Featured Stories
Vivek K. Reddy, MD, MMM, Named Chief Health Informatics Officer for University of Utah Health
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 27 -- The University of Utah Health issued the following news release:
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Vivek K. Reddy, MD, MMM, Named Chief Health Informatics Officer for University of Utah Health
Vivek K. Reddy, MD, MMM, has been named Chief Health Informatics Officer for University of Utah Health, effective July 1, 2026.
Reddy has served as interim in this role since May 2024, providing strategic clinical leadership for the safe, effective, and innovative use of health information technology across University of Utah Health. He will work closely with clinical, operational, quality, and digital
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 27 -- The University of Utah Health issued the following news release:
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Vivek K. Reddy, MD, MMM, Named Chief Health Informatics Officer for University of Utah Health
Vivek K. Reddy, MD, MMM, has been named Chief Health Informatics Officer for University of Utah Health, effective July 1, 2026.
Reddy has served as interim in this role since May 2024, providing strategic clinical leadership for the safe, effective, and innovative use of health information technology across University of Utah Health. He will work closely with clinical, operational, quality, and digitalleaders to advance informatics strategy, optimize clinical workflows and documentation, guide technology-enabled improvements in care delivery, and support the responsible integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into clinical practice.
As chief health informatics officer, Reddy will partner with leaders across the health system to align digital investments with organizational priorities, improve the clinician experience, strengthen data governance, and ensure that technology supports high-quality, patient-centered care.
"Vivek brings an exceptional combination of clinical expertise, informatics leadership, and strategic vision," said Erica Bisson, MD, system associate chief clinical officer and system chief medical officer for University of Utah Health. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated how thoughtfully designed technology can improve patient care, support care teams, and advance organizational performance. As we continue to invest in digital transformation and AI-enabled innovation, Dr. Reddy's leadership will help ensure those efforts remain grounded in quality, safety, and measurable value for our patients and communities."
Reddy joined U of U Health in 2019. Most recently, he served as executive vice chair and vice chair of strategy in the Department of Neurology, chair of the Medical Records Committee and Credentials Committee, co-chair of the Digital Enablement Committee, and both inpatient and outpatient chief value officer for neurology. In these roles, he has led initiatives focused on quality, safety, operational excellence, and clinical transformation across the health system.
Prior to joining U of U Health, Reddy served as chief health information officer for Intermountain Health and held several senior informatics leadership positions at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, including chief medical information officer. Throughout his career, he has led enterprise efforts in electronic health record optimization, clinical documentation improvement, data governance, analytics, interoperability, and care transformation.
A board-certified neurologist and vascular neurologist, Reddy is also board-certified in clinical informatics. He is nationally recognized for his contributions to health information technology, including being named one of six recipients of the inaugural EHR Game Changers Award, which honors leaders who have significantly advanced the design, adoption, and use of electronic health records.
"I am honored to serve in this role and grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of health care delivery at University of Utah Health," Reddy said. "Technology is most effective when it empowers clinicians, improves the patient experience, and supports better outcomes. I look forward to working with colleagues across the health system to advance innovations that strengthen care delivery while keeping patients and care teams at the center of everything we do."
Reddy received an MD at Drexel University College of Medicine and completed residency in neurology, chief residency, and fellowship in vascular neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a Master of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Original text here: https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2026/06/vivek-k-reddy-md-mmm-named-chief-health-informatics-officer-university-of
Tuskegee University Appoints CHRO and Police Chief
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, June 27 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee University appoints new CHRO and Police Chief
Thonnia Lee
Tuskegee University is proud to announce that Derrick Jordan has been named Chief Human Resources Officer and Darrius Jones has been named Chief of Police.
Both leaders are U.S. Veterans and have served the university in deputy capacities, proving their ability to lead through challenge while elevating the university experience for students, faculty and staff.
"Tuskegee University is in the midst of a Renaissance defined by purpose, performance,
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TUSKEGEE, Alabama, June 27 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee University appoints new CHRO and Police Chief
Thonnia Lee
Tuskegee University is proud to announce that Derrick Jordan has been named Chief Human Resources Officer and Darrius Jones has been named Chief of Police.
