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 Washington School of Medicine: Map Reveals Wiring in the Human Eye for Best Vision
SEATTLE, Washington, Aug. 12 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release:
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Map reveals wiring in the human eye for best vision
The first census of neurons and their synapse-level connectivity in a fovea shows unique features of the human nervous system.
-
The study mapped the photoreceptor synapses of the fovea: short-wavelength cones (blue) and long- and middle-wavelength cones (yellow) for daylight; rods for dim light (red) are also present.
A new study provides an exquisitely detailed map of the circuitry of the fovea, the minute structure ... Show Full Article SEATTLE, Washington, Aug. 12 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release: * * * Map reveals wiring in the human eye for best vision The first census of neurons and their synapse-level connectivity in a fovea shows unique features of the human nervous system. - The study mapped the photoreceptor synapses of the fovea: short-wavelength cones (blue) and long- and middle-wavelength cones (yellow) for daylight; rods for dim light (red) are also present. A new study provides an exquisitely detailed map of the circuitry of the fovea, the minute structurein the eye's retina essential for seeing fine detail and discerning colors.
The map, called a connectome, describes the location of all the cells and connections between cells within the fovea, making it the first complete cell-type census and connectivity matrix of a human central nervous system structure.
"A connectome like this only recently became available for the fruit fly brain," said senior author Dennis M. Dacey. "The methods developed for the tiny fruit fly brain made it possible for us and other labs to attempt pieces of larger mammalian brains, and the transition to the human central nervous system was a real breakthrough for us and for understanding how human vision starts."
Dacey is a professor of neurobiology and biophysics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a core scientist at the Washington National Biomedical Research Center. The study appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The fovea is small, about the size of a pinhead, but it is packed with an enormous number of neurons, which enable detailed, high-resolution color vision. Although the fovea composes only a tiny portion of the retina, its signals account for the lion's share of what reaches the brain's visual centers.
It's the reason we swivel our eyes toward anything that catches our attention, whether it's a beautiful or terrifying sight. Pointing the fovea straight at something is the only way to see it in fine detail.
To build their map, the researchers reconstructed more than 300,000 connections among roughly 3,000 neurons in a human fovea, tracing exactly how each type of neuron links to all other neurons. They then compared this connectivity matrix to similar reconstructions from monkeys, which share a humanlike fovea, and mice, which lack a fovea entirely, as well as from the outer edges of the human retina, where vision is much less sharp.
The comparison turned up something striking: In most of the human retina, and in the other species, visual information travels through many different, overlapping circuits. But in the human fovea, evolution appears to have stripped things down to just three major pathways.
"Instead of many parallel routes, the fovea funnels information through a small number of highly efficient channels -- something like a direct expressway rather than a tangle of side streets," explained first author Yeon Jin Kim, research scientist in neurobiology and biophysics.
The researchers think this streamlined wiring may be what allows humans to support the demands of conscious, detailed vision and the complex behaviors that depend on it, such as reading a page or judging distance while driving. It may be a key piece of what sets human vision apart from that of other animals.
Such streamlining may have also occurred in other structures of the brain, perhaps explaining differences in human cognition, said Kim. "The retina is a part of the brain, so our analysis reveals what might be distinctive features of its neural circuitry. This map lets us start testing competing ideas about how those circuits compute."
Beyond its implications for understanding the brain, the new connectome gives researchers a detailed blueprint of healthy foveal wiring. That blueprint could prove valuable for scientists working on treatments for blinding diseases that damage the fovea, since restoring vision will likely require rebuilding, or working around, this same intricate circuitry.
"The fovea is immensely important to human vision and quality of life," said co-author Christine Curcio, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The connectome is a tremendous resource for interpreting the cellular-level information available in diagnostic instruments used by ophthalmologists."
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants EY-028282, RF1-MH129260, P51-OD010425 and EY-01730.
* * *
Original text here: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/map-reveals-wiring-in-the-human-eye-for-best-vision/
* * *
Map reveals wiring in the human eye for best vision
The first census of neurons and their synapse-level connectivity in a fovea shows unique features of the human nervous system.
-
The study mapped the photoreceptor synapses of the fovea: short-wavelength cones (blue) and long- and middle-wavelength cones (yellow) for daylight; rods for dim light (red) are also present.
A new study provides an exquisitely detailed map of the circuitry of the fovea, the minute structure ... Show Full Article SEATTLE, Washington, Aug. 12 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release: * * * Map reveals wiring in the human eye for best vision The first census of neurons and their synapse-level connectivity in a fovea shows unique features of the human nervous system. - The study mapped the photoreceptor synapses of the fovea: short-wavelength cones (blue) and long- and middle-wavelength cones (yellow) for daylight; rods for dim light (red) are also present. A new study provides an exquisitely detailed map of the circuitry of the fovea, the minute structurein the eye's retina essential for seeing fine detail and discerning colors.
The map, called a connectome, describes the location of all the cells and connections between cells within the fovea, making it the first complete cell-type census and connectivity matrix of a human central nervous system structure.
"A connectome like this only recently became available for the fruit fly brain," said senior author Dennis M. Dacey. "The methods developed for the tiny fruit fly brain made it possible for us and other labs to attempt pieces of larger mammalian brains, and the transition to the human central nervous system was a real breakthrough for us and for understanding how human vision starts."
Dacey is a professor of neurobiology and biophysics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a core scientist at the Washington National Biomedical Research Center. The study appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The fovea is small, about the size of a pinhead, but it is packed with an enormous number of neurons, which enable detailed, high-resolution color vision. Although the fovea composes only a tiny portion of the retina, its signals account for the lion's share of what reaches the brain's visual centers.
It's the reason we swivel our eyes toward anything that catches our attention, whether it's a beautiful or terrifying sight. Pointing the fovea straight at something is the only way to see it in fine detail.
To build their map, the researchers reconstructed more than 300,000 connections among roughly 3,000 neurons in a human fovea, tracing exactly how each type of neuron links to all other neurons. They then compared this connectivity matrix to similar reconstructions from monkeys, which share a humanlike fovea, and mice, which lack a fovea entirely, as well as from the outer edges of the human retina, where vision is much less sharp.
The comparison turned up something striking: In most of the human retina, and in the other species, visual information travels through many different, overlapping circuits. But in the human fovea, evolution appears to have stripped things down to just three major pathways.
"Instead of many parallel routes, the fovea funnels information through a small number of highly efficient channels -- something like a direct expressway rather than a tangle of side streets," explained first author Yeon Jin Kim, research scientist in neurobiology and biophysics.
The researchers think this streamlined wiring may be what allows humans to support the demands of conscious, detailed vision and the complex behaviors that depend on it, such as reading a page or judging distance while driving. It may be a key piece of what sets human vision apart from that of other animals.
Such streamlining may have also occurred in other structures of the brain, perhaps explaining differences in human cognition, said Kim. "The retina is a part of the brain, so our analysis reveals what might be distinctive features of its neural circuitry. This map lets us start testing competing ideas about how those circuits compute."
Beyond its implications for understanding the brain, the new connectome gives researchers a detailed blueprint of healthy foveal wiring. That blueprint could prove valuable for scientists working on treatments for blinding diseases that damage the fovea, since restoring vision will likely require rebuilding, or working around, this same intricate circuitry.
"The fovea is immensely important to human vision and quality of life," said co-author Christine Curcio, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The connectome is a tremendous resource for interpreting the cellular-level information available in diagnostic instruments used by ophthalmologists."
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants EY-028282, RF1-MH129260, P51-OD010425 and EY-01730.
