Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Education (Colleges & Universities)
Featured Stories
University of South Alabama: Whiddon College of Medicine Completes LCME Accreditation Site Visit
MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 6 -- The University of South Alabama posted the following news release:
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Whiddon College of Medicine completes LCME accreditation site visit
November 5, 2026
The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recently completed a comprehensive site visit as part of its accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States.
The peer-review process evaluates all aspects of a medical school's operations and educational program, including its leadership, ... Show Full Article MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 6 -- The University of South Alabama posted the following news release: * * * Whiddon College of Medicine completes LCME accreditation site visit November 5, 2026 The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recently completed a comprehensive site visit as part of its accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States. The peer-review process evaluates all aspects of a medical school's operations and educational program, including its leadership,institutional resources, learning environment, curriculum, student assessment and support services. Fully accredited medical schools undergo a comprehensive review every eight years.
Jeffrey La Rochelle, M.D., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine, said the accreditation process extends beyond meeting required standards, allowing the college to take a deeper look at its programs, assess progress, and identify opportunities for further improvement.
"I have always looked at LCME accreditation as the minimum standard of competency for a college of medicine, and the process provides an opportunity for a deep, introspective look across all the units and functions of our college to ensure we are not making any assumptions about the quality of the education we deliver," La Rochelle said. "This process not only can identify unknown gaps, but it also highlights areas of best practices that we may incorporate across the college."
The college's Office of Accreditation and Planning led the preparation efforts through the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee. T.J. Hundley, M.D., served as faculty accreditation lead; Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., served as site visit coordinator; and Wendy Wheeler coordinated visit logistics and materials preparation.
Preparation for the visit began more than a year ago, with a writing team developing a 400-page Data Collection Instrument supported by approximately 80 appendices documenting the college's compliance with LCME standards and elements. Students also prepared and submitted an Independent Student Analysis, providing feedback on the curriculum, student services, learning environment and institutional resources.
A six-member LCME survey team spent two days on campus reviewing documentation, meeting with members of the college community, and evaluating the college's compliance with accreditation standards. During the visit, the team met with senior leadership, clinical and basic sciences department chairs, 20 senior and junior faculty members, 28 medical students in the pre-clerkship and clerkship phases, eight residents, and more than a dozen staff members.
La Rochelle emphasized that their involvement is essential not only during accreditation but also in the college's ongoing efforts to improve its educational and research programs.
"Without feedback from our stakeholders, we will never know if those interventions have truly been successful in the way we have implemented them," he said. He added that hearing from those who deliver, manage and participate in the college's programs also helps establish long-term goals and strategic priorities.
Through conversations with members of the college community, La Rochelle said a common theme emerged: "The most consistent message is that we have a well-functioning college of medicine that is responsive to the needs of our faculty, staff and learners."
The LCME will meet in February to make its official accreditation determination. As the college develops its 2027-2031 strategic plan, it will translate feedback from the accreditation process into clear goals, measurable outcomes and action plans.
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Original text here: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/publicrelations/pressreleases/aroundsouth/110526-lcme-visit.html
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Whiddon College of Medicine completes LCME accreditation site visit
November 5, 2026
The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recently completed a comprehensive site visit as part of its accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States.
The peer-review process evaluates all aspects of a medical school's operations and educational program, including its leadership, ... Show Full Article MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 6 -- The University of South Alabama posted the following news release: * * * Whiddon College of Medicine completes LCME accreditation site visit November 5, 2026 The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recently completed a comprehensive site visit as part of its accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States. The peer-review process evaluates all aspects of a medical school's operations and educational program, including its leadership,institutional resources, learning environment, curriculum, student assessment and support services. Fully accredited medical schools undergo a comprehensive review every eight years.
Jeffrey La Rochelle, M.D., dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine, said the accreditation process extends beyond meeting required standards, allowing the college to take a deeper look at its programs, assess progress, and identify opportunities for further improvement.
"I have always looked at LCME accreditation as the minimum standard of competency for a college of medicine, and the process provides an opportunity for a deep, introspective look across all the units and functions of our college to ensure we are not making any assumptions about the quality of the education we deliver," La Rochelle said. "This process not only can identify unknown gaps, but it also highlights areas of best practices that we may incorporate across the college."
The college's Office of Accreditation and Planning led the preparation efforts through the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee. T.J. Hundley, M.D., served as faculty accreditation lead; Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., served as site visit coordinator; and Wendy Wheeler coordinated visit logistics and materials preparation.
Preparation for the visit began more than a year ago, with a writing team developing a 400-page Data Collection Instrument supported by approximately 80 appendices documenting the college's compliance with LCME standards and elements. Students also prepared and submitted an Independent Student Analysis, providing feedback on the curriculum, student services, learning environment and institutional resources.
A six-member LCME survey team spent two days on campus reviewing documentation, meeting with members of the college community, and evaluating the college's compliance with accreditation standards. During the visit, the team met with senior leadership, clinical and basic sciences department chairs, 20 senior and junior faculty members, 28 medical students in the pre-clerkship and clerkship phases, eight residents, and more than a dozen staff members.
La Rochelle emphasized that their involvement is essential not only during accreditation but also in the college's ongoing efforts to improve its educational and research programs.
"Without feedback from our stakeholders, we will never know if those interventions have truly been successful in the way we have implemented them," he said. He added that hearing from those who deliver, manage and participate in the college's programs also helps establish long-term goals and strategic priorities.
Through conversations with members of the college community, La Rochelle said a common theme emerged: "The most consistent message is that we have a well-functioning college of medicine that is responsive to the needs of our faculty, staff and learners."
The LCME will meet in February to make its official accreditation determination. As the college develops its 2027-2031 strategic plan, it will translate feedback from the accreditation process into clear goals, measurable outcomes and action plans.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/publicrelations/pressreleases/aroundsouth/110526-lcme-visit.html
USC ECE Honors Inaugural Class of Changemakers for 20th Naming Anniversary
LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 6 -- The University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering posted the following news:
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USC ECE Honors Inaugural Class of Changemakers for 20th Naming Anniversary
Venice Tang | November 5, 2026
21 alumni are recognized for shaping technology across Silicon Valley, space exploration, semiconductor research and academia.
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As part of its 20th naming anniversary celebration, the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Stevens School of Computing and AI launched the inaugural ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 6 -- The University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering posted the following news: * * * USC ECE Honors Inaugural Class of Changemakers for 20th Naming Anniversary Venice Tang | November 5, 2026 21 alumni are recognized for shaping technology across Silicon Valley, space exploration, semiconductor research and academia. - As part of its 20th naming anniversary celebration, the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Stevens School of Computing and AI launched the inauguralMing Hsieh ECE Changemakers Awards, honoring alumni whose work has advanced research fields, shaped industries and technologies, built companies and strengthened communities.
The inaugural class was recognized during the department's 20th Naming Anniversary Research Festival and Alumni Symposium, held on October 22-23.
Awards were given in two categories: ECE Distinguished Changemakers and ECE Emerging Changemakers.
The ECE Distinguished Changemakers Awards recognize graduates from 2011 or earlier who have established records of sustained professional distinction and impact. The ECE Emerging Changemakers Awards celebrate graduates from 2012 onward who have already made an outsized mark early in their careers.
As the department marks two decades under the Ming Hsieh name, the inaugural awards celebrate alumni whose achievements reflect ECE's enduring influence on engineering and society. A faculty committee, together with ECE Department Chair Richard Leahy, selected the recipients based on the significance and impact of their accomplishments, their leadership and contributions to the profession, and how their work reflects the department's mission and values.
With more than 24,000 alumni working around the world in industry, entrepreneurship, academia and research laboratories, USC ECE has helped shape the people and technologies driving innovation across generations. Today, the department's five largest alumni employers are Apple, Intel, Northrop Grumman, Google and NVIDIA. The awards also highlight the role of the Trojan Family in supporting the next generation of innovators.
Several honorees also returned to share their experiences and advice with students and faculty. Among them were Shouleh Nikzad, chief technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; William Wang, founder and CEO of VIZIO; and Diana Marculescu, chair at The University of Texas at Austin's Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Their journeys are a testament to the many ways USC ECE alumni carry their education into leadership across technology, research and academia.
ECE Distinguished Changemakers
* Firooz Aflatouni (Ph.D. '11): Professor and undergraduate chair at the University of Pennsylvania, where he advances research and education in electrical engineering.
