Achievements Selected recent feats by students, faculty, and staff

Please see below for recent student, alumni, faculty, and staff accomplishments:

Please send achievements announcements to emilyd@american.edu.

GRANTS AND RESEARCH

Alida Anderson (School of Education) received $146,389 (represents year one of this project) from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for the project titled "Master Teacher Cadre Program - Secondary Special Education Cohort."

Anthony Ahrens (psychology) was awarded $23,817 from Catholic University of America (CUA) (CUA funding from: Saint Louis University and SLU funding from: John Templeton Foundation) for the project titled "Integrating Social Cognitive Theory and Virtue Ethics."

Michael Alonzo (environmental science) received $123,636 from NASA for this project "Mapping Boreal Forest Structure and Composition Using Fine-Scale Lidar and Hyperspectral Data from the G-LiHT Airbiorne Imager." 

Michael Baron (mathematics & statistics) received $200,000 from NSF for his project "ATD: Statistical Detection of New Patterns and Potential Threats in Geospatial Sequences of Social and Political Events."

Boncho Bonev (physics) received $97,761 from NSF for the project "Comets and the History of Volatile Matter During Planetary System Formation;" $65,355 from John Hopkins University for the project "Parent Volatiles in Comets;" and $43,733 (represents partial funding of total $132,590 for a three-year project through December 7, 2019) from NASA for the project "Spatial-Spectral Studies of Water and the Physical Environment of Inner Cometary Atmospheres."

John Bracht (biology) received a $50,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his project titled "I-Corps: Using Genomics to Detect Pathogens."

Victoria Connaughton (biology) received $9,980 from UDC for her project "Anatomical and Behavioral Outcomes of Toxicant Exposure in the Anacostia River: Building a Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Model of Biological River Health."

Molly Dondero (sociology) was awarded $31,889 from Pennsylvania State University for the project "The Mexican Children of Immigrants Program."

Maria Floro (economics) received $1,800,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for her three-year project "The Care Economy and Gender Sensitive Macroeconomic Modeling for Policy Analysis."

Douglas Fox (chemistry) received $128,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for his project "Biomacromolecules as Flame Retardants of Wood-Based Construction."

Gregory Harry (physics) received $92,407 from NSF for his project "Collaborative Research: LSC Center for Coatings Research."

Kathleen Holton (health studies) received $914,879 from the US Department of Defense for her project "Glutamate Neuro-Excitotoxicity in GWI."

Philip Johnson (physics) received $9,036 from NIST for his project "2017 NIST SURF program in Gaithersburg, MD."

Kiho Kim (environmental science) received $62,736 from the US Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for his project "Identifying Hotspots for Nitrogen Pollution in Saipan."

Karen Knee (environmental science) received $9,790 from UDC for her project "Assessing the Effectiveness of Urban Gardens in Reducing Stormwater Pollution."

Mark Laubach (biology) was awarded $10,078.20 from Yale University for his project "Remote Effects of Focal Hippocampal Seizures in Neocortical Function."

Jessica Leight (economics) received $36,795 from GSA for her project "Fellowship with the Office of Evaluation Sciences."

Stephen MacAvoy (environmental science) was awarded $14,445 from the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias for his project "Assessing the trophic ecology and climate change resilience of Stygobromus tenuis." He received $9,987 from UDC for his project "Examination of Nutrient and Land Use Patterns in the Tidal Anacostia River."

Bruce McCullum (physics) received $19,405 for his project "Determining the Progenitor of a Red Transient" and $36,878 for is project "First UV Spectroscopy of an Incipient Stellar Merger in its Pre-Merger Phase" from> Space Telescope Science Institute.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss (education and sociology) received $10,000 from Southern Poverty Law Center for her project "Seminar on the Mainstreaming Extremism."

Ethan Mereish (health studies) received $36,233 from Brown University for the project titled "Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior in Sexual Minority Youth: Examining Modifiable Mechanisms for Treatment Development."