* * *
Original text here: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/map-reveals-wiring-in-the-human-eye-for-best-vision/
University of Alabama-Huntsville Welcomes First Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to Expand International Chemical Engineering Education and Research
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, Aug. 12 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
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UAH welcomes first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to expand international chemical engineering education and research
Russ Nelson
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, is welcoming its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, marking a milestone in the university's international engagement, while opening new opportunities for global engineering education, research collaboration and student exchange. Professor Giovanni Morales Medina of the Universidad ... Show Full Article HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, Aug. 12 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news: * * * UAH welcomes first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to expand international chemical engineering education and research Russ Nelson The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, is welcoming its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, marking a milestone in the university's international engagement, while opening new opportunities for global engineering education, research collaboration and student exchange. Professor Giovanni Morales Medina of the UniversidadIndustrial de Santander (UIS) in Bucaramanga, Colombia, will spend the 2026-27 academic year with UAH's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME) through the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR), an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that places international scholars at U.S. colleges and universities to strengthen teaching, research and campus internationalization.
"Hosting a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence is a significant milestone for both UAH and our department," says Dr. Yu Lei, professor and chair of the Department of CME. "To our knowledge, Professor Giovanni Morales Medina will be UAH's first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, making this an important step in the university's continued expansion of international engagement."
For Lei, the Fulbright appointment is the culmination of a partnership years in the making. The relationship between UAH and UIS began through the U.S. Department of State's IDEAS Program and has since grown into an innovative virtual international senior design collaboration linking engineering students and faculty in Alabama and Colombia. Over the past three years, Medina has served as the senior design instructor at UIS, working alongside UAH faculty to mentor student teams, coordinate joint engineering projects and strengthen the academic partnership between the two universities.
"I'm excited about engaging with the UAH community through teaching, academic collaboration and participation in both academic and non-academic activities," the appointee says. "I looked forward to contributing to student learning, sharing my international perspective and building meaningful connections with students, faculty and staff, as well as the broader Huntsville community."
Because of that successful collaboration, Lei notes, bringing Medina to UAH as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence was a natural next step. "Engineering challenges such as energy, manufacturing, sustainability and infrastructure are global, and our students benefit tremendously from learning alongside faculty with international perspectives and experience."
Medina has a strong background in both industry and academia, with experience in chemical process modeling, simulation, process control and process design. The new appointee has contributed to industrial projects involving crude oil distillation and FCC simulation and optimization, environmental assessment and techno-economic evaluations. His academic work includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supporting accreditation and curriculum improvement processes and developing active-learning strategies for engineering education.
During his residency, Medina has been tapped to teach Process Control and Numerical Methods while also contributing to UAH's interdisciplinary Design of Coffee course. As a faculty member from Colombia, one of the world's leading coffee-producing countries, Medina will bring both technical expertise and cultural perspective to the course, helping students explore the engineering, sustainability and global supply-chain considerations behind one of the world's most widely consumed products.
The residency also will strengthen ongoing engineering education research. Faculty at UAH and UIS are documenting their virtual international senior design collaboration as a case study that other institutions can adapt to develop global learning experiences for engineering students.
Beyond the classroom, UAH plans to use the Fulbright appointment as a foundation for expanding its international partnerships. Goals include establishing a bilateral student exchange program between UAH and UIS, pursuing joint research initiatives, developing collaborative courses and creating additional opportunities for faculty and student exchanges. A recently awarded IDEAS Microgrant will help formalize many of those efforts.
"Our goal has always been to build a sustainable partnership rather than a one-year exchange," Lei says. "Professor Medina's residency provides an opportunity to establish long-term collaborations that will continue well beyond the Fulbright appointment."
Medina also is expected to engage with the broader campus and North Alabama community through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, multicultural programs and K-12 outreach activities that will encourage students to explore engineering and international education.
"Ultimately, I hope this partnership becomes a model for future collaborations throughout Latin America and beyond," Lei explains. "International partnerships are not just about exchanging faculty; they are about creating lasting relationships that expand opportunities for students, strengthen research and prepare the next generation of engineers to work in an increasingly interconnected world."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uah.edu/news/items/uah-welcomes-first-fulbright-scholar-residence-expand-international-chemical-engineering-education-and-research
* * *
UAH welcomes first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to expand international chemical engineering education and research
Russ Nelson
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, is welcoming its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, marking a milestone in the university's international engagement, while opening new opportunities for global engineering education, research collaboration and student exchange. Professor Giovanni Morales Medina of the Universidad ... Show Full Article HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, Aug. 12 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news: * * * UAH welcomes first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to expand international chemical engineering education and research Russ Nelson The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, is welcoming its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, marking a milestone in the university's international engagement, while opening new opportunities for global engineering education, research collaboration and student exchange. Professor Giovanni Morales Medina of the UniversidadIndustrial de Santander (UIS) in Bucaramanga, Colombia, will spend the 2026-27 academic year with UAH's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME) through the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR), an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that places international scholars at U.S. colleges and universities to strengthen teaching, research and campus internationalization.
"Hosting a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence is a significant milestone for both UAH and our department," says Dr. Yu Lei, professor and chair of the Department of CME. "To our knowledge, Professor Giovanni Morales Medina will be UAH's first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, making this an important step in the university's continued expansion of international engagement."
For Lei, the Fulbright appointment is the culmination of a partnership years in the making. The relationship between UAH and UIS began through the U.S. Department of State's IDEAS Program and has since grown into an innovative virtual international senior design collaboration linking engineering students and faculty in Alabama and Colombia. Over the past three years, Medina has served as the senior design instructor at UIS, working alongside UAH faculty to mentor student teams, coordinate joint engineering projects and strengthen the academic partnership between the two universities.
"I'm excited about engaging with the UAH community through teaching, academic collaboration and participation in both academic and non-academic activities," the appointee says. "I looked forward to contributing to student learning, sharing my international perspective and building meaningful connections with students, faculty and staff, as well as the broader Huntsville community."
Because of that successful collaboration, Lei notes, bringing Medina to UAH as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence was a natural next step. "Engineering challenges such as energy, manufacturing, sustainability and infrastructure are global, and our students benefit tremendously from learning alongside faculty with international perspectives and experience."
Medina has a strong background in both industry and academia, with experience in chemical process modeling, simulation, process control and process design. The new appointee has contributed to industrial projects involving crude oil distillation and FCC simulation and optimization, environmental assessment and techno-economic evaluations. His academic work includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supporting accreditation and curriculum improvement processes and developing active-learning strategies for engineering education.
During his residency, Medina has been tapped to teach Process Control and Numerical Methods while also contributing to UAH's interdisciplinary Design of Coffee course. As a faculty member from Colombia, one of the world's leading coffee-producing countries, Medina will bring both technical expertise and cultural perspective to the course, helping students explore the engineering, sustainability and global supply-chain considerations behind one of the world's most widely consumed products.
The residency also will strengthen ongoing engineering education research. Faculty at UAH and UIS are documenting their virtual international senior design collaboration as a case study that other institutions can adapt to develop global learning experiences for engineering students.
Beyond the classroom, UAH plans to use the Fulbright appointment as a foundation for expanding its international partnerships. Goals include establishing a bilateral student exchange program between UAH and UIS, pursuing joint research initiatives, developing collaborative courses and creating additional opportunities for faculty and student exchanges. A recently awarded IDEAS Microgrant will help formalize many of those efforts.
"Our goal has always been to build a sustainable partnership rather than a one-year exchange," Lei says. "Professor Medina's residency provides an opportunity to establish long-term collaborations that will continue well beyond the Fulbright appointment."
