Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
UNF Honors Faculty Excellence With 2026 Faculty Awards
JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 16 -- The University of North Florida issued the following news:
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UNF honors faculty excellence with 2026 Faculty Awards
The University of North Florida recognized the outstanding achievements of its faculty with the 2026 Faculty Awards, highlighting excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and innovation.
Leading the honorees, Lynne Arriale with the School of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences was named the 2026 Distinguished Professor. An internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, composer and educator, Ariale is widely recognized for her contributions
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JACKSONVILLE, Florida, May 16 -- The University of North Florida issued the following news:
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UNF honors faculty excellence with 2026 Faculty Awards
The University of North Florida recognized the outstanding achievements of its faculty with the 2026 Faculty Awards, highlighting excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and innovation.
Leading the honorees, Lynne Arriale with the School of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences was named the 2026 Distinguished Professor. An internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, composer and educator, Ariale is widely recognized for her contributionsto contemporary jazz and her lasting influence on music education.
The award celebrates a balanced record of distinction in teaching, scholarship and services, and includes an honorarium, commemorative recognition and the opportunity to deliver UNF's Academic Convocation address.
Arriale's career spans more than three decades of international performance and scholarship. She has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including five appearances at the Kennedy Center, tours across Europe, the Americas and Asia, as well as performances in Australia and Africa. She is the winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and has performed alongside renowned jazz artists such as Randy Brecker, Benny Golson and Marian McPartland. Her discography includes 17 albums as a leader, with multiple releases reaching the top of the JazzWeek radio charts, including two No. 1 rankings. Her work has earned more than 119 national and international awards and recognitions, with 64 "Best of" honors and four-star reviews in major jazz publications.
At UNF, Arriale's impact is equally significant. Since joining the faculty, she has delivered 338 performances, recorded 10 albums and published 45 original compositions. She has taught 404 course sections across 19 different courses. Her students have gone on to prestigious graduate programs, earned national recognition and performed on major stages, including the Jazz Education Network conference. In service, she has chaired the Jazz Scholarship Committee since 2009, coordinated 344 student performance opportunities and adjudicated 40 competitions worldwide. She has also presented more than 151 clinics at schools and institutions, further extending UNF's reach in music education.
Arriale holds a Master of Music in piano performance from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music in music theory and piano from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her additional training includes extensive study in both classical piano and jazz improvisation with leading educators and performers.
The runner-up for the award is Dr. Tes Tuason, professor, clinical director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and a licensed psychologist. Born and raised in the Philippines, Tuason has built a career centered on resilience and transformative education. Her research focuses on economic inequality and poverty, minority identity formation and family and adolescent issues through cross-cultural and systems perspectives. She has authored more than 50 publications and delivered over 100 conference presentations throughout her career.
Additional faculty members recognized during the luncheon include:
* Outstanding Community Engaged Scholarship: Dr. Chitra Balasubramanian, physical therapy professor; Dr. Annalaura Mancia, assistant professor of biology
* Outstanding Faculty Scholarship: Dr. Zhiping Yu, professor of nutrition and dietetics; Dr. David Waddell, biology professor; Dr. Amanda Pascale, associate professor of higher education administration
* Outstanding Graduate Teaching: Dr. Madalina Tanase, teaching, learning and curriculum professor; Dr. David Hoppey, teaching, learning and curriculum program director and professor
* Outstanding Faculty Service: Dr. Madalina Tanase, teaching, learning and curriculum professor; Dr. Samantha Brown, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice
* Outstanding Adjunct Teaching: Steaphine Smith, teaching, learning and curriculum adjunct; Annie Tuttle, sociology, anthropology and social work adjunct; Dr. Morgan Connor, Writing Center instructional support coordinator and English instructor
* Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching: Lynne Arriale, professor of jazz studies and director of small ensembles; Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons, psychological and brain sciences assistant professor; Dr. Elizabeth Hale Rozas, teaching, learning and curriculum program director and associate professor; Dr. Hannah Malcom, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry; Dr. Ryan Shamet, assistant professor of civil engineering; Dr. Jeffrey Smith, English instructor; Dr. Jutima Simsiriwong, associate professor of mechanical engineering; Dr. Szymon Ciesielski, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry; Dr. Agnes Schaffauser, assistant professor of French; Dr. Xudong Liu, School of Computing associate professor
* Excellence in online Teaching: Jenifer Ross, Nutrition and Dietetics program director and associate professor.