Laura Owens (School of Education) was awarded $42,398 from Harvard University (funding from US Department of Education) for her project titled "Digital Messaging for Improving College Enrollment and Success."

David Pike (literature) was awarded $143,63 from ACLS for the project is entitled "Corruption Plots, Imagined Publics: Narrating Urban Space in the Global South," and will be conducting it in collaboration with Professors Malini Ranganathan (SIS) and Sapana Doshi (U of Arizona, School of Geography and Development).

Michael Robinson (mathematics and statistics) was awarded $32,704 from the Battelle Memorial Institute / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for his project titled "Topological Data Modeling for High Performance Data Analytics."

Denise Saunders Thompson (performing arts) received a $500,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for her nonprofit the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD).

Anastasia Snelling (health studies) received $900,000 from the US Department of Agriculture for a five-year project titled, "Healthy Schoolhouse 2.0 Teachers and Parents Working to Improve Student Health"; $9,679 from the DC Department of Health for her project "Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau (NPFB) - Survey Instrument Design Training"; $35,999 from DC Central Kitchen for the project "Healthy Food Access Initiatives"; $29,950 from A Wider Circle from her project titled A Wider Circle "Wraparound Support" Program Evaluation; $76,552 from the District of Columbia Public Schools for the project titled "Strategies for Improving Consumption of Healthy Foods in DC Public Schools;" and $9,281 from the DC Department of Health for her project "WIC Training Certification Assessments."

Anastasia Snelling (health studies) received at $34,994 grant from A Wider Circle for her project "A Wider Circle Neighborhood Partnership Program Evaluation."

Nancy Snider (performing arts) received $15,000 from the Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation, Inc., for her project "Koster Foundation Summer Study Grant for Music Majors."

U.J. Sophia (physics) received $152,905 (represents year one of an expected five-year project totaling $1,223,311) from NASA for his project titled "Investigations in Astrobiology: The Origins of Water and Pre-Biotic Organics." He also received $94,319 (represents partial funding of an expected three-year project totaling $291,533) from NASA for his project titled "Remote Sensing of Planetary Atmospheres in the Solar System and Beyond."

Jennifer Steele (education) received $217,363 from the RAND Corporation for her project "Evaluation of TNTP's Camdem School Leadership Proejct," and $85,000 from American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS for her project "Partnership to Study Dual Language Immersion in Utah."

Catherine Stoodley (psychology) was awarded $24,608 (represents year one of an expected two year project totaling $50,199) from Georgetown University (funded by NIH) for the project titled "Cerebellar tDCS: A Novel Treatment for Aphasia"; $19,518 (represents year one of an expected three year project totaling $98,513) from the University of Denver (funded by NIH) for the project titled "Cognitive and Neural Predictors of Comorbidity Between Reading and Attention Problems."

Michael Treanor (computer science) received $20,000 from Educational Testing Service for his project titled "MicroGames Continuation."

John Willoughby (economics) received $421,223 from Open Society Foundations for his project titled "Proposal to Support the Organizational Strengthening of the Program for Gender Analysis of the Economy."

Isaiah M. Wooden (performing arts) received the 2017 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and $45,000 sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by the Fellowships Office of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

APPOINTMENTS AND HONORS

Nicole Caporino (psychology) received the first-ever Anne Marie Albano Early Career Award for Excellence in the Integration of Science and Practice from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) at ABCT's 50th annual convention in New York. She has been selected as a 2016 "Rising Star" by the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The Rising Star designation recognizes outstanding psychological scientists in the earliest stages of their research career post-PhD whose innovative work has already advanced the field and signals great potential for their continued contributions.

Melanie Delgado (BS public health '18 and Public Health Scholar) was warded the Nation Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program that comes with 20K towards tuition and a paid position at NIH after graduation.