Medina also is expected to engage with the broader campus and North Alabama community through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, multicultural programs and K-12 outreach activities that will encourage students to explore engineering and international education.
"Ultimately, I hope this partnership becomes a model for future collaborations throughout Latin America and beyond," Lei explains. "International partnerships are not just about exchanging faculty; they are about creating lasting relationships that expand opportunities for students, strengthen research and prepare the next generation of engineers to work in an increasingly interconnected world."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uah.edu/news/items/uah-welcomes-first-fulbright-scholar-residence-expand-international-chemical-engineering-education-and-research
Unearthing the Story Behind Lafayette's College Writing Program
EASTON, Pennsylvania, Aug. 12 -- Lafayette College issued the following news:
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Unearthing the story behind Lafayette's College Writing Program
Digging through decades of archival material, Lafayette students collaborate with faculty to uncover and preserve the 40-year legacy of the College Writing Program--and gain valuable experience in historical research and digital archiving
By Stella Katsipoutis-Varkanis
Tucked away in Room 319 of Pardee Hall, home of Lafayette's College Writing Program (CWP), are boxes of decades-old files discovered throughout the building over the years. What ... Show Full Article EASTON, Pennsylvania, Aug. 12 -- Lafayette College issued the following news: * * * Unearthing the story behind Lafayette's College Writing Program Digging through decades of archival material, Lafayette students collaborate with faculty to uncover and preserve the 40-year legacy of the College Writing Program--and gain valuable experience in historical research and digital archiving By Stella Katsipoutis-Varkanis Tucked away in Room 319 of Pardee Hall, home of Lafayette's College Writing Program (CWP), are boxes of decades-old files discovered throughout the building over the years. Whatthey hold tells CWP's origin story--a story that, until now, has remained elusive.
This summer, Bianca Falbo, associate professor of English and CWP director, and Emma Hetrick, CWP coordinator, are working alongside student researchers Ethan Eisenberg '28 and Jessi Kleiber '27 to dive into these archival materials--which include anything from Writing Associate (WA) narratives and student writing samples to payroll documents and program evaluations--and digitally document CWP's history.
"Lafayette is one of the first schools in the U.S. to have a writing associate program and to have writing as a primary part of the curriculum," Hetrick says. "There's a lot to learn from the program's rich history, and it's really exciting to have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the past in a way that will help shape what the program could be in the future." With CWP preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, the timing of the project couldn't be better.
As a Bergh Family Fellow and EXCEL Scholar, respectively, Eisenberg and Kleiber have dedicated their summer to advancing the research project, which began in 2023. Since May, they have played a key role in evaluating, organizing, and digitally archiving the physical documents while conducting their own research to construct a comprehensive, accessible timeline of CWP that can eventually be shared with the Lafayette community and beyond.
Working with Special Collections and College Archives, and interviewing various CWP alumni as well as Patricia Donahue, professor emeritus of English and CWP founder, Eisenberg and Kleiber have gained hands-on experience with primary sources while uncovering the program's history and learning the archival process. "We've had a lot of conversations with students about what it means to construct an archive and tell a history, what counts as evidence, what should be saved or discarded, and how to make those decisions," Falbo says. The students, she adds, are also helping to organize a fall panel of former WAs who will speak to the campus community about how their experiences in CWP shaped their lives beyond Lafayette. "I can't imagine working with better, more interested, and more dedicated students than Jessi and Ethan," she says.
Kleiber, an English major and WA who also worked on the project last summer, says the panel will highlight CWP's lasting impact and inspire current student writers. "Student writing is valuable, and we want to help students to become better writers--not necessarily by an academic or industry standard, but in the sense of whatever better writing means to them," she says. "We want them to feel more confident in expressing themselves and their ideas."
Because research on undergraduate writing programs at small colleges remains relatively limited, Falbo hopes the team's work will also contribute to scholarship in the field. "Larger institutions can learn from colleges like Lafayette, which has a robust and successful writing program, a rich culture of investing in students' writing since our founding, and close interaction between faculty and students," she says. "It's like filling a gap in disciplinary history."
For Eisenberg, a history and math double major and WA, Lafayette's close-knit campus culture is what makes student research at the College especially meaningful. "We actually get to know our professors as people too, and it's pretty exceptional we get to collaborate with them on their research," he says. Eisenberg, who hopes to earn a graduate degree in history and eventually pursue a career in historical research, adds that working closely with Falbo and Hetrick has allowed him to directly apply classroom learning and sharpen skills essential to his future profession.
Kleiber, who hopes to pursue a graduate degree in either English literature or rhetoric and composition, says participating in the CWP history project has helped her find her voice. "I've gained a sense of empowerment and feel like it's OK for me to say what I want to say in my writing, and how I want to say it," she says. "It's also helped me grow my critical thinking skills, going through the process of figuring out what we want the narrative to be and making sure we're encompassing as many perspectives as possible. Getting to talk about student writing has been the best part of this experience for me."
The excitement of discovery has Falbo looking forward to the project's future, which she hopes will continue preserving CWP's story for decades to come. "It's the kind of project where you don't actually know what you're going to find because you're doing something exploratory," she says. "I can't wait to see what else we find that we didn't even know was there."
* * *
Original text here: https://news.lafayette.edu/2026/08/11/unearthing-the-story-behind-lafayettes-college-writing-program/
* * *
Unearthing the story behind Lafayette's College Writing Program
Digging through decades of archival material, Lafayette students collaborate with faculty to uncover and preserve the 40-year legacy of the College Writing Program--and gain valuable experience in historical research and digital archiving
By Stella Katsipoutis-Varkanis
Tucked away in Room 319 of Pardee Hall, home of Lafayette's College Writing Program (CWP), are boxes of decades-old files discovered throughout the building over the years. What ... Show Full Article EASTON, Pennsylvania, Aug. 12 -- Lafayette College issued the following news: * * * Unearthing the story behind Lafayette's College Writing Program Digging through decades of archival material, Lafayette students collaborate with faculty to uncover and preserve the 40-year legacy of the College Writing Program--and gain valuable experience in historical research and digital archiving By Stella Katsipoutis-Varkanis Tucked away in Room 319 of Pardee Hall, home of Lafayette's College Writing Program (CWP), are boxes of decades-old files discovered throughout the building over the years. Whatthey hold tells CWP's origin story--a story that, until now, has remained elusive.
This summer, Bianca Falbo, associate professor of English and CWP director, and Emma Hetrick, CWP coordinator, are working alongside student researchers Ethan Eisenberg '28 and Jessi Kleiber '27 to dive into these archival materials--which include anything from Writing Associate (WA) narratives and student writing samples to payroll documents and program evaluations--and digitally document CWP's history.
"Lafayette is one of the first schools in the U.S. to have a writing associate program and to have writing as a primary part of the curriculum," Hetrick says. "There's a lot to learn from the program's rich history, and it's really exciting to have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the past in a way that will help shape what the program could be in the future." With CWP preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, the timing of the project couldn't be better.
As a Bergh Family Fellow and EXCEL Scholar, respectively, Eisenberg and Kleiber have dedicated their summer to advancing the research project, which began in 2023. Since May, they have played a key role in evaluating, organizing, and digitally archiving the physical documents while conducting their own research to construct a comprehensive, accessible timeline of CWP that can eventually be shared with the Lafayette community and beyond.