* Fan Bai (Ph.D. '05): Technical fellow and lab group manager at General Motors, working on automotive technologies and innovation.
* Steven P. DenBaars (M.S. '86, Ph.D. '88): Distinguished professor and director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency at UC Santa Barbara, known for his work in semiconductor materials and optoelectronics.
* Linnie Haynesworth (B.S. '80): Corporate board director and former sector vice president at Northrop Grumman, with leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industries.
* Sam Heidari (M.S. '90, Ph.D. '96): CEO of Lumotive, a company developing optical semiconductor technology for advanced sensing and connectivity applications.
* Hoshik Kim (M.S. '98): Executive and senior vice president at SK hynix, contributing to leadership in the global semiconductor industry.
* Diana Marculescu (Ph.D. '98): Department chair and Cockrell Family Chair for Engineering Leadership at The University of Texas at Austin, advancing engineering research, education and leadership.
* Rachel Morford (B.S. '07, M.S. '07): General manager of space-based sensing at The Aerospace Corporation.
* Shouleh Nikzad (B.S. '82): Chief technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, recognized for developing advanced semiconductor optical detectors and microdevices for space exploration.
* Olivier Bernard (M.S. '91): Senior engineering leader at Amazon Web Services, helping lead engineering initiatives in cloud computing.
ECE Emerging Changemakers
* Louis Blankemeier (B.S. '18): Co-founder and CEO of Cognita, working to advance artificial intelligence and its applications to radiology.
* Stephen Collins (B.S. '14): Principal manager for strategy and innovation at Edison International, supporting innovation and strategic initiatives in the energy sector.
* Rahul Gupta (Ph.D. '16): Head of responsible AI at Amazon AGI, working on responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
* Hyeran Jeon (Ph.D. '15): Associate professor at the University of California, Merced, advancing research and education in electrical and computer engineering.
* Naveen Kumar (Ph.D. '16): Research scientist at Disney Research and Walt Disney Imagineering, developing technologies for research and interactive experiences.
* Souvik Kundu (Ph.D. '22): Senior staff research scientist at Intel Labs, conducting research in advanced computing and semiconductor technologies.
* Erick Moen (Ph.D. '17): Principal R&D imagineer at Disney Research Imagineering, developing research-driven technologies and interactive experiences.
* Ashkan Seyedi (Ph.D. '14): Vice president and general manager of digital photonics interconnect at ams OSRAM, leading work in photonics and advanced interconnect technologies.
* Daniel Wong (B.S. '09, M.S. '11, Ph.D. '15): Associate professor at the University of California, Riverside, advancing research and education in computer engineering.
* Qiumin Xu (Ph.D. '17): Senior software engineering manager at Google, leading software engineering initiatives.
* Yuhan Yao (Ph.D. '17): Senior researcher and engineer at Bosch, contributing to research and engineering innovation.
Richard M. Leahy is the Arthur G. Settle Trust Endowment for USC Leonard Silverman Chair and a professor of electrical and computer engineering, biomedical engineering and radiology. He holds joint appointments in USC Viterbi's Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and USC Keck School of Medicine's Department of Radiology.
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Original text here: https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2026/11/usc-ece-honors-inaugural-class-of-changemakers-for-20th-naming-anniversary/
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USC ECE Honors Inaugural Class of Changemakers for 20th Naming Anniversary
Venice Tang | November 5, 2026
21 alumni are recognized for shaping technology across Silicon Valley, space exploration, semiconductor research and academia.
-
As part of its 20th naming anniversary celebration, the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Stevens School of Computing and AI launched the inaugural ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 6 -- The University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering posted the following news: * * * USC ECE Honors Inaugural Class of Changemakers for 20th Naming Anniversary Venice Tang | November 5, 2026 21 alumni are recognized for shaping technology across Silicon Valley, space exploration, semiconductor research and academia. - As part of its 20th naming anniversary celebration, the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Stevens School of Computing and AI launched the inauguralMing Hsieh ECE Changemakers Awards, honoring alumni whose work has advanced research fields, shaped industries and technologies, built companies and strengthened communities.
The inaugural class was recognized during the department's 20th Naming Anniversary Research Festival and Alumni Symposium, held on October 22-23.
Awards were given in two categories: ECE Distinguished Changemakers and ECE Emerging Changemakers.
The ECE Distinguished Changemakers Awards recognize graduates from 2011 or earlier who have established records of sustained professional distinction and impact. The ECE Emerging Changemakers Awards celebrate graduates from 2012 onward who have already made an outsized mark early in their careers.
As the department marks two decades under the Ming Hsieh name, the inaugural awards celebrate alumni whose achievements reflect ECE's enduring influence on engineering and society. A faculty committee, together with ECE Department Chair Richard Leahy, selected the recipients based on the significance and impact of their accomplishments, their leadership and contributions to the profession, and how their work reflects the department's mission and values.
With more than 24,000 alumni working around the world in industry, entrepreneurship, academia and research laboratories, USC ECE has helped shape the people and technologies driving innovation across generations. Today, the department's five largest alumni employers are Apple, Intel, Northrop Grumman, Google and NVIDIA. The awards also highlight the role of the Trojan Family in supporting the next generation of innovators.
Several honorees also returned to share their experiences and advice with students and faculty. Among them were Shouleh Nikzad, chief technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; William Wang, founder and CEO of VIZIO; and Diana Marculescu, chair at The University of Texas at Austin's Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Their journeys are a testament to the many ways USC ECE alumni carry their education into leadership across technology, research and academia.
ECE Distinguished Changemakers
* Firooz Aflatouni (Ph.D. '11): Professor and undergraduate chair at the University of Pennsylvania, where he advances research and education in electrical engineering.
* Fan Bai (Ph.D. '05): Technical fellow and lab group manager at General Motors, working on automotive technologies and innovation.
* Steven P. DenBaars (M.S. '86, Ph.D. '88): Distinguished professor and director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency at UC Santa Barbara, known for his work in semiconductor materials and optoelectronics.
* Linnie Haynesworth (B.S. '80): Corporate board director and former sector vice president at Northrop Grumman, with leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industries.
* Sam Heidari (M.S. '90, Ph.D. '96): CEO of Lumotive, a company developing optical semiconductor technology for advanced sensing and connectivity applications.
* Hoshik Kim (M.S. '98): Executive and senior vice president at SK hynix, contributing to leadership in the global semiconductor industry.
* Diana Marculescu (Ph.D. '98): Department chair and Cockrell Family Chair for Engineering Leadership at The University of Texas at Austin, advancing engineering research, education and leadership.
* Rachel Morford (B.S. '07, M.S. '07): General manager of space-based sensing at The Aerospace Corporation.
* Shouleh Nikzad (B.S. '82): Chief technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, recognized for developing advanced semiconductor optical detectors and microdevices for space exploration.
* Olivier Bernard (M.S. '91): Senior engineering leader at Amazon Web Services, helping lead engineering initiatives in cloud computing.
ECE Emerging Changemakers
* Louis Blankemeier (B.S. '18): Co-founder and CEO of Cognita, working to advance artificial intelligence and its applications to radiology.
* Stephen Collins (B.S. '14): Principal manager for strategy and innovation at Edison International, supporting innovation and strategic initiatives in the energy sector.
* Rahul Gupta (Ph.D. '16): Head of responsible AI at Amazon AGI, working on responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
* Hyeran Jeon (Ph.D. '15): Associate professor at the University of California, Merced, advancing research and education in electrical and computer engineering.
* Naveen Kumar (Ph.D. '16): Research scientist at Disney Research and Walt Disney Imagineering, developing technologies for research and interactive experiences.
* Souvik Kundu (Ph.D. '22): Senior staff research scientist at Intel Labs, conducting research in advanced computing and semiconductor technologies.
* Erick Moen (Ph.D. '17): Principal R&D imagineer at Disney Research Imagineering, developing research-driven technologies and interactive experiences.
* Ashkan Seyedi (Ph.D. '14): Vice president and general manager of digital photonics interconnect at ams OSRAM, leading work in photonics and advanced interconnect technologies.
* Daniel Wong (B.S. '09, M.S. '11, Ph.D. '15): Associate professor at the University of California, Riverside, advancing research and education in computer engineering.