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Original text here: https://www.unf.edu/newsroom/2026/05/faculty-awardees.html
SUNY Poly Professor Kazuko Behrens Featured in Keio Academy of New York Lecture Series
ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute issued the following news:
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SUNY Poly Professor Kazuko Behrens Featured in Keio Academy of New York Lecture Series
Dr. Kazuko Behrens, Professor of Psychology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, was invited to deliver a featured lecture at Keio Academy of New York as part of its omnibus "Tricultural" Lecture Series: Transpacific, Transcultural, Transdisciplinary.
Her lecture, titled "De-mystifying the concept of amae," examined the Japanese concept of amae and how it appears across different relationships and
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ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute issued the following news:
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SUNY Poly Professor Kazuko Behrens Featured in Keio Academy of New York Lecture Series
Dr. Kazuko Behrens, Professor of Psychology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, was invited to deliver a featured lecture at Keio Academy of New York as part of its omnibus "Tricultural" Lecture Series: Transpacific, Transcultural, Transdisciplinary.
Her lecture, titled "De-mystifying the concept of amae," examined the Japanese concept of amae and how it appears across different relationships andstages of development.
"Amae" describes the expectation of being understood, accepted, and cared for within close relationships. In her research, Dr. Behrens explains that amae can involve emotional closeness, trust, dependence, and the assumption of another person's goodwill or indulgence. She emphasizes that amae is not simply dependence, but a dynamic interpersonal process shaped by intimacy, mutual understanding, and cultural expectations.
Drawing from her scholarship, Behrens introduced a multifaceted framework for understanding amae, highlighting both its everyday expressions and its broader psychological and cultural significance. The lecture was presented in English to the Academy's bilingual and bicultural student community as part of the institution's ongoing effort to foster transpacific and transcultural learning.
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Original text here: https://sunypoly.edu/news/suny-poly-professor-kazuko-behrens-featured-keio-academy-new-york-lecture-series.html
Morgan State University Partners With TMCF and ACUE to Enhance Faculty Teaching and Improve Student Learning
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 16 -- Morgan State University issued the following news release:
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Morgan State University Partners With TMCF and ACUE to Enhance Faculty Teaching and Improve Student Learning
Participation in CHANGE Initiative Advances University's Leadership Among HBCUs in Strengthening Faculty and Staff Development, and Delivering Stronger Results for Students
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Morgan State University is expanding its proactive efforts to further enhance faculty teaching through advanced training and certification. The opportunity is made possible through the University's collaboration with
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 16 -- Morgan State University issued the following news release:
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Morgan State University Partners With TMCF and ACUE to Enhance Faculty Teaching and Improve Student Learning
Participation in CHANGE Initiative Advances University's Leadership Among HBCUs in Strengthening Faculty and Staff Development, and Delivering Stronger Results for Students
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Morgan State University is expanding its proactive efforts to further enhance faculty teaching through advanced training and certification. The opportunity is made possible through the University's collaboration withthe Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) as part of the Community for HBCU Advancement Through Networked Growth and Excellence (CHANGE) Initiative. Fully funded by TMCF, CHANGE is a nationwide effort focused on progressing faculty and staff development and improving student outcomes. Morgan is one of nine partner institutions active in the 2026 cohort.
Morgan's participation places the University among a distinguished network of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) committed to advancing innovative practices, faculty and staff development, and evidence-based strategies that improve student achievement and long-term institutional success. Since 2023, Morgan Online, the University's digital learning platform, has partnered with TMCF/ACUE to provide training for a limited number of faculty, initially through the Excellence in Online Education initiative. Building on that success, involvement in CHANGE expands the opportunity to all Morgan faculty, staff, and graduate students.