Working with Special Collections and College Archives, and interviewing various CWP alumni as well as Patricia Donahue, professor emeritus of English and CWP founder, Eisenberg and Kleiber have gained hands-on experience with primary sources while uncovering the program's history and learning the archival process. "We've had a lot of conversations with students about what it means to construct an archive and tell a history, what counts as evidence, what should be saved or discarded, and how to make those decisions," Falbo says. The students, she adds, are also helping to organize a fall panel of former WAs who will speak to the campus community about how their experiences in CWP shaped their lives beyond Lafayette. "I can't imagine working with better, more interested, and more dedicated students than Jessi and Ethan," she says.
Kleiber, an English major and WA who also worked on the project last summer, says the panel will highlight CWP's lasting impact and inspire current student writers. "Student writing is valuable, and we want to help students to become better writers--not necessarily by an academic or industry standard, but in the sense of whatever better writing means to them," she says. "We want them to feel more confident in expressing themselves and their ideas."
Because research on undergraduate writing programs at small colleges remains relatively limited, Falbo hopes the team's work will also contribute to scholarship in the field. "Larger institutions can learn from colleges like Lafayette, which has a robust and successful writing program, a rich culture of investing in students' writing since our founding, and close interaction between faculty and students," she says. "It's like filling a gap in disciplinary history."
For Eisenberg, a history and math double major and WA, Lafayette's close-knit campus culture is what makes student research at the College especially meaningful. "We actually get to know our professors as people too, and it's pretty exceptional we get to collaborate with them on their research," he says. Eisenberg, who hopes to earn a graduate degree in history and eventually pursue a career in historical research, adds that working closely with Falbo and Hetrick has allowed him to directly apply classroom learning and sharpen skills essential to his future profession.
Kleiber, who hopes to pursue a graduate degree in either English literature or rhetoric and composition, says participating in the CWP history project has helped her find her voice. "I've gained a sense of empowerment and feel like it's OK for me to say what I want to say in my writing, and how I want to say it," she says. "It's also helped me grow my critical thinking skills, going through the process of figuring out what we want the narrative to be and making sure we're encompassing as many perspectives as possible. Getting to talk about student writing has been the best part of this experience for me."
The excitement of discovery has Falbo looking forward to the project's future, which she hopes will continue preserving CWP's story for decades to come. "It's the kind of project where you don't actually know what you're going to find because you're doing something exploratory," she says. "I can't wait to see what else we find that we didn't even know was there."
* * *
Original text here: https://news.lafayette.edu/2026/08/11/unearthing-the-story-behind-lafayettes-college-writing-program/
Princeton School of Public & International Affairs: Garden State Fellows Will Work on Women's Health, Housing, Tenant Rights
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Aug. 12 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news:
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Garden State Fellows Will Work on Women's Health, Housing, Tenant Rights
By Ambreen Ali
For Hannah Gabelnick '26, landing a position at the Office of Women's Health at the New Jersey Department of Health is a dream first job out of college.
Gabelnick, who studied public and international affairs and minored in journalism, focused her two years of coursework at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs on maternal health: She participated in a junior-year ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Aug. 12 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news: * * * Garden State Fellows Will Work on Women's Health, Housing, Tenant Rights By Ambreen Ali For Hannah Gabelnick '26, landing a position at the Office of Women's Health at the New Jersey Department of Health is a dream first job out of college. Gabelnick, who studied public and international affairs and minored in journalism, focused her two years of coursework at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs on maternal health: She participated in a junior-yearPolicy Task Force on advancing birth equity in New Jersey and wrote her senior thesis on a new regulation in New Jersey that will make it easier for pregnant and postpartum women with substance-use disorder to access treatment.
Now, as a Garden State Fellow with SPIA in NJ, she is launching her career focused precisely on the issues that moved her to public service.
"During a time when many national health policies are threatening access to healthcare, New Jersey has committed to improving maternal and reproductive healthcare," Gabelnick said. "The Garden State Fellowship provides me with the perfect opportunity to continue making an impact on this issue while gaining valuable experience in a state agency."
Gabelnick is one of three Garden State Fellows participating in the postgraduate program offered by Princeton SPIA. Christofer Robles '26 will focus his fellowship year on affordable housing and Lucia Armengol '26 on tenant rights.
"These placements align beautifully with the fellows' individual passions for research, service, advocacy, and outreach," SPIA in NJ Founding Director Anastasia R. Mann said. Mann is a historian and lecturer at Princeton SPIA.
The Garden State Fellowship, which is entering its fourth cycle, offers recent graduates from across concentrations a chance to apply the policy research and analysis skills they learned at Princeton through public service in the University's own backyard. The fellows are selected by a committee of faculty and staff through a competitive process. Of the inaugural cohort, two fellows, Lauren Aung '24 and Olivia Ragan '24, will start law school this fall and the third, Madison Linton '24, has been promoted at the organization where she was a fellow, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.
The fellowship program continues to grow in scope and partnership. Gabelnick's fellowship is the first placement with the State of New Jersey and was made possible by the Burke Foundation and Princeton SPIA's Kahneman-Treisman Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy.
Robles, who has previously worked in the governor's office, will spend his fellowship year conducting research policy, analyzing data, and engaging communities on behalf of Monarch Housing Associates, a nonprofit affordable housing developer.
"I will be supporting Monarch Housing Associates' mission of expanding the supply and accessibility of affordable, permanent housing in New Jersey. A proud and lifelong resident of the Garden State, I am all too familiar with the state's enduring wealth inequality and growing homelessness," Robles said. "I am grateful to the Garden State Fellowship and Monarch Housing Associates for setting forth my hopefully very long career in public service."
Armengol, who advocated for immigrant rights as an undergraduate, will work on tenant rights organizing at Make the Road NJ, an advocacy group for immigrant and working-class communities.
"I am looking forward to learning how policy advocacy can begin from the bottom up, grounded in community organizing," said Armengol. "I believe that Make the Road NJ will set me up to pursue a career in public service informed by the ethos of community organizing and dedicated to the realization of participatory democracy."
* * *
Original text here: https://spia.princeton.edu/news/garden-state-fellows-will-work-womens-health-housing-tenant-rights
* * *
Garden State Fellows Will Work on Women's Health, Housing, Tenant Rights
By Ambreen Ali
For Hannah Gabelnick '26, landing a position at the Office of Women's Health at the New Jersey Department of Health is a dream first job out of college.
Gabelnick, who studied public and international affairs and minored in journalism, focused her two years of coursework at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs on maternal health: She participated in a junior-year ... Show Full Article PRINCETON, New Jersey, Aug. 12 -- Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs issued the following news: * * * Garden State Fellows Will Work on Women's Health, Housing, Tenant Rights By Ambreen Ali For Hannah Gabelnick '26, landing a position at the Office of Women's Health at the New Jersey Department of Health is a dream first job out of college. Gabelnick, who studied public and international affairs and minored in journalism, focused her two years of coursework at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs on maternal health: She participated in a junior-yearPolicy Task Force on advancing birth equity in New Jersey and wrote her senior thesis on a new regulation in New Jersey that will make it easier for pregnant and postpartum women with substance-use disorder to access treatment.
Now, as a Garden State Fellow with SPIA in NJ, she is launching her career focused precisely on the issues that moved her to public service.
"During a time when many national health policies are threatening access to healthcare, New Jersey has committed to improving maternal and reproductive healthcare," Gabelnick said. "The Garden State Fellowship provides me with the perfect opportunity to continue making an impact on this issue while gaining valuable experience in a state agency."
Gabelnick is one of three Garden State Fellows participating in the postgraduate program offered by Princeton SPIA. Christofer Robles '26 will focus his fellowship year on affordable housing and Lucia Armengol '26 on tenant rights.
