Featured Stories
What Case Western Reserve University Faculty and Staff Experts are Saying About the 2026 World Cup
CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 27 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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What Case Western Reserve University faculty and staff experts are saying about the 2026 World Cup
CWRU experts weigh in on athlete nutrition and training, infectious disease precautions, the cultural significance of soccer and community-building in sports fandoms
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Soccer fans have swarmed to North America for FIFA World Cup 2026, where 48 teams are competing at stadiums across the U.S., Mexico and Canada--the first time three countries have co-hosted the highly regarded international competition.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 27 -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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What Case Western Reserve University faculty and staff experts are saying about the 2026 World Cup
CWRU experts weigh in on athlete nutrition and training, infectious disease precautions, the cultural significance of soccer and community-building in sports fandoms
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Soccer fans have swarmed to North America for FIFA World Cup 2026, where 48 teams are competing at stadiums across the U.S., Mexico and Canada--the first time three countries have co-hosted the highly regarded international competition.The World Cup has a major global impact, as soccer is regarded as "the world's game" and is more commonly known as "football" in countries around the world. While sports are at the center of the games, they reflect broad international themes.
Case Western Reserve University faculty members have been in the news commenting on this global cultural moment, from the nutrition driving exceptional athletes to the way soccer bridges division.
We've pulled together some of the commentary CWRU faculty and staff experts have had on FIFA World Cup 2026.
Deepak Sarma
Inaugural Distinguished Scholar in the Public Humanities
Department of Religious Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
With 48 countries represented at the World Cup, players and their fans speak a wide range of languages. However, the language of their sport is common. Deepak Sarma described how sharing that commonality is what breaks down barriers.
"Soccer is a little bit like Esperanto," Sarma said. "It's a shared language that lots of different people can understand and play together, right? And so communication and understanding about who is victorious, who's done well, it cuts across all kinds of cultures, nations."
Amy Edwards
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
School of Medicine
Just a few years post-COVID and amid news reports about Ebola outbreaks, many people remain wary of large gatherings. As tourists flood cities across the U.S. and our neighbors to the north and south, concerns about infectious disease risks echo. Amy Edwards offered insights on precautions visitors can take to protect themselves against a range of health concerns, such as respiratory viruses and foodborne illness.
"If I were going to go to the World Cup, I would make sure that I had all my routine vaccinations," Edwards said. "Plus, I might consider, depending on my individual risk factors, whether I would get a spring COVID booster. A lot of high-risk individuals actually get two COVID shots each year, one in the spring and one in the fall."
Curtis Bickham
Assistant Manager
Trainer
One to One Fitness Center
Playing a sport at such a high level is taxing on the body. Bickham emphasized the importance of recovery across different bodily systems for athletes, such as soccer players. He detailed the aerobic and anaerobic fitness required of soccer players, but also the mental load players carry and must address when they're off the field.
"So the best thing that these soccer players can do is to get away from the media, family, and everything else that provides too much stimulus," Bickham said. "So absolutely quiet, get off the phone, rehydrate, of course, all the physical stuff. But the best thing you can do for the nervous system is to calm it down and for it to know that you're safe--and that's the best recovery tool for it."
Kristyen Tomcik
Assistant Professor
Department of Nutrition
School of Medicine
While exercise and training are critical components of an elite athlete's routine, so too is the nutrition fueling their performance. Tomcik described the ideal nutritional balance for athletes, before and after a match. He also emphasized the importance of staying hydrated during play.
"When it comes to foods that can provide an edge mechanically or speed-wise or power-wise, there's no magic cure-all, there's no magic pill, there's no magic food that will automatically help an athlete become better," Tomcik said. "These athletes have made it to the pinnacle of their sport through dedication, through training, through optimizing what works for them individually. Those are the sort of things that might help give a slight edge, but at the end of the day, good training, good nutrition, and good preparation are really the sort of keys to success for these athletes."
Marjorie Edguer
Associate Professor
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Competition is at the center of sports. However, they inherently sow community, both for those supporting a common team and those opposed. That is especially true of sports like soccer, which has a global following. Marjorie Edguer shared how sports fandom can combat loneliness. However, she cautioned against becoming so invested in a team that gambling and substance use become problems.