"As enrollment at Morgan State University continues to increase, it is essential that we strengthen our institutional capacity to effectively support the evolving needs of our students to foster their success throughout their academic experience," said Cynthia Brown-LaVeist, Ed.D., director of Morgan Online and project manager. "Participation in this initiative will not only enhance student success but also support our continued efforts to provide faculty and staff with meaningful professional learning experiences that foster career growth, professional advancement, and instructional excellence."
Learning on demand, Morgan faculty and staff will gain access to a comprehensive professional learning infrastructure that includes courses leading to the nation's only nationally recognized Certification in Effective Teaching, endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE). Access to A-certified courses and programs aids in bridging knowledge gaps or updating skills. The courses are designed to develop core instructional competencies that lead to significant improvements in student learning, retention and completion rates.
For faculty, combining academic credentials with recognized certifications enhances teaching relevance, institutional value, industry credibility, and career mobility. It positions them not just as scholars, but as practice-informed educators--a distinction that is becoming increasingly important in modern higher education. According to some national data, professionals with recognized credentials can also earn 5%-20% higher salaries on average.
The CHANGE initiative further elevates by its offering of TMCF's EmpowerED, a holistic well-being and support program specifically designed for HBCU faculty and staff. Through workshops, blogs, and collaborative forums, EmpowerED offers practical tools and community-centered strategies aimed at strengthening institutional, employee well-being, culture, and student success.
Beginning July 1, 2026, faculty, staff and graduate students will have access to the ACUE Commons platform. Registration for the ACUE Effective Teaching Certificate courses will open in August 2026 for faculty, staff and graduate students interested in participating. For questions or additional information, please contact Morgan Online at online@morgan.edu.
Under Goal 2 of the University's 10-year strategic plan, Morgan has committed to advancing faculty ascendency and staff development initiatives. As the University continues its efforts to attract, retain, and promote faculty and staff, it must also expand opportunities for them to retool and acquire specialized skills that support professional growth. A more advanced and knowledgeable faculty ultimately contributes to stronger student success outcomes, reinforcing Goal 1 of the University's strategic plan.
Morgan's continued partnership with TMCF reinforces the University's ongoing commitment to creating an advanced, innovative learning environment that fosters success.
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About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.morgan.edu/news/morgan-partners-with-tmcf-and-acue
From the Field to the Fridge: $1.82M NCInnovation Grant Supports Sweetpotato Startup at App State
BOONE, North Carolina, May 16 -- Appalachian State University issued the following news:
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From the field to the fridge: $1.82M NCInnovation grant supports sweetpotato startup at App State
The Rootsii project will turn surplus crops into plant-based foods, opening a new market for NC farmers
By Bret Yager
Backed by a $1.82 million NCInnovation grant, Appalachian State University professor Dr. Brett Taubman and his research team are transforming millions of pounds of surplus North Carolina sweetpotatoes into a first-of-its-kind, plant-based milk. The initiative -- Rootsii -- also provides
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BOONE, North Carolina, May 16 -- Appalachian State University issued the following news:
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From the field to the fridge: $1.82M NCInnovation grant supports sweetpotato startup at App State
The Rootsii project will turn surplus crops into plant-based foods, opening a new market for NC farmers
By Bret Yager
Backed by a $1.82 million NCInnovation grant, Appalachian State University professor Dr. Brett Taubman and his research team are transforming millions of pounds of surplus North Carolina sweetpotatoes into a first-of-its-kind, plant-based milk. The initiative -- Rootsii -- also providesundergraduate researchers with hands-on experience in developing a new agricultural product line.
The startup will produce milk, creamers, ice cream, yogurt and other fermented foods such as sweetpotato-based miso and fermented hot sauce. The bi-regional production model features a bulk processing facility in Eastern North Carolina, where the majority of sweetpotatoes are grown, along with a production facility in Boone. In North Carolina, approximately 63 million pounds of sweetpotatoes are left to rot in fields each year, costing farmers an estimated $13.2 million annually.
"The Rootsii project brings home the value of public impact research at App State," said Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State. "NCInnovation's funding lends critical support to this novel approach of converting the unused material of a key North Carolina crop into a viable and nutritious product line."
The milk has been developed and refinement of the related products will follow, said Taubman, who founded Rootsii in partnership with Fermentation Sciences Lab manager Daniel Parker. The project, under development since June 2024, is currently in the proof of concept stage, with an aim of being market-ready within two years.
Taubman is optimistic that the company, at scale, could create hundreds of jobs and seize a portion of the expanding plant-based milk market, which is projected to grow from $22.5 billion globally in 2025 to more than $40 billion by 2035, according to market estimates.
"The larger plant-based milk industry is already a multibillion-dollar industry, and in the next 10 years, it is expected to almost double. So it's a huge growth industry," said Taubman, who directs the fermentation sciences program in App State's Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences.
Four undergraduate student researchers have worked on developing the milk and related products, helping test production processes and formulations for yield, nutritional content, flavor, texture and other factors. The NCInnovation grant will fund four student researchers for a total of 1,800 hours per year over two years.
Steps ahead include consumer testing, shelf life validation, production scaling and commercialization strategy.
A nonprofit organization and public-private partnership, NCInnovation provides grant funding, mentorship and partnership development to support research and discoveries with practical and commercial potential at North Carolina's public universities, with a goal to support economic growth and job creation across the state. Rootsii's $1.82 million grant figure is preliminary and will not be final until contract agreements are signed.
"North Carolina is the country's top sweetpotato producer, and Dr. Taubman's work could open an entire new market for those farmers while reducing agricultural waste," said NCInnovation CEO Michelle Bolas. "NCInnovation finds promising university technologies and gets them ready to be businesses in North Carolina."
Rooted in North Carolina
Taubman and Parker have created a patent-pending production process using enzymes to break down the root's long-chain starches. The milk has a natural mild sweetness without a need for added sugars, Taubman noted. Rich in vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium, the product has a smooth, rich taste and texture compared to other plant-based milks, according to the researchers.
North Carolina -- which produces 60% of sweetpotatoes grown in the U.S. -- is well positioned as far as access to the raw product, up to 40% of which can be lost between the field and the store shelf, according to the researchers.
Besides being locally sourced, the product uses a fraction of the water needed to produce almond milk, helping make it a sustainable commodity, Taubman noted.
"This product is made out of only sweetpotatoes, chia seeds as the emulsifier, a yeast-derived protein and coconut oil," Taubman said. "That's cheap and easy to source as well."
Taubman said the coconut oil will eventually be replaced with muscadine grape seed oil, an abundant waste product of the North Carolina wine industry.
The sweetpotato industry has been declining from pandemic-era disruptions in distribution and changing consumer patterns and is prime for a reinvention through a product geared to health-conscious and allergen-sensitive customers, Taubman said.
"We have our sweetpotato casserole, our sweetpotato pies, but we don't necessarily eat sweetpotatoes on a regular basis, even though they are nutritious and delicious," he said. "So that industry is desperately in need of innovation, and we have an innovation that should seriously help to promote it."
A network of partners and collaborators who have agreed to assist, or are actively helping to move the project from concept to commercial product, include:
* North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission, helping to secure the raw product and assisting with relationship-building across related industries
* Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute's Culinary Arts program, assisting with recipe development and product testing
* Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Watauga Economic Development Commission, assisting with developing economic opportunity and a workforce pipeline
* High Country Workforce Development Board, assisting in workforce development
* High Country Impact Fund, providing mentorship in moving the project into full commercial capacity
Talks are also underway with merchant distributors and beverage companies.
"Rootsii offers a new pathway to revitalize demand for sweetpotatoes and stabilize the regional agricultural economy," Taubman said. "This is 100% a North Carolina product."
To learn more about Rootsii, visit Rootsii.com.
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About the A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences
The A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with eight different concentrations and an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in fermentation sciences. The department's programs prepare students to attend graduate and professional schools, as well as for employment in the pharmaceutical and fermentation industries and other business sectors. Learn more at https://dcfs.appstate.edu.
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About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college's values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
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About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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Original text here: https://today.appstate.edu/2026/05/15/rootsii
Albany Law School Promotes Five Faculty Members
ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- Albany Law School issued the following news:
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Albany Law School Promotes Five Faculty Members
Albany Law School is proud to recognize five outstanding faculty members on their recent promotions, a reflection of their excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to our community.