"These placements align beautifully with the fellows' individual passions for research, service, advocacy, and outreach," SPIA in NJ Founding Director Anastasia R. Mann said. Mann is a historian and lecturer at Princeton SPIA.
The Garden State Fellowship, which is entering its fourth cycle, offers recent graduates from across concentrations a chance to apply the policy research and analysis skills they learned at Princeton through public service in the University's own backyard. The fellows are selected by a committee of faculty and staff through a competitive process. Of the inaugural cohort, two fellows, Lauren Aung '24 and Olivia Ragan '24, will start law school this fall and the third, Madison Linton '24, has been promoted at the organization where she was a fellow, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.
The fellowship program continues to grow in scope and partnership. Gabelnick's fellowship is the first placement with the State of New Jersey and was made possible by the Burke Foundation and Princeton SPIA's Kahneman-Treisman Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy.
Robles, who has previously worked in the governor's office, will spend his fellowship year conducting research policy, analyzing data, and engaging communities on behalf of Monarch Housing Associates, a nonprofit affordable housing developer.
"I will be supporting Monarch Housing Associates' mission of expanding the supply and accessibility of affordable, permanent housing in New Jersey. A proud and lifelong resident of the Garden State, I am all too familiar with the state's enduring wealth inequality and growing homelessness," Robles said. "I am grateful to the Garden State Fellowship and Monarch Housing Associates for setting forth my hopefully very long career in public service."
Armengol, who advocated for immigrant rights as an undergraduate, will work on tenant rights organizing at Make the Road NJ, an advocacy group for immigrant and working-class communities.
"I am looking forward to learning how policy advocacy can begin from the bottom up, grounded in community organizing," said Armengol. "I believe that Make the Road NJ will set me up to pursue a career in public service informed by the ethos of community organizing and dedicated to the realization of participatory democracy."
* * *
Original text here: https://spia.princeton.edu/news/garden-state-fellows-will-work-womens-health-housing-tenant-rights
Mohave College, Pipeline Connects Unlock Local Career Pathways for Students
KINGMAN, Arizona, Aug. 12 -- Mohave College issued the following news release:
* * *
Mohave College, Pipeline Connects Unlock Local Career Pathways for Students
MOHAVE COUNTY - Mohave College and Pipeline Connects, Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, announce a new partnership connecting students across western Arizona to the career planning resources, training programs, and employment opportunities available in their own communities. Before classes begin for the Fall 2026 semester, students at Mohave College's campuses in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Colorado ... Show Full Article KINGMAN, Arizona, Aug. 12 -- Mohave College issued the following news release: * * * Mohave College, Pipeline Connects Unlock Local Career Pathways for Students MOHAVE COUNTY - Mohave College and Pipeline Connects, Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, announce a new partnership connecting students across western Arizona to the career planning resources, training programs, and employment opportunities available in their own communities. Before classes begin for the Fall 2026 semester, students at Mohave College's campuses in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and ColoradoCity will have access to a customized Pipeline College platform. The platform will be part of student onboarding and career readiness efforts, allowing students to map their interests, skills, and passions to the careers and credentials driving Mohave County's local economy.
The partnership addresses a critical disconnect between local talent and regional workforce demand. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), Mohave County is projected to add nearly 7,000 jobs in the next 10 years, with the fastest-growing sectors in the next two years including health care and social assistance at 1.8% annual growth, construction and professional and business services each at 1.2%, and natural resources and mining at 0.6%. Nurse practitioner roles alone are projected to grow 10.6% in just two years, while Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic opportunities are projected to grow by 6% annually.
"When education, industry, and career planning infrastructure align in a single region, the entire workforce system becomes stronger," said Katherine Adams, Executive Vice President of Pipeline Connects. "This partnership with Mohave College creates that alignment in western Arizona, giving students a direct connection to the careers driving the local economy and giving employers confidence that the talent pipeline they need is already being built."
Through the customized Pipeline College platform, Mohave College students can take an interest and skills assessment that connects their passions to real-world career opportunities supporting the local economy. From there, students can explore in-demand training programs, certifications, credentials, and job opportunities. The partnership also uses Bridge, a transition tool that connects approximately 450 Mohave County high school students who have already indicated on My Future AZ, the K-12 career exploration platform, that they plan to attend Mohave College.
"Mohave County is one of the most exciting regions in Arizona right now, the growth happening here across healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond is creating real opportunity for our students and our community," said Natalie Gebicke, Director of Career and Transfer Services at Mohave College. "Partnering with Pipeline Connects ensures our students can see those opportunities clearly, connect their education to careers that are right here at home, and graduate prepared to step into roles that fuel this region's continued growth."
For educators, the platform provides greater visibility into student career goals, making it easier for advisors and instructors to guide students toward the certifications and credentials that employers need most. For employers in Mohave County, the platform creates earlier and deeper engagement opportunities with future talent, demonstrating that the workforce pipeline they need is already growing in their own region.
"The students sitting in K-12 classrooms across Mohave County today are the workforce that will power this region's growth tomorrow," said Amy West, Superintendent, Western Arizona Vocational Education (WAVE JTED). "Connecting them to real career opportunities in skilled trades and high-demand industries this early gives them a vision for their future and a clear path to get there."
Students, educators, and employers across western Arizona can access the platform through Mohave College beginning in July 2026, with the first student cohort launching in fall 2026. To access the Mohave College Pipeline Connects platform, visit www.mohave.pipelineaz.com. For more information about Pipeline Connects and its work across Arizona, visit www.pipelineconnects.org.
* * *
About Mohave College
Since 1971, Mohave College has been transforming lives by helping students earn degrees and certificates that lead to better careers and brighter futures. Most alumni stay right here in Mohave County, strengthening the local workforce, fueling economic growth, and giving back to the communities they call home. The College delivers an estimated $199 million annual economic impact to the region and supports over 3,000 jobs in industries ranging from healthcare to the arts. Alumni contribute $158 million each year in additional income to local communities, and 96% of graduates say Mohave prepared them well for their careers or further education. Whether you're starting your journey or advancing your skills, Mohave College is here to help you own your future. Learn more at Mohave.edu/ImprovingLives.
* * *
About Pipeline Connects
Pipeline Connects is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a flourishing workforce ecosystem in Arizona. As Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, Pipeline Connects transforms the workforce ecosystem by connecting education, training, and employment opportunities through innovative infrastructure and strategic partnerships that benefit students, job seekers, employers, and educators while driving economic growth and informing policy decisions across the state. The organization serves more than 300,000 Arizonans, has brought career awareness to 1 in 3 Arizona students in grades 6 through 12, connects more than 9,000 Arizona employers with skills-aligned talent, and links learners to more than 7,800 credential and degree programs. Pipeline Connects generates $180.2 million in annual economic output and supports more than 3,000 jobs statewide. To learn more, visit www.pipelineconnects.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.mohave.edu/2026/08/11/mohave-college-pipeline-connects-unlock-local-career-pathways-for-students/
* * *
Mohave College, Pipeline Connects Unlock Local Career Pathways for Students
MOHAVE COUNTY - Mohave College and Pipeline Connects, Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, announce a new partnership connecting students across western Arizona to the career planning resources, training programs, and employment opportunities available in their own communities. Before classes begin for the Fall 2026 semester, students at Mohave College's campuses in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Colorado ... Show Full Article KINGMAN, Arizona, Aug. 12 -- Mohave College issued the following news release: * * * Mohave College, Pipeline Connects Unlock Local Career Pathways for Students MOHAVE COUNTY - Mohave College and Pipeline Connects, Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, announce a new partnership connecting students across western Arizona to the career planning resources, training programs, and employment opportunities available in their own communities. Before classes begin for the Fall 2026 semester, students at Mohave College's campuses in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and ColoradoCity will have access to a customized Pipeline College platform. The platform will be part of student onboarding and career readiness efforts, allowing students to map their interests, skills, and passions to the careers and credentials driving Mohave County's local economy.