"We're all seeing each other as competitors, but also we want to know our competitors and we want to be friendly toward them. Watching a game together creates this instant sense of connection. We have a shared interest, a shared goal, a shared experience and this creates that sense of community between us because as humans we seek to have those kinds of connections," Edguer said. "When we think about our social identities, it's an important piece of how we see ourselves and as humans we really want to have social identities that involve connection. That's an essential part of being human is having that sense of connection to others."
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/what-case-western-reserve-university-faculty-and-staff-experts-are-saying-about-2026-world-cup
Upstate to Welcome SUNY College of Optometry to Syracuse Campus
SYRACUSE, New York, June 27 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Upstate to welcome SUNY College of Optometry to Syracuse campus
Upstate Medical University is preparing to welcome the SUNY College of Optometry to its campus as it expand its optometry degree (OD) program into the region. This will enhance educational opportunities and help address the growing need for eye care providers across Central and Western New York.
The new program will be housed on the first floor of the Institute for Human Performance (IHP), 505 Irving
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SYRACUSE, New York, June 27 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Upstate to welcome SUNY College of Optometry to Syracuse campus
Upstate Medical University is preparing to welcome the SUNY College of Optometry to its campus as it expand its optometry degree (OD) program into the region. This will enhance educational opportunities and help address the growing need for eye care providers across Central and Western New York.
The new program will be housed on the first floor of the Institute for Human Performance (IHP), 505 IrvingAvenue, and will establish a clinical training pathway for SUNY Optometry students in Central New York. In addition to partnering with Upstate's Department of Ophthalmology, the program will have on-site College of Optometry faculty and staff led by Program Director Dr. Sarah Gleason, and Student Affairs Director Aaron Knighton.
To prepare for the arrival of the inaugural class of 16 students in Fall 2027, renovation work is underway within approximately 4,500 square feet on the first floor of IHP. The project will modernize existing classroom spaces with updated layouts, technology, and finishes designed to support contemporary health professions education.
As part of the renovation, the conference and work room in Suite 1300 will be converted into a multipurpose optometry lab. In addition, former MRI space 1311, most recently used for storage, will be transformed into a four-lane preclinical optometry lab. These spaces will support students during the first three years of the four-year Doctor of Optometry program and provide teaching and ancillary space for the SUNY Optometry team.
The work is expected to begin the week of June 29.
The partnership between Upstate and SUNY College of Optometry will create expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary education, collaborative vision research, and patient care. Students, under the supervision of on-site SUNY Optometry faculty, will gain hospital-based clinical experience working alongside Upstate Ophthalmology faculty and helping strengthen the pipeline of eye care professionals serving Upstate New York communities.
The initiative responds to a significant regional workforce need, as many eye care positions remain unfilled and a growing number of practicing optometrists are expected to retire within the next five years.
With the opening of the SUNY College of Optometry on the Upstate campus, Upstate becomes the only medical school in New York with an optometry program.
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Original text here: https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2026/2026-06-26-optometry.php
University of Nicosia: Cyprus Review - Publication on Watchdog Journalism and Democratic Accountability
NICOSIA, Cyprus, June 27 -- The University of Nicosia issued the following news:
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The Cyprus Review: Publication on Watchdog Journalism and Democratic Accountability
Dr Nicolas Kyriakides, Director of the Procedural Law Unit and Assistant Professor at the University of Nicosia, has co-authored a new article with George Isaia, Policy & Governance Advisor, published in The Cyprus Review.
The article, titled "Watchdog Journalism: a tool to strengthen democracy?", examines the role of watchdog journalism and democratic accountability platforms in strengthening transparency, civic oversight,
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NICOSIA, Cyprus, June 27 -- The University of Nicosia issued the following news:
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The Cyprus Review: Publication on Watchdog Journalism and Democratic Accountability
Dr Nicolas Kyriakides, Director of the Procedural Law Unit and Assistant Professor at the University of Nicosia, has co-authored a new article with George Isaia, Policy & Governance Advisor, published in The Cyprus Review.