Both leaders are U.S. Veterans and have served the university in deputy capacities, proving their ability to lead through challenge while elevating the university experience for students, faculty and staff.
"Tuskegee University is in the midst of a Renaissance defined by purpose, performance,and people," said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. "We are committed to ensuring our students are both challenged and supported, that our faculty and staff are fully equipped to advance our mission, and that our campus remains a safe and empowering environment for all. Derrick Jordan and Darrius Jones are the kind of leaders who embody this vision. I have been deeply impressed by their leadership, and I am proud to have them on my team."
Prior to his arrival last fall, Jordan served as Chief Human Resources Officer for Georgia's fourth largest City, Macon, Georgia. He provided executive oversight for more than 1,808 employees and 1,600 retirees. Under his leadership, the department received its first-ever 2023 Georgia Local Government Personnel Association Large County Agency Achievement Award. He architected and implemented the county's inaugural Health and Wellness Program, the automation of all personnel records, and equitable wage adjustments for long-overlooked positions.
Jordan's experience includes two decades of dedicated service in the United States Navy. His distinguished military career, which includes multiple combat deployments and a nomination as an Emergency Actions Controller at U.S. Central Command, honed his skills in high-stakes environments. As a Leading Chief, he commanded the trust and confidence of the command by leading a team of 80 HR managers, mirroring the responsibilities of his civilian executive roles. Jordan received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Human Resources from Columbia Southern University.
He is the author of "Business Character Matters: Ten Habits of Highly Successful Managers," and his academic credentials include an MBA in Human Resources Management. His profound commitment to leadership and service is further evidenced by his life membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and affiliations with prestigious honor societies.
"I accept the role of Chief Human Resources Officer at Tuskegee University with deep humility and a clear understanding of the weight it carries--not merely as an administrative function, but as the stewardship of the very people who bring this institution's mission to life," Jordan said. "I will draw upon proven executive leadership to build a model of service that is responsive, transparent, and transformative. Together, my Team and I will ensure that every individual across this campus feels valued, equipped, and inspired to contribute to this great institution's enduring legacy. I am honored to serve."
Chief Darrius Durell Jones has more than 15 years of experience in policing, investigations, emergency management, and command-level operations. He served as Interim Chief of Police for the Tuskegee University Police Department for the last six months.
Prior to his appointment at Tuskegee, Jones held several key leadership positions in law enforcement, including Police Lieutenant with the Montgomery Airport Police Department, Interim Assistant Chief of Police for the Tuskegee Police Department, Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and service with the Montgomery Police Department as both a Detective and Patrol Officer.
In addition to his civilian service, Jones proudly serves in the United States Army Reserve and has accumulated 19 years of honorable military service. He currently holds the rank of Staff Sergeant and has served in a variety of leadership and operational assignments throughout his career. His military service includes two overseas combat deployments in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2007 to June 2008 and the Operation New Dawn from January 2009 to December 2010.
Jones earned a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master's of Science in Public Safety from Liberty University. He maintains a Federal Secret Security Clearance and a certified law enforcement instructor, and FEMA Basic Public Information Officer.
"It is an honor to be entrusted by the University President Dr. Mark Brown with this opportunity," Jones said. "I am grateful to God, my loved ones, friends, and the Tuskegee University community for their unwavering support and encouragement. My mission is not only to protect and serve, but also to help shape the next generation of global leaders. As a senior leader, I will hold myself to the principle that character is power."
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Original text here: https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/2026/06/Tuskegee-University-appoints-new-CHRO-and-Police-Chief.html
Seven Recent Yale Graduates to Continue Their Studies as U.K. Fellows
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Yale University issued the following news:
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Seven recent Yale graduates to continue their studies as U.K. fellows
Seven recent graduates of Yale College, including six members of the Class of 2026, have been awarded fellowships for graduate study in the United Kingdom.
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Seven recent Yale graduates, including six members of the Yale College Class of 2026, have been awarded fellowships from various organizations for graduate study in the United Kingdom.
They join four other 2026 Yale graduates who received Clarendon Scholarships to study at
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NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Yale University issued the following news:
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Seven recent Yale graduates to continue their studies as U.K. fellows
Seven recent graduates of Yale College, including six members of the Class of 2026, have been awarded fellowships for graduate study in the United Kingdom.
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Seven recent Yale graduates, including six members of the Yale College Class of 2026, have been awarded fellowships from various organizations for graduate study in the United Kingdom.
They join four other 2026 Yale graduates who received Clarendon Scholarships to study atOxford.
The fellowship winners and their awards follow:
Addie Lowenstein '26 graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in East Asian Studies and English. She was awarded the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship to pursue an M.Sc. degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Oxford. Her East Asian Studies senior thesis explored how Chinese newspaper coverage of the 2008 financial crisis evolved to reflect a more assertive vision of China's role in the world order. She will build on this work at Oxford by examining China's growing influence in global economic governance after the crisis, including its creation of new international institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. During her time at Yale, Lowenstein studied the Israel-Palestine conflict through the Peace and Dialogue Leadership Initiative (PDLI), took Mandarin classes in Taiwan as a Light Fellow, and worked in the Yale Writing Center as a writing partner. She has also served as a research assistant to Emma Zang, an associate professor of sociology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences and member of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale, focusing on why aging societies, such as China, struggle to respond effectively to demographic decline. Outside of Yale, Lowenstein volunteered as a debate coach with the National Prison Debate League and interned for U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro. She hopes to pursue a career in U.S.-China policy.
Seung Min Baik Kang '26 was awarded the Henry Fellowship to pursue an M.Phil. degree in digital humanities at the University of Cambridge. Baik Kang is interested in how and why people move across borders. His history thesis, a narrative account of Veterans for Peace, an international nonprofit, and its attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Central America in the 1980s, was inspired by his internship at a legal aid clinic in Eagle Pass, Texas, a border city. As a member of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale, he conducted a photo-journalistic research project tracing the maritime journeys of Senegalese and Moroccan asylum seekers to Granada and Gran Canaria. At Yale, Baik Kang also served as a First-Year Counselor at Branford College and a La Casa Peer Liaison, sang in the Yale Glee Club, and organized with the Student Farmworker Alliance. His deep interest in writing -- particularly writing about and from archival materials -- informs his proposed research at Cambridge. There, he hopes to explore the politics behind and the implications of the digitization of Guatemala's Historical Archive of the National Police, which houses nearly 80 million documents chronicling the national police's involvement in the country's 36-year civil war. He looks forward to pursuing a career in writing, teaching, and curation.
David Rosenbloom '26, who studied philosophy at Yale, was awarded a Henry Fellowship to pursue an M.Phil. degree in Political Thought and Intellectual History at the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge, Rosenbloom, whose work focuses on 19th- and 20th-century German philosophy and social theory, will study 20th-century debates over the nature of - and relationship between - freedom, reason, technology and progress. While at Yale, Rosenbloom served as a copy editor for BRINK Review of Books and a student reader for The Yale Review, wrote feature articles for The New Journal, was an O'Shaughnessy Global Food Fellow, conducted archival research on Herbert Marcuse and Max Horkheimer, and led orientation trips as a First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trip leader. Outside of his academic work, he enjoys creative writing, adventuring in the backcountry, and playing the guitar.
Nithya Guthikonda '26 was awarded the Paul Mellon Fellowship to pursue an M.Phil. degree in Global History of Art and Architecture at the University of Cambridge. She graduated from Yale with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and History of Art and is interested in how visual culture informs contemporary pressures relating to the environmental and biological sciences. As a Yale Library senior exhibit curator, Guthikonda explored the visual history of the rosebud orchid (Cleistesiopsis sp.), examining how botanical illustration tracks anthropogenic change and shifting societal attitudes toward habitat destruction in the southeastern United States. Guthikonda has published work across the sciences and humanities, including in Plant Ecology, Perspectives: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Yale University Library Online Exhibitions. In 2025, she served as the Adrienne Arsht Intern in the American Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and has provided species identifications for the museum collections since 2024. She has also conducted research through the National Science Foundation and Tall Timbers Research Station. At Yale, Guthikonda was a former member of the women's fencing team and served as the athletics project coordinator for the Communication and Consent Educators. At Cambridge, she plans to research the practice of natural history in the 18th- and 19th centuries, understanding the roles of botanical illustration in driving scientific, cultural, and commercial enterprises of the Americas.
Munira Elbashir '26, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics with an Intensive Certificate in Human Rights, was awarded the King's-Yale Fellowship to pursue an M.Phil. degree in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. Her research interests include the political economy of war, contemporary conflict resolution, the gendered implications of armed conflict, and transitional justice mechanisms. At Yale, her senior thesis examined the social and economic integration trajectories of Sudanese migrants in Qatar. Through her project, Munira explored how war-induced migration intersects with liminal legality to produce distinct integration experiences, chiefly shaped by economic precarity and the imperative of securing work. At Cambridge, she will study what she calls a deeply rooted contradiction in global peacebuilding: the valorization of women's grassroots leadership and their systematic exclusion from formal political authority. She will focus on Sudanese women's leadership within informal networks of political resistance and humanitarian aid. In her summers, Munira interned at the International Crisis Group and the Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights. Beyond the classroom, she served as an executive board member of the Undergraduate Human Rights Journal, the Migration Alliance, and the Urban Improvement Corps tutoring and mentoring organization. She also worked as a peer tutor for Introductory Macroeconomics and as a peer liaison for the Afro-American Cultural Center for two years.
Christian Baca '26, a recipient of the Paul Mellon Fellowship, will pursue an M.Phil. degree in Education (Knowledge, Power, and Politics) at the University of Cambridge. He graduated from Yale with a double-major in Humanities and Political Science and a certificate in Education Studies. His research focuses on how post-conflict and post-authoritarian societies can leverage education systems as tools for reconstruction, reconciliation, and political formation. He has professional experiences working with foreign policy organizations, including the Organization of American States and the Washington Office on Latin America. He has also held roles with Teaching for Change and the Hartford Public School District. During his junior year at Yale, he took a leave of absence to work at Cristosal, a human rights organization in El Salvador, where he facilitated "know your rights" and corruption detection workshops. As a recipient of a 2026 Davis Projects for Peace grant, Baca is returning to El Salvador this summer to develop a program for rural youth focused on audiovisual methods of memory reconstruction, in partnership with the Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen, a grassroots cultural institution. At Yale, he served as a lead student mentor for the Pedagogical Partners Program, a residential teaching assistant for Yale's Citizens Thinkers Writers program, and as a First-Generation, Low-Income Peer Mentor.
Ava Saylor '24 is an inaugural recipient of the Sparck AI Graduate Scholarship, a UK government-run program that provides fully funded master's study and supports the development of future leaders in artificial intelligence. Also a recipient of the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship, she will pursue an M.Sc. degree in Social Science of the Internet at the University of Oxford. Saylor graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a B.A. in Political Science in 2024. Her senior thesis examined how parents navigate school choice amid persistent segregation in Northern Ireland and proposed strategies to strengthen integrated schooling. She also completed a certificate in Education Studies, researching the risks of "sharenting," where parents share public content of their children online, and proposing regulatory solutions grounded in labor law. As an undergraduate, Saylor served as health and accessibility director for the Yale College Council, reported and edited for the Yale Daily News, volunteered with multiple Dwight Hall education initiatives, and was head First-Year Counselor for Ezra Stiles College. Since graduating, she has worked as a paralegal at Cravath, Swaine & Moore on technology litigation and immigration matters. At Oxford, Saylor will study approaches to protecting children online, the role of international cooperation in bridging regulatory divides, and ways to incentivize corporations to align their products with the public good. She will then attend Harvard Law School as a member of the class of 2030, with the goal of translating research into effective policy across government, industry, and international organizations.
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Original text here: https://news.yale.edu/2026/06/26/seven-recent-yale-graduates-continue-their-studies-uk-fellows
Rutgers: Researchers Develop an HIV-Prevention Guide Without the Stigma of Asking About Risk
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Rutgers University issued the following news:
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Researchers Develop an HIV-Prevention Guide Without the Stigma of Asking About Risk
A pilot study found that a two-page decision aid increased awareness of a little-known injectable and allowed patients to weigh their options without feeling judged
By Andrew Smith
The most useful thing about a new HIV-prevention guide may be a question it never asks: Why do you want to know about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP?
In a pilot study at three clinics, a two-page decision aid helped people choose
... Show Full Article
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Rutgers University issued the following news:
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Researchers Develop an HIV-Prevention Guide Without the Stigma of Asking About Risk
A pilot study found that a two-page decision aid increased awareness of a little-known injectable and allowed patients to weigh their options without feeling judged
By Andrew Smith
The most useful thing about a new HIV-prevention guide may be a question it never asks: Why do you want to know about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP?
In a pilot study at three clinics, a two-page decision aid helped people choosebetween a daily pill, long used to prevent HIV, and a newer injectable treatment given every two months, without requiring them to disclose details of their sex lives or explain why they wanted protection.
The study in PLOS Global Public Health details patient reactions to a decision-making tool. The lead author, Wendy Davis, and senior author, Deanna Kerrigan, developed the tool with collaborators at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and community partners in Washington D.C. when they were at the George Washington University, and have since joined the Rutgers School of Public Health. Davis now serves as program director for research development and training, Kerrigan as vice dean and Henry Rutgers Chair of Whole Person Health.
The guide sets the two forms side by side: One panel covers how each is used, how well it works and its side effects, while the other turns to preferences, such as taking a pill every day versus traveling to a clinic for a shot.
The tool targets an awareness gap. When the team first interviewed people who could benefit from PrEP, 80% had never heard of the injectable, which the Food and Drug Administration approved in December 2021. Nationally, fewer than 1 in 200 PrEP prescriptions were written for it. And in 2022, only 36% of the estimated 1.2 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP were taking any form of it, the researchers said.
What set the tool apart, participants said, was that it carried no risk assessment. Because it never asked them to account for their behavior, they didn't feel they had to justify their interest in PrEP. People described the guide as a "third party in the room" and an "icebreaker" that "leveled the playing field."
The relief was especially clear among those who aren't always considered as candidates for PrEP, such as older adults.
"We have a lot of options in HIV and other areas that we know work to protect and treat," Davis said. "A big challenge in public health now is how we make people aware of these options so they can use them to their benefit."
The lesson was almost plain, she said: "If you ask people what they want to know and how they want to receive it, and then you do that, they like it. It helps them decide."
The team wrote both English and Spanish versions of the guide in the plainest possible terms.
The disparities the tool aims at are wide. Women made up 8% of PrEP users in 2023, but 19% of new U.S. HIV diagnoses. Black Americans accounted for 39% of new diagnoses but 14% of users.
The authors caution that the pilot used mock clinical visits rather than real appointments, that answers may reflect a wish to please and that one participating clinic may be unusually experienced with PrEP. They say a larger, real-world trial is warranted. The tool is freely available with the open-access study, and the authors said clinics are welcome to use it.
The study was funded through a contract with British pharmaceutical business ViiV Healthcare, which makes the injectable.
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Original text here: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/researchers-develop-hiv-prevention-guide-without-stigma-asking-about-risk
Lipscomb University: Changing the Face of Future Healthcare
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Lipscomb University issued the following news:
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Changing the face of future healthcare
Pharmacy faculty raise their voice to impact the future of health care through innovative grant-funded projects and scholarly publications.
By Janel Shoun-Smith, 615-966-7078
Lipscomb's College of Pharmacy faculty with expertise in clinical patient care, drug development, point of care services, and health simulation and interprofessional education, are making their mark on the future through federally funded improvement projects, professional engagement and
... Show Full Article
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 27 (TNSjou) -- Lipscomb University issued the following news:
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Changing the face of future healthcare
Pharmacy faculty raise their voice to impact the future of health care through innovative grant-funded projects and scholarly publications.
By Janel Shoun-Smith, 615-966-7078
Lipscomb's College of Pharmacy faculty with expertise in clinical patient care, drug development, point of care services, and health simulation and interprofessional education, are making their mark on the future through federally funded improvement projects, professional engagement andpartnerships with innovative partners leading in today's healthcare.
* Scott Akers partners with Sarah Cannon Research Institute on pharmacokinetic research (https://lipscomb.edu/news/college-pharmacy-partners-sarah-cannon-research-institute).
* Jessica Wallace was first author on a Journal of American College of Clinical Pharmacy article advocating for new standards (https://lipscomb.edu/news/wallace-sets-tone-future-care-kidney-disease-patients).
* Justin Kirby and Brice Wagner publish article based on their pioneering efforts in point-of-care services in pharmacies (https://lipscomb.edu/news/pioneers-pharmacy-point-care-published-national-academic-journal).
* Sarah Uroza brings best practices in educating through simulations to campus through federally-funded program (https://lipscomb.edu/news/pharmacy-simulation-education-jumps-next-level).
* Abbie Burka was tapped to carry out interprofessional education for Tennessee students through a federal grant (https://lipscomb.edu/news/lipscomb-leads-building-tennessees-effective-healthcare-teams-future).
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Original text here: https://lipscomb.edu/news/changing-face-future-healthcare
Iowa Engineers Investigate Links Between LED Blue Light and Health Impacts
IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 27 (TNSjou) -- The University of Iowa College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Iowa engineers investigate links between LED blue light and health impacts
New research from the University of Iowa (UI) uses data from the TEMPO satellite mission to investigate how blue light common in LEDs may disproportionally affect sleep patterns and health conditions of those in lower income areas.
Zhixin Xue, a postdoctoral scholar with the Iowa Technology Institute (ITI), a research arm of the College of Engineering, presented findings at a briefing for NASA's TEMPO
... Show Full Article
IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 27 (TNSjou) -- The University of Iowa College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Iowa engineers investigate links between LED blue light and health impacts
New research from the University of Iowa (UI) uses data from the TEMPO satellite mission to investigate how blue light common in LEDs may disproportionally affect sleep patterns and health conditions of those in lower income areas.
Zhixin Xue, a postdoctoral scholar with the Iowa Technology Institute (ITI), a research arm of the College of Engineering, presented findings at a briefing for NASA's TEMPO(Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) DART (Data, Application, and Research and Technology) team meeting on the UI campus, June 15-18.
TEMPO was launched in 2023 to track air pollution across North America, yet scientists have found diverse applications for TEMPO's data. TEMPO's ability to measure the spectrum of colors and range of wavelengths in light is opening the door to new discoveries about light pollution, such as, in Xue's research, linking light pollution, public health, and socioeconomic disparities.
"TEMPO introduces a fundamentally new observational opportunity," Xue said. "Although designed for studying atmospheric chemistry, its high spectral resolution twilight observations provide a previously unavailable window into the wavelength composition of artificial nighttime lighting, creating the possibility of monitoring biologically relevant exposure at regional scales."
Xue's research was just one update presented during the four-day conference. The meeting drew more than 200 in-person and online participants from NASA, universities, national laboratories, and public health agencies. The conference covered topics ranging from the TEMPO instrument status to its data product development, the use of its data for scientific discoveries and public health studies, as well as community building and training sessions for students and scholars to use TEMPO data.
"It is a great pleasure for us to host NASA's TEMPO DART meeting in Iowa City," said Jun Wang, UI Lichtenberger Family Chair in Chemical Engineering and associate director of ITI. "The meeting gave our students and researchers a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of the TEMPO mission, from satellite observations to their applications and societal impacts. I am grateful for NASA and the university's support to make all these possible."
Wang noted the meeting allowed UI students and scholars to present their work, interact with DART team members and leading scientists, and see firsthand how research, such as Xue's, contributes to the broader goals and impact of the TEMPO mission.
Collaborating with Meng Zhou, Qian Xiao, and Wang, Xue's work stands out for its detailed analysis of colors in light from space. This work was published in June in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) has long been linked to disruptions in the body's circadian rhythm, or the internal clock that regulates sleep and other biological processes. Exposure to certain types of light, especially blue wavelengths common in LED lighting, has been associated with sleep disturbances and increased risks for conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Using TEMPO observations, the Iowa-led research team developed a dataset called Spectrally Resolved Light at Night (SLAN), which captures not just how bright city lights are, but also their precise color composition. This is important because the biological effects of light depend heavily on its wavelength.
By combining these measurements with models of human circadian sensitivity, the Iowa team produced a new map of "circadian light stimulus" across the continental United States.
The results reveal patterns beyond brightness, highlighting where light may have the strongest biological impact. The study also explores how these exposures relate to factors such as population density and poverty, suggesting that the health effects of light pollution may not be evenly distributed.
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Original text here: https://engineering.uiowa.edu/news-all/2026/06/iowa-engineers-investigate-links-between-led-blue-light-and-health-impacts
Florida Board of Governors Approves FAU Strategic Plan
BOCA RATON, Florida, June 27 -- Florida Atlantic University, a component of the state university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Florida Board of Governors Approves FAU Strategic Plan
By Joshua Glanzer
The Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida has approved "2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins," Florida Atlantic University's strategic plan for 2026-2031 designed to guide the institution's ongoing commitment to student success, research excellence, and community impact.
"In a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty in higher education, this strategic
... Show Full Article
BOCA RATON, Florida, June 27 -- Florida Atlantic University, a component of the state university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Florida Board of Governors Approves FAU Strategic Plan
By Joshua Glanzer
The Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida has approved "2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins," Florida Atlantic University's strategic plan for 2026-2031 designed to guide the institution's ongoing commitment to student success, research excellence, and community impact.
"In a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty in higher education, this strategicplan is the roadmap that ensures Florida Atlantic remains 'Where Tomorrow Begins' for all our students," said Florida Atlantic President Adam Hasner. "By championing these strategic imperatives and pursuing them aggressively, we will continue our ascent as a top-tier R1 research institution and a leading national public university, creating greater opportunities for our students and our state."
The plan can be read here: 2026-2031 Strategic Plan | Florida Atlantic University.
Built around four strategic imperatives, "2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins" calls on Florida Atlantic to deliver a return on investment for 100% of its students, discover solutions for healthier, safer, more prosperous communities, power the university's rise by maximizing its strategic and geographic assets, and elevate the university's prestige.
Recognizing that the world is changing at a remarkable pace, the plan advances a university-wide commitment to preparing graduates to lead in the future. It equips students with career-ready "Essential Success Skills" and expands opportunities for experiential learning such as internships, mentorships, and research, so graduates gain the knowledge, adaptability, and purpose to build successful careers and meaningful lives.
Building on the university's status as a R1 top-tier research institution, the strategic plan strengthens Florida Atlantic's focus on research and innovation in four areas of emphasis -- neuroscience and healthy aging; quantum computing; environmental, ocean and coastal innovation; and national defense and autonomous systems. Additionally, the plan emphasizes leveraging Florida Atlantic's ongoing research and intellectual property into licensing agreements with the private sector companies and new spin-off companies.
"2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins" also prioritizes strategic investment in campus and community assets, advancing Florida Atlantic's regional impact, and reinforcing its rising national reputation. The plan calls for positioning Florida Atlantic as a destination of choice for high-performing students throughout Florida, while serving as a trusted partner for job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth across South Florida and the state.
Florida Atlantic's leadership thoughtfully worked with the entire FAU community through a series of open forums, listening sessions, and written feedback to develop a plan that reflects extensive input from faculty members, students, university staff, and trustees, as well as community members.
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Original text here: https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/2031faustratplanannouncement.php