Lindsey Green-Simms (literature) won the 2017 Helen Tartar First Book Subvention award from the American Comparative Literature Association for her book "Postcolonial Automobility: Car Culture in West Africa."

Robb Hunter (Department of Performing Arts) was nominated for Outstanding Choreography for An Octoroon (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company) for the 2017 Helen Hayes awards.

Philip Johnson (physics) was elected to represent the mid-atlantic region at the national council of representatives of the American Physical Society. 

Ann Kerwin (CAS/BA '71) received the 2017 Alumni Eagle Award.

Natalie Konerth (BS applied mathematics) received the Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for her second consecutive season.

David Landstrom (Department of Performing Arts alum) was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical for Next to Normal (The Keegan Theatre) for the 2017 Helen Hayes awards.

Chemi Montes (art), Director of the Graphic Design Program, won the 2018 Graphis Poster Annual Competituion Platinum Award for his work on the Steve Reich: 80th Year Celebration poster. 

Penny Pagano (CAS/BA '65) received the 2017 Alumni Recognition Award.

Aaron Posner (Department of Performing Arts) was nominated for Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation for District Merchants (Folger Theatre) for the 2017 Helen Hayes awards.

Meghan Raham (Department of Performing Arts) was nomitated for Outstanding Set Design for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Round House Theatre) for the 2017 Helen Hayes awards.

Gautham Rao (history) was appointed editor-in-chief of the Law and History Review.

Craig Stevens (Anthropology '17) received the 2017 CfMA MAAC Student Award from the Council for Maryland Archaeology for his paper, Maryland's Josiah Henson: A Tale of Black Resistance, which was based on his senior capstone.

Polina Vinogradova (world languages and cultures) received the Innovative Research in International Education Award from NAFSA for her chapter "Teaching with Digital Stories for Student Empowerment and Engagement" (in Carrier M., Damerow R. M., and Bailey K. M., eds. 2017. Digital Language Learning and Teaching: Research, Theory, and Practice. Routledge & TIRF).

Jonelle Walker (Department of Performing Arts alum) was nominated for Outstanding Play or Musical Adaptation for TAME (WSC Avant Bard) for the 2017 Helen Hayes awards.

PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTIONS, AND EXHIBITIONS

Laura Beers (history) authored the book Red Ellen, which is about the British MP Ellen Wilkinson. Martin Rubin of The Wall Street Journal wrote a review of Red Ellen. Rubin writes that Beers, "draws a multifaceted portrait, capturing the woman herself as well as her remarkable political career."

Robert Blecker (economics) penned an article for The Conversation about President Trump's NAFTA strategy.

Kyle Dargan (literature) authored an article for Moyers & Company about the celebration of National Poetry Month.

Anton Fedyashin (history) authored an article for The National Interest about how former Russian leader Vladimir Lenin and former President Woodrow Wilson collaborated on the revitalization of modern day foreign policy.

Douglas Fox (chemistry) co-authored an article on cellulose nanocrystals in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

Max Paul Friedman (history) authored an article in the Christian Science Monitor about the Monroe Doctrine and wrote about flag burning as a means of protest for New York Daily News.

Consuelo Hernandez (world languages and cultures) read selections from the work of Cesar Vallejo, one of Latin America's most beloved poets of the 20th century, at the Library of Congress on April 6, 2017. She followed the homage by reading from her own work.

SOE faculty Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy and Laura Owen guest-edited the Journal of College Access special edition on School Counseling and Postsecondary Success.

Janis Jibrin (health studies) authored an article for the Washingtonian magazine about a survey of healthy lunch options at local restaurants conducted by her students.

Director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center Ibram X. Kendi authored a piece for the New York Times about the issue of prosecutions of police shootings. Kendi wrote, "In these high-profile cases, it is not just police officers who are on trial. America is on trial." Kendi appeared on NPR's "On Point" to discuss his NYT op-ed and also authored a separate op-ed for Time Magazine on cities debating if they should maintain monuments dedicated to Confederate leaders.