The article, titled "Watchdog Journalism: a tool to strengthen democracy?", examines the role of watchdog journalism and democratic accountability platforms in strengthening transparency, civic oversight,and informed public debate. The publication follows a presentation delivered at the AMI Retreat in Athens in 2023 and a subsequent period of further research.
Drawing on the authors' field experience with Nomoplatform in Cyprus, the article places the Cypriot initiative within a broader international landscape of watchdog and fact-checking organisations. It discusses examples including Vouliwatch in Greece, RKW in Poland, FactCheck.org in the United States, Lupa in Brazil, and Platform Beat, highlighting the different ways in which structured accountability mechanisms operate across democratic systems.
The article argues that watchdog journalism plays an essential role in modern democracies by monitoring public institutions, exposing misconduct, improving access to reliable information, and helping citizens make more informed decisions. It also considers the challenges facing watchdog journalism in the digital era, including misinformation, declining trust in public institutions, pressure on journalists, and the need for stronger legal and institutional safeguards.
A central focus of the article is Nomoplatform, an independent digital legislative observatory in Cyprus. The platform seeks to make parliamentary activity more accessible to citizens by providing information on legislative procedures, parliamentary work, draft laws, and the activities of elected representatives. In this respect, the article presents Nomoplatform as a local example of how digital tools can support transparency, public participation, and democratic accountability.
The authors conclude that watchdog journalism and accountability platforms require sustained support through legal protections, media literacy, civic engagement, and stronger civil society infrastructure. Their analysis underlines the importance of protecting freedom of expression, strengthening access to information, and ensuring that citizens have the tools needed to scrutinise those in power.
The publication reflects the Procedural Law Unit's broader interest in democratic governance, institutional accountability, access to justice, and the legal frameworks that support public participation.
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Original text here: https://www.unic.ac.cy/the-cyprus-review-publication-on-watchdog-journalism-and-democratic-accountability/
University of Michigan: Consumer Confidence Rises as Gas Prices Ease - Remains Below Pre-Iran Readings
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news:
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Consumer confidence rises as gas prices ease; remains below pre-Iran readings
Consumer sentiment snapped a three-month stretch of declines with a 10% rise this month as gas prices moderated, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.
Increases were seen across income, wealth and political affiliation. Expected business conditions over the next five years surged 16% as consumers' worries over long-term consequences of the Iran conflict appeared to be easing.
Still, the sentiment index
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ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 27 -- The University of Michigan issued the following news:
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Consumer confidence rises as gas prices ease; remains below pre-Iran readings
Consumer sentiment snapped a three-month stretch of declines with a 10% rise this month as gas prices moderated, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.
Increases were seen across income, wealth and political affiliation. Expected business conditions over the next five years surged 16% as consumers' worries over long-term consequences of the Iran conflict appeared to be easing.
Still, the sentiment indexremains in unfavorable territory, at 13% below February 2026, prior to the start of the Iran conflict, and nearly 20% below a year ago.
"While consumers certainly welcomed the recent decline in gas prices, the persistence of high prices overall continues to weigh on their budgets," said U-M economist Joanne Hsu, director of the surveys. "Consumers remain quite worried about the prospect of inflation eroding their living standards in the year ahead."
Personal finances improve, still generally negative
Current assessments of personal finances lifted 9% and year-ahead expectations rose 15%, concurrent with the recent relief from softening gas prices.
However, both readings are still well below those seen at the beginning of 2026 as the cost of living remains at the forefront of consumers' minds, Hsu said. For the third straight month, over half of consumers spontaneously mentioned that high prices are weighing down their personal finances.
Soaring stock markets are buoying personal finances, but only for consumers with the largest stock portfolios, Hsu said. About 28% of consumers with the highest tercile of stock holdings mentioned the favorability of asset values for their personal finances, the highest share seen since January 2025.
In contrast, this factor was only cited by 8% of those with the middle tercile of stock holdings and 4% of those with the lowest stock holdings.
Consumers more worried about inflation than unemployment
The surveys asked consumers whether inflation or unemployment posed greater risks to consumers in the year ahead. In recent months, a rising share of consumers identified inflation as the greater potential problem.
At the start of the year, 23% reported that inflation would be the greater challenge, 14% chose unemployment; the remainder said both equally, according to Hsu. This month, however, a substantial 36% now chose inflation--the highest since February 2025--while only 7% reported unemployment.
Consumer Sentiment Index
The Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 49.5 in the June 2026 survey, up from 44.8 in May and below last June's 60.7. The Current Index rose to 47.7, up from 45.8 in May and below last June's 64.8. The Expectations Index rose to 50.7, up from 44.1 in May and below last June's 58.1.
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About the surveys
The Surveys of Consumers is a rotating panel survey at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. It is based on a nationally representative sample that gives each household in the coterminous U.S. an equal probability of being selected. Interviews are conducted throughout the month by web. The minimum monthly change required for significance at the 95% level in the Sentiment Index is 4.8 points; for the Current Economic Conditions Index and Index of Consumer Expectations, the minimum is 6 points.
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About ISR
Established in 1949, the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan is among the world's oldest social science research organizations and a world leader in the development and application of social science methodology. ISR conducts some of the most widely cited surveys and studies in the nation, including the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, American National Election Studies, Monitoring the Future Study, Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Health and Retirement Study, National Survey of Black Americans and World Values Survey. ISR is also home to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, which maintains the world's largest computerized social science data archive.
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Original text here: https://news.umich.edu/consumer-confidence-rises-as-gas-prices-ease-remains-below-pre-iran-readings/
University of Arkansas: Scientists Target Soybean Cyst Nematode by Cutting Off Its Food Supply
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, June 27 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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Scientists Target Soybean Cyst Nematode by Cutting off Its Food Supply
Agricultural scientists are rethinking their battle plans against plant parasites that cause billions of dollars in annual yield losses for American farmers.
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause an estimated $10 billion in crop losses each year in the United States alone and more than $100 billion globally. Among them is the soybean cyst nematode, responsible for more than $1 billion in annual yield losses in U.S. soybean fields, according
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FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, June 27 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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Scientists Target Soybean Cyst Nematode by Cutting off Its Food Supply
Agricultural scientists are rethinking their battle plans against plant parasites that cause billions of dollars in annual yield losses for American farmers.
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause an estimated $10 billion in crop losses each year in the United States alone and more than $100 billion globally. Among them is the soybean cyst nematode, responsible for more than $1 billion in annual yield losses in U.S. soybean fields, accordingto the Crop Protection Network.
Soybean cyst nematodes are microscopic roundworms that live in the soil and infect plant roots. Rather than chewing on roots like insect pests, the nematodes invade root tissue and reprogram a small number of plant cells to serve as feeding sites.
"This plant pest can be absolutely devastating for soybean production, particularly because growers can experience up to 30% yield loss without any visible symptoms above ground," said Asia Kud, an assistant professor of nematology in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture, and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the U of A.
Chemical nematicides, soil treatments and biological controls have had mixed success against the soybean cyst nematode, and many potential solutions carry environmental or economic limitations.
Host resistance -- breeding soybean varieties that can withstand infection -- has been the most effective and environmentally friendly management tool, but its usefulness is declining, Kud said.
"The same resistance mechanisms have been used over and over for years," Kud said. "Over time, nematodes adapt. Something that worked a decade ago may no longer be effective today, so there's a real need to develop new sources of resistance."
Taking Away the Keys to the Pantry
To help strengthen the nematode-fighting arsenal, Kud was awarded a $298,913 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to continue researching a strategy to stop these pest nematodes from feeding and reproducing. Essentially, she's taking away their keys to the food pantry.
Soybean cyst nematodes inject proteins -- known as effectors -- directly into cells of the plant's roots to enlarge them and transform them into feeding sites. Once established, the nematode remains attached to the root, feeding and reproducing over several weeks and producing the next generation that continues the cycle.
In Kud's preliminary research with Shahid Siddique, an associate professor of entomology and nematology at the University of California, Davis, they identified two effectors of particular interest.
"Typically, these nematodes will have hundreds of effectors, and some of them are more important than others," Kud said. "We have high confidence that these two effectors this project focuses on are very important because we actually looked at those feeding sites inside plant cells and found those proteins are very abundant."
Breaking the Nematode Life Cycle
Rather than targeting the nematode directly, the goal of the research is to identify weak points in the nematode's life cycle by understanding how these effectors interact with soybean proteins.
The project will examine where these effector proteins function inside plant cells, determine how important they are to nematode infection and reproduction, and identify which soybean proteins they interact with during parasitism.
In the long term, this knowledge could guide the development of new soybean varieties using gene-editing or RNA-based technologies that prevent nematodes from exploiting the plant -- without harming normal plant growth or function, Kud said. Gene-editing approaches can make precise changes without introducing foreign DNA, and some gene-edited plants may fall outside certain USDA biotechnology regulations.
The idea would be to maintain the normal function of the plant proteins but change them slightly so the nematode effector can no longer bind to or manipulate them, she added. There shouldn't be any negative effects on plant health, yield or nitrogen fixation.
Preliminary data supporting the NIFA proposal were generated through a Research Incentive Grant from the U of A System Division of Agriculture and built on collaborative work with Siddique, who contributed key data identifying nematode effectors inside plant cells.
This work is supported by the Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems program within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under NIFA grant no. 2026-67039-45888, titled "Managing Nematodes by Targeting Plant Genes Essential for Successful Parasitism." The grant is part of $9.2 million in NIFA funding for 18 projects.
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
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About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses. Pursuant to 7 CFR Sec. 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Original text here: https://news.uark.edu/articles/82554/scientists-target-soybean-cyst-nematode-by-cutting-off-its-food-supply
From the Inside, VCU Builds the Next Generation in Skilled Trades
RICHMOND, Virginia, June 27 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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From the inside, VCU builds the next generation in skilled trades
The Facilities Management Apprenticeship Program adds talent to an in-demand pipeline, with VCU training participants who, in turn, support university infrastructure.
By Konrad Solberg
Amid a shortage of candidates, an aging workforce and advances in infrastructure and clean energy, the demand for skilled tradespeople is growing - including at Virginia Commonwealth University. For nearly a decade, a training program has extended
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, June 27 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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From the inside, VCU builds the next generation in skilled trades
The Facilities Management Apprenticeship Program adds talent to an in-demand pipeline, with VCU training participants who, in turn, support university infrastructure.
By Konrad Solberg
Amid a shortage of candidates, an aging workforce and advances in infrastructure and clean energy, the demand for skilled tradespeople is growing - including at Virginia Commonwealth University. For nearly a decade, a training program has extendedVCU's educational mission beyond lecture halls and labs and into mechanical rooms and rooftops.
The VCU Facilities Management Apprenticeship Program offers full-time employment to aspiring electricians, HVAC technicians and plumbers. Over their four years of training, participants enjoy financial benefits - including a rising pay scale and coverage of tuition and book expenses - as they train on the job and in classrooms. That combination addresses what often are barriers to higher education.
"I would never have thought that I would have any of this lined up," said Lisa Marie Wright, who graduated this month from the program as a trained plumber after spending several years managing a convenience store near Monroe Park - and serving VCU maintenance employees who encouraged her to apply to the apprenticeship program. "They gave me an opportunity to prove that even though I didn't know about the industry, I could do it."
Apprentices complete more than 400 hours of classroom instruction to learn technical, workforce and academic competencies applicable to their trade - plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with their VCU professional colleagues.
The apprenticeship program began in 2017, and while Wright and some others are newcomers to their industry, others have work experience but seek the specialized environment VCU offers. Jason Brooks, an HVAC apprentice who previously worked for a private contractor, found that maintaining the infrastructure of a major university requires a broader skillset than residential work.
"I've gotten the chance to get my hands on a lot of different systems," said Brooks, who graduated from the program this month. "I've learned a lot about how facilities and these bigger buildings operate as a whole."