The partnership addresses a critical disconnect between local talent and regional workforce demand. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), Mohave County is projected to add nearly 7,000 jobs in the next 10 years, with the fastest-growing sectors in the next two years including health care and social assistance at 1.8% annual growth, construction and professional and business services each at 1.2%, and natural resources and mining at 0.6%. Nurse practitioner roles alone are projected to grow 10.6% in just two years, while Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic opportunities are projected to grow by 6% annually.
"When education, industry, and career planning infrastructure align in a single region, the entire workforce system becomes stronger," said Katherine Adams, Executive Vice President of Pipeline Connects. "This partnership with Mohave College creates that alignment in western Arizona, giving students a direct connection to the careers driving the local economy and giving employers confidence that the talent pipeline they need is already being built."
Through the customized Pipeline College platform, Mohave College students can take an interest and skills assessment that connects their passions to real-world career opportunities supporting the local economy. From there, students can explore in-demand training programs, certifications, credentials, and job opportunities. The partnership also uses Bridge, a transition tool that connects approximately 450 Mohave County high school students who have already indicated on My Future AZ, the K-12 career exploration platform, that they plan to attend Mohave College.
"Mohave County is one of the most exciting regions in Arizona right now, the growth happening here across healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond is creating real opportunity for our students and our community," said Natalie Gebicke, Director of Career and Transfer Services at Mohave College. "Partnering with Pipeline Connects ensures our students can see those opportunities clearly, connect their education to careers that are right here at home, and graduate prepared to step into roles that fuel this region's continued growth."
For educators, the platform provides greater visibility into student career goals, making it easier for advisors and instructors to guide students toward the certifications and credentials that employers need most. For employers in Mohave County, the platform creates earlier and deeper engagement opportunities with future talent, demonstrating that the workforce pipeline they need is already growing in their own region.
"The students sitting in K-12 classrooms across Mohave County today are the workforce that will power this region's growth tomorrow," said Amy West, Superintendent, Western Arizona Vocational Education (WAVE JTED). "Connecting them to real career opportunities in skilled trades and high-demand industries this early gives them a vision for their future and a clear path to get there."
Students, educators, and employers across western Arizona can access the platform through Mohave College beginning in July 2026, with the first student cohort launching in fall 2026. To access the Mohave College Pipeline Connects platform, visit www.mohave.pipelineaz.com. For more information about Pipeline Connects and its work across Arizona, visit www.pipelineconnects.org.
* * *
About Mohave College
Since 1971, Mohave College has been transforming lives by helping students earn degrees and certificates that lead to better careers and brighter futures. Most alumni stay right here in Mohave County, strengthening the local workforce, fueling economic growth, and giving back to the communities they call home. The College delivers an estimated $199 million annual economic impact to the region and supports over 3,000 jobs in industries ranging from healthcare to the arts. Alumni contribute $158 million each year in additional income to local communities, and 96% of graduates say Mohave prepared them well for their careers or further education. Whether you're starting your journey or advancing your skills, Mohave College is here to help you own your future. Learn more at Mohave.edu/ImprovingLives.
* * *
About Pipeline Connects
Pipeline Connects is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a flourishing workforce ecosystem in Arizona. As Arizona's statewide career navigation infrastructure, Pipeline Connects transforms the workforce ecosystem by connecting education, training, and employment opportunities through innovative infrastructure and strategic partnerships that benefit students, job seekers, employers, and educators while driving economic growth and informing policy decisions across the state. The organization serves more than 300,000 Arizonans, has brought career awareness to 1 in 3 Arizona students in grades 6 through 12, connects more than 9,000 Arizona employers with skills-aligned talent, and links learners to more than 7,800 credential and degree programs. Pipeline Connects generates $180.2 million in annual economic output and supports more than 3,000 jobs statewide. To learn more, visit www.pipelineconnects.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.mohave.edu/2026/08/11/mohave-college-pipeline-connects-unlock-local-career-pathways-for-students/
Michigan Medicine: What to Know About Perimenopause and Menopause
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Aug. 12 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release:
* * *
What to know about perimenopause and menopause
A reproductive endocrinologist discusses what to expect and why you don't have to navigate the transition alone
-
For many women, the years leading up to menopause can bring unexpected physical and emotional changes, from irregular menstrual cycles and hot flashes to sleep disturbances, brain fog and joint pain.
But despite knowing this, perimenopause, the phase before and after menopause officially ... Show Full Article ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Aug. 12 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * What to know about perimenopause and menopause A reproductive endocrinologist discusses what to expect and why you don't have to navigate the transition alone - For many women, the years leading up to menopause can bring unexpected physical and emotional changes, from irregular menstrual cycles and hot flashes to sleep disturbances, brain fog and joint pain. But despite knowing this, perimenopause, the phase before and after menopause officiallyoccurs and may bring on some of these symptoms, remains new and mostly misunderstood to many.
John Randolph, M.D., a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Reproductive Endocrinologist in Michigan Medicine's Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, discusses what you should know about the perimenopause and menopause transitions and how research continues to reshape treatment recommendations for both.
Menopause is an event. Perimenopause is the transition
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, Randolph explains that menopause and perimenopause describe different stages of the reproductive aging process.
"Menopause actually is an event," Randolph said, saying that medically, menopause is defined as a woman's final menstrual period, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without bleeding.
Perimenopause, by contrast, is the yearslong transition leading up to menopause and can often continue for several years after as hormone levels continue to fluctuate.
"It can begin anywhere from four to eight years before bleeding stops," Randolph said.
He compared the transition to puberty because both involve significant hormonal changes that can affect nearly every aspect of the body.
"It's a good way to think about it because the changes can be very unpredictable and difficult to deal with," he said.
Randolph says many questions remain about how perimenopause affects long term health, including cognition, cardiovascular disease and cancer risk.
Much of the current research focuses on whether the menopause transition itself can predict future health outcomes and whether earlier interventions may improve long term health.
"We're learning things all the time," Randolph said.
"We have been studying the menopausal transition for over 30 years and are now increasingly able to associate health outcomes later in life with what happened at midlife."
What are perimenopause and menopause symptoms?
Hot flashes and night sweats remain the most recognized symptoms of perimenopause, but Randolph says growing research suggests the transition affects much more than temperature regulation.
At any point in the transition, many women can experience vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract infections and changes in body composition as body fat shifts toward the abdomen.
Increasing evidence also links perimenopause to symptoms including brain fog, joint pain, dry skin and even itchy ears.
"There are probably a whole host of other symptoms that very well may be associated with this whole change process," Randolph said.
One of the earliest signs is usually changing menstrual cycles; the time between periods may become shorter or irregular, and bleeding is often heavier or more unpredictable before eventually stopping altogether.
But even if heavy bleeding is part of the process, it's not a symptom to be ignored, Randolph emphasizes.
"Women experiencing persistent heavy periods should seek medical evaluation because excessive blood loss can lead to anemia or signal other conditions such as uterine fibroids," that can be managed until bleeding stops, he explains.
Likewise, any vaginal bleeding occurring more than one year after menopause should be evaluated promptly. While usually from benign causes, such bleeding has an increasing chance of being a pre-cancer or cancer as the time since menopause increase.
Lifestyle changes may help, but treatment is available
For women with mild symptoms, lifestyle adjustments can often provide relief.
Randolph recommends identifying and avoiding common hot flash triggers, including spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine.
Dressing in layers and staying cool may also help, particularly during warmer months when hot flashes tend to occur more frequently.
Women with more disruptive symptoms, however, should know they have treatment options.
"There are a whole host of medical options that we can consider," Randolph said.
Non-hormonal medications, including certain antidepressants and other medications that act on the brain, may reduce hot flashes and are especially important for women who cannot safely take hormone therapy, such as some breast cancer survivors.
A newer class of medications that targets the brain pathways responsible for hot flashes has also recently become available, although insurance coverage remains limited.
Known as neurokinin receptor antagonists, these drugs are very specific and have been shown to reduce hot flashes without affecting other parts of the body.
Hormone therapy has evolved, and it's also (been) safe
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding menopause treatment stems from findings published more than two decades ago at this point.
In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative reported increased risks of blood clots, heart disease and breast cancer among certain women taking oral combined hormone therapy.
The results dramatically changed public perception and physician prescribing practices.
Subsequent research has shown that for many healthy women transitioning through menopause, menopausal hormone therapy actually offers more benefits than risks when prescribed appropriately.
"We have a whole generation of health care providers that were taught that this was something they probably shouldn't prescribe," Randolph said.
And a lot of women unnecessarily suffered because of that.
But he notes that, on top of those findings being sensationalized and overinterpreted, hormonal treatments have also significantly evolved.
Today, hormone therapy is available in multiple forms, including transdermal patches, which research suggests carry markedly fewer clotting risks than oral estrogen for most healthy women.
Rather than using the older term "hormone replacement therapy," Randolph says doctors increasingly use "menopausal hormone therapy" to better reflect that treatment is intended to relieve symptoms rather than replace something considered a deficiency.
Is hormone testing worthwhile?
As menopause content has gained popularity on social media, at-home hormone testing has become increasingly common.
Randolph says decades of research, including Michigan Medicine's participation in the national Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, has shown that hormone levels fluctuate too variably during the transition to reliably predict symptoms or guide treatment.
Instead of focusing on laboratory values, he recommends that your doctor evaluate your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan with you to treat them.
"It's better to talk to somebody and figure out what's the best option for managing her particular constellation of symptoms," Randolph said.
How do I find a perimenopause and menopause doctor?
Because menopause education changed significantly after the Women's Health Initiative findings, Randolph acknowledges that not all health care providers feel comfortable prescribing menopause treatments.
He recommends starting with a primary care physician or obstetrician-gynecologist and asking for a referral for additional expertise if that provider is unsure.
Women can also look for clinicians certified by The Menopause Society, formerly known as the North American Menopause Society.
Randolph says that perimenopause is a period of change, and symptoms today may not even look the same a year from now, which is reassuring to hear if you're struggling through tough symptoms.
Most importantly, though, he encourages women not to dismiss or put off talking with a doctor about those symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life.
"If you have issues, seek out care," Randolph said.
"Be your own advocate and seek to find somebody that can get you answers."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-lab/what-know-about-perimenopause-and-menopause
* * *
What to know about perimenopause and menopause
A reproductive endocrinologist discusses what to expect and why you don't have to navigate the transition alone
-
For many women, the years leading up to menopause can bring unexpected physical and emotional changes, from irregular menstrual cycles and hot flashes to sleep disturbances, brain fog and joint pain.
But despite knowing this, perimenopause, the phase before and after menopause officially ... Show Full Article ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Aug. 12 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * What to know about perimenopause and menopause A reproductive endocrinologist discusses what to expect and why you don't have to navigate the transition alone - For many women, the years leading up to menopause can bring unexpected physical and emotional changes, from irregular menstrual cycles and hot flashes to sleep disturbances, brain fog and joint pain. But despite knowing this, perimenopause, the phase before and after menopause officiallyoccurs and may bring on some of these symptoms, remains new and mostly misunderstood to many.
John Randolph, M.D., a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Reproductive Endocrinologist in Michigan Medicine's Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, discusses what you should know about the perimenopause and menopause transitions and how research continues to reshape treatment recommendations for both.
Menopause is an event. Perimenopause is the transition
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, Randolph explains that menopause and perimenopause describe different stages of the reproductive aging process.
"Menopause actually is an event," Randolph said, saying that medically, menopause is defined as a woman's final menstrual period, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without bleeding.
Perimenopause, by contrast, is the yearslong transition leading up to menopause and can often continue for several years after as hormone levels continue to fluctuate.
"It can begin anywhere from four to eight years before bleeding stops," Randolph said.
He compared the transition to puberty because both involve significant hormonal changes that can affect nearly every aspect of the body.
"It's a good way to think about it because the changes can be very unpredictable and difficult to deal with," he said.
Randolph says many questions remain about how perimenopause affects long term health, including cognition, cardiovascular disease and cancer risk.
Much of the current research focuses on whether the menopause transition itself can predict future health outcomes and whether earlier interventions may improve long term health.
"We're learning things all the time," Randolph said.
"We have been studying the menopausal transition for over 30 years and are now increasingly able to associate health outcomes later in life with what happened at midlife."
What are perimenopause and menopause symptoms?
Hot flashes and night sweats remain the most recognized symptoms of perimenopause, but Randolph says growing research suggests the transition affects much more than temperature regulation.
At any point in the transition, many women can experience vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract infections and changes in body composition as body fat shifts toward the abdomen.
Increasing evidence also links perimenopause to symptoms including brain fog, joint pain, dry skin and even itchy ears.
"There are probably a whole host of other symptoms that very well may be associated with this whole change process," Randolph said.
One of the earliest signs is usually changing menstrual cycles; the time between periods may become shorter or irregular, and bleeding is often heavier or more unpredictable before eventually stopping altogether.
But even if heavy bleeding is part of the process, it's not a symptom to be ignored, Randolph emphasizes.
"Women experiencing persistent heavy periods should seek medical evaluation because excessive blood loss can lead to anemia or signal other conditions such as uterine fibroids," that can be managed until bleeding stops, he explains.
Likewise, any vaginal bleeding occurring more than one year after menopause should be evaluated promptly. While usually from benign causes, such bleeding has an increasing chance of being a pre-cancer or cancer as the time since menopause increase.
Lifestyle changes may help, but treatment is available
For women with mild symptoms, lifestyle adjustments can often provide relief.
Randolph recommends identifying and avoiding common hot flash triggers, including spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine.
Dressing in layers and staying cool may also help, particularly during warmer months when hot flashes tend to occur more frequently.
Women with more disruptive symptoms, however, should know they have treatment options.
"There are a whole host of medical options that we can consider," Randolph said.
Non-hormonal medications, including certain antidepressants and other medications that act on the brain, may reduce hot flashes and are especially important for women who cannot safely take hormone therapy, such as some breast cancer survivors.
A newer class of medications that targets the brain pathways responsible for hot flashes has also recently become available, although insurance coverage remains limited.
Known as neurokinin receptor antagonists, these drugs are very specific and have been shown to reduce hot flashes without affecting other parts of the body.
Hormone therapy has evolved, and it's also (been) safe
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding menopause treatment stems from findings published more than two decades ago at this point.
In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative reported increased risks of blood clots, heart disease and breast cancer among certain women taking oral combined hormone therapy.
The results dramatically changed public perception and physician prescribing practices.