* Qiumin Xu (Ph.D. '17): Senior software engineering manager at Google, leading software engineering initiatives.
* Yuhan Yao (Ph.D. '17): Senior researcher and engineer at Bosch, contributing to research and engineering innovation.
Richard M. Leahy is the Arthur G. Settle Trust Endowment for USC Leonard Silverman Chair and a professor of electrical and computer engineering, biomedical engineering and radiology. He holds joint appointments in USC Viterbi's Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and USC Keck School of Medicine's Department of Radiology.
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Original text here: https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2026/11/usc-ece-honors-inaugural-class-of-changemakers-for-20th-naming-anniversary/
Princeton SPIA Faculty React to November 2026 Midterm Election Results
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news:
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November 5, 2026
Princeton SPIA Faculty React to November 2026 Midterm Election Results
Experts Provide Insights on the Future of Congress, State Legislatures, and Governorships
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PRINCETON, NJ - As the November midterm elections concluded, faculty from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs discussed the impact of those results - from the role that Congress will play in the next two years to the opportunity for Democrats to gain political footing ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news: * * * November 5, 2026 Princeton SPIA Faculty React to November 2026 Midterm Election Results Experts Provide Insights on the Future of Congress, State Legislatures, and Governorships - PRINCETON, NJ - As the November midterm elections concluded, faculty from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs discussed the impact of those results - from the role that Congress will play in the next two years to the opportunity for Democrats to gain political footingand the overall implications for American democracy.
Amb. Daniel C. Kurtzer, Professor of the Practice and S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Middle East Policy Studies:
"While this election was decided on pocketbook issues - affordability of food, fuel, and basic needs - the foreign policy implications are important. The new Congress will press the president to reach a negotiated outcome with Iran. Congress will push back against the administration's coddling of Russian President Putin and will vote to restore aid to Ukraine. And the Congress will make clear the need to press Israel to curb settler violence and creeping annexation in the West Bank, and it will support serious diplomacy to find a political outcome in Gaza leading to Israel's withdrawal and security for Israel and Palestinians. One can hope that the Congress focuses on these priorities and does not get distracted by retribution for the corrupt and toxic actions of the president and this administration."
Frances Lee, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs; Co-Director, Center for the Study of Democratic Politics:
"Tuesday's elections offer encouraging evidence about the state of multiracial democracy in the United States. Georgia elected Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first Black woman ever chosen governor of any state. Texas elected Gina Hinojosa, its first Latina governor, and New Mexico elected Deb Haaland, the nation's first Native American woman governor. Five Black governors won on Tuesday, more than the three elected in all of prior American history. They include Byron Donalds, the first Black Republican elected governor. In Mississippi, Scott Colom is in a near tie in a race that could make him the state's first Black senator since Reconstruction. The Supreme Court's Callais decision also did not produce the steep losses many predicted for Black members of the House. Shomari Figures held his Alabama seat even after his district was redrawn, reducing its Black share to 40 percent. These results came in both parties and across red and purple states. They show candidates of color building winning coalitions that cross racial lines, a hopeful sign for American democracy."
Jacob N. Shapiro, John Foster Dulles Professor of International Affairs:
"Watching the returns, I was reminded of two things from 1994. First, Susanne Lohmann's paper 'The Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig,' which helped topple the East German government by revealing the breadth of opposition. We may well see a similar dynamic on tolerance for executive branch corruption among Constitutional Republicans, who just learned how intensely voters feel about the issue.
"Second, the 'Republican Revolution,' which broke 40 years of Democratic control of the House. Tonight the post-Tea Party political map has been decisively redrawn with a less geographically segregated House and Democratic wins for statewide office in seven Republican strongholds so far. And we seem to be seeing meaningful split-ticket voting in some states. The return of competitive elections in 'red states' will be beneficial, and we should hope for the same next cycle in 'blue states,' because winning voters through programmatic arguments, not just tribal loyalties, is something we should want all politicians to have to do."
Paul Starr, Stuart Professor of Communications and Public Affairs; Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs:
"If Democrats win the presidency two years from now, they may be able to build on these large congressional majorities and have the kind of decisive control of Congress that they have had in major eras of reform, like the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. As a result, they might be able to bring about major change of a kind we haven't seen in decades. That possibility means that for the next two years, Democrats shouldn't only be standing up to Trump and investigating corruption. They should be laying the groundwork for reforms that they can take into the 2028 election as a national program, working through different ideas, developing support for them, perhaps even getting Trump to veto popular bills that will then be teed up for 2029."
Julian E. Zelizer, Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs:
"Sometimes midterms fit the billing of 'historic.' This is one of those midterms. Voters sent a strong and powerful rejection of President Trump and MAGA Republicanism. They opened the electoral playing field to regions that will be critical in the coming decades while creating a space for a new generation of media-savvy politicians - from left (Abdul El-Sayed) to center (Adam Hamilton) - who will be critical to generating ideas for the 2028 election. Most important, in the short term, the voters decisively left Trump as a lame duck president who will now face divided government and a Republican Party that can see the high costs of still supporting him."
* * *
To schedule an interview, contact Ambreen Ali. Keep up to date with Princeton SPIA, including news, upcoming speakers, and events at: spia.princeton.edu and on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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About Princeton SPIA
The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs is dedicated to integrating world-class scholarship and a commitment to service in order to make a positive difference in the world. We welcome a robust exchange of ideas and strive to foster a close-knit community that values and supports every member. We believe that public policy in the 21st century demands a passion for service, a respect for evidence of unsurpassed quality, a global perspective, and a multiplicity of voices. Our graduates pursue careers around the globe in government, nongovernmental and multilateral organizations, foundations, and policy and research institutes.
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Original text here: https://spia.princeton.edu/news/2026/11/05/princeton-spia-faculty-react-november-2026-midterm-election-results
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November 5, 2026
Princeton SPIA Faculty React to November 2026 Midterm Election Results
Experts Provide Insights on the Future of Congress, State Legislatures, and Governorships
-
PRINCETON, NJ - As the November midterm elections concluded, faculty from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs discussed the impact of those results - from the role that Congress will play in the next two years to the opportunity for Democrats to gain political footing ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news: * * * November 5, 2026 Princeton SPIA Faculty React to November 2026 Midterm Election Results Experts Provide Insights on the Future of Congress, State Legislatures, and Governorships - PRINCETON, NJ - As the November midterm elections concluded, faculty from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs discussed the impact of those results - from the role that Congress will play in the next two years to the opportunity for Democrats to gain political footingand the overall implications for American democracy.
Amb. Daniel C. Kurtzer, Professor of the Practice and S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Middle East Policy Studies:
"While this election was decided on pocketbook issues - affordability of food, fuel, and basic needs - the foreign policy implications are important. The new Congress will press the president to reach a negotiated outcome with Iran. Congress will push back against the administration's coddling of Russian President Putin and will vote to restore aid to Ukraine. And the Congress will make clear the need to press Israel to curb settler violence and creeping annexation in the West Bank, and it will support serious diplomacy to find a political outcome in Gaza leading to Israel's withdrawal and security for Israel and Palestinians. One can hope that the Congress focuses on these priorities and does not get distracted by retribution for the corrupt and toxic actions of the president and this administration."
Frances Lee, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs; Co-Director, Center for the Study of Democratic Politics:
"Tuesday's elections offer encouraging evidence about the state of multiracial democracy in the United States. Georgia elected Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first Black woman ever chosen governor of any state. Texas elected Gina Hinojosa, its first Latina governor, and New Mexico elected Deb Haaland, the nation's first Native American woman governor. Five Black governors won on Tuesday, more than the three elected in all of prior American history. They include Byron Donalds, the first Black Republican elected governor. In Mississippi, Scott Colom is in a near tie in a race that could make him the state's first Black senator since Reconstruction. The Supreme Court's Callais decision also did not produce the steep losses many predicted for Black members of the House. Shomari Figures held his Alabama seat even after his district was redrawn, reducing its Black share to 40 percent. These results came in both parties and across red and purple states. They show candidates of color building winning coalitions that cross racial lines, a hopeful sign for American democracy."
Jacob N. Shapiro, John Foster Dulles Professor of International Affairs:
"Watching the returns, I was reminded of two things from 1994. First, Susanne Lohmann's paper 'The Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig,' which helped topple the East German government by revealing the breadth of opposition. We may well see a similar dynamic on tolerance for executive branch corruption among Constitutional Republicans, who just learned how intensely voters feel about the issue.
