New research in the journal听听by Maxwell postdoctoral scholar Dustin Hill, Professor of Public Health Dave Larsen and a team of researchers has found a strong connection between the prevalence of genetic variations of the COVID-19 virus and higher community transmission.

Testing wastewater to detect viruses in a community is a well-established scientific practice. But knowing the prevalence of a disease has always presented challenges, with science relying on sheer volume and concentration of virus load found to make inexact assumptions.

The team, which included colleagues from SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY College of听Environmental Science and Forestry and the New York State Department of Health, looked closely at existing data and genomes from wastewater surveillance collected during the COVID-19 emergency, measuring genetic variation through small, insignificant changes in the virus genome, and comparing that to transmission levels.

To put it simply: they found that the more variation in the viral material in wastewater, the more people were infected.

鈥淣ot only do infections rise when diversity of the virus increases, infections decline as diversity declines,鈥� says Hill, the study鈥檚 lead author. 鈥淲e tested three different ways to measure diversity of the virus genome in wastewater, and all three measures predicted infections with extremely high statistical power.鈥�

While the study analyzed COVID-19, this connection could change how wastewater surveillance is used not just to detect, but to measure disease transmission with implications for monitoring other diseases, including influenza, measles, polio and future viruses that may arise.

鈥�These findings open up new areas of exploration in genetic epidemiology,鈥� says Larsen. 鈥淲e will now be able to estimate transmission from sequencing data, something that has previously not been possible.

Key Takeaways From the Study

• Genetic diversity measured in wastewater is highly predictive of community infection numbers, and superior to current methods that use concentration
• Wastewater genetic data can tell us more than just what variants or subtypes are circulating in each community
• Methods can be applied to any pathogen found in wastewater that can have genetic material sequenced

鈥淭his is exactly the kind of research Maxwell exists to support鈥攔igorous, evidence-based and consequential well beyond the laboratory,鈥� says Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke. 鈥淭he collaboration between Professor Larsen, Dr. Hill and their partners at the New York State Department of Health is a model for how transformative research unfolds: without a roadmap, assembling the right collaborators, working through what didn’t work and ultimately arriving at findings that can make communities healthier and safer. The ability to move from detection to prediction changes what policymakers can do, and when they can do it. That’s not just scientific progress鈥攖hat’s the public good.”

The research project grew from a partnership between 性视界 University, the New York State Department of Health, SUNY Upstate and SUNY ESF that began in March of 2020, in the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the virus first spread in New York and elsewhere, Larsen proposed using wastewater to detect and monitor the virus at 性视界 University. He assembled a team of researchers from 性视界 and nearby universities to begin developing the wastewater surveillance technology that would eventually become critical to New York State鈥檚 response to the disease and developed into the听.

鈥淭he wastewater program was further developed in 2022 by the addition of sequencing of the detected virus, work that was undertaken by the 5-site sequencing consortium set up by the Wadsworth Center in 2021,鈥� says Kirsten St. George, director of the Virology Laboratory at the Wadsworth Center and co-author of the study. 鈥淭he sequence data generated by the consortium provided the information needed for the genetic variation analysis and transmission correlations reported in this study. Initiated to monitor circulating and emerging variants of the virus, the sequence data generated by the consortium has now proven to be a powerful tool for additional applications.鈥�

In 2024, the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network was designated as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Northeast Region Center of Excellence.

鈥淭he valuable partnerships the department and our world-renowned Wadsworth Center have developed with 性视界 University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and SUNY Upstate Medical University are leading to important new discoveries that are advancing our understanding of not only how to detect COVID in wastewater, but also how to analyze those samples to better predict community transmission,鈥� says New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. 鈥淭he researchers involved in this study remain on the cutting edge of scientific discovery that could change how we look at other pathogens in wastewater, including polio, influenza and measles and establishing wastewater sampling as a reliable public health early warning system for public health threats.鈥�

This latest research, in the article titled 鈥�,鈥� appears in the May 14 issue of听Science, a leading outlet for scientific news and research.

性视界 University has announced the appointment of two new members of the Board of Trustees. The newest members, David S. Klein 鈥�93 and Sean C. O鈥橩eefe G鈥�78, are both alumni who have earned accolades in their fields, including highest honors for their accomplishments, and both credit their studies at the University for providing the foundation and the tools for their success.

Also joining the board for the 2026-2027 academic year are new student representatives who will bring diverse viewpoints to board discussions. They are master鈥檚 student Thomas Andrew Kehoe III; third-year law student Anthony J. Ruscitto 鈥�22, G鈥�23, L鈥�27; rising junior Emily Castillo-Melean 鈥�28; and rising senior Asher Gonzalez 鈥�27. All representatives will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

鈥淲ith these two appointments, the board gains distinguished voices from industry and from public service鈥攁lumni who have reached the highest levels of their professions and remain deeply tied to 性视界. Further, adding someone with extensive experience in teaching and strategic management in higher education brings critical perspective to Board discussions and governance responsibilities,鈥� says Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Scruggs. 鈥淲hat unites every member of this board is a deep commitment to 性视界 University and a shared desire to enhance the student experience and bring distinction to the academic and research enterprise. The student representatives add vital viewpoints to the work we do to strengthen the entire Orange community.鈥�

Continuing in their second terms to serve as are Dean Mark Lodato, academic dean representative; Professor Tula Goenka, faculty representative; and Andrea Rose Persin, staff representative.

David S. Klein 鈥�93

David Klein is founder and CEO of Greenwood Industries, a commercial roofing, architectural metal fabrication and custom building envelope solutions company. He also serves as CEO of Greenwood鈥檚 waterproofing and masonry subsidiary, TWC Phoenix. Greenwood Industries is the leading provider of commercial roofing and building envelope solutions in the Northeast and is the sixth largest roofing contractor and eighth largest masonry contractor in the United States.

Klein was in one of the first graduating classes of the precursor to the, the undergraduate program in information science and technology.

In March, 2025, he of the Board of Advisors to the iSchool. He serves on the Athletics Orange Council. In 2020, he and his wife, Elizabeth 鈥�93, established the George Klein Endowed Scholarship, honoring his father and providing students from the Worcester area with demonstrated financial need. He was a judge for the 2023 Whitman Orange Tank competition, and that year was presented with a 鈥機USE50 Entrepreneur Award, which celebrates the success of Orange business leaders across the globe.

Klein serves on the New England Center for Children President鈥檚 Council and is a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, the National Roofing Contractors Association, the New England Roofing Contractors Association and the American Subcontractors Association. He was given the Worcester Business Journal鈥檚 Large Business Leader of the Year Award in 2023.

He and his wife reside in Southborough, Massachusetts, and are the parents of sons Jake 鈥�27 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) and Ben 鈥�30 (), and daughter, Callie.

Sean C. O鈥橩eefe G鈥�78

Sean C. O’Keefe is University Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and International Affairs in the , where he held the Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Leadership from 2014 until his retirement in 2025. He concurrently served as a distinguished senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

After earning a master of public administration at 性视界 University, he worked for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.听He returned to the Pentagon as Defense Department comptroller and CFO before serving as secretary of the Navy in the George H.W. Bush administration. 听Later he served as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, and as deputy assistant to President听George W. Bush before serving as听NASA administrator.

Between public service appointments, O鈥橩eefe taught at Louisiana State University (LSU), as business school faculty at Pennsylvania State University and at Maxwell, first as the Louis A. Bantle Chair of Business and Government and director of the National Security Studies Program, then as University Professor and Phanstiel Chair in Leadership. He was chancellor at LSU in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

O鈥橩eefe was also chair of the board and CEO of Airbus Group Inc. and a vice president at General Electric Company. He currently serves as board chair of Satlantis, LLC, chair of the audit committee of the Battelle Memorial Institute, and board member of TexTech Industries and AIS, Inc. Previous board service includes DuPont, Computer Science Corporation, General Kinetics Inc., J. Ray McDermott S.A., and Sensis Inc.

In 1993, President George H.W. Bush and Secretary Dick Cheney presented O’Keefe with the Distinguished Public Service Award. He received the Department of the Navy’s Public Service Award in 2000 and has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from five institutions, including Loyola University New Orleans, his undergraduate alma mater.

At 性视界 University, he serves on the Institute for Veterans and Military Families Advisory Board and is a former chair of the Maxwell Advisory Board and a member of the Council of Chairs. He was the 1999 faculty recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service and the 2011 recipient of the Arents Award.

Sean and Laura O’Keefe reside in northern Virginia and in Skaneateles, New York, and are the parents of three adult children and have two grandsons.

Graduate Student Representative: Thomas Andrew Kehoe III

Thomas Andrew Kehoe III is a master鈥檚 student in higher postsecondary education in the and a graduate assistant for academic and career advising within the Office of Student Success in the and Maxwell. In this role, he advises undergraduate students on career readiness and connects them with resources to support their professional development.

Originally from Vermont, Kehoe earned dual bachelor鈥檚 degrees in business management and marketing, with a minor in statistics, from Vermont State University Castleton. He received the Abel E. Leavenworth Leadership Award and the Leonard C. Goldman Distinguished Senior Award and served as Student Government Association president, student orientation coordinator, senior class treasurer and a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Advisory Committee.

At 性视界 University, Kehoe has deepened his commitment to student advocacy, contributing to the Academic Integrity Office, serving as a recruitment officer for the higher postsecondary education program, and working as a graduate research assistant on a qualitative study examining how practitioners foster student success. Driven by a passion for student-centered leadership, he aspires to a career in higher education administration.

As the graduate student representative for the 2026-27 academic year, Kehoe participates, ex officio, on the Academic Affairs and the Student Experience committees.

Law Student Representative: Anthony J. Ruscitto 鈥�22, G鈥�23, L鈥�27

Anthony J. Ruscitto is a third-year law student in the College of Law, a 2025 Tillman Scholar and president of the Military and Veterans Law Society. He serves as a law student ambassador for the College of Law鈥檚 Admissions and Financial Aid Office and provides legal assistance to veterans as a student attorney in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic. He has competed twice with the National Trial Team and completed an internship with the Onondaga County District Attorney鈥檚 Office, where he is returning as a 2L intern in summer 2026.

Prior to law school, Ruscitto earned a master of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2023, during which he served as president of the 性视界 University Student Veteran Organization, and a dual B.S. in psychology and forensic science from 性视界 University in 2022. Throughout his studies, he volunteered as an EMT-B and CPR instructor with 性视界 University Ambulance.

Ruscitto served five years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, completing his honorable service in 2019 as a sergeant of Marines. As a weapons and tactics instructor and helicopter crew chief, he logged more than 1,000 mishap-free hours as Naval aircrew and served on two overseas deployments spanning more than 10 countries and territories.

As the law student representative to the board for the 2026-27 academic year, Ruscitto participates, ex officio, on the Academic Affairs and the Student Experience Committees.

Undergraduate Student Representative: Emily Castillo-Melean 鈥�28

Emily Castillo-Melean is a first-generation student from Miami and a rising junior in the Maxwell School and the College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a double major in policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement.

A recipient of the Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership Scholarship and an Our Time Has Come Scholar, she currently serves as president of the Student Government Association for its 70th session, having previously served as speaker of the Assembly. She represents the student body as a University Senator and as the undergraduate student representative to the 性视界 University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Her professional experience includes work with the New York State Democratic Party and the Onondaga County Legislature. She has been recognized with the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from the Our Time Has Come Program and the Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award from Key Club International (2024).

As undergraduate representative to the board for the 2026-27 academic year, Castillo-Melean participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee.

Undergraduate Student Representative: Asher Gonzalez 鈥�27

Coming to 性视界 from Tampa, Florida, Asher Gonzalez is a rising senior, pursuing a dual major in television, radio and film in the Newhouse School and political science in the Maxwell School.

Gonzalez has demonstrated a strong commitment to student leadership and campus life, serving as vice president of university affairs for the Student Government Association and as the president of the Chabad House at 性视界 University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He will serve as the University Senate student caucus chair for the 2026鈥�2027 academic year. This past semester, he was one of 70 students selected globally to attend the McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character at the United States Military Academy at West Point, an honor for which he was nominated by Chancellor J. Michael Haynie.

In April 2026, Gonzalez received the 44 Stars of Excellence in Innovation: Event/Initiative Spotlight Award for leading the Universitywide Harvest Fest event in fall 2025. He is also a founding father of the Alpha Chi chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at 性视界 University, where he served as the chapter鈥檚 first external vice president. Additionally, he is a former member of the University cheerleading team, contributing to school spirit and community engagement across campus.

As undergraduate representative to the board for the 2026-27 academic year Gonzalez participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee.

性视界 University Libraries鈥� LaunchPad hosted an inaugural Athletes for Data Sovereignty (A4DS) Summit and Pitch Competition, in partnership with UMiEconomy through its Charitable Foundation, , on April 24. The pitch competition was open to student-athletes, student-athlete alumni and student entrepreneurs with sports-related ideas. Winners of the pitch competition were:

• Gabriel Josefson 鈥�28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of XCHKR, won the grand prize of $2,000.
• Zach Richter 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Taran Singh 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founders of Wavelength, tied for second place, winning $750.
• Edouard Agbor G鈥�27 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway, also won $750 for second place.
• Marissa Johnson 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Gymify, won $250.
• Dylan McKinley 鈥�26 (Newhouse School), founder of DylanDoesBasketball, won a Tier 1 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Jase Malloy 鈥�27 (School of Information Studies), founder of ErgoCraft, won a Tier 2 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Ethan Barone 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founder of CaneCLamp, won a Tier 1 Intellectual Property Legal Package
• Jonathan “Jack” Wren 鈥�26 (Whitman School) and John “Trey ” Adams III 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founders of Happy Duck, won a Tier 2 Intellectual Property Legal Package

In addition to the pitch competition, the summit included interactive games and workshops around the importance of data in industries such as sports, healthcare, media and finance, and how startups can build long-term value beyond short-term deals.

性视界 University Libraries recognized its student employees with an awards celebration on April 20. The Libraries typically employs about 150 undergraduate and graduate students each year to contribute to the safety of Libraries鈥� spaces, the quality and repair of collections, and service support to patrons and student entrepreneurs.

Supervisors nominate student employees who have demonstrated dedicated service over time and significant contributions that have made a lasting impact on the Libraries.

The Libraries recognize these students through the generous support of Kathy and Stanley Walters, the family of Patricia Kutner Strait and the many donors to the Libraries Dean鈥檚 Fund.

In addition, this year the Libraries acknowledges Carole and Glenn Johnston for their gift in honor of their daughter, Beth Ann Johnson, who was killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

鈥淲e are incredibly fortunate to work alongside our library student employees, whose energy, commitment and talent strengthen our community every day. In my role, I see firsthand the meaningful impact they have across our organization. Many of these students stay with us throughout their time at 性视界 University, growing into trusted and valued members of the SU Libraries community,鈥� says David Seaman, dean of the Libraries and University Librarian.

2026 student award recipients and their respective Libraries departments are:

Kathy and Stanley Walters Student Employee Scholarship Awards

• Souleymane Bah 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Niah Edwards 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), public services student, Special Collections Research Center
• Grace Hoffman G鈥�26 (College of Law), graduate assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Ava Lubkemann 鈥�27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Orange Innovation Scholar, Strategic Initiatives
• Duyen Thum Pham 鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), student assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Katie Ryder 鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), preservation assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Alexander Schulz G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy Scholar, Information Literacy

Patricia Kutner Strait Student Scholarship Awards

• Mason Burley 鈥�27 (School of Education), preservation assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Alani Henderson 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Anna Shuff G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate student archivist, Special Collections Research Center
• Anthony Thomas 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), innovation mentor/marketing team lead, LaunchPad
• Sreynoch 鈥楯ess鈥� Van 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), photographer/videographer, Marketing and Communications

Dean鈥檚 Commendations Awards (in memory of Pan Am 103 victim Beth Ann Johnson)

• Hadja Fatoumata Barry 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Joel Carpenter G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy Scholar, Information Literacy
• James Harman 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student worker, Access and Resource Sharing
• Iman Jamison G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate instruction assistant, Special Collections Research Center
• Calvin Silver 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), public services reference, Special Collections Research Center
• Grace Suhadolnik 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student worker, Learning and Academic Engagement
• Camren Wych鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security

Honorable Recognitions:

• Khadija Kante 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Philomena Kern鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student archival processing assistant, Special Collections Research Center
• Hannah Marosi G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), collections team graduate student worker, Department of Research and Scholarship
• Alexus Rowe 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Mera Singh 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Fatumata 鈥楴ima鈥� Sow 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Haven Travis G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate student assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Jiaying Wang 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), public services student employee, Special Collections Research Center

Three 性视界 University Libraries鈥� LaunchPad student start-up teams won prizes in the finals of the ,听powered by Upstate Capital Association of NY, held in Albany on April 22.

Celes Buffard 鈥�27 (School of Information Studies), founder of SecondWave, won the $10,000 first prize in the learn, work and live category. SecondWave combines financial literacy education with fractional real estate investing, starting with fix-and-flip properties and community development.

Nathan Brekke 鈥�26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), co-founder of Phloat LLC, won the $2,000 second prize in the products and hardware category. Phloat is a phone case that has an ultra-compact, deployable flotation feature that triggers in the event of a phone falling and sinking into deep water.

Frederick Zindell G鈥�27 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Renewed Roots, won a $500 best concept stage award in the health and wellbeing category. Renewed Roots is a sustainable alternative to traditional burial options.

The NYBPC attracts some of New York state鈥檚 best student entrepreneurs. The competition promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students from across the state who pitch their business plans to seasoned investors. Students also get to engage with mentors and judges from the business community.

The finals event connects students with business professionals, provides experiential learning opportunities through competitions, introduces entrepreneurs to available resources through the Entrepreneurship Expo and awards up to $100,000 in cash prizes to help seed new ventures.

This year 60 finalist teams from across the state participated in the competition.

From partnering with students in the classroom to building cross-campus collaboration that led to real-time improvements, the University鈥檚 commitment to meaningful assessment took center stage at the seventh annual One University Assessment Celebration on April 10. The event, hosted by Academic Affairs and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), included awards and poster presentations.

In her opening remarks, Julie Hasenwinkel, associate provost for academic programs, highlighted the importance of celebrating the many ways faculty, staff and students engaged in assessment across the University over the past year.

Awards were given in five categories.

• Institutional Effectiveness Champions: This award honors campus community members who champion meaningful assessment and who have made outstanding contributions to the University鈥檚 culture of improvement. The recipients were:
  • Academic programs: Xiyuan Liu, associate teaching professor, Dean鈥檚 Faculty Fellow for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular programs: Emily Dittman, director, 性视界 University Art Museum
  • Course feedback: Magdel铆n Montenegro, part-time instructor, Spanish, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Shared competencies: ‘Cuse Works
  • Shared competencies student champion: Fetch Collective magazine
• Outstanding Assessment: This award recognizes a distinguished academic, co-curricular and functional area for overall robust assessment. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Library and information science master’s degree program, School of Information Studies
  • Co-curricular: Disability Cultural Center
  • Functional: Office of Pre-College Programs
• Best Engagement Strategies: This award recognizes the engagement of faculty, staff and students in the assessment process. The recipients were:
  • Faculty engagement: Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, the biology department, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Staff engagement: Arts at SU
  • Student engagement: Linguistic studies master’s degree program, College of Arts and Sciences
• Best Use of Results: This award recognizes an academic, co-curricular and functional area for how assessment results are used in making decisions. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Bachelor’s of biomedical engineering degree program, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular: LGBTQ+ Resource Center
  • Functional: 性视界 University Libraries
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action: This award recognizes a partnership that extends beyond a single school, college, division or unit and uses strong assessment methods and data as a catalyst for improvement. The recipient was:
  • First Year Seminar

Following the awards, 2025 poster presenters were acknowledged for their efforts to collaborate, experiment, reflect and innovate in their areas over this academic year. Assessment Leadership Institute faculty participants included:

• Ben Akih Kumgeh, Xiyuan Liu, Karen Martinez Soto, Anupam Pandey and Mehmet Sarimurat, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Alex M茅ndez Giner, film and media arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jane Read, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Nancy Rindfuss, nutrition and food studies, Falk College of Sport

Recipients of the 2025-26 鈥淪tudent Engagement in Assessment鈥� grant included:

• Civil and environmental engineering: Yilei Shi
• Civil and environmental engineering: Svetoslava Todorova
• Communication sciences and disorders: Charles Nudelman
• Environment, sustainability and policy: Jane Read
• Nutrition science: Claire Cooney, Nikki Beckwith
• Setnor School of Music: Klark Johnson
• School of Social Work: Nadaya Brantley
• The Writing Center: Collie Fulford

Closing the event, Laura Harrington, director of institutional effectiveness, reflected on the deeper meaning of the work: “At its root, the word 鈥榓ssess鈥� comes from Latin, meaning 鈥榯o sit beside.鈥� This is what it asks of us: to sit beside our work, take stock of what we see, and take action鈥� Assessment isn鈥檛 a requirement. It鈥檚 a practice,” Harrington said.

Explore photos, award highlights and full poster presentations on the .

Story by A鈥檡la James

kicks off on Sunday (April 19-25), and to celebrate, we asked , associate professor and program director for the program in the , to share her favorite, lesser known, services and resources that local libraries offer their communities.

鈥淟ibraries are so much more than books and audiobooks; though they are two of my favorite perks,鈥� Patin says.

The modern public library, she says, is community infrastructure, as essential to its functioning as roads or schools.

鈥淲hat strikes me most is that public libraries are one of the few remaining truly public spaces,鈥� Patin says. 鈥淧laces where you don’t have to buy anything to belong. A teenager doing homework, a job seeker updating their resume, a new immigrant learning English, a senior researching a medical diagnosis, they’re all welcome, and they all get the same quality of professional help.鈥�

The librarians, too, are doing far more than just organizing their collections, Patin says.

鈥淭hey are trained information professionals who help people find, evaluate and use information in ways that change their lives,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ibrarians don’t just connect people to information: they connect people to each other, to services and to a sense of belonging in their community. That’s not a side function. That’s the whole point.鈥�

Patin says she wants library science students to understand the work they鈥檒l be doing is relational, not just technical, since the best librarians are not just retrieving information. They are building trust, 鈥渕eeting people where they are, listening deeply and advocating fiercely on behalf of their communities鈥� she says.

Patin says the best way to support your local library and librarians is to use the library 鈥渓oudly and often.鈥�

鈥淯sage data matters enormously when library budgets are being debated,鈥� Patin says. 鈥淐heck out books (physical and digital), attend programs, bring your kids, bring your neighbors. Beyond that: advocate. Show up to your local library board meetings. Contact your elected officials and tell them you value library funding.鈥�

Headed into National Library Week, Patin says she hopes people not only appreciate their local library, but take steps to actively protect it, say thank you to a librarian and engage with the materials, programs and services they offer.

Below, Patin shares the five services and resources she wants every community member to know about at their local library.

Park and Nature Passes鈥擝orrowable Like a Book

Cardholders at (OCPL) can to county parks like听Beaver Lake Nature Center, Highland Forest, Jamesville Beach and even the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Library patrons can also get New York State Empire Passes for state parks across the state.

鈥淚t’s one of my favorite examples of libraries providing access to experiences, not just information,鈥� says Patin.

If OCPL isn鈥檛 your local library, don鈥檛 worry. Most public libraries offer similar options to check out passes for cultural or natural resources like museums, parks, zoos, aquariums or even theaters. Ask your local librarian!

Makerspaces and Technology Access

It鈥檚 not uncommon now to find access to technological tools and makerspaces鈥攃ollaborative workspaces that offer access to resources like 3D printing, laser cutters or audio/video equipment鈥攁t your local library.

鈥� give community members access to equipment, from 3D printers to adaptive technologies,听that most people couldn’t afford on their own,鈥� Patin says. 鈥淭he Central Library also has a Preservation Lab and specialized adaptive technology resources for people with disabilities. You can also record your next album there!鈥�

A 鈥楲ibrary of Things鈥欌�擭ot Just Books and Media

While libraries have always been in the business of lending, Patin says that idea has expanded in remarkable ways.

鈥淎t 性视界 University Libraries, you can borrow laptops, cameras and other tech gear,鈥� Patin says.

Public libraries around the country have taken the 鈥渓ibrary of things鈥� even further, lending cake pans, seed libraries for gardeners, musical instruments, tools, board games, sewing machines, telescopes and more to patrons.

鈥淭he underlying principle is the same one that has always driven libraries: why should everyone have to own something they only need occasionally?鈥� she says. 鈥淎ccess over ownership is a radical and quietly revolutionary idea, and libraries have been living it for over a century.鈥�

Adult Literacy, GED Preparation and ESOL Programs

Public libraries also remain an important lifeline for adult learners offering a range of educational programming, Patin says.

鈥淥CPL offers adult literacy tutoring, GED/TASC preparation, and English for Speakers of Other Languages programming,” she says. 鈥淭his is workforce development, family stability and community building happening right at the branch level.鈥�

Programming That Brings People Together

鈥淟ibraries are community living rooms: places where things happen, not just places where things are stored,鈥� Patin says.

As such, many libraries run seed swaps, art supply exchanges, maker workshops and language learning circles for their communities. OCPL regularly hosts book clubs, storytimes, author talks, art events and technology help sessions.

鈥淭his programming serves every age and stage of life, and it’s all free,鈥� Patin says. 鈥淭hat matters enormously in communities where paid entertainment and enrichment are out of reach for many families.鈥�

Ask what keeps him up at night about artificial intelligence and you won鈥檛 get a single answer.

The University鈥檚 senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer is tracking several threads at once: how AI can reshape higher education, why the job market isn鈥檛 collapsing the way headlines suggest, what it will take to rebuild trust in online content, the need for regulation and where the University鈥檚 massive stores of data fit into all of it.

Rubin shared some of his recent thinking as a panelist at a Maxwell School fireside chat on digital transformation and AI in New York state. Here are four takeaways.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how governments operate, how universities teach and how public institutions make decisions.

That was the central message of a recent fireside chat hosted by the . Dean moderated the conversation which brought together two leaders working at the forefront of AI adoption: , commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), and , 性视界 University鈥檚 senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

鈥淭he question before us is not whether AI will transform public life,鈥� Van Slyke said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 whether our institutions are ready to lead that transformation thoughtfully, equitably and effectively.鈥�

Personalizing Learning and Expanding Access

Rubin opened the March 26 event with a claim about the stakes for higher education: AI, he said, has the potential to transform how universities teach in ways not seen in 200 years. 鈥淭he idea of a professor standing in front of a room, lecturing鈥攁nd students taking notes and then being assessed through projects, papers and exams鈥攖hat model has not shifted,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat AI allows you to do is personalize learning.鈥�

Personalization at scale has long been a challenge because no instructor can simultaneously tailor a course to every student鈥檚 pace and needs, he said. AI changes that equation.

Rubin shared how 性视界 has deployed more than 30,000 AI licenses across campus to drive equitable access and data security. Some students had already purchased AI tools on their own, while others could not afford them, he pointed out. Faculty and staff also needed a secure environment for uploading sensitive documents without routing data through commercial platforms.

Rubin also highlighted a less-discussed dimension of the University鈥檚 AI work: a private wireless network, built in partnership with JMA Wireless, that supports thermal sensors in academic buildings across campus. The sensors detect occupancy without capturing identifying information, allowing the University to optimize janitorial services, plan building capacity and, eventually, adjust heating and cooling based on actual use patterns.

A Measured Approach to Government AI

Moy noted that the state鈥檚 deliberate pace of technology adoption is a necessary safeguard rather than a liability. 鈥淚 would contend that it鈥檚 important that government is risk-averse,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he information that we hold is really important鈥擬edicaid data, health data, testing information. The importance of that stewardship becomes paramount.鈥�

Her office oversees roughly 30 million square feet of state real estate, manages 1,500 procurement contracts valued at $44 billion and administers a design and construction portfolio of approximately $5.7 billion. Moy described the agency鈥檚 AI strategy as a measured approach. It involves first identifying low-risk, high-value applications, then building the data infrastructure to support them, and ensuring legal and operational frameworks are in place before scaling.

Moy said one of OGS鈥檚 most tangible AI investments is in procurement search. Agencies and municipalities navigating the state鈥檚 contract catalog often struggle to find what they need, undermining the efficiency those contracts are designed to provide. Moy said AI-assisted search is a logical starting point: low risk, no job displacement and an immediate opportunity to test what the technology can do.

The agency is also piloting AI-powered document summarization tools for bid documents and contract histories which are reported to save up to three hours per day.

Moy noted that backlogs present another opportunity, as they are a universal challenge across the public sector. She explained that while AI could help alleviate some of those challenges, agencies must be cautious; they cannot hand out productivity tools to every worker without first creating the right frameworks.

Jobs, Regulation and What Comes Next

Both speakers addressed audience concerns about AI鈥檚 impact on jobs鈥攁 topic that has gained urgency in New York following Governor Kathy Hochul鈥檚 , which is tasked with studying AI鈥檚 effects on the labor market.

Rubin cited research suggesting that less than 1% of the 1.2 million layoffs recorded in 2025 were directly attributable to AI, arguing that economic factors and structural business decisions are doing more to reshape the workforce than the technology itself. He expressed confidence that AI will ultimately create more jobs than it displaces, though he acknowledged that every job will change.

鈥淚f you don’t know how to incorporate AI into your domain and discipline, you will be at a disadvantage,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tudents need to have the tools and the classes.鈥�

Moy recalled the dot-com era and the transformation of publishing that upended models at institutions like the Brooklyn Public Library, where she once served as chief strategy officer. The fear and exuberance that accompanied those transitions, she said, mirrors what society is experiencing today.

鈥淲e want to make sure that we鈥檙e thinking about it ethically, that we鈥檙e balancing it according to public need,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e having active conversations about those trade-offs.鈥�

Both panelists returned repeatedly to the theme of transparency in AI systems, government data and institutional communications.

Rubin pointed to Anthropic鈥檚 practice of publishing system prompts as a model for responsible AI deployment and noted that 性视界 recently launched an AI-powered course search tool, called , that similarly makes its operating parameters visible. He also raised the challenge of AI-generated media and the difficulty of distinguishing real content from fabricated content online.

An Open and Ongoing Dialogue

The conversation drew questions from the audience.

A first-year Maxwell student and member of the University’s United AI club asked what precedent a recent court ruling holding social media platforms liable for algorithmic harm to minors sets for the future of AI regulation and whether platforms like ChatGPT should face similar oversight.

Rubin was direct: 鈥淲e made the mistake with social media. These companies should have an obligation to have guardrails.鈥�

Moy pointed to Hochul鈥檚 recent policy proposals targeting addictive technology, including requirements for more restrictive default settings on children鈥檚 accounts. She acknowledged that government is often a step behind rapid technological change, but argued that intervention becomes necessary when innovation results in public harm.

A second student raised concerns about AI鈥檚 potential to enable fraud, including falsified documents and biased algorithms.

鈥淭hese are very real questions,鈥� she said, emphasizing that OGS is working to understand its uses and risks. She argued that the answer isn鈥檛 avoiding AI but understanding it well enough to spot its misuse. 鈥淚f we don’t understand it, we will fall behind.鈥�

Rubin agreed, framing the detection challenge as both technological and philosophical: As AI becomes embedded in everything from autocomplete to document editing, defining what counts as 鈥淎I-generated鈥� becomes increasingly difficult. 鈥淢y gut is almost every piece of content out there will have some AI piece to it, assisting us,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 a technology challenge and a societal challenge.鈥�

Van Slyke closed by noting that Maxwell鈥檚 role in preparing students for public service has always meant equipping them not just with technical knowledge, but with the ability to navigate the policy, governance and ethical dimensions that accompany it.

鈥淭he question is not what will AI do to our institutions,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s what will we choose to do with it.鈥�

A group of 性视界 University students has spent months working with 性视界 youth, guiding them through theater, design and media workshops that will culminate in a live public performance this spring.

The students are leading (Theater Workshop), an annual, bilingual creative arts program based at on 性视界’s Near West Side.

The program, which involves and in addition to La Casita, delivers culturally oriented arts education for community youth, says , the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community. The workshops build dual-language skills, artistic presentation abilities and stage-presence confidence for children ages 6 and up.

The public performance will be held on Saturday, , at La Casita as part of the annual Arte Joven/Young Art exhibition, a celebration of visual art, music and dance. The event is open to the public.

Mutual Benefits

Taller de Teatro benefits both the students who lead the workshops and the children who participate, Paniagua says. “This program creates meaningful opportunities for University students to engage directly with the community while developing professional skills.鈥�

The structure of the collaboration creates a dynamic environment where students and youngsters learn from one another, she says. 鈥淪everal of the student instructors are studying drama and they are facilitating workshops alongside students from the creative arts therapy graduate program. Other students are contributing through documentation, photography, video and communications skills. In this way, the program becomes a multidisciplinary learning experience where students apply their training in a real community setting.鈥�

For young actors and for theater students in particular, the chance to gain experience as instructors early in their careers can open important professional pathways, Paniagua says. 鈥淭hey are learning how to guide creative processes, work with children and adapt theater practices to educational and community contexts. Ultimately, the efforts of those involved are tremendous and they allow La Casita to offer high-quality theater programming to local youth.”

Kate Laissle, director of education at 性视界 Stage, says involving 性视界 students as teaching assistants for this program helps inspire and train the next generation of theater educators while providing programming that supports community connections.

‘For Everyone’

鈥淭he ability to partner with La Casita and build on our relationship and its well-established programming also helps show that theatre is for everyone,鈥� Laissle says. 鈥淲orking collaboratively between performance, design and storytelling, students get to experience the depth and breadth of theater. Using multiple capacities of theatrical art-making lets young people use their creativity in ways that serve them best. It is outstanding to see the growth of the students, both school- and college-aged, over the course of this program.鈥�

This year’s student participants, who lead acting workshops and provide media support and documentation, are: GB Bellamy 鈥�27 and Sofia Slaman 鈥�27, acting majors, Department of Drama, VPA; Nashaly Bonilla 鈥�28, major, Department of Drama, VPA; Catie Kobland 鈥�21, G鈥�26, fine arts graduate and master’s candidate in VPA; Iman Jamison G’26, master’s student in , School of Information Studies; Sara Oliveira 鈥�29, film and media arts major, Department of Film and Media Arts, VPA; and Sophia Domenicis 鈥�28, , Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Three Presenting Partners

The program is possible because of a collaboration among three university-connected organizations:

• La Casita Cultural Center is a program of 性视界 University established to advance an educational and cultural agenda of civic engagement through research, cultural heritage preservation, media and the arts, bridging the Hispanic communities of the University and Central New York.
• Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, celebrating its 50th year, bridges cultures and disciplines through exhibitions, poetry and听 a permanent art collection. Its El Punto Art Studio has served youth since 2008.
• 性视界 Stage, the city’s leading professional theater, contributes expertise through acting and playwriting workshops that strengthen University-community connections and support literacy development.

recently announced the spring 2026 recipients of the Orange Innovation Fund, awarding $5,000 grants to a cohort of student inventors and entrepreneurs advancing high-potential ventures across health care, financial technology, consumer products and enterprise software.

The Orange Innovation Fund is designed to accelerate student-led startups beyond the idea stage, supporting founders who have demonstrated meaningful progress through customer discovery, prototyping and early validation.

The fund emphasizes deep research and development work, along with comprehensive proposal development, and recognizes ventures that show strong execution, real-world traction and a clear path toward commercialization. Funding supports critical next steps such as product development, regulatory readiness, pilot testing and go-to-market strategy.

鈥淭he Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,鈥� says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. 鈥淏y supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.鈥�

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard 鈥�27 (School of Information Studies) for SecondWave

SecondWave is a financial wellness platform that helps users build personalized roadmaps to manage and grow their finances. The platform combines education, tools and vetted resources to guide users toward financial independence. Funding will support minimum viable product (MVP) completion, user testing, cloud infrastructure and trademark registration, as well as continued customer discovery.

Jayson Bromley (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) for Bromley Bio Med LLC 鈥� InDeazy

InDeazy is an integrated incision and drainage device designed to improve efficiency, control and safety in urgent care and emergency settings. Funding will support final design refinement and pilot manufacturing, including engineering updates, simulated workflow testing and Food and Drug Administration pre-submission readiness.

Nicholas Davis 鈥�26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science [ECS]) for Ethyra

Ethyra is an AI-native auto-grading and classroom analytics platform that helps educators save time and better understand student performance. Funding will support MVP completion, a version 1.0 launch and pilot testing at 性视界 University, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene 鈥�26 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror

Miirror is a clinically guided, peer-led, tech-enabled platform redefining eating disorder recovery. Offering free, inclusive and stigma-free tools, support circles, crisis resources and therapy matching, the platform connects underserved communities with accessible recovery pathways. Funding will support completion of the MVP, regulatory compliance, technical infrastructure and a campus pilot at 性视界 University.

Ronan Hussar 鈥�26 (Whitman School) for MacroFlow

MacroFlow is an Excel add-in that automates macro creation, saving users significant time and increasing productivity. Funding will support development of secure AI implementation, full local functionality and enterprise-grade validation of macro generation capabilities.

Yasmin Madmoune G 鈥�27 (Whitman School) for Yas Apothecary

Yas Apothecary is a Moroccan-inspired body care brand with a long-term vision of building a cooperative-based production infrastructure. Funding will support equipment upgrades, production scaling, wholesale market entry and supply chain development.

Nathan Brekke 鈥�26 (ECS), G 鈥�27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey 鈥�26 (ECS) for Phloat

Phloat is a magnetically attachable flotation device that deploys to bring a submerged phone back to the surface. Funding will support the first commercial-grade production run, field testing with beta users and development of a scalable manufacturing supply chain. The company has recently filed for a patent.

Jack Venerus 鈥�27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat

WingStat is a business-to-business platform for aircraft transaction data in the pre-owned business jet market. Funding will support the transition from a no-code MVP to a production-ready platform, including backend infrastructure, authentication systems and automated data workflows.

性视界 the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill 鈥�98, an alumna, a member of the Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad (an angel investing syndicate). The program is administered through 性视界 University Libraries as a Universitywide initiative, run in collaboration with multiple campus innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Proposal reviewers include entrepreneurial faculty and staff, along with alumni who have come through the ecosystem and are venture founders or in C-Suite roles at leading innovation companies.

Three 性视界 University faculty members鈥�, and 鈥攈ave been named fellows of the (AAAS). The highly prestigious designation recognizes extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of science.

Fifteen 性视界 faculty members have been named AAAS Fellows since 2004. This is the first time the honor has gone to three professors in a single year.

鈥淭his is one of the most distinguished honors a researcher can receive, and I am incredibly proud that three of our exceptional faculty members have earned this recognition,鈥� says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. 鈥淭heir work reflects 性视界 University鈥檚 deep commitment to advancing knowledge that matters, both within our fields and for the world at large. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and look forward to the continued impact of their scholarship.鈥�

Duncan Brown

Brown, the Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics in the (A&S), has served as the University’s vice president for research since 2022. An internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy, he was a founding member of the search for merging black holes that led to the discovery of gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

His current research focuses on the development of Cosmic Explorer, a proposed next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory, and the use of gravitational-wave observations to explore the nuclear equation of state.

AAAS recognized Brown for 鈥渇oundational contributions enabling the search for and discovery of gravitational waves from black hole and neutron star coalescences, and for leadership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Cosmic Explorer.鈥�

Kevin Crowston

Crowston is a distinguished professor of information science in the . His research explores how information and communication technology鈥攑articularly the internet and artificial intelligence鈥攃hanges the way people work. He and his colleagues have explored Free/Libre Open Source Software development, citizen science, data science teamwork and the future of journalism, using a mix of observation, theory-building and tool design. His most recent project, supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, examines the impact of generative AI on human skill development and retention, particularly in programming.

AAAS recognized Crowston for 鈥渄istinguished contributions to information science through groundbreaking research on coordination theory and virtual organizations, exceptional editorial leadership and dedicated service building interdisciplinary communities studying technology-mediated work.鈥�

Lisa Manning

Manning is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in A&S. Her research uses computer modeling and physics-based theory to understand how groups of cells behave in living tissue and how materials like glass or sand deform and break down.

Her work has real-world implications for cancer, wound healing, embryonic development and asthma. In 2019, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), an honor given to just half of 1% of the professional organization鈥檚 membership. She served as founding director of the from 2019-23.

AAAS recognized Manning for 鈥渄istinguished contributions to the theory of mechanical response and adaptation in biological materials.鈥�

Distinguished Group

Brown, Crowston and Manning join 12 other 性视界 faculty members previously named AAAS Fellows: , distinguished professor of physics (2024); , professor of physics and interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2023); , associate professor of biology (2023); , professor of electrical engineering and computer science (2018); , University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor, civil and environmental engineering (2017); , professor of physics and A&S interim associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research (2016); , dean emeritus and professor emeritus of biology (2013); , professor emerita of physics (2013); , professor emeritus of Earth and environmental sciences (2012); , professor emeritus of biology (2011); , professor of biology (2007); and , professor emeritus of political science (2004).

For , beliefs are a bit like the weather. Introne, associate professor in the School of Information Studies (iSchool), studies how ideas cluster and shift across a population鈥攎uch like currents in a changing atmosphere. Introne recently received a one-year, $300,000 grant from the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) to map these 鈥渂elief weather patterns鈥� with a new kind of forecasting tool.

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited about this grant,鈥� Introne says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been working on this project for years, since I started at 性视界 University, so it鈥檚 gratifying to see it advance.鈥�

The project, 鈥淧redicting Belief Evolution In Non-Ergodic Systems,鈥� builds on Introne鈥檚 ongoing research into how population beliefs change over time.

鈥淚 envision beliefs as a big, high-dimensional space,鈥� Introne says. 鈥淚ndividuals鈥攈olding vast numbers of beliefs鈥攎ove through that space in distinct patterns, and people with similar beliefs move in similar ways.鈥� He compares it to leaves drifting in a stream. While the currents aren鈥檛 visible, their direction can be inferred from the leaves鈥� movement.

鈥淚 want to understand these belief patterns to develop better predictive models, diagnose polarization and even anticipate extremist events or conflicts,鈥� Introne explained. 鈥淭hese are not abstract mathematical ideas鈥攖hey have real-world impact.鈥�

With doctoral student Mia Huiqian Lai, Introne is analyzing a decade of Reddit and Twitter data, along with news articles. 鈥淭he years 2013 to 2023 include key events like COVID, the Me Too movement and the 2016 and 2020 elections,鈥� he says.

While social media data allows for surprisingly accurate predictions about individual beliefs over time, Introne focuses on global patterns. His goal is to develop a 鈥減hysics of belief鈥� that accounts for non-ergodicity鈥攚here past patterns don鈥檛 reliably repeat. Models can become outdated as language evolves (for example, 鈥渃orona鈥� went from primarily being known as a Mexican beer to referring to a virus) or as beliefs change political alignment (such as anti-vaccine attitudes spreading across ideological groups).

The belief landscape framework tracks how pockets of belief shift over time. It identifies when the system reaches a tipping point, showing 鈥渃ritical slowing鈥濃�� recovering more slowly from shocks and making it fragile and primed for major events at the level of the Arab Spring or the George Floyd protests.

For the current project, Introne is focusing on beliefs and issues that are likely to impact national security鈥攊ncluding social unrest, pandemics and big market changes. 鈥淏ut certainly other sorts of indicators would be useful for predicting global events, like looking at population changes, financial signals, corruption levels of different governments,鈥� he says.

And in the long run, Introne hopes his modeling can help improve or even replace traditional opinion polling as a more flexible and realistic way to understand public sentiment, not by asking survey questions but by observing natural conversations.

鈥淲e might develop a metric to assess whether our public discourse is healthy and resilient,鈥� Introne says. 鈥淭hese insights could guide better deliberative tools鈥攂ut any work must be guided by a strong ethical stance.鈥�

Six faculty members have been elected to serve on the听.

Committee members advise the vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer and work to ensure consistent promotion and tenure processes and promote high academic standards. They serve two-year, staggered terms and are not eligible to serve consecutive terms.

Newly elected committee members are:

• , Katchmar-Wilhelm Professor, School of Information Studies
• , professor, School of Architecture
• , professor, College of Law
• , professor and director of biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
• , professor of higher education, School of Education
• , professor and chair of geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Promotion and tenure cases that meet the criteria for review鈥攆or example, those that have substantial disagreement between layers of recommendation or a strong probability of a negative determination鈥攁re taken up by committee members. They offer an advisory vote to the provost but do not issue a formal report or consider appeals.

The committee is convened by Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Jamie Winders. Provost Lois Agnew is chair of the committee, and Vice President for Research Duncan Brown serves in an ex-officio capacity.

Distinguished Professor of Information Science Kevin Crowston has received a $50,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to launch a pilot study examining how the use of generative AI tools is reshaping the way software developers learn and retain core programming skills.

鈥淕enerative AI is expected to change many different kinds of work, but it鈥檚 already having an impact on coding, where it鈥檚 particularly useful,鈥� says Crowston, in the . His proposal cites Google CEO Sundar Pichai鈥檚 2024 estimate that as much as 25% of the company鈥檚 code was being听 written with the assistance of AI tools鈥攁 sign of the rapidly shifting landscape.

These advances raise new questions about how programmers acquