founding member of the international Equine Asthma Group--while building a reputation as a collaborative leader and mentor.
Her research has included studies in physiology, regenerative medicine, stem cell science, and respiratory disease. She directs the Tufts BAL Cytology Laboratory, which provides BAL cytology interpretation for veterinarians and horses across the country. She has also led educational and international initiatives, including helping to establish a mobile veterinary clinic in Rwanda.
Throughout her career, Mazan has eagerly embraced a range of responsibilities.
"I've experienced every part of this school firsthand," she said. "I've been deeply immersed in clinics, research, teaching, and administration. That experience has helped me understand how all the pieces of the school fit together."
That breadth of experience, she said, will help her guide the school during a period of continued growth and innovation.
Advancing Veterinary Education
Among Mazan's most significant contributions has been her leadership in veterinary education. She has played a central role in examining and redesigning the school's curriculum to ensure that graduates are prepared for an increasingly complex profession.
"The curriculum wasn't broken," Mazan said. "Our graduates have been extraordinarily successful. The challenge was that veterinary medicine continues to evolve, and the amount of information students need to master continues to expand."
The redesigned curriculum emphasizes clinical reasoning, communication skills, critical thinking, and hands-on learning alongside foundational scientific knowledge. Students are introduced earlier to clinical experiences and practical skills while also being challenged to analyze emerging research and solve complex problems. Mazan credits the expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication of the faculty and staff for making the new curriculum a reality. "The entire campus stepped up to deliver on the promise of a transformative education," she said.
Mazan points to the accomplishments of Cummings School graduates as evidence of the strength of the school's approach. The school consistently ranks among the top veterinary schools in licensing examination performance, and its alumni hold leadership positions throughout the profession in academia, clinical practice, industry, and public service.
"We strive not for adequacy but for excellence," she said. "Our goal is to prepare students to succeed on day one and well beyond day one."
Priorities for the Future
As dean ad interim, Mazan said she will focus on supporting the school's core missions and building on the foundation of Strategic Vision 2030 and its goals of exceptional education, extraordinary clinical care, transformative research, and sustainable culture. This vision is already gaining external recognition, as the school continues to rise in rankings, recently reaching #22 in the world and #11 in the United States in the QS World University Rankings for Veterinary Science.
"For us, this recognition isn't the finish line," Mazan said. "It is motivation to keep building the education, research, and clinical excellence that will carry Cummings School into the top five."
In addition to her focus on the educational mission, Mazan's other priorities are investing in faculty success and supporting the clinical, translational, and basic science research that form a vibrant biomedical enterprise. "It will also be important," she said, "to strengthen collaboration across schools and disciplines at Tufts, continuing to connect faculty to colleagues throughout the university."
She will also help oversee major facilities initiatives designed to support the school's continued growth. She plans to champion the development of the Veterinary Clinical Education Center, which will house centers of clinical excellence for Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals along with clinical and translational research.
Together with the soon-to-be-completed Veterinary Learning Center for preclinical education, Mazan anticipates these investments will help the school produce veterinary clinicians ready to meet the demands of an increasingly advanced field, advance research that benefits animal and human health, and provide innovative, compassionate patient care. She noted that as the school's clinical and preclinical facilities take shape, she also hopes to look at what more can be done to support research infrastructure over time.
"We have extraordinary faculty, staff, and students," Mazan said. "My job is to help create the environment where they can do their best work."
Part of what makes that possible, she said, is the combination of D.V.M. students and graduate students learning and working alongside one another. "Clinical questions help to push the science forward, and the science comes back to inform how we practice medicine. As our graduate student population continues to grow, that combination is becoming an even greater source of strength for us."
Building on a Strong Community
Mazan said one of the school's greatest strengths is its culture.
"When you have talented people, you have to give them the support and the stage to succeed," she said. "That's true for students, faculty, and staff."
She hopes to continue fostering the collaborative and supportive environment that has distinguished Cummings School throughout its history while helping prepare the next generation of veterinary and biomedical leaders.
For Mazan, the opportunity is especially meaningful because of her deep ties to the institution.
"This school has been my home for a very long time," she said. "I care deeply about its future, and I'm excited about what comes next."
* * *
Original text here: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/09/01/melissa-mazan-named-interim-dean-cummings-school-veterinary-medicine
Syracuse University: Fulbright Scholars Find Warmth on Campus, Gain Readiness for Graduate Study in U.S.
SYRACUSE, New York, Sept. 2 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Fulbright Scholars Find Warmth on Campus, Gain Readiness for Graduate Study in US
Hosted by the College of Professional Studies, the four-week program pairs coursework with host family dinners and cultural exchange.
Dialynn Dwyer
The journey to Syracuse from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, took Ryan Nugraha 28 hours. He arrived at night, exhausted.
But the greeting he and other Fulbrighters received from administrators of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program gave a boost.
"Suddenly, to me at least, it didn't feel as ... Show Full Article SYRACUSE, New York, Sept. 2 -- Syracuse University issued the following news: * * * Fulbright Scholars Find Warmth on Campus, Gain Readiness for Graduate Study in US Hosted by the College of Professional Studies, the four-week program pairs coursework with host family dinners and cultural exchange. Dialynn Dwyer The journey to Syracuse from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, took Ryan Nugraha 28 hours. He arrived at night, exhausted. But the greeting he and other Fulbrighters received from administrators of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program gave a boost. "Suddenly, to me at least, it didn't feel astiring anymore because we got to see the warmth of Syracuse," Nugraha says.
Nugraha was one of 26 students from 20 countries who spent four weeks on the Syracuse University campus over the summer, participating in the program designed to prepare international graduate students for academic life in the United States.
The program, which returned this summer after a yearlong hiatus, is administered through the English Language Institute in the College of Professional Studies. The scholars spend their mornings sharpening their English and academic skills, and their afternoons meeting guests--librarians, deans and experts who offer information on topics ranging from conducting research to the U.S. political system to mental health.
The rest of the time, scholars are provided experiences outside the academic realm: dinners with host families and field trips to regional historic sites and cultural experiences.
David Lind, director of international programs, says the dinners in particular offer a cultural exchange that runs both ways.
"Families offer scholars a personal window into local life, and scholars offer families their own introduction to a new country and culture," he says. "That kind of exchange is really the heart of what Fulbright is about."
The program culminates with a poster session where the scholars present on a topic within their academic focus. When the program is over, the scholars head to their home institutions, where they will begin their graduate study in the United States.
But even after their departure, the program's impact is felt on campus, Lind says.
"Faculty, staff, and students across departments get a chance to connect with incoming international scholars early, building relationships that often carry into the academic year and beyond," he says. "It gives the university a meaningful way to live out its global engagement mission, showing that Syracuse invests in international students' success."
The Experience for Scholars
For Melanie Lemus, who participated in the program before going on to pursue a master's degree in global studies at Oklahoma State University, her arrival in Syracuse marked her first time leaving home. She was nervous and scared when she said goodbye to her family in Honduras.
"I was almost crying because it was my first time away," she says of her arrival. "It was at night. It was tiring. I was so homesick and so nervous."
Within a few days, she says the warmth of the people participating in and administering the program and the many engaging activities--a trip to Niagara Falls was a favorite experience for both her and Nugraha--overtook her homesickness as she found support and friendship in her cohort.
"The professors were really warm and really kind," she says. "It was really nice to feel supported by them, the facilitators, too. We have a really good group of Fulbrighters. We all got to know each other, and we had a great time with each other."
Coming into the program, Lemus says she wasn't expecting to learn so much outside of the classroom and academic preparation or for those experiences to prove so meaningful.
"I love how everything was planned to make us enjoy not only the academic side, but also to know where we are, what is in our surroundings," she says.
The Impact on Campus--and Beyond
Nugraha, who is pursuing his doctoral degree in health service policy and management at the University of South Carolina, agrees that it was the warmth of the people of Syracuse and the program's administrators that made the experience amazing.
Academically, Nugraha says that even though he's been working in classrooms as a lecturer in Indonesia, the program helped him get back in touch with "being on the other side of the table."
"This program really warms up our academic brain before actually getting to our home institution," he says.
Getting a re-introduction to balancing classes, assignments, events and excursions gives a preview of what academic study will be like for him, he says.
"We're getting exposed to that academic environment again, to that social environment again and also to really know and get in touch with other cultures," Nugraha says.
Lemus says the program was essential to providing an introduction to that academic system in the United States.
"We can go to our home institutions, knowing what is going on, knowing what we are going to face," she says.
The Fulbright Pre-Academic Program has been hosted by the College of Professional Studies for a decade, but what Lind says makes it so successful is how many people from all corners of the University participate.
"The Fulbrighters get plugged into conversations with deans, professors and specialists from Syracuse University Libraries, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Newhouse, Hendricks Chapel, and the Barnes Center, to name just a few collaborating units," he says. "That kind of reach only happens with institutional backing behind it. Administrative and academic leadership have consistently championed the program's value to the University, treating it not as a one-off but as a standing part of Syracuse's international mission."
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/09/01/fulbright-scholars-find-warmth-on-campus-gain-readiness-for-graduate-study-in-us/
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Fulbright Scholars Find Warmth on Campus, Gain Readiness for Graduate Study in US
Hosted by the College of Professional Studies, the four-week program pairs coursework with host family dinners and cultural exchange.
Dialynn Dwyer
The journey to Syracuse from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, took Ryan Nugraha 28 hours. He arrived at night, exhausted.
But the greeting he and other Fulbrighters received from administrators of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program gave a boost.
"Suddenly, to me at least, it didn't feel as ... Show Full Article SYRACUSE, New York, Sept. 2 -- Syracuse University issued the following news: * * * Fulbright Scholars Find Warmth on Campus, Gain Readiness for Graduate Study in US Hosted by the College of Professional Studies, the four-week program pairs coursework with host family dinners and cultural exchange. Dialynn Dwyer The journey to Syracuse from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, took Ryan Nugraha 28 hours. He arrived at night, exhausted. But the greeting he and other Fulbrighters received from administrators of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program gave a boost. "Suddenly, to me at least, it didn't feel astiring anymore because we got to see the warmth of Syracuse," Nugraha says.
Nugraha was one of 26 students from 20 countries who spent four weeks on the Syracuse University campus over the summer, participating in the program designed to prepare international graduate students for academic life in the United States.
The program, which returned this summer after a yearlong hiatus, is administered through the English Language Institute in the College of Professional Studies. The scholars spend their mornings sharpening their English and academic skills, and their afternoons meeting guests--librarians, deans and experts who offer information on topics ranging from conducting research to the U.S. political system to mental health.
The rest of the time, scholars are provided experiences outside the academic realm: dinners with host families and field trips to regional historic sites and cultural experiences.
David Lind, director of international programs, says the dinners in particular offer a cultural exchange that runs both ways.
"Families offer scholars a personal window into local life, and scholars offer families their own introduction to a new country and culture," he says. "That kind of exchange is really the heart of what Fulbright is about."
The program culminates with a poster session where the scholars present on a topic within their academic focus. When the program is over, the scholars head to their home institutions, where they will begin their graduate study in the United States.
But even after their departure, the program's impact is felt on campus, Lind says.
"Faculty, staff, and students across departments get a chance to connect with incoming international scholars early, building relationships that often carry into the academic year and beyond," he says. "It gives the university a meaningful way to live out its global engagement mission, showing that Syracuse invests in international students' success."
The Experience for Scholars
For Melanie Lemus, who participated in the program before going on to pursue a master's degree in global studies at Oklahoma State University, her arrival in Syracuse marked her first time leaving home. She was nervous and scared when she said goodbye to her family in Honduras.
"I was almost crying because it was my first time away," she says of her arrival. "It was at night. It was tiring. I was so homesick and so nervous."
Within a few days, she says the warmth of the people participating in and administering the program and the many engaging activities--a trip to Niagara Falls was a favorite experience for both her and Nugraha--overtook her homesickness as she found support and friendship in her cohort.
"The professors were really warm and really kind," she says. "It was really nice to feel supported by them, the facilitators, too. We have a really good group of Fulbrighters. We all got to know each other, and we had a great time with each other."
Coming into the program, Lemus says she wasn't expecting to learn so much outside of the classroom and academic preparation or for those experiences to prove so meaningful.
"I love how everything was planned to make us enjoy not only the academic side, but also to know where we are, what is in our surroundings," she says.
The Impact on Campus--and Beyond
Nugraha, who is pursuing his doctoral degree in health service policy and management at the University of South Carolina, agrees that it was the warmth of the people of Syracuse and the program's administrators that made the experience amazing.
Academically, Nugraha says that even though he's been working in classrooms as a lecturer in Indonesia, the program helped him get back in touch with "being on the other side of the table."
"This program really warms up our academic brain before actually getting to our home institution," he says.
Getting a re-introduction to balancing classes, assignments, events and excursions gives a preview of what academic study will be like for him, he says.
"We're getting exposed to that academic environment again, to that social environment again and also to really know and get in touch with other cultures," Nugraha says.
Lemus says the program was essential to providing an introduction to that academic system in the United States.
"We can go to our home institutions, knowing what is going on, knowing what we are going to face," she says.
The Fulbright Pre-Academic Program has been hosted by the College of Professional Studies for a decade, but what Lind says makes it so successful is how many people from all corners of the University participate.
"The Fulbrighters get plugged into conversations with deans, professors and specialists from Syracuse University Libraries, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Newhouse, Hendricks Chapel, and the Barnes Center, to name just a few collaborating units," he says. "That kind of reach only happens with institutional backing behind it. Administrative and academic leadership have consistently championed the program's value to the University, treating it not as a one-off but as a standing part of Syracuse's international mission."
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/09/01/fulbright-scholars-find-warmth-on-campus-gain-readiness-for-graduate-study-in-us/
Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Rutgers University issued the following news:
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Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers
John "Jack" Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in policing, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy
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Administrators of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have named John "Jack" Donohue director of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience. Donohue succeeds John J. Farmer Jr., the center's inaugural director. His appointment ... Show Full Article NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Rutgers University issued the following news: * * * Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers John "Jack" Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in policing, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy - Administrators of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have named John "Jack" Donohue director of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience. Donohue succeeds John J. Farmer Jr., the center's inaugural director. His appointmentas director was effective in July 2026.
A former Miller Center fellow, Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in law enforcement, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy. He spent much of his career with the New York City Police Department, where he concluded his service as chief of strategic initiatives. He also was the director of intelligence for the U.S. Capitol Police.
In executive leadership roles, Donohue led multidisciplinary teams focused on identifying challenges and developing solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency across policing, prosecutions, courts, school safety and intelligence. He has also worked closely with government and industry partners to develop protective security technologies, advance information security and sharing policies and strengthen approaches to community engagement and public safety.
"Public safety is foundational to thriving communities, and law enforcement is a critical component of keeping them safe," Donohue said. "Police, working in partnership with community stakeholders, generate trust and credibility among the people they serve. That is what makes the work of the Miller Center so vitally important. I'm particularly energized by the opportunity to expand the work of the Center."
"Jack brings an exceptional combination of experience, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the relationship between public safety institutions and the communities they serve," said Elizabeth C. Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "The Miller Center's work is rooted in strengthening trust, resilience and collaboration, particularly among communities facing heightened risk. I am confident that under Jack's leadership, the center will continue to build on this important work while identifying new opportunities to connect research, policy and practice in ways that strengthen communities and civic life."
Donohue holds a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University, a master of business administration degree from Manhattan College and a bachelor of arts degree from Pace University.
Members of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience aim to strengthen the safety, resilience and standing of vulnerable communities by improving trust-based relationships with law enforcement, government agencies and at-risk communities. Housed at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the center was launched in 2017. In November 2022, senior university officials announced a $2 million gift and the creation of an endowed fund from Rutgers alumnus Paul Miller and his family, allowing the Center on Policing to join the Miller Center on Community Protection and Resilience. The combined center allows for better coordination of research and practice to improve relations between police and communities and promote the well-being of vulnerable populations in New Jersey, throughout the United States and beyond.
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Original text here: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/public-safety-expert-named-director-miller-center-policing-and-community-resilience-rutgers
* * *
Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers
John "Jack" Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in policing, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy
-
Administrators of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have named John "Jack" Donohue director of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience. Donohue succeeds John J. Farmer Jr., the center's inaugural director. His appointment ... Show Full Article NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Rutgers University issued the following news: * * * Public Safety Expert Is Named Director of Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers John "Jack" Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in policing, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy - Administrators of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have named John "Jack" Donohue director of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience. Donohue succeeds John J. Farmer Jr., the center's inaugural director. His appointmentas director was effective in July 2026.
A former Miller Center fellow, Donohue brings decades of leadership experience in law enforcement, public safety, intelligence and organizational strategy. He spent much of his career with the New York City Police Department, where he concluded his service as chief of strategic initiatives. He also was the director of intelligence for the U.S. Capitol Police.
In executive leadership roles, Donohue led multidisciplinary teams focused on identifying challenges and developing solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency across policing, prosecutions, courts, school safety and intelligence. He has also worked closely with government and industry partners to develop protective security technologies, advance information security and sharing policies and strengthen approaches to community engagement and public safety.
"Public safety is foundational to thriving communities, and law enforcement is a critical component of keeping them safe," Donohue said. "Police, working in partnership with community stakeholders, generate trust and credibility among the people they serve. That is what makes the work of the Miller Center so vitally important. I'm particularly energized by the opportunity to expand the work of the Center."
"Jack brings an exceptional combination of experience, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the relationship between public safety institutions and the communities they serve," said Elizabeth C. Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "The Miller Center's work is rooted in strengthening trust, resilience and collaboration, particularly among communities facing heightened risk. I am confident that under Jack's leadership, the center will continue to build on this important work while identifying new opportunities to connect research, policy and practice in ways that strengthen communities and civic life."
Donohue holds a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University, a master of business administration degree from Manhattan College and a bachelor of arts degree from Pace University.
Members of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience aim to strengthen the safety, resilience and standing of vulnerable communities by improving trust-based relationships with law enforcement, government agencies and at-risk communities. Housed at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the center was launched in 2017. In November 2022, senior university officials announced a $2 million gift and the creation of an endowed fund from Rutgers alumnus Paul Miller and his family, allowing the Center on Policing to join the Miller Center on Community Protection and Resilience. The combined center allows for better coordination of research and practice to improve relations between police and communities and promote the well-being of vulnerable populations in New Jersey, throughout the United States and beyond.
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Original text here: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/public-safety-expert-named-director-miller-center-policing-and-community-resilience-rutgers
Promoting Brain Health: Hofstra's Dementia Risk Reduction Convening in Collaboration With the Alzheimer's Association
HEMPSTEAD, New York, Sept. 2 -- Hofstra University issued the following news:
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Promoting Brain Health: Hofstra's Dementia Risk Reduction Convening in Collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association
Lindsey Angioletti
On August 3, 2026, Hofstra University's School of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association's Long Island Chapter held its 4th Annual Long Island Dementia Risk Reduction Convening. This event brought together health professionals, faculty, and community members to discuss strategies for promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia, including ... Show Full Article HEMPSTEAD, New York, Sept. 2 -- Hofstra University issued the following news: * * * Promoting Brain Health: Hofstra's Dementia Risk Reduction Convening in Collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association Lindsey Angioletti On August 3, 2026, Hofstra University's School of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association's Long Island Chapter held its 4th Annual Long Island Dementia Risk Reduction Convening. This event brought together health professionals, faculty, and community members to discuss strategies for promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia, includingAlzheimer's disease.
The convening was welcomed by Dr. Andrea Ault-Brutus, Senior Assistant Dean at Hofstra's School of Health Sciences, who opened the event by emphasizing the importance of dementia risk reduction and the collective effort needed to promote brain health across the lifespan.
Speakers included Dr. Corinne Kyriacou, Vice Dean and Associate Professor of Population Health in the School of Health Sciences, who discussed the effect of lifelong learning on cognitive health and healthy aging. Dr. Kyriacou also discussed Hofstra's designation as an Age-Friendly University and the Lifelong Learning Lecture Series hosted at Hofstra's Oak Street Center as opportunities for intellectual and social engagement open to the community.
The convening also featured presentations from Dr. Keasha Guerrier, Founder and CEO of Wellspring Universe, who discussed physical exercise through her faith-based Wellspring Universe program, including wellness walks organized with local churches, highlighting the role of physical exercise and social engagement in promoting brain health. Representatives from Harmony Healthcare Long Island, Dr. Patricia Cooke and Ms. Reginale Craig spoke about their Westbury Health Center Community Garden initiative, which provides fresh, healthy vegetables for patients experiencing food insecurity. Together, they demonstrated how physical exercise and healthy nutrition can support brain health and contribute to dementia risk reduction.
Ms. Doris Phildor from the Alzheimer's Association gave an update on the U.S. Pointer Study which highlighted the benefits of combining cognitive exercises, physical activity, nutrition, and health monitoring to support brain health. The Brain Health ECHO program was also discussed as an example of how healthcare providers can integrate brain health into everyday practices within their communities.
The convening concluded with a breakout discussion, led by Ms. Lori Maldavir from the Alzheimer's Association, Long Island Chapter, focused on ways participants can support one another in promoting dementia risk reduction and increasing awareness of available programs that support healthy aging and brain health initiatives within their communities. Participants also discussed ways to strengthen and better support the collaborative's work moving forward. The collaborative will reconvene virtually in February 2027 to continue building on these discussions, sharing insights, and identifying opportunities for collective action.
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News in Summary
- Hofstra brought together health experts and community partners to turn dementia risk-reduction research into action.
- Small lifestyle changes can make a meaningful difference in lifelong brain health.
- Local initiatives are putting strategies around physical activity, nutrition, learning and social connection into practice across Long Island.
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Original text here: https://news.hofstra.edu/2026/08/31/promoting-brain-health-hofstras-dementia-risk-reduction-convening-in-collaboration-with-the-alzheimers-association/
* * *
Promoting Brain Health: Hofstra's Dementia Risk Reduction Convening in Collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association
Lindsey Angioletti
On August 3, 2026, Hofstra University's School of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association's Long Island Chapter held its 4th Annual Long Island Dementia Risk Reduction Convening. This event brought together health professionals, faculty, and community members to discuss strategies for promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia, including ... Show Full Article HEMPSTEAD, New York, Sept. 2 -- Hofstra University issued the following news: * * * Promoting Brain Health: Hofstra's Dementia Risk Reduction Convening in Collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association Lindsey Angioletti On August 3, 2026, Hofstra University's School of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association's Long Island Chapter held its 4th Annual Long Island Dementia Risk Reduction Convening. This event brought together health professionals, faculty, and community members to discuss strategies for promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia, includingAlzheimer's disease.
The convening was welcomed by Dr. Andrea Ault-Brutus, Senior Assistant Dean at Hofstra's School of Health Sciences, who opened the event by emphasizing the importance of dementia risk reduction and the collective effort needed to promote brain health across the lifespan.
Speakers included Dr. Corinne Kyriacou, Vice Dean and Associate Professor of Population Health in the School of Health Sciences, who discussed the effect of lifelong learning on cognitive health and healthy aging. Dr. Kyriacou also discussed Hofstra's designation as an Age-Friendly University and the Lifelong Learning Lecture Series hosted at Hofstra's Oak Street Center as opportunities for intellectual and social engagement open to the community.
The convening also featured presentations from Dr. Keasha Guerrier, Founder and CEO of Wellspring Universe, who discussed physical exercise through her faith-based Wellspring Universe program, including wellness walks organized with local churches, highlighting the role of physical exercise and social engagement in promoting brain health. Representatives from Harmony Healthcare Long Island, Dr. Patricia Cooke and Ms. Reginale Craig spoke about their Westbury Health Center Community Garden initiative, which provides fresh, healthy vegetables for patients experiencing food insecurity. Together, they demonstrated how physical exercise and healthy nutrition can support brain health and contribute to dementia risk reduction.
Ms. Doris Phildor from the Alzheimer's Association gave an update on the U.S. Pointer Study which highlighted the benefits of combining cognitive exercises, physical activity, nutrition, and health monitoring to support brain health. The Brain Health ECHO program was also discussed as an example of how healthcare providers can integrate brain health into everyday practices within their communities.
The convening concluded with a breakout discussion, led by Ms. Lori Maldavir from the Alzheimer's Association, Long Island Chapter, focused on ways participants can support one another in promoting dementia risk reduction and increasing awareness of available programs that support healthy aging and brain health initiatives within their communities. Participants also discussed ways to strengthen and better support the collaborative's work moving forward. The collaborative will reconvene virtually in February 2027 to continue building on these discussions, sharing insights, and identifying opportunities for collective action.
* * *
News in Summary
- Hofstra brought together health experts and community partners to turn dementia risk-reduction research into action.
- Small lifestyle changes can make a meaningful difference in lifelong brain health.
- Local initiatives are putting strategies around physical activity, nutrition, learning and social connection into practice across Long Island.
* * *
Original text here: https://news.hofstra.edu/2026/08/31/promoting-brain-health-hofstras-dementia-risk-reduction-convening-in-collaboration-with-the-alzheimers-association/
Princeton Strengthens Its Support for AI and Data Science Scholarship Through Data and Intelligent Systems Initiative
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Princeton University issued the following news:
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Princeton strengthens its support for AI and data science scholarship through Data and Intelligent Systems initiative
By Emily Aronson, Office of Communications
Princeton has established a new academic unit, Data and Intelligent Systems (DaIS), to help accelerate the pace of discovery in artificial intelligence and data science and to support transformative research and teaching across disciplines.
As part of the University's robust AI ecosystem, the nimble, interdisciplinary initiative builds on the deep ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Princeton University issued the following news: * * * Princeton strengthens its support for AI and data science scholarship through Data and Intelligent Systems initiative By Emily Aronson, Office of Communications Princeton has established a new academic unit, Data and Intelligent Systems (DaIS), to help accelerate the pace of discovery in artificial intelligence and data science and to support transformative research and teaching across disciplines. As part of the University's robust AI ecosystem, the nimble, interdisciplinary initiative builds on the deeplinks between AI and data science at Princeton while creating space for continued rapid progress in each of the fields.
"Artificial intelligence is evolving at an extraordinary pace, creating new opportunities for discovery across every field of scholarship," said Provost Jennifer Rexford, the Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering. "By advancing both foundational work in AI and its application to important questions across disciplines, DaIS will help accelerate research, teaching and innovation throughout the University."
Rexford said DaIS will allow Princeton to seize opportunities that the fast-moving technology presents -- and help to shape its course -- accelerating scholarship within a wide range of fields and fostering collaboration across the sciences, engineering, social sciences and the humanities.
DaIS will encompass two related research pillars, Princeton AI and Princeton Statistics and Data Science, which represent the evolution of the AI Lab and the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning. The new academic unit will be co-led by Tom Griffiths, the Henry R. Luce Professor of Information Technology, Consciousness, and Culture of Psychology and Computer Science, and Arthur Spirling, the Class of 1987 Professor of Politics.
Griffiths and Spirling said DaIS was intentionally created to evolve with rapid developments in AI and data science. "This nimble new structure will allow Princeton to continue to lead in these areas and enable us to grow in response to all of the exciting advances that are happening in the world of AI and data science today," Griffiths said.
Spirling added that incorporating data science as an equal partner to discovery in AI builds on the University's traditional interdisciplinary strengths, enabling Princeton to respond "quickly but thoughtfully to the coming revolution in research."
DaIS will support innovative research projects, connect scholars across academic departments, support undergraduate and graduate education, and assist faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students, utilizing cutting-edge AI and data science tools for research in all fields.
"We want to connect people from different disciplines to collaborate in new ways to tackle really big questions," Spirling said. "We think of DaIS as a platform for supporting our faculty and students as they pursue ambitious interdisciplinary projects that impact our world."
DaIS includes the Princeton AI research initiatives already underway -- AI for Accelerating Invention, Natural and Artificial Minds, and Princeton Language and Intelligence -- and will launch two new initiatives this fall that explore important questions related to AI's impact on humanity. The AI Alignment and Safety initiative will be led by Elad Hazan, professor of computer science and director of Google DeepMind Princeton, and the Princeton Societal AI initiative will be led by Janet Vertesi, associate professor of sociology, and Matt Jones, the Smith Family Professor of History.
"These are great examples of the kind of interdisciplinary work DaIS supports," Griffiths said. "We are not just thinking about how we innovate on the core technologies, but how we do so in a thoughtful and responsible way that grapples with the very real impact these technologies are having on our society. We want to make sure these developing systems are beneficial for humans in the long run."
Vertesi said she is excited to grow the Princeton Societal AI project through DaIS.
"We have an interdisciplinary research team of humanists, social scientists and computer scientists across multiple departments," said Vertesi, who also serves as director of the program in design at the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. "What is exciting about DaIS is that we will have a place for these interdisciplinary conversations under a single umbrella. We will get to really supercharge innovation -- and I mean that broadly on all fronts -- by bringing scholars together in conversation in one place."
Under the Princeton Statistics and Data Science pillar, DaIS will encompass the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (PICSciE), the Data-Driven Social Science Initiative, and the graduate certificate and undergraduate minor programs in statistics and machine learning. DaIS will also provide services previously offered by the Survey Research Center. Like the AI pillar, the Statistics and Data Science pillar will continue to evolve to best support faculty and students conducting data-driven research across a range of disciplines.
"DaIS will continue to support the University's robust educational offerings around data science, machine learning and AI," Griffiths said. "Another part of our work is to think about introducing learning opportunities that allow us to take new ideas into all of the disciplines to prepare Princeton students to go out into the world as future leaders in whatever fields they choose."
Michael E. Mueller, the Donald R. Dixon '69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said DaIS will be a tremendous resource for both faculty and students. Mueller is the former director of PICSciE, now led by Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Luigi Martinelli.
"Clear boundaries between computational science and engineering, data science and AI are no longer apparent. Now and in the future, it would be unnatural for there not to be a unified community of researchers and resources deployed to support this broad discipline," Mueller said. "Anything that we can do to better coordinate this work and facilitate an exchange of ideas will only accelerate progress."
The launch of DaIS is the latest development as Princeton continues to grow its AI ecosystem through faculty-led research initiatives and collaborations with industry, higher education and government leaders across the region, including the University's partnership with the State of New Jersey, Microsoft and CoreWeave in the NJ AI Hub.
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Original text here: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/09/01/princeton-strengthens-its-support-ai-and-data-science-scholarship-through-data-and
* * *
Princeton strengthens its support for AI and data science scholarship through Data and Intelligent Systems initiative
By Emily Aronson, Office of Communications
Princeton has established a new academic unit, Data and Intelligent Systems (DaIS), to help accelerate the pace of discovery in artificial intelligence and data science and to support transformative research and teaching across disciplines.
As part of the University's robust AI ecosystem, the nimble, interdisciplinary initiative builds on the deep ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Sept. 2 -- Princeton University issued the following news: * * * Princeton strengthens its support for AI and data science scholarship through Data and Intelligent Systems initiative By Emily Aronson, Office of Communications Princeton has established a new academic unit, Data and Intelligent Systems (DaIS), to help accelerate the pace of discovery in artificial intelligence and data science and to support transformative research and teaching across disciplines. As part of the University's robust AI ecosystem, the nimble, interdisciplinary initiative builds on the deeplinks between AI and data science at Princeton while creating space for continued rapid progress in each of the fields.
"Artificial intelligence is evolving at an extraordinary pace, creating new opportunities for discovery across every field of scholarship," said Provost Jennifer Rexford, the Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering. "By advancing both foundational work in AI and its application to important questions across disciplines, DaIS will help accelerate research, teaching and innovation throughout the University."
Rexford said DaIS will allow Princeton to seize opportunities that the fast-moving technology presents -- and help to shape its course -- accelerating scholarship within a wide range of fields and fostering collaboration across the sciences, engineering, social sciences and the humanities.
DaIS will encompass two related research pillars, Princeton AI and Princeton Statistics and Data Science, which represent the evolution of the AI Lab and the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning. The new academic unit will be co-led by Tom Griffiths, the Henry R. Luce Professor of Information Technology, Consciousness, and Culture of Psychology and Computer Science, and Arthur Spirling, the Class of 1987 Professor of Politics.
Griffiths and Spirling said DaIS was intentionally created to evolve with rapid developments in AI and data science. "This nimble new structure will allow Princeton to continue to lead in these areas and enable us to grow in response to all of the exciting advances that are happening in the world of AI and data science today," Griffiths said.
Spirling added that incorporating data science as an equal partner to discovery in AI builds on the University's traditional interdisciplinary strengths, enabling Princeton to respond "quickly but thoughtfully to the coming revolution in research."
DaIS will support innovative research projects, connect scholars across academic departments, support undergraduate and graduate education, and assist faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students, utilizing cutting-edge AI and data science tools for research in all fields.
"We want to connect people from different disciplines to collaborate in new ways to tackle really big questions," Spirling said. "We think of DaIS as a platform for supporting our faculty and students as they pursue ambitious interdisciplinary projects that impact our world."
DaIS includes the Princeton AI research initiatives already underway -- AI for Accelerating Invention, Natural and Artificial Minds, and Princeton Language and Intelligence -- and will launch two new initiatives this fall that explore important questions related to AI's impact on humanity. The AI Alignment and Safety initiative will be led by Elad Hazan, professor of computer science and director of Google DeepMind Princeton, and the Princeton Societal AI initiative will be led by Janet Vertesi, associate professor of sociology, and Matt Jones, the Smith Family Professor of History.
"These are great examples of the kind of interdisciplinary work DaIS supports," Griffiths said. "We are not just thinking about how we innovate on the core technologies, but how we do so in a thoughtful and responsible way that grapples with the very real impact these technologies are having on our society. We want to make sure these developing systems are beneficial for humans in the long run."
Vertesi said she is excited to grow the Princeton Societal AI project through DaIS.
"We have an interdisciplinary research team of humanists, social scientists and computer scientists across multiple departments," said Vertesi, who also serves as director of the program in design at the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. "What is exciting about DaIS is that we will have a place for these interdisciplinary conversations under a single umbrella. We will get to really supercharge innovation -- and I mean that broadly on all fronts -- by bringing scholars together in conversation in one place."
Under the Princeton Statistics and Data Science pillar, DaIS will encompass the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (PICSciE), the Data-Driven Social Science Initiative, and the graduate certificate and undergraduate minor programs in statistics and machine learning. DaIS will also provide services previously offered by the Survey Research Center. Like the AI pillar, the Statistics and Data Science pillar will continue to evolve to best support faculty and students conducting data-driven research across a range of disciplines.
"DaIS will continue to support the University's robust educational offerings around data science, machine learning and AI," Griffiths said. "Another part of our work is to think about introducing learning opportunities that allow us to take new ideas into all of the disciplines to prepare Princeton students to go out into the world as future leaders in whatever fields they choose."
Michael E. Mueller, the Donald R. Dixon '69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said DaIS will be a tremendous resource for both faculty and students. Mueller is the former director of PICSciE, now led by Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Luigi Martinelli.
"Clear boundaries between computational science and engineering, data science and AI are no longer apparent. Now and in the future, it would be unnatural for there not to be a unified community of researchers and resources deployed to support this broad discipline," Mueller said. "Anything that we can do to better coordinate this work and facilitate an exchange of ideas will only accelerate progress."
The launch of DaIS is the latest development as Princeton continues to grow its AI ecosystem through faculty-led research initiatives and collaborations with industry, higher education and government leaders across the region, including the University's partnership with the State of New Jersey, Microsoft and CoreWeave in the NJ AI Hub.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/09/01/princeton-strengthens-its-support-ai-and-data-science-scholarship-through-data-and
Duke University Pratt School of Engineering: Daniel Reker and Katherine Franz Receive Wellcome Leap Funding to Develop Safer Antibiotics
DURHAM, North Carolina, Sept. 2 -- Duke University Pratt School of Engineering issued the following news:
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Daniel Reker and Katherine Franz Receive Wellcome Leap Funding to Develop Safer Antibiotics
The Duke team will use AI to make drugs more precise to avoid damage to the microbiome
Michaela Martinez
Daniel Reker, an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Katherine J. Franz, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, were awarded funding through Wellcome Leap's Focused Antibiotics program to develop a new approach to treating bacterial infections--one designed ... Show Full Article DURHAM, North Carolina, Sept. 2 -- Duke University Pratt School of Engineering issued the following news: * * * Daniel Reker and Katherine Franz Receive Wellcome Leap Funding to Develop Safer Antibiotics The Duke team will use AI to make drugs more precise to avoid damage to the microbiome Michaela Martinez Daniel Reker, an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Katherine J. Franz, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, were awarded funding through Wellcome Leap's Focused Antibiotics program to develop a new approach to treating bacterial infections--one designedto spare the gut microbiome, while still effectively eliminating disease-causing bacteria.
Wellcome Leap is a U.S. nonprofit founded by the Wellcome Trust to accelerate breakthroughs in human health . It represents a new model for research--designed to be fast, agile, and networked across disciplines, organizations, and countries. The Duke team is one of only 16 research teams from around the world selected to participate in the Focused Antibiotics program, which will provide up to $50 million in total funding to develop new approaches to combat antibiotic resistance by reducing the unintended effects of antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotics are among modern medicine's most important tools. Every year, roughly one in three people worldwide takes antibiotics to treat infections ranging from urinary tract infections and skin infections to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia. In hospitals, these drugs are indispensable, protecting patients undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplantation from potentially deadly infections.
But the effectiveness of antibiotics is increasingly threatened by the rise of antibiotic resistance. The consequences are already devastating. In 2021 alone, antibiotic-resistant infections were directly responsible for more than 1.14 million deaths worldwide, and that toll is projected to reach as many as 8 million deaths annually by 2050.
One factor driving this growing threat is the way antibiotics are delivered. Most infections are confined to a specific organ or area of the body, yet antibiotics are typically administered systemically through oral tablets or injections, exposing the entire body to the drug. This widespread exposure can have unintended consequences in the gut, where antibiotics kill not only harmful bacteria but also susceptible members of the healthy microbiome. Resistant bacteria are more likely to survive, allowing them to multiply and accumulate resistance genes within the gut. And those genes don't necessarily stay put. Bacteria can exchange genetic material, potentially passing resistance to pathogens and making future infections harder--or sometimes impossible--to treat.
Rather than searching for entirely new antibiotics, the Duke team aims to redesign medicines that are already clinically established, potentially preserving their effectiveness while eliminating an important source of collateral damage. Their approach combines artificial intelligence with a class of drugs known as prodrugs--medications that are administered in an inactive form and then converted inside the body into an active drug when it reaches the desired tissue--like an automated "on-switch" for medicines.
"We will use AI to figure out how to modify currently available antibiotics so that they don't affect commensal gut microbes anymore, but instead activate once they hit the site of infection," said Reker. "This would also ideally reduce side effects from antibiotic use, which can range from gastrointestinal distress to an increased vulnerability to other infections since the protection provided by the microbiome has been decimated."
The strategy builds on complementary expertise from the Reker and Franz labs. Reker's group develops AI and machine-learning approaches for designing and optimizing drug molecules, while Franz's lab has developed chemical structures that can be activated in the presence of pathogens. Together, the researchers will use these capabilities to identify chemical mechanisms that can distinguish an infection from the surrounding tissues and microbiome, then incorporate those mechanisms into new antibiotic therapies.
"We don't just want to carpet bomb an infection, we want to see what kinds of chemical mechanisms are specific to that local environment or pathogen that we can use to trigger molecules," said Franz. "Partnering with the Reker lab and their AI and machine learning platforms help us expand our design space and look at the problem more creatively."
Successfully deploying microbiome-sparing antibiotics as first-line treatments for common infections could reduce antibiotic-driven resistant infections by as much as 40%, potentially preventing more than 100 million resistant infections over the next decade. This is the overall goal of the Focused Antibiotics program.
"We've already developed AI platforms to re-design antibiotics, and we're thrilled we will be able to further enhance this platform and deploy it to create hopefully several new drug leads," said Reker. "Antibiotics resistance is a scary problem, and we're grateful our work was recognized as a potential part of the solution."
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Original text here: https://pratt.duke.edu/news/reker-wellcome-safer-antibiotics/
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Daniel Reker and Katherine Franz Receive Wellcome Leap Funding to Develop Safer Antibiotics
The Duke team will use AI to make drugs more precise to avoid damage to the microbiome
Michaela Martinez
Daniel Reker, an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Katherine J. Franz, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, were awarded funding through Wellcome Leap's Focused Antibiotics program to develop a new approach to treating bacterial infections--one designed ... Show Full Article DURHAM, North Carolina, Sept. 2 -- Duke University Pratt School of Engineering issued the following news: * * * Daniel Reker and Katherine Franz Receive Wellcome Leap Funding to Develop Safer Antibiotics The Duke team will use AI to make drugs more precise to avoid damage to the microbiome Michaela Martinez Daniel Reker, an assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Katherine J. Franz, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, were awarded funding through Wellcome Leap's Focused Antibiotics program to develop a new approach to treating bacterial infections--one designedto spare the gut microbiome, while still effectively eliminating disease-causing bacteria.
Wellcome Leap is a U.S. nonprofit founded by the Wellcome Trust to accelerate breakthroughs in human health . It represents a new model for research--designed to be fast, agile, and networked across disciplines, organizations, and countries. The Duke team is one of only 16 research teams from around the world selected to participate in the Focused Antibiotics program, which will provide up to $50 million in total funding to develop new approaches to combat antibiotic resistance by reducing the unintended effects of antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotics are among modern medicine's most important tools. Every year, roughly one in three people worldwide takes antibiotics to treat infections ranging from urinary tract infections and skin infections to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia. In hospitals, these drugs are indispensable, protecting patients undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplantation from potentially deadly infections.
But the effectiveness of antibiotics is increasingly threatened by the rise of antibiotic resistance. The consequences are already devastating. In 2021 alone, antibiotic-resistant infections were directly responsible for more than 1.14 million deaths worldwide, and that toll is projected to reach as many as 8 million deaths annually by 2050.
One factor driving this growing threat is the way antibiotics are delivered. Most infections are confined to a specific organ or area of the body, yet antibiotics are typically administered systemically through oral tablets or injections, exposing the entire body to the drug. This widespread exposure can have unintended consequences in the gut, where antibiotics kill not only harmful bacteria but also susceptible members of the healthy microbiome. Resistant bacteria are more likely to survive, allowing them to multiply and accumulate resistance genes within the gut. And those genes don't necessarily stay put. Bacteria can exchange genetic material, potentially passing resistance to pathogens and making future infections harder--or sometimes impossible--to treat.
Rather than searching for entirely new antibiotics, the Duke team aims to redesign medicines that are already clinically established, potentially preserving their effectiveness while eliminating an important source of collateral damage. Their approach combines artificial intelligence with a class of drugs known as prodrugs--medications that are administered in an inactive form and then converted inside the body into an active drug when it reaches the desired tissue--like an automated "on-switch" for medicines.
"We will use AI to figure out how to modify currently available antibiotics so that they don't affect commensal gut microbes anymore, but instead activate once they hit the site of infection," said Reker. "This would also ideally reduce side effects from antibiotic use, which can range from gastrointestinal distress to an increased vulnerability to other infections since the protection provided by the microbiome has been decimated."
The strategy builds on complementary expertise from the Reker and Franz labs. Reker's group develops AI and machine-learning approaches for designing and optimizing drug molecules, while Franz's lab has developed chemical structures that can be activated in the presence of pathogens. Together, the researchers will use these capabilities to identify chemical mechanisms that can distinguish an infection from the surrounding tissues and microbiome, then incorporate those mechanisms into new antibiotic therapies.
"We don't just want to carpet bomb an infection, we want to see what kinds of chemical mechanisms are specific to that local environment or pathogen that we can use to trigger molecules," said Franz. "Partnering with the Reker lab and their AI and machine learning platforms help us expand our design space and look at the problem more creatively."
Successfully deploying microbiome-sparing antibiotics as first-line treatments for common infections could reduce antibiotic-driven resistant infections by as much as 40%, potentially preventing more than 100 million resistant infections over the next decade. This is the overall goal of the Focused Antibiotics program.
"We've already developed AI platforms to re-design antibiotics, and we're thrilled we will be able to further enhance this platform and deploy it to create hopefully several new drug leads," said Reker. "Antibiotics resistance is a scary problem, and we're grateful our work was recognized as a potential part of the solution."
* * *
Original text here: https://pratt.duke.edu/news/reker-wellcome-safer-antibiotics/