Subsequent research has shown that for many healthy women transitioning through menopause, menopausal hormone therapy actually offers more benefits than risks when prescribed appropriately.
"We have a whole generation of health care providers that were taught that this was something they probably shouldn't prescribe," Randolph said.
And a lot of women unnecessarily suffered because of that.
But he notes that, on top of those findings being sensationalized and overinterpreted, hormonal treatments have also significantly evolved.
Today, hormone therapy is available in multiple forms, including transdermal patches, which research suggests carry markedly fewer clotting risks than oral estrogen for most healthy women.
Rather than using the older term "hormone replacement therapy," Randolph says doctors increasingly use "menopausal hormone therapy" to better reflect that treatment is intended to relieve symptoms rather than replace something considered a deficiency.
Is hormone testing worthwhile?
As menopause content has gained popularity on social media, at-home hormone testing has become increasingly common.
Randolph says decades of research, including Michigan Medicine's participation in the national Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, has shown that hormone levels fluctuate too variably during the transition to reliably predict symptoms or guide treatment.
Instead of focusing on laboratory values, he recommends that your doctor evaluate your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan with you to treat them.
"It's better to talk to somebody and figure out what's the best option for managing her particular constellation of symptoms," Randolph said.
How do I find a perimenopause and menopause doctor?
Because menopause education changed significantly after the Women's Health Initiative findings, Randolph acknowledges that not all health care providers feel comfortable prescribing menopause treatments.
He recommends starting with a primary care physician or obstetrician-gynecologist and asking for a referral for additional expertise if that provider is unsure.
Women can also look for clinicians certified by The Menopause Society, formerly known as the North American Menopause Society.
Randolph says that perimenopause is a period of change, and symptoms today may not even look the same a year from now, which is reassuring to hear if you're struggling through tough symptoms.
Most importantly, though, he encourages women not to dismiss or put off talking with a doctor about those symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life.
"If you have issues, seek out care," Randolph said.
"Be your own advocate and seek to find somebody that can get you answers."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-lab/what-know-about-perimenopause-and-menopause
Case Western Reserve: Brenessa Lindeman Appointed Executive Dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
* * *
Brenessa Lindeman appointed executive dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Brenessa Lindeman, MD, as executive dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
As executive dean, Lindeman will lead Lerner College of Medicine's distinctive five-year physician-investigator medical education program, with a focus on delivering exceptional student experience, along with overseeing ... Show Full Article CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news: * * * Brenessa Lindeman appointed executive dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Brenessa Lindeman, MD, as executive dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. As executive dean, Lindeman will lead Lerner College of Medicine's distinctive five-year physician-investigator medical education program, with a focus on delivering exceptional student experience, along with overseeingthe college's academic, administrative and financial operations.
A distinct program of Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is a tuition-free program nationally recognized for educating future physician-scientists and advancing innovation in medical education. Lindeman will also have an academic professorial appointment at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, which will be announced at a later date.
Lindeman becomes the fourth executive dean to lead the program since it was established in 2002 and is the first surgeon and first woman to serve in the role. She succeeds J. Harry Isaacson, MD, who held the position from 2018-2025, guiding the college through a period of significant growth and educational innovation. She will begin in October 2026.
"Dr. Lindeman is an inspiring leader and a highly regarded educator and surgeon," said James Stoller, MD, chief of education at Cleveland Clinic. "She is the right person to continue Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University's long success in training physicians and physician investigators, and her passion for improving the education and experiences of medical students will lead us into the future."
"We are delighted to welcome the next executive dean to the leadership of our medical education programs of the School of Medicine. Dr. Lindeman has developed exceptional proficiency in competency-based assessment, including Entrustable Professional Activities and evaluation that will add considerable depth to our innovative learning environment," noted Stan Gerson, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.
Lindeman joins the medical school from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she has served since 2017. She is currently vice chair of education in the School of Medicine's Department of Surgery; professor of surgery, pediatrics and medical education; program director of the Endocrine Surgery Fellowship; and assistant dean of graduate medical education.
Lindeman received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine, completed a residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins University, where she served as administrative chief resident, and completed a fellowship in endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She holds a Master of Education in Health Professions from Johns Hopkins. Her clinical interests include thyroid cancer, benign thyroid disease, hyperparathyroidism, adrenal disease and surgical treatment of inherited endocrine syndromes.
An internationally recognized scholar in health professions education, Lindeman's research focuses on how best to assess and develop competencies across the continuum of medical education, from undergraduate to graduate medical education. She has published extensively on competency-based assessment, learner development, physician wellness, learning environments, and resident supervision and autonomy. Her scholarship has advanced evidence-based approaches to training and evaluating future physicians.
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About Case Western Reserve University
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio--a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity--our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 128,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.
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About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic's 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/brenessa-lindeman-appointed-executive-dean-cleveland-clinic-lerner-college-medicine
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Brenessa Lindeman appointed executive dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Brenessa Lindeman, MD, as executive dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
As executive dean, Lindeman will lead Lerner College of Medicine's distinctive five-year physician-investigator medical education program, with a focus on delivering exceptional student experience, along with overseeing ... Show Full Article CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 12 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news: * * * Brenessa Lindeman appointed executive dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Brenessa Lindeman, MD, as executive dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. As executive dean, Lindeman will lead Lerner College of Medicine's distinctive five-year physician-investigator medical education program, with a focus on delivering exceptional student experience, along with overseeingthe college's academic, administrative and financial operations.
A distinct program of Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is a tuition-free program nationally recognized for educating future physician-scientists and advancing innovation in medical education. Lindeman will also have an academic professorial appointment at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, which will be announced at a later date.
Lindeman becomes the fourth executive dean to lead the program since it was established in 2002 and is the first surgeon and first woman to serve in the role. She succeeds J. Harry Isaacson, MD, who held the position from 2018-2025, guiding the college through a period of significant growth and educational innovation. She will begin in October 2026.
"Dr. Lindeman is an inspiring leader and a highly regarded educator and surgeon," said James Stoller, MD, chief of education at Cleveland Clinic. "She is the right person to continue Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University's long success in training physicians and physician investigators, and her passion for improving the education and experiences of medical students will lead us into the future."
"We are delighted to welcome the next executive dean to the leadership of our medical education programs of the School of Medicine. Dr. Lindeman has developed exceptional proficiency in competency-based assessment, including Entrustable Professional Activities and evaluation that will add considerable depth to our innovative learning environment," noted Stan Gerson, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.
Lindeman joins the medical school from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she has served since 2017. She is currently vice chair of education in the School of Medicine's Department of Surgery; professor of surgery, pediatrics and medical education; program director of the Endocrine Surgery Fellowship; and assistant dean of graduate medical education.
Lindeman received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine, completed a residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins University, where she served as administrative chief resident, and completed a fellowship in endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She holds a Master of Education in Health Professions from Johns Hopkins. Her clinical interests include thyroid cancer, benign thyroid disease, hyperparathyroidism, adrenal disease and surgical treatment of inherited endocrine syndromes.
An internationally recognized scholar in health professions education, Lindeman's research focuses on how best to assess and develop competencies across the continuum of medical education, from undergraduate to graduate medical education. She has published extensively on competency-based assessment, learner development, physician wellness, learning environments, and resident supervision and autonomy. Her scholarship has advanced evidence-based approaches to training and evaluating future physicians.
* * *
About Case Western Reserve University
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio--a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity--our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 128,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.
* * *
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic's 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/brenessa-lindeman-appointed-executive-dean-cleveland-clinic-lerner-college-medicine