Professor Evelyn Tenenbaum has been promoted to Distinguished Professor of Law, recognizing her legacy of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service across the fields of health law, bioethics and civil rights. Professor Tenenbaum is a widely published expert in health law,
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ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- Albany Law School issued the following news:
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Albany Law School Promotes Five Faculty Members
Albany Law School is proud to recognize five outstanding faculty members on their recent promotions, a reflection of their excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to our community.
Professor Evelyn Tenenbaum has been promoted to Distinguished Professor of Law, recognizing her legacy of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service across the fields of health law, bioethics and civil rights. Professor Tenenbaum is a widely published expert in health law,bioethics, and tort law and she teaches courses and holds appointments at both Albany Law School and Albany Medical College. She is a previous winner of Albany Law's Distinguished Educator for Excellence in Scholarship Award and the Director's Award for Scholarship Distinction as well as serving on the Ethics Review Committee at Albany Medical College.
Assistant Professor Dan Bollana '16 has been promoted to Associate Professor of Law. Professor Bollana currently serves as the School's Director of Bar Success and has distinguished himself through his leadership, dedication to student achievement, and contributions to the academic success and bar support programming and curriculum. Prior to serving in his current role, Professor Bollana was an associate at Milbank LLP in their Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group, Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Syracuse, and coached and counseled students as Associate Director of the Career and Professional Development Center at Albany Law School.
Assistant Professor Kanika Johar '13 has been promoted to Associate Professor of Law. Professor Johar teaches Introduction to Lawyering while also serving a critical role in preparing graduates for bar success and serving as the Faculty Advisor for the moot court program. Professor Johar began her legal career at the New York State Court of Appeals, first as Central Legal Research Staff-Senior Court Attorney, then as Confidential Law Clerk for Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr., and later as Senior Counsel for the Board of Law Examiners. Professor Johar then practiced with O'Brien & Wood, before beginning her teaching career.
Assistant Professor Caitlain Devereaux Lewis '11 has been promoted to Associate Professor of Law. Professor Lewis teaches Introduction to Lawyering and Introduction to Intellectual Property. Her scholarship engages critical questions at the intersection of AI and legal education. She began her legal career first as a law clerk and then a career clerk for the Honorable Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade. From there, she clerked for the Honorable Evan J. Wallach for the Federal Circuit, before moving to the Library of Congress where she served first as a legislative attorney and later as a supervisory attorney.
Assistant Professor Dale Margolin Cecka has been promoted to Associate Professor of Law. Professor Cecka serves as Director of the Family Violence Litigation Clinic within the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center. She is a leading family law scholar and has published thirteen articles and two book chapters as well as authoring many op-eds. She is regularly featured on podcasts and in the national media. She began her legal career as a Skadden Fellow at the Legal Aid Society and was previously a Clinical Professor of Law and at the University of Richmond School of Law where she founded and directed Richmond's Family Law Clinic.
The promotions were approved by the Albany Law School Board of Trustees at its meeting on May 14, 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.albanylaw.edu/news/albany-law-school-promotes-five-faculty-members
Albany Law School Celebrates 175th Commencement
ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- Albany Law School issued the following news:
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Albany Law School Celebrates 175th Commencement
A group of more than 200 graduates, their families, and the Albany Law School community gathered at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on May 15, 2026, to celebrate their accomplishments at Albany Law School's 175th Commencement.
The 229 graduates--193 Juris Doctor, 28 Master of Science, and 8 LL.M.--crossed the stage and began the next step in their careers. Albany Law School's 19th President and Dean Cinnamon P. Carlarne offered the graduates the following advice.
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ALBANY, New York, May 16 -- Albany Law School issued the following news:
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Albany Law School Celebrates 175th Commencement
A group of more than 200 graduates, their families, and the Albany Law School community gathered at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on May 15, 2026, to celebrate their accomplishments at Albany Law School's 175th Commencement.
The 229 graduates--193 Juris Doctor, 28 Master of Science, and 8 LL.M.--crossed the stage and began the next step in their careers. Albany Law School's 19th President and Dean Cinnamon P. Carlarne offered the graduates the following advice.
"Over your legal education, each of you has begun to carve out your path to leadership. You have led in classrooms, in moot court, in student organizations, in your jobs, in your communities, and in your support of one another. The world you are entering needs you to embrace your role as leaders because you have chosen a profession that demands courage -- the courage to stand in the gap between what the law says or doesn't say and what justice requires, and to never stop working to close that gap. Because when the law is wielded not as a weapon of the powerful, but as a shield for the powerless and a tool to give voice to the voiceless -- that is where justice will be found," she said.
Commencement keynote speaker, The Honorable Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of the State of New York and the New York Court of Appeals, addressed the crowd with a forward-looking address with plenty of homage and honor to Albany Law School's rich 175-year history.
Judge Wilson wove together pieces of Albany Law School's history with the impact on New York's court system and the practice of law overall. He detailed the ways the world has changed, how the law school has changed with it, and how the law school's founders--Amos Dean, Ira Harris, and Amasa Parker--led the way.
"When Albany Law School's first class of students was graduated, preserving the Union took relentless work and boundless moral courage. Maintaining our democracy today--amid deep political division, global instability, and disruptive economic and technological change--demands nothing less. I have no doubt that each of you will do your part in carrying out Ira Harris's charge--that you will not wait for justice to arrive on its own--because Albany Law School has given you a top-notch legal education and instilled in you the values of public service and communal obligation to make our legal system and society more just," he continued.
Judge Wilson also offered graduates advice and guidance as they begin their legal careers.
"The focus on and training in state law that you have received at Albany Law School is both unusual among elite law schools and vitally important. Although federal courts receive a great deal of public attention and space in law school curricula, it is in state court where 98% of all lawsuits in this country are filed-- and those disputes are about the most important things in peoples' lives: such as custody of one's children, housing, and benefits," Judge Wilson said. "Moreover, as the federal judiciary continues its decades-long retrenchment of federal rights and remedies, and as modern societal and technological advances create circumstances not contemplated when the U.S. and State Constitutions were drafted, ever-increasing space exists for independent state constitutional interpretation and amendment. It is now your opportunity and obligation to use your training to imagine and pursue avenues through which our State Constitution might afford different and greater protections than what federal courts are recognizing under the U.S. Constitution, suited to the needs of tomorrow's New Yorkers."
Following the conferring of degrees, Class President Christian Osborne '26 addressed the class.
"First, on behalf of the graduating class, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Dean Carlarne, as well as to our professors, and every member of the faculty and staff who helped guide us to this moment. Law school is - surprisingly - not that easy. There were long nights, tough readings, absolutely debilitating cold calls, and moments where many of us questioned whether we were capable of even making it to the end. But because of your guidance, patience, and dedication, we're here, and we're ready to take on what's next," he said.
"To our families, friends, and loved ones -- thank you for believing in us, supporting us, encouraging us, and sometimes just giving us the basic reminder to eat something or get some sleep. This achievement belongs to you as much as it belongs to us. Over the last few years, we have watched each other grow tremendously. Many of us came into this new chapter of our lives coming from completely different backgrounds, different experiences, and most of us not knowing a single person. And along the way, through the shared stress and panic, and with some mutual encouragement, we became a community. Many of us have become very good friends with people who we would have never met had we decided not to come to Albany Law School. I'm grateful for that. I am grateful to have arrived at this incredible milestone with all of you, and what's so exciting is that this is only a beginning. Looking around this room, I see future prosecutors, defense attorneys, advocates, judges, business leaders, policymakers, and people who will genuinely make a difference in the lives of others. I do genuinely believe this graduating class is going to accomplish great things, and I can't wait to see what's in store," he said.
Osborne also presented the 2026 Friend of the Class Award to Sherri Meyer.
Benjamin Wolf '04, President of the Albany Law School National Alumni Association, then addressed the graduates--and Albany Law's newest alumni.
"As graduates, you also now carry a special honor and a responsibility--to uphold the legacy of excellence and service that defines this institution. In a world that is constantly evolving, our commitment to this alma mater remains a powerful and lasting connection. Remember, as members of the National Alumni Association, you have a voice in shaping the future of our school. Your ideas, involvement, and contributions are essential as we work together to advance the mission of Albany Law School and its community. As you step into the world as lawyers, government leaders, executives, and influencers, I encourage you to pay it forward. Stay connected to your alma mater; share your successes, and offer mentorship and opportunities to the next generation," he said. "As you begin your careers, remember that Albany Law School is more than just a degree--it's a network, a legacy, and a tradition. Today, you join nearly 11,000 alumni who have made their mark in a wide range of fields. But more importantly, you become stewards of our shared values and traditions."
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Original text here: https://www.albanylaw.edu/news/albany-law-school-celebrates-175th-commencement
Adler University: From Nebraska Research Lab to Chicago Conference - Psy.D. Student Autumn Hanson's Journey
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 16 -- Adler University issued the following news:
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From Nebraska research lab to Chicago conference: Psy.D. student Autumn Hanson's journey
Autumn Hanson presented her neuropsychology-based research at the 13th annual Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training (ACEPT) Conference at National Louis University on May 1, where she placed third overall.
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Originally from a small town in Nebraska, first-year Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology student Autumn Hanson took her undergraduate research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to Adler
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CHICAGO, Illinois, May 16 -- Adler University issued the following news:
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From Nebraska research lab to Chicago conference: Psy.D. student Autumn Hanson's journey
Autumn Hanson presented her neuropsychology-based research at the 13th annual Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training (ACEPT) Conference at National Louis University on May 1, where she placed third overall.
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Originally from a small town in Nebraska, first-year Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology student Autumn Hanson took her undergraduate research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to AdlerUniversity in Chicago.
Hanson presented her neuropsychology-based research at the 13th annual Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training (ACEPT) Conference at National Louis University on May 1, where she placed third overall.
ACEPT is an organization aimed at improving the structure and ethical standards of the practicum process for graduate psychology students.
"It's important to have that research poster presentation experience, but it's also a great networking opportunity to connect with other students, other schools, and other mentors and professors," Hanson said. "Being a first-year student at Adler, I thought this would be a great way for me to get immersed in the psychology community."
From undergraduate research to publication
Hanson's research began while she was an undergraduate psychology student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While thinking about her honors thesis, Hanson wanted to use her work in the neuroscience and neuropsychology lab. Hanson and her mentor started looking at violent context traumatic brain injury in the juvenile justice-involved youth population.
"There are very few articles that look at both trauma and violent context in the same individual in the same population," Hanson explained.
When a child came through one of the two county centers in urban Nebraska that Hanson was using for research data, they were given a traumatic brain injury screener, resulting in a 400-participant data set. From there, Hanson worked on a small thesis based on the research.
After graduation, Hanson, her mentor, and another student from the same lab continued refining the research with the goal of publication. At the ACEPT conference, Hanson presented an early portion of the project while the larger study continues through the publication process.
Building a future in neuropsychology and service
Hanson interviewed at many graduate school programs before enrolling at Adler.
"Adler was the only place I interviewed that felt very diverse and inviting," Hanson said. "The Chicago community is a great place to learn and reach new opportunities, and Adler itself has lots of in-house opportunities to learn from peers and professors."
In addition to her studies, Hanson has served as a military reservist for the past five years and hopes to apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program during her time at Adler.
Her long-term career goals range from serving as an active-duty military clinical psychologist to becoming a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in dementias. Her goals are deeply personal.
"My mother-in-law passed away from Alzheimer's, and I noticed when my husband was going through that process with his mom, there wasn't any guidance offered to the family," Hanson said. "They didn't tell my husband what to expect. I want to be the individual who helps provide support for the families during moments like these."
Hanson hopes to return to Nebraska one day and work with rural populations, offering guidance and support as a neuropsychologist, which she notes is uncommon in rural settings.
Whether working in military settings, hospitals, or rural communities back home in Nebraska, Hanson hopes her career will combine research, clinical care, and compassionate support for underserved populations. For her, psychology is not only about understanding the brain, but it is also about helping people navigate some of life's most difficult moments with clarity, care, and connection.
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Original text here: https://www.adler.edu/news/from-nebraska-research-lab-to-chicago-conference-psy-d-student-autumn-hansons-journey/