Director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center Ibram X. Kendi authored an opinion article for the Washington Post about the legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Kendi wrote, "The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was not the beginning of the end of American racism. It was the beginning of our poisonous belief that America was ending racism."

Evan Kraft (economics) authored an article for The Hill about Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's testimony on Capitol Hill and wrote an opinion article about an increase in the minimum wage that is taking effect in 19 states across the country.

Chapurukha Kusimba (anthropology) authored a piece for The Conversation about prehistoric currency. Kusimba said, "Human beings have long used currency as a means of exchange, a method of payment, a standard of value, a store of wealth and a unit of account." The op-ed ran online in Smithsonian and Discover magazines.

Allan J. Lichtman (history) published the book The Case for Impeachment (Dey Street Books, 2017).

Eric Lohr (history) authored an article titled, "Russian interventions in other's elections: A brief history", for The Conversation on how the Russia of the past informs the Russia of today. The article published in U.S. News and World Report and more than a dozen mid-size news outlets online.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss (education and sociology) wrote the book The Extreme Gone Mainstream, Commercialization and Far Right Youth Culture in Germany (Princeton University Press, 2018). She also authored an article for the Washington Post about helping children and young adults cope with hate. Miller-Idriss noted, "Schools and colleges were the sites of more than a third of the nearly 900 hate incidents documented by the Southern Poverty Law Center in the first 10 days after the election." She previously wrote an article for Fortune regarding serious security threats that the Trump administration have been ignoring. Miller wrote, "Domestic terrorism poses a significant, if not greater, threat than Islamic terrorism."

Cynthia Miller-Idriss (education and sociology) authored a piece for The World Post/HuffPost about how banning hate groups is important to do but it will not stop them from organizing and conducting protests.

Deborah Norris's (psychology) book In the Flow: Passion, Purpose and the Power of Mindfulness was published in November.

Dolen Perkins-Valdez (literature)authored an article for the Washington Post about the impact skin tones can have on families.

Gautham Rao (history) published National Duties: Custom Houses and the Making of the American State (University of Chicago Press, 2016). In addition, co-authored an opinion article for Slate about President Trump and Emoluments Clause violations.

Arthur G. Shapiro (psychology and computer science) co-edited The Oxford Compendium of Visual Illusions (Oxford University Press, 2017.)

Jennifer Steele (education) authored an article for Education Week about how those on the left of the political spectrum should try to work with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Salvador Vidal-Ortiz (sociology) authored an article for The Society Pages about uniting activists, trans-feminist scholars, and sociologists in the fight for equality.

David Vine (anthropology) authored a piece for the Huffington Post about US military bases. Vine wrote, "This pattern of daily support for dictatorship and repression around the world should be a national scandal in a country supposedly committed to democracy."

IN THE MEDIA

Anthony Ahrens (psychology) spoke with NPR about the feeling of gratitude and his recent research into why some people are more grateful than others.  

Michael Bader (sociology) was interviewed by 89.3 KPCC about his re-segregation and neighborhoods research.

Naomi S. Baron (world languages and cultures) spoke to KCBS 740 AM about how the acronym MOAB received negative attention on social media. She also talked with The Washington Post about the great historical misquote: "Houston, we have a problem," and about digital communication and voice assistants.

Naomi S. Baron (world languages and cultures) spoke to Ozy about the staying power of emoji's and how she's not convinced emoji usage will last.

Naomi S. Baron (world languages and cultures) appeared on WUSA9 to discuss the origin and meaning of the word news.

Robert Blecker (economics) spoke to Canada's CBCNews about Donald J. Trump and Carrier jobs in Indiana. He also talked with Salon about Donald Trump's threats against Mexico and the impact on consumers on both sides of the border and spoke to Politifact about Kellyanne Conway's inaccuracy regarding Mexico's primary source of income. In addition, Blecker spoke to Bloomberg BNA about the likelihood of the Trump administration renegotiating NAFTA labor standards.

Ernesto Castaneda-Tinoco (sociology) spoke to Education Week about undocumented immigrants.

David Culver (biology) and Daniel Fong (biology) spoke to the Washington Post about research published involving the Hay's spring amphipod and new ways to learn about them without having to kill them.

Kyle Dargan (literature) had his excerpt from scholar Adam Bradley's forthcoming novel, "The Poetry of Pop", featured in the Paris Review.

Terry Davidson (neuroscience) spoke to the Los Angeles Times about negative eating habits that can affect people's brains and other bodily systems. In addition, he talked to NPR about how poor eating habits can affect both the body and the brain.

Tim Doud (art) had portraits featured in the Washington Post, which are currently in a show at Gallery Neptune and Brown.

Ellen Feder (philosphy) spoke with Health.com about intersex. "Many of these surgeries are not necessary for the health and well-being of the child," says Feder.

Anton Fedyashin (Carmel Institute of Russian Culture and History director) appeared on Hearst Television to discuss Russia-US relations. Fedyashin said, "I am cautiously optimistic precisly because it seems that both sides are willing to de-ideologize foreign policy." He also appeared on CGTN to discuss how Jeff Sessions is in hot water for not disclosing to Congress that he met with Russian leaders. He also spoke to NPR's KPCC affiliate about whether Russia poses any threat to its neighbors or allies.

Anton Fedyashin (Carmel Institute of Russian Culture and History director) appeared on CGTN to summarize President Xi Jinping's trip to Russia. Fedyashin said, "The central issue during the meeting here in Moscow will be economic cooperation. That is the most important concern for both sides."

Daniel Fong (biology) discussed new research about DC's amphipods that he contributed to an article published on Axios.

Douglas Fox (chemistry) spoke about the applicability of his research with cellulose nanoncrystals for a trade publication on wind energy.

Max Paul Friedman (history) spoke with New Orleans Public Radio about World War II history, specifically the Latin American deportation operation and Germans that lived there at the time.

Lindsay Grace (director of Game Lab) appeared on Al Jazeera to speak about the historical accuracy in video games. Grace also spoke to WalletHub about the problem of addiction to gambling.

Mustafa Gurbuz (sociology) spoke to USA Today about a poll of Arab citizens showing they believe intervention policies gave rise to ISIS.

Mary Hansen (economics) spoke to Smithsonian Magazine about how Republican views on taxes shifted over the years. She spoke to the Palm Beach Postabout economic benefits to American towns and cities from the solar eclipse. In addition, she spoke to Morning Consult about the latest scandal to hit Wells Fargo, and the potential impacts for the back.

Matthew Hartings (chemistry) sat down with Thrillist to discuss the popularity of the Wendy's Frosty and French fry combination. "And why use a spoon when you can use fries, right?" Hartings said. He had research featured in a 3D printing forum in www.3ders.org. Hartings and fellow researchers successfully printed a chemically active structure by using nanocomposites and a 3D printer. Hartings said, "As a chemist…I wanted 3D printed objects to be able to do chemistry after they were printed."

Matthew Hartings (chemistry) spoke to The Verge about what it takes to roast the perfect marshmallow.

Nathaniel Herr (psychology) spoke to the New York Times about the process of institutional review boards and spoke to LifeScript about how men cope with depression.

Cheryl Holcomb-Mccoy (dean, School of Education) spoke with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education about the Senate education committee's decision to move forward with the nomination of Betsy DeVos.

Kathleen Holton (health studies) discussed her research on food additives and neurological illness with the Healthy U Radio Show on KMEM-FM. She also spoke to Prevention Magazine about food additives and fibromyalgia. Patients who abstain from certain food additives find their symptoms improve and they can live healthier lives. Holton's research on the connection between ADHD and exercise was featured in an article from The Pittsburgh Parent .

Monica Jackson (mathematics and statistics) spoke to The Hechinger Report about the importance of helping and encouraging more African-American women to go into the STEM fields.

Kiho Kim (environmental science) spoke to Nexus Media News for a story that posted to the blog of Popular Science magazine. The story featured new research by Kim about hose scientists can examine coral skeletons for signs of pollution.

Don Kimes' (studio art) work was featured in The Studio Visit.

Ibram X. Kendi (director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center) spoke with NPR's 1A show about recent hate crimes on university campuses in the US and how racism can be addressed. A best-selling author and award-winning historian, Kendi will join American University this August as a professor of history and international relations in both the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and School of International Service (SIS), and will serve as the founding director of the new Anti-Racism Research and Policy Center at the university. Last fall Kendi delivered a talk at AU that inspired a partnership between College of Arts and Sciences Dean Peter Starr and School of International Service Dean James Goldgeier to bring Kendi and the center to AU. Starr told NBC4, "We're hoping to have students, faculty and staff work together with Dr. Kendi to begin to craft positive, forward-thinking solutions to problems that are centuries old." AU student Autumn Grant, also interviewed, said, "I think having this announcement come out at the time it did shows that there is long-term work going on the campus to better the university as a whole." The Washington Post editorial board wrote about AU's efforts to end racism on campus in the wake of the on-campus hate crime, WRC-NBC4 and The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education covered Kendi's appointment as founding director of AU's Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center, and an ABC News Online story discussed AU's advisory to students on cyberhate and Facebook Live event to help students be proactive after notification of possible online threats against student government leaders. Kendi said, "We need to realize that one of the greatest threats to American lives today -- if not the greatest threat -- are white supremacists who are armed and angry and seeking from their standpoint to make America great again." 

Ibram X. Kendi (director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center) spoke with NPR affiliate KJZZ about how countries perceive the US. Kendi said, "When the image of the nation is going down, that, of course, harms its cultural power, that harms its political power."

Ibram X. Kendi (director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center) appeared on WJLA-TV to discuss the new center and how the work of scholars and students can combat hate.

Alan Kraut (history) conducted a Q-and-A with The Atlantic about immigration policy. Kraut said, "The United States has always had a kind of love-hate relationship with immigration." He also spoke with the Associated Press and USA Today about the flaws of immigration in the United States. The story ran in about 400 publications nationwide.

Peter Kuznick (history) spoke to the Pacific Standard about the social divide between scientists and political leaders. He also talked with WTOP and shared his views on President Trump. He has shared his expertise about what happens next involving mass protests with Christian Science Monitor.

Robert Lerman (economics) spoke to Time about how companies in multiple industries are offering more apprenticeships.

Alan Lichtman (history) discussed his new book, The Case for Impeachment, in a livestream conversation hosted by ABC News Online (Digital). Four AU students also joined the conversation to discuss their thoughts on President Trump's first 100 days and the future of the Democratic Party. He also appeared on MSNBC and other outlets to discuss the fallout from the firing of former FBI director James Comey. Lichtman said, the case was "becoming too compelling for even Republicans to resist an impeachment inquiry."

Allan Lichtman (history) appeared on MSNBC's AM Joy to discuss his new book, The Case for Impeachment. The book was reviewed by The Washington Post. Previously he spoke with The Washington Post about his time-tested system that has successfully predicted the winner of presidential elections. Lichtman said, "Based on the 13 keys, it would predict a Donald Trump victory."

Allan Lichtman (history) spoke with WTOP about President Obama's legacy. Lichtman said, "After all, Obama likely averted a financial meltdown [and] perhaps a descent into depression." WTTG Fox 5 also spoke with Robert Lehrman, communications professor, about the president's farewell speech. In addition, he talked with Sinclair/WJLA online about President Obama's decision to speak out against Trump and spoke with WTTG about President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration.

Allan Lichtman (history) spoke to Newsweek about how policy leaders are demanding Trump be prosecuted in connection with allegations of obstruction of justice. Lichtman said, "We have direct evidence of the president of the United States going to the person in charge of the investigation and trying to get him to put loyalty to the president above the investigation." 

Allan Lichtman (history) was quoted in a Vice article about gerrymandering in Texas.

Allan Lichtman (history) talked with MSNBC to discuss Trump's version of General Pershing's story.

Juliana Martinez (world languages and cultures) talked with US News & World Report about gender fluidity and coming out.

Stephen MacAvoy (environmental science) spoke with Earth Magazine about his research in urban waterways and his work as a professor.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss (education and sociology) talked with Voice of America about a study on professors and service work. She also spoke to Sinclair Broadcasting about the increase of black bloc protests. Miller-Idris said, "While it's very important to protect free speech on college campuses, I believe each campus has to decide for itself where the line gets drawn."

Cynthia Miller-Idriss (education) talked to Ozy about the European far right. Miller-Idriss said, "When people feel unsettled by social change, these kinds of ideologies draw on Utopian fantasies about national restoration to a simpler, more rooted time."

Pamela Nadell (history) talked with Hadassah magazine about the uptick in anti-semitic incidents worldwide and provided historical context. Nadell said, "I turn to the past to look for lessons in the present. I like to think of a line from a poem by Muriel Rukeyser: "I am in the world/ to change the world," and that's what I like my students to consider. They are here because we hope they are going to learn how to change the world for the better."

Adrienne Pine (anthropology) spoke to Al Jazeera about free trade agreements between the United States and other countries. Pine said, "They have been disastrous for citizens of all countries involved (including the United States), yet hugely beneficial for corporations."

Malgorzata Rymsza-Pawlowska (history) spoke with Architectural Digest about how historians are coming together to save artifacts left behind from protesters across the country. She said, "So much contemporary activism is online, through social media platforms like Twitter, which museums and different historical societies are experimenting with collecting, but what those institutions work best with is tangible ephemera."

Ying-chen Peng (art) talked with Vox about the artist Ai Weiwei. "We can definitely consider him as both an artist and an activist, and sometimes I think his role of activism actually overrides his other identity," she said.

Arturo Porzecanski (economics) spoke to The Los Angeles Times about Puerto Rico's economic crisis. Porzecanski said, "Government agencies should have been whittled down proportionally, and now this is all happening during one of the worst moments in Puerto Rico's history."

Daniel Sayers (anthropology) spoke with NPR's Morning Edition about new research at an excavation site in Pennsylvania that reveals clues about the lives of 20th-century migrant workers.

Melissa Scholes Young (literature) appeared on North Carolina Public Radio to discuss her new novel Flood.

Jennifer Steele (School of Education) spoke with NPR about her research on bilingual education. Steele said, "If it's just about moving the kids around that's not as exciting as if it's a way of teaching that makes you smarter." She also spoke with The Hill about Secretary of Education Betsy Devos' agenda on school choice.

Catherine Stoodley (psychology) was featured in a profile in The Lowell Sun. Stoodley studies the role of the brain's cerebellum in developmental disorders. Stoodley discussed the methods she and her students use to conduct research and said the best part of her job is being able to contribute to scientific knowledge in a rapidly changing field.

Andrew Taylor (performing arts) spoke to the Associated Press about the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ximena Varela (arts management) appeared on Marketplace to discuss the new Yayoi Kusama exhibit at Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Vivian Vasquez (education) talked with Forbes about teaching critical thinking skills as a way to combat fake news.

Katharina Vester (history) was a featured expert on BBC's program "The Food Chain."

David Vine (anthropology) spoke with Time Magazine about the positive impact of shutting down military bases.

Stef Woods (American studies) spoke with DC Metro Theatre Arts about a Smithsonian lecture she gave about the season 5 preview of "House of Cards" and Woods' "Politics, TV Series, and Ethics" class.

Past Achievements