"Second, the 'Republican Revolution,' which broke 40 years of Democratic control of the House. Tonight the post-Tea Party political map has been decisively redrawn with a less geographically segregated House and Democratic wins for statewide office in seven Republican strongholds so far. And we seem to be seeing meaningful split-ticket voting in some states. The return of competitive elections in 'red states' will be beneficial, and we should hope for the same next cycle in 'blue states,' because winning voters through programmatic arguments, not just tribal loyalties, is something we should want all politicians to have to do."
Paul Starr, Stuart Professor of Communications and Public Affairs; Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs:
"If Democrats win the presidency two years from now, they may be able to build on these large congressional majorities and have the kind of decisive control of Congress that they have had in major eras of reform, like the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. As a result, they might be able to bring about major change of a kind we haven't seen in decades. That possibility means that for the next two years, Democrats shouldn't only be standing up to Trump and investigating corruption. They should be laying the groundwork for reforms that they can take into the 2028 election as a national program, working through different ideas, developing support for them, perhaps even getting Trump to veto popular bills that will then be teed up for 2029."
Julian E. Zelizer, Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs:
"Sometimes midterms fit the billing of 'historic.' This is one of those midterms. Voters sent a strong and powerful rejection of President Trump and MAGA Republicanism. They opened the electoral playing field to regions that will be critical in the coming decades while creating a space for a new generation of media-savvy politicians - from left (Abdul El-Sayed) to center (Adam Hamilton) - who will be critical to generating ideas for the 2028 election. Most important, in the short term, the voters decisively left Trump as a lame duck president who will now face divided government and a Republican Party that can see the high costs of still supporting him."
* * *
To schedule an interview, contact Ambreen Ali. Keep up to date with Princeton SPIA, including news, upcoming speakers, and events at: spia.princeton.edu and on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
* * *
About Princeton SPIA
The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs is dedicated to integrating world-class scholarship and a commitment to service in order to make a positive difference in the world. We welcome a robust exchange of ideas and strive to foster a close-knit community that values and supports every member. We believe that public policy in the 21st century demands a passion for service, a respect for evidence of unsurpassed quality, a global perspective, and a multiplicity of voices. Our graduates pursue careers around the globe in government, nongovernmental and multilateral organizations, foundations, and policy and research institutes.
* * *
Original text here: https://spia.princeton.edu/news/2026/11/05/princeton-spia-faculty-react-november-2026-midterm-election-results
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Wins Three Anthem Awards
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 6 -- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release:
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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Wins Three Anthem Awards
November 05, 2026
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has won three new awards in the sixth annual Anthem Awards competition. Awardees included Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine, Public Health On Call, and the Office of External Affairs.
The Anthem Awards, presented by the Webby Awards, recognize mission-driven work by people, organizations, and companies worldwide. ... Show Full Article BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 6 -- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release: * * * Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Wins Three Anthem Awards November 05, 2026 The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has won three new awards in the sixth annual Anthem Awards competition. Awardees included Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine, Public Health On Call, and the Office of External Affairs. The Anthem Awards, presented by the Webby Awards, recognize mission-driven work by people, organizations, and companies worldwide.The 2026 cycle had over 2,500 entries across the globe.
Public Health On Call
The Public Health On Call podcast won silver for its episode, "Interpreting the Data on Tylenol, Pregnancy, and Autism," in the Health: Content & Media--Podcast Episode category. The episode was released to an audience of over 45,000 listeners across platforms and featured two experts addressing false claims that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine
Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine won silver for its special section, "Baltimore Rising," in the Health: Book, Story, or Feature category. The collection of stories in the special section included gun violence prevention strategies, mobile drug-checking services, and programs that bolster Black fatherhood, illustrating the power of community-engaged research.
Nonprofit Campaign
The Office of External Affairs won bronze for its campaign, "Teen Driving Safety," in the Campaign: Nonprofit category. The cross-channel campaign aimed to raise awareness of teen driving risks--especially in the summer--and ways to prevent crashes. It included a podcast interview, a web article, social media posts and videos, and a media push to news outlets with data and ready-to-use quotes.
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Original text here: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/johns-hopkins-bloomberg-school-of-public-health-wins-three-anthem-awards
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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Wins Three Anthem Awards
November 05, 2026
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has won three new awards in the sixth annual Anthem Awards competition. Awardees included Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine, Public Health On Call, and the Office of External Affairs.
The Anthem Awards, presented by the Webby Awards, recognize mission-driven work by people, organizations, and companies worldwide. ... Show Full Article BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 6 -- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release: * * * Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Wins Three Anthem Awards November 05, 2026 The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has won three new awards in the sixth annual Anthem Awards competition. Awardees included Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine, Public Health On Call, and the Office of External Affairs. The Anthem Awards, presented by the Webby Awards, recognize mission-driven work by people, organizations, and companies worldwide.The 2026 cycle had over 2,500 entries across the globe.
Public Health On Call
The Public Health On Call podcast won silver for its episode, "Interpreting the Data on Tylenol, Pregnancy, and Autism," in the Health: Content & Media--Podcast Episode category. The episode was released to an audience of over 45,000 listeners across platforms and featured two experts addressing false claims that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine
Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine won silver for its special section, "Baltimore Rising," in the Health: Book, Story, or Feature category. The collection of stories in the special section included gun violence prevention strategies, mobile drug-checking services, and programs that bolster Black fatherhood, illustrating the power of community-engaged research.
Nonprofit Campaign
The Office of External Affairs won bronze for its campaign, "Teen Driving Safety," in the Campaign: Nonprofit category. The cross-channel campaign aimed to raise awareness of teen driving risks--especially in the summer--and ways to prevent crashes. It included a podcast interview, a web article, social media posts and videos, and a media push to news outlets with data and ready-to-use quotes.
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Original text here: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/johns-hopkins-bloomberg-school-of-public-health-wins-three-anthem-awards
From Sacred Lands to Cyberspace: Notre Dame Law School Summit Explores Indigenous Sovereignty in the Digital Age
SOUTH BEND, Indiana, Nov. 6 -- The University of Notre Dame Law School issued the following news:
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From Sacred Lands to Cyberspace: Notre Dame Law School Summit Explores Indigenous Sovereignty in the Digital Age
November 05, 2026
Author: Arienne Calingo
For Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., the fight to protect Mother Earth is inseparable from the fight to preserve the identity, traditions, and future of Indigenous peoples. As founder and leader of Apache Stronghold, Nosie has spent years defending Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site in Arizona threatened by copper mining. His understanding of natural ... Show Full Article SOUTH BEND, Indiana, Nov. 6 -- The University of Notre Dame Law School issued the following news: * * * From Sacred Lands to Cyberspace: Notre Dame Law School Summit Explores Indigenous Sovereignty in the Digital Age November 05, 2026 Author: Arienne Calingo For Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., the fight to protect Mother Earth is inseparable from the fight to preserve the identity, traditions, and future of Indigenous peoples. As founder and leader of Apache Stronghold, Nosie has spent years defending Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site in Arizona threatened by copper mining. His understanding of naturallaw is rooted in the belief that the Earth is a living mother who sustains all of creation, rather than a resource for human exploitation. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies transform the world, his message raises an urgent question: How can humanity embrace innovation without losing sight of its responsibility to protect what is sacred?
This intersection of Indigenous sovereignty, cultural preservation, and technological change was at the heart of the North American Indigenous Digital Sovereignty Summit, held October 2-3, 2026, at Notre Dame Law School. The summit brought together Native American and First Nations leaders, legal scholars, and experts in cybersecurity, internet governance, and cultural heritage protection to examine Indigenous digital sovereignty, intellectual property rights, and emerging technologies.
The summit was organized by Notre Dame Law Professor Frederick Mostert, whose scholarship and advocacy focus on protecting Indigenous cultural heritage and strengthening digital sovereignty. A central component of his work involves advancing efforts to establish a dedicated .fn internet top-level domain for First Nations, intended to strengthen Indigenous control over digital identities and infrastructure. Through the summit, Mostert brought Indigenous leaders together with legal and technology experts to explore how Web3 technologies can respect Indigenous rights and self-determination.
In his remarks, Notre Dame Law School Dean G. Marcus Cole reaffirmed the Law School's commitment to Indigenous rights and religious freedom, highlighting its support for Nosie and Apache Stronghold.
"Dr. Wendsler Nosie continues to advocate for Indigenous, religious, and human rights, as evidenced by his leadership in taking the fight for Oak Flat all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, where we at the Notre Dame Law School Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic joined his fight to preserve their sacred land and their religious rights," Cole said.
Natural Law, Mother Earth, and the Fight to Protect Sacred Lands
In his keynote address, Nosie reflected on the Apache people's struggle to protect Oak Flat and the broader responsibility to safeguard Mother Earth. Drawing on Apache history, spirituality, and resistance to colonization, he challenged the prioritization of material greed over environmental sustainability.
"I realized that it was not a Native American fight. It's all of our fight," he said.
Nosie described natural law as a moral framework rooted in creation, emphasizing humanity's responsibility to live in harmony with the natural world.
"For us, the natural law is what God created and what we live by and how it gives us life back," he said.
"You call it an earth, but for us it's a mother," Nosie added. "Everything intertwines together. And if we don't protect the Mother Earth that we stand on, then it's not going to be there for us."
He also emphasized the importance of confronting historical injustices. Recalling a letter written by his granddaughter, Naelyn Pike, in 2009 when she was just nine years old, Nosie underscored that acknowledging the past is essential to building a better future.
"We're not asking anybody to go back to where they originated from," he said. "What we're trying to say is treat this place like home. Treat it like your home."
Sovereign Nationhood: From Ancestral Lands to Digital Rights
In his introductory remarks, "Sovereign Nationhood," Tahltan Elder Allen Edzerza, a member of the Tahltan Elders Council, examined Indigenous sovereignty in Canada and the struggle for recognition of ancestral land rights, traditional laws, and self-governance. He noted that the Tahltan Nation has never surrendered its ancestral lands or rights in northwestern British Columbia.
Edzerza highlighted Indigenous-led governance and environmental stewardship, emphasizing the importance of communities exercising authority over their territories and resources.
"Our laws have always existed and governed our community and land," he said. "These laws must continue to apply in Canada."
Turning to the summit's central theme, Edzerza argued that sovereignty must extend beyond physical territories to encompass the ownership, management, and protection of information and data.
"As we act to reestablish our sovereign nationhood, we will need to own, manage, and protect our information and data," Edzerza said. "Digital sovereignty is essential in our ultimate goal of sovereign nationhood."
Protecting Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Intellectual Property
The first panel, "Cultural Heritage Protection for the Native American and First Nations People," was moderated by Mostert and featured two speakers: Alex Pearl, an Arizona State University law professor and Chickasaw Nation citizen, and Heidi Todacheene, Principal of IndigiNational Strategies.
Pearl examined how traditional intellectual property laws often fail to protect cultural heritage passed down through generations without identifiable individual authors. Drawing on Italy's cultural heritage laws, he proposed recognizing harm to a community's cultural dignity rather than focusing solely on economic loss. He also discussed tribal legal codes that would give Indigenous nations greater authority over the use of their cultural heritage.
"The point is that the tribe has the ability to control how it is accessed, how it is utilized, who is able to utilize it, and how it is used publicly," Pearl said.
Todacheene, a Navajo Nation member and former senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, discussed her participation in negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization. She highlighted the landmark 2024 treaty addressing intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge, emphasizing Indigenous participation in international policymaking.
"Innovation cannot be built on invisibility," Todacheene said.
Safeguarding Indigenous Culture and Identity in Cyberspace
The second panel was titled "Cyber Security and the Protection of First Nations and Native American Intellectual Property."
Alex Urbelis, executive director and chief legal officer of the ENS Foundation and professor at King's College London, discussed threats including counterfeit Indigenous artwork, AI-generated cultural content, fraudulent domain names, and ransomware targeting tribal governments.
Urbelis argued that First Nations culture should be treated as critical infrastructure rather than solely as intellectual property. He also highlighted the proposed .fn internet domain as a means of strengthening Indigenous control over digital identities and cultural archives.
"Intellectual property law was built to facilitate commerce, not necessarily to preserve culture," Urbelis said.
Jay Kramer, managing director of the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, discussed the vulnerability of communities with limited cybersecurity resources. He emphasized that Indigenous-controlled digital infrastructure could improve the detection of fraud, suspicious activity, and other cyber threats.
"These are often crimes of opportunity and those that haven't had the ability or the capacity to improve their defensive posture are going to be victimized," Kramer said.
Advancing Tribal Digital Sovereignty and Self-Determination
The third panel, "Tribal Digital Sovereignty in Cyberspace," was moderated by the Honorable Anne Christine Massullo (Ret.), former presiding judge of the San Francisco Superior Court. Panelists included Dr. Traci Morris of Arizona State University's Tribal Nations Policy Institute and Professor Sheryl Lightfoot of the University of Toronto.
Morris, a Chickasaw Nation citizen, discussed how Indigenous nations can exercise authority over their data, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Drawing on her work establishing the Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty, she highlighted tribal legal codes, contractual protections, and Indigenous-controlled infrastructure as tools for self-determination.
"We're tribes, we're sovereign, we can have digital sovereignty," Morris said. "It's not a new right. This is self-determination extended in the digital realm."
Lightfoot, an Anishinaabe citizen of the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe and former chair of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, examined the international human rights foundations of digital sovereignty. She highlighted a 2025 United Nations study recognizing Indigenous peoples' rights concerning data as fundamental to self-determination.
"Indigenous peoples should not just be consulted as stakeholders, but must be involved in co-design and co-governance as rights holders," Lightfoot said.
Advancing Indigenous Rights Through International Law
In the summit's final presentation, "International Indigenous Sovereignty," Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, explored how Indigenous nations can use international human rights mechanisms to advance their rights.
Drawing on his participation in negotiations for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Robertson discussed opportunities to engage with the United Nations and Organization of American States through reports, human rights complaints, and international scrutiny. He emphasized that these mechanisms can provide accessible alternatives to traditional litigation, including for emerging digital sovereignty concerns.
"You don't have to be a lawyer to access this system," Robertson said. "The system exists to be used."
A Call to Action: Protecting Indigenous Sovereignty for Future Generations
In their closing remarks, Edzerza and Nosie returned to the importance of sovereignty, cultural preservation, and collective responsibility.
"We have to fight for our sovereign nationhood and to reestablish it," Edzerza said.
Nosie urged attendees to consider the consequences of their decisions for Mother Earth and future generations.
"So last but not least, it comes down to you. All of us," Nosie said. "Each of you has that responsibility to protect the greatest gift that Usen (the Giver of Life) gave all of us."
"There's no more time. We have to move now."
At the conclusion of his remarks, Nosie presented Mostert with a necklace featuring a black stone, which he described as a symbol of light in darkness and guidance toward the future. The gift was a heartfelt tribute to Mostert's dedication to protecting Mother Earth and advancing Indigenous rights.
The summit underscored that protecting Indigenous sovereignty in the digital age requires more than technological innovation. It demands respect for the rights, traditions, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples, as well as an understanding that humanity, Mother Earth, and future generations are inextricably connected. Rooted in the principles of natural law, this responsibility extends beyond protecting Mother Earth to ensuring that technological advancement respects the interconnectedness of all life. Through continued dialogue and collaboration, Notre Dame Law School seeks to advance efforts to safeguard Indigenous cultural heritage and ensure that Indigenous communities have a voice in shaping their digital futures.
Learn more about Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr.'s fight to protect Oak Flat and Notre Dame Law School's commitment to supporting the Apache people in the University of Notre Dame's What Would You Fight For? episode, produced by NBC Sports: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/fighting-for-religious-liberty-for-all/
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Original text here: https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/from-sacred-lands-to-cyberspace-notre-dame-law-school-summit-explores-indigenous-sovereignty-in-the-digital-age/
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From Sacred Lands to Cyberspace: Notre Dame Law School Summit Explores Indigenous Sovereignty in the Digital Age
November 05, 2026
Author: Arienne Calingo
For Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., the fight to protect Mother Earth is inseparable from the fight to preserve the identity, traditions, and future of Indigenous peoples. As founder and leader of Apache Stronghold, Nosie has spent years defending Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site in Arizona threatened by copper mining. His understanding of natural ... Show Full Article SOUTH BEND, Indiana, Nov. 6 -- The University of Notre Dame Law School issued the following news: * * * From Sacred Lands to Cyberspace: Notre Dame Law School Summit Explores Indigenous Sovereignty in the Digital Age November 05, 2026 Author: Arienne Calingo For Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., the fight to protect Mother Earth is inseparable from the fight to preserve the identity, traditions, and future of Indigenous peoples. As founder and leader of Apache Stronghold, Nosie has spent years defending Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site in Arizona threatened by copper mining. His understanding of naturallaw is rooted in the belief that the Earth is a living mother who sustains all of creation, rather than a resource for human exploitation. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies transform the world, his message raises an urgent question: How can humanity embrace innovation without losing sight of its responsibility to protect what is sacred?
This intersection of Indigenous sovereignty, cultural preservation, and technological change was at the heart of the North American Indigenous Digital Sovereignty Summit, held October 2-3, 2026, at Notre Dame Law School. The summit brought together Native American and First Nations leaders, legal scholars, and experts in cybersecurity, internet governance, and cultural heritage protection to examine Indigenous digital sovereignty, intellectual property rights, and emerging technologies.
The summit was organized by Notre Dame Law Professor Frederick Mostert, whose scholarship and advocacy focus on protecting Indigenous cultural heritage and strengthening digital sovereignty. A central component of his work involves advancing efforts to establish a dedicated .fn internet top-level domain for First Nations, intended to strengthen Indigenous control over digital identities and infrastructure. Through the summit, Mostert brought Indigenous leaders together with legal and technology experts to explore how Web3 technologies can respect Indigenous rights and self-determination.
In his remarks, Notre Dame Law School Dean G. Marcus Cole reaffirmed the Law School's commitment to Indigenous rights and religious freedom, highlighting its support for Nosie and Apache Stronghold.
"Dr. Wendsler Nosie continues to advocate for Indigenous, religious, and human rights, as evidenced by his leadership in taking the fight for Oak Flat all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, where we at the Notre Dame Law School Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic joined his fight to preserve their sacred land and their religious rights," Cole said.
Natural Law, Mother Earth, and the Fight to Protect Sacred Lands
In his keynote address, Nosie reflected on the Apache people's struggle to protect Oak Flat and the broader responsibility to safeguard Mother Earth. Drawing on Apache history, spirituality, and resistance to colonization, he challenged the prioritization of material greed over environmental sustainability.
"I realized that it was not a Native American fight. It's all of our fight," he said.
Nosie described natural law as a moral framework rooted in creation, emphasizing humanity's responsibility to live in harmony with the natural world.
"For us, the natural law is what God created and what we live by and how it gives us life back," he said.
"You call it an earth, but for us it's a mother," Nosie added. "Everything intertwines together. And if we don't protect the Mother Earth that we stand on, then it's not going to be there for us."
He also emphasized the importance of confronting historical injustices. Recalling a letter written by his granddaughter, Naelyn Pike, in 2009 when she was just nine years old, Nosie underscored that acknowledging the past is essential to building a better future.
"We're not asking anybody to go back to where they originated from," he said. "What we're trying to say is treat this place like home. Treat it like your home."
Sovereign Nationhood: From Ancestral Lands to Digital Rights
In his introductory remarks, "Sovereign Nationhood," Tahltan Elder Allen Edzerza, a member of the Tahltan Elders Council, examined Indigenous sovereignty in Canada and the struggle for recognition of ancestral land rights, traditional laws, and self-governance. He noted that the Tahltan Nation has never surrendered its ancestral lands or rights in northwestern British Columbia.
Edzerza highlighted Indigenous-led governance and environmental stewardship, emphasizing the importance of communities exercising authority over their territories and resources.
"Our laws have always existed and governed our community and land," he said. "These laws must continue to apply in Canada."
Turning to the summit's central theme, Edzerza argued that sovereignty must extend beyond physical territories to encompass the ownership, management, and protection of information and data.
"As we act to reestablish our sovereign nationhood, we will need to own, manage, and protect our information and data," Edzerza said. "Digital sovereignty is essential in our ultimate goal of sovereign nationhood."
Protecting Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Intellectual Property
The first panel, "Cultural Heritage Protection for the Native American and First Nations People," was moderated by Mostert and featured two speakers: Alex Pearl, an Arizona State University law professor and Chickasaw Nation citizen, and Heidi Todacheene, Principal of IndigiNational Strategies.
Pearl examined how traditional intellectual property laws often fail to protect cultural heritage passed down through generations without identifiable individual authors. Drawing on Italy's cultural heritage laws, he proposed recognizing harm to a community's cultural dignity rather than focusing solely on economic loss. He also discussed tribal legal codes that would give Indigenous nations greater authority over the use of their cultural heritage.
"The point is that the tribe has the ability to control how it is accessed, how it is utilized, who is able to utilize it, and how it is used publicly," Pearl said.
Todacheene, a Navajo Nation member and former senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, discussed her participation in negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization. She highlighted the landmark 2024 treaty addressing intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge, emphasizing Indigenous participation in international policymaking.
"Innovation cannot be built on invisibility," Todacheene said.
Safeguarding Indigenous Culture and Identity in Cyberspace
The second panel was titled "Cyber Security and the Protection of First Nations and Native American Intellectual Property."
Alex Urbelis, executive director and chief legal officer of the ENS Foundation and professor at King's College London, discussed threats including counterfeit Indigenous artwork, AI-generated cultural content, fraudulent domain names, and ransomware targeting tribal governments.
Urbelis argued that First Nations culture should be treated as critical infrastructure rather than solely as intellectual property. He also highlighted the proposed .fn internet domain as a means of strengthening Indigenous control over digital identities and cultural archives.
"Intellectual property law was built to facilitate commerce, not necessarily to preserve culture," Urbelis said.
Jay Kramer, managing director of the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, discussed the vulnerability of communities with limited cybersecurity resources. He emphasized that Indigenous-controlled digital infrastructure could improve the detection of fraud, suspicious activity, and other cyber threats.
"These are often crimes of opportunity and those that haven't had the ability or the capacity to improve their defensive posture are going to be victimized," Kramer said.
Advancing Tribal Digital Sovereignty and Self-Determination
The third panel, "Tribal Digital Sovereignty in Cyberspace," was moderated by the Honorable Anne Christine Massullo (Ret.), former presiding judge of the San Francisco Superior Court. Panelists included Dr. Traci Morris of Arizona State University's Tribal Nations Policy Institute and Professor Sheryl Lightfoot of the University of Toronto.
Morris, a Chickasaw Nation citizen, discussed how Indigenous nations can exercise authority over their data, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Drawing on her work establishing the Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty, she highlighted tribal legal codes, contractual protections, and Indigenous-controlled infrastructure as tools for self-determination.
"We're tribes, we're sovereign, we can have digital sovereignty," Morris said. "It's not a new right. This is self-determination extended in the digital realm."
Lightfoot, an Anishinaabe citizen of the Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe and former chair of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, examined the international human rights foundations of digital sovereignty. She highlighted a 2025 United Nations study recognizing Indigenous peoples' rights concerning data as fundamental to self-determination.
"Indigenous peoples should not just be consulted as stakeholders, but must be involved in co-design and co-governance as rights holders," Lightfoot said.
Advancing Indigenous Rights Through International Law
In the summit's final presentation, "International Indigenous Sovereignty," Lindsay Robertson, Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, explored how Indigenous nations can use international human rights mechanisms to advance their rights.
Drawing on his participation in negotiations for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Robertson discussed opportunities to engage with the United Nations and Organization of American States through reports, human rights complaints, and international scrutiny. He emphasized that these mechanisms can provide accessible alternatives to traditional litigation, including for emerging digital sovereignty concerns.
"You don't have to be a lawyer to access this system," Robertson said. "The system exists to be used."
A Call to Action: Protecting Indigenous Sovereignty for Future Generations
In their closing remarks, Edzerza and Nosie returned to the importance of sovereignty, cultural preservation, and collective responsibility.
"We have to fight for our sovereign nationhood and to reestablish it," Edzerza said.
Nosie urged attendees to consider the consequences of their decisions for Mother Earth and future generations.
"So last but not least, it comes down to you. All of us," Nosie said. "Each of you has that responsibility to protect the greatest gift that Usen (the Giver of Life) gave all of us."
"There's no more time. We have to move now."
At the conclusion of his remarks, Nosie presented Mostert with a necklace featuring a black stone, which he described as a symbol of light in darkness and guidance toward the future. The gift was a heartfelt tribute to Mostert's dedication to protecting Mother Earth and advancing Indigenous rights.
The summit underscored that protecting Indigenous sovereignty in the digital age requires more than technological innovation. It demands respect for the rights, traditions, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples, as well as an understanding that humanity, Mother Earth, and future generations are inextricably connected. Rooted in the principles of natural law, this responsibility extends beyond protecting Mother Earth to ensuring that technological advancement respects the interconnectedness of all life. Through continued dialogue and collaboration, Notre Dame Law School seeks to advance efforts to safeguard Indigenous cultural heritage and ensure that Indigenous communities have a voice in shaping their digital futures.
Learn more about Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr.'s fight to protect Oak Flat and Notre Dame Law School's commitment to supporting the Apache people in the University of Notre Dame's What Would You Fight For? episode, produced by NBC Sports: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/fighting-for-religious-liberty-for-all/
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Original text here: https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/from-sacred-lands-to-cyberspace-notre-dame-law-school-summit-explores-indigenous-sovereignty-in-the-digital-age/
Embry Riddle Researcher Helps Solve Mystery Around Heating of Sun's Corona
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Nov. 6 (TNSjou) -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the following news:
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Embry Riddle Researcher Helps Solve Mystery Around Heating of Sun's Corona
Author: Michaela Jarvis
November 5, 2026
Based on 27 years of research into a space weather phenomenon that creates powerful surges of energy -- combined with brand-new images from the surface of the sun -- Dr. Katariina Nykyri has proposed an answer to a long-standing mystery: how the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, is heated to more than a million degrees, hundreds of times hotter than its visible surface.
Interpreting ... Show Full Article DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Nov. 6 (TNSjou) -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the following news: * * * Embry Riddle Researcher Helps Solve Mystery Around Heating of Sun's Corona Author: Michaela Jarvis November 5, 2026 Based on 27 years of research into a space weather phenomenon that creates powerful surges of energy -- combined with brand-new images from the surface of the sun -- Dr. Katariina Nykyri has proposed an answer to a long-standing mystery: how the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, is heated to more than a million degrees, hundreds of times hotter than its visible surface. Interpretingthis process is important to life here on Earth, said Nykyri, professor in the Department of Physical Sciences at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
"The sun's hot corona is the source of the solar wind and of the space weather that can disrupt satellites, GPS, radio communications and power grids," Nykyri said. "Understanding how it is heated is key to understanding and eventually predicting our sun's behavior."
Nykyri's research was published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The phenomenon Nykyri has been studying since she was a Ph.D. student, and that was recently spotted on the sun's surface by the U.S. National Science Foundation Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, relates to Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves. The waves are like whirlpools that form when two fluids flow past each other at different speeds, similar to the eddies that form in a river as the river's faster main flow passes slower water along the river's banks.
The waves have been detected by spacecraft close to Earth as solar wind flows past the Earth's magnetosphere, or when fast and powerful mass ejections from the sun's corona flow past slower solar wind. The whirlpools that form twist and compress the magnetic field lines carried by the charged solar plasma, forcing oppositely directed field lines together until they break and rejoin in a process known as magnetic reconnection. Like stretched rubber bands snapping, the newly reconnected field lines release stored magnetic energy as heat and fast jets of particles.
In a study published in August in the journal Nature by Kuridze et al., researchers released images and time-lapse video of never-before-seen KH waves on the visible surface of the sun (the photosphere) that had been recorded by the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope. Nykyri said that when she saw the images, she realized that what she had learned about the waves and reconnection closer to Earth could help explain coronal heating. Spacecraft cannot visit the lower corona where the heating begins, but "simple scaling laws," derived from spacecraft measurements closer to Earth, show how effectively magnetic energy can be converted to heat in magnetic reconnection and seem to apply wherever reconnection takes place.
"Applying these laws to the properties of KH vortices Inouye observed lets us estimate coronal heating," Nykyri said.
"The observed heating of the solar chromosphere, and the solar corona above, is a decades-old puzzle with several competing yet incomplete explanations invoking magnetized plasma waves, instabilities and magnetic reconnection phenomena," said NSF Plasma Physics Program Director Vyacheslav "Slava" Lukin, who is also an expert on magnetic reconnection. "By building on prior work in magnetospheric and laboratory-based plasma physics and using recent observations from the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope, this new model unifies these explanations into one cohesive whole."
The paper also tackles a key puzzle of scale: the observed whirlpools are tens of kilometers across, while reconnection ignites in magnetic layers that, at the sun's surface, are nearly a million times thinner. Nykyri showed that a vortex's swirling motion winds up the magnetic field and thins these layers exponentially fast, closing that million-fold gap within the lifetime of a single vortex. She also demonstrated, using a plasma simulation, how large-scale KH wave structures can collapse into thin current sheets where reconnection begins.
Dr. Aroh Barjatya, executive director of Embry Riddle's Center for Space and Atmospheric Research, said Dr. Nykyri's work demonstrates how decades of sustained fundamental research in magnetospheric physics can unlock new insights into solar phenomena.
"We are immensely proud of her scientific achievement," he said, "which exemplifies the innovative, interdisciplinary and tenacious pursuit of scientific discovery that we champion at Embry Riddle."
Nykyri said fusion energy could also advance from this research.
"Learning how nature turns magnetic energy into heat helps fusion research," she said, adding that "the prize is large," as "the deuterium in a single glass of heavy water holds enough fusion energy to cover a person's energy use for decades."
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The paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters is titled "Photospheric Kelvin-Helmholtz Vortices as Possible Drivers of Coronal Heating: Implications of the DKIST Observations" (https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aeb6c4).Though the paper was solely authored by Nykyri, she credited her students and colleagues for years of work on KH waves and reconnection, work that was supported by many NASA and NSF grants.
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Original text here: https://erau.edu/about/news-and-stories/news/embry-riddle-researcher-helps-solve-mystery-around-heating-of-sun-corona
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Embry Riddle Researcher Helps Solve Mystery Around Heating of Sun's Corona
Author: Michaela Jarvis
November 5, 2026
Based on 27 years of research into a space weather phenomenon that creates powerful surges of energy -- combined with brand-new images from the surface of the sun -- Dr. Katariina Nykyri has proposed an answer to a long-standing mystery: how the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, is heated to more than a million degrees, hundreds of times hotter than its visible surface.
Interpreting ... Show Full Article DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, Nov. 6 (TNSjou) -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University posted the following news: * * * Embry Riddle Researcher Helps Solve Mystery Around Heating of Sun's Corona Author: Michaela Jarvis November 5, 2026 Based on 27 years of research into a space weather phenomenon that creates powerful surges of energy -- combined with brand-new images from the surface of the sun -- Dr. Katariina Nykyri has proposed an answer to a long-standing mystery: how the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, is heated to more than a million degrees, hundreds of times hotter than its visible surface. Interpretingthis process is important to life here on Earth, said Nykyri, professor in the Department of Physical Sciences at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
"The sun's hot corona is the source of the solar wind and of the space weather that can disrupt satellites, GPS, radio communications and power grids," Nykyri said. "Understanding how it is heated is key to understanding and eventually predicting our sun's behavior."
Nykyri's research was published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The phenomenon Nykyri has been studying since she was a Ph.D. student, and that was recently spotted on the sun's surface by the U.S. National Science Foundation Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, relates to Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves. The waves are like whirlpools that form when two fluids flow past each other at different speeds, similar to the eddies that form in a river as the river's faster main flow passes slower water along the river's banks.
The waves have been detected by spacecraft close to Earth as solar wind flows past the Earth's magnetosphere, or when fast and powerful mass ejections from the sun's corona flow past slower solar wind. The whirlpools that form twist and compress the magnetic field lines carried by the charged solar plasma, forcing oppositely directed field lines together until they break and rejoin in a process known as magnetic reconnection. Like stretched rubber bands snapping, the newly reconnected field lines release stored magnetic energy as heat and fast jets of particles.
In a study published in August in the journal Nature by Kuridze et al., researchers released images and time-lapse video of never-before-seen KH waves on the visible surface of the sun (the photosphere) that had been recorded by the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope. Nykyri said that when she saw the images, she realized that what she had learned about the waves and reconnection closer to Earth could help explain coronal heating. Spacecraft cannot visit the lower corona where the heating begins, but "simple scaling laws," derived from spacecraft measurements closer to Earth, show how effectively magnetic energy can be converted to heat in magnetic reconnection and seem to apply wherever reconnection takes place.
"Applying these laws to the properties of KH vortices Inouye observed lets us estimate coronal heating," Nykyri said.
"The observed heating of the solar chromosphere, and the solar corona above, is a decades-old puzzle with several competing yet incomplete explanations invoking magnetized plasma waves, instabilities and magnetic reconnection phenomena," said NSF Plasma Physics Program Director Vyacheslav "Slava" Lukin, who is also an expert on magnetic reconnection. "By building on prior work in magnetospheric and laboratory-based plasma physics and using recent observations from the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope, this new model unifies these explanations into one cohesive whole."
The paper also tackles a key puzzle of scale: the observed whirlpools are tens of kilometers across, while reconnection ignites in magnetic layers that, at the sun's surface, are nearly a million times thinner. Nykyri showed that a vortex's swirling motion winds up the magnetic field and thins these layers exponentially fast, closing that million-fold gap within the lifetime of a single vortex. She also demonstrated, using a plasma simulation, how large-scale KH wave structures can collapse into thin current sheets where reconnection begins.
Dr. Aroh Barjatya, executive director of Embry Riddle's Center for Space and Atmospheric Research, said Dr. Nykyri's work demonstrates how decades of sustained fundamental research in magnetospheric physics can unlock new insights into solar phenomena.
"We are immensely proud of her scientific achievement," he said, "which exemplifies the innovative, interdisciplinary and tenacious pursuit of scientific discovery that we champion at Embry Riddle."
Nykyri said fusion energy could also advance from this research.
"Learning how nature turns magnetic energy into heat helps fusion research," she said, adding that "the prize is large," as "the deuterium in a single glass of heavy water holds enough fusion energy to cover a person's energy use for decades."
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The paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters is titled "Photospheric Kelvin-Helmholtz Vortices as Possible Drivers of Coronal Heating: Implications of the DKIST Observations" (https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aeb6c4).Though the paper was solely authored by Nykyri, she credited her students and colleagues for years of work on KH waves and reconnection, work that was supported by many NASA and NSF grants.
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Original text here: https://erau.edu/about/news-and-stories/news/embry-riddle-researcher-helps-solve-mystery-around-heating-of-sun-corona
Centenary University to Host Inaugural Lecture Series in Honor of Late History Professor Noah Haiduc-Dale
HACKETTSTOWN, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Centenary University issued the following news:
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CENTENARY UNIVERSITY TO HOST INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES IN HONOR OF LATE HISTORY PROFESSOR NOAH HAIDUC-DALE
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Nov. 5, 2026 - Centenary University will host a free public lecture and panel discussion from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Little Theatre in the Seay Building on November 19, 2026, titled "When Did the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Begin?" which will explore how people's perception of conflict is shaped by where and when people choose to begin studying its history.
The lecture is part of a new ... Show Full Article HACKETTSTOWN, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Centenary University issued the following news: * * * CENTENARY UNIVERSITY TO HOST INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES IN HONOR OF LATE HISTORY PROFESSOR NOAH HAIDUC-DALE HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Nov. 5, 2026 - Centenary University will host a free public lecture and panel discussion from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Little Theatre in the Seay Building on November 19, 2026, titled "When Did the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Begin?" which will explore how people's perception of conflict is shaped by where and when people choose to begin studying its history. The lecture is part of a newannual event at Centenary University: a full-day workshop and lecture series in honor of the late and beloved Centenary History Professor Noah Haiduc-Dale, Ph.D. The all-day series will be led by Jonathan Gribetz, Ph.D., Princeton University, who is an international expert on the history of Palestine and Israel.
Register Now: To register for the public lecture and panel discussion, click this registration link (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=paE12reAp0utD68YG3ZbEHC7iShK2t1BrDK5srpcXo5UQ0ZRTEtHVkVDNDk4UFpSTU5SRUw5RzJFSS4u).
"Professor Haiduc-Dale's classroom was a space increasingly endangered in American universities: complexity, nuance, and (serious) play were not just encouraged, but nurtured," said Robert Battistini, Ph.D., Senior Dean, School of Education and Humanities. "This workshop & lecture series strives to honor and extend Professor Haiduc-Dale's legacy of free inquiry and the quest for knowledge, no matter how uncomfortable or difficult it may be."
Secondary school teachers are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend the day's earlier workshops, discussions, and text studies, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These sessions intend to give teachers tools to help students understand the origins and development of the Jewish and Palestinian national movements or any historical event of considerable complexity.
For any questions about the event, please contact Robert Battistini at robert.battistini@centenaryuniversity.edu. Centenary University hopes to see you at this inaugural lecture and workshop series.
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About Centenary University
Founded in 1867 by the United Methodist Church, Centenary University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation and career-focused learning. Located in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with an equestrian center in Washington Township, Centenary provides students with hands-on, personalized educational experiences that prepare them for success in a global and evolving workforce. Guided by its commitment to student success, university vitality, and world engagement, Centenary empowers students to lead lives of purpose, impact, and lifelong achievement. For more information, visit centenaryuniversity.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.centenaryuniversity.edu/news/centenary-university-to-host-inaugural-lecture-series-in-honor-of-late-history-professor-noah-haiduc-dale/
* * *
CENTENARY UNIVERSITY TO HOST INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES IN HONOR OF LATE HISTORY PROFESSOR NOAH HAIDUC-DALE
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Nov. 5, 2026 - Centenary University will host a free public lecture and panel discussion from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Little Theatre in the Seay Building on November 19, 2026, titled "When Did the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Begin?" which will explore how people's perception of conflict is shaped by where and when people choose to begin studying its history.
The lecture is part of a new ... Show Full Article HACKETTSTOWN, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Centenary University issued the following news: * * * CENTENARY UNIVERSITY TO HOST INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES IN HONOR OF LATE HISTORY PROFESSOR NOAH HAIDUC-DALE HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Nov. 5, 2026 - Centenary University will host a free public lecture and panel discussion from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Little Theatre in the Seay Building on November 19, 2026, titled "When Did the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Begin?" which will explore how people's perception of conflict is shaped by where and when people choose to begin studying its history. The lecture is part of a newannual event at Centenary University: a full-day workshop and lecture series in honor of the late and beloved Centenary History Professor Noah Haiduc-Dale, Ph.D. The all-day series will be led by Jonathan Gribetz, Ph.D., Princeton University, who is an international expert on the history of Palestine and Israel.
Register Now: To register for the public lecture and panel discussion, click this registration link (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=paE12reAp0utD68YG3ZbEHC7iShK2t1BrDK5srpcXo5UQ0ZRTEtHVkVDNDk4UFpSTU5SRUw5RzJFSS4u).
"Professor Haiduc-Dale's classroom was a space increasingly endangered in American universities: complexity, nuance, and (serious) play were not just encouraged, but nurtured," said Robert Battistini, Ph.D., Senior Dean, School of Education and Humanities. "This workshop & lecture series strives to honor and extend Professor Haiduc-Dale's legacy of free inquiry and the quest for knowledge, no matter how uncomfortable or difficult it may be."
Secondary school teachers are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend the day's earlier workshops, discussions, and text studies, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These sessions intend to give teachers tools to help students understand the origins and development of the Jewish and Palestinian national movements or any historical event of considerable complexity.
For any questions about the event, please contact Robert Battistini at robert.battistini@centenaryuniversity.edu. Centenary University hopes to see you at this inaugural lecture and workshop series.
* * *
About Centenary University
Founded in 1867 by the United Methodist Church, Centenary University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation and career-focused learning. Located in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with an equestrian center in Washington Township, Centenary provides students with hands-on, personalized educational experiences that prepare them for success in a global and evolving workforce. Guided by its commitment to student success, university vitality, and world engagement, Centenary empowers students to lead lives of purpose, impact, and lifelong achievement. For more information, visit centenaryuniversity.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.centenaryuniversity.edu/news/centenary-university-to-host-inaugural-lecture-series-in-honor-of-late-history-professor-noah-haiduc-dale/