To ensure that apprentices are expanding their knowledge alongside their practical skills, the VCU program integrates its classroom time into the workweek. The skills they learn give the apprentices a breadth of knowledge that allows them to fill much-needed roles faster than traditional apprenticeship programs, said VCU facilities operations zone superintendent Anthony Cobb.
"The apprenticeship program has been a great resource in hiring for trades positions that previously took longer than expected to fill," Cobb said. "By the end of the program, there is a qualified team member who knows the trade and the buildings."
Wright and Brooks highlight the hands-on lab work and the support of experienced supervisors as the keys to their growth. By their third year in the program, both felt prepared to manage complex systems in their fields. And both plan to stay with VCU in the longer term and, they hope, move into supervisor roles.
Brooks noted that for individuals seeking a career path but worrying that learning a trade might be too challenging, the apprenticeship program facilitates a path forward.
"A lot of people get into this trade and feel overwhelmed," he said. "But once you get in and start catching on, it gets easier. You just have to take that leap."
Since its inception in 2017, the program has proven successful for many apprentices. Cameron White, who completed the final portion of the program last year, praised the program for teaching him invaluable practical skills. "I'm so appreciative of VCU for allowing me to participate in this program," White said. "I was able to go to school to learn more about my field of interest, all while applying that knowledge and getting firsthand experience in my full-time job."
For VCU, the rewards of the apprenticeship program work in both directions: The university is maintained by people who are intimately familiar with its facilities, and the apprentices can build their own legacy within VCU.
As Wright said, "the least I can do is show my gratitude for them giving me a chance."
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/from-the-inside-vcu-builds-the-next-generation-in-skilled-trades
Binghamton University: Investment in the Future - Endowment to Aid Watson College Faculty
BINGHAMTON, New York, June 27 -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Investment in the future: Endowment to aid Watson College faculty
Cheryl and John Mirabito Family Faculty Scholar Endowment will help the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
By Chris Kocher
As a business leader in the Binghamton region, John Mirabito knows a good investment when he sees one.
That's why he and his wife, Cheryl, are investing in Binghamton University and Watson College with the new Cheryl and John Mirabito Family Faculty Scholar Endowment.
The financial gift will provide
... Show Full Article
BINGHAMTON, New York, June 27 -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Investment in the future: Endowment to aid Watson College faculty
Cheryl and John Mirabito Family Faculty Scholar Endowment will help the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
By Chris Kocher
As a business leader in the Binghamton region, John Mirabito knows a good investment when he sees one.
That's why he and his wife, Cheryl, are investing in Binghamton University and Watson College with the new Cheryl and John Mirabito Family Faculty Scholar Endowment.
The financial gift will providea faculty member at the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering with extra funding for research assistants, publications, conference participation, and other teaching and outreach initiatives.
For more than 10 years, Mirabito -- former chairman of Mirabito Holdings Inc. -- has been a member of the Watson College Advisory Board, which offers feedback from an industrial perspective and makes connections to enhance educational opportunities. Watson students and faculty sometimes offer presentations about what they are working on, and he's found their projects "very impressive."
"When you have a named position, it attracts a higher level of talent," he said. "You want to bring their research to campus and develop it, and they can add to what's already going on. Who knows what can hap- pen? The sky's the limit."
Watson College Dean Atul Kelkar approached the Mirabitos about the idea of an endowment soon after arriving at Binghamton in 2024.
"The Mirabito family's extraordinary support elevates what we can accomplish at Watson College," he said. "By investing in our faculty, John and Cheryl are directly investing in the future of our students and the impact of our research. Their generosity creates a legacy that will inspire our academic community for years to come."
In 2023, the Mirabitos made a gift to benefit the Watson College Scholars Program. In recognition of their generosity, a boardroom in the Engineering Building was named the Krishnaswami "Hari" Srihari Executive Boardroom in honor of Watson's former dean.
"My wife and I are very proud to support the University, and especially Watson College," Mirabito said. "We want to help with the continued success and growth, and we think this endowment is another way we can do that. I'm sure there are other people out there who could and would do the same thing, maybe at a larger scale, and hopefully this plants a little seed so they start thinking about it."
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Original text here: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/6334/investment-in-the-future-endowment-to-aid-watson-college-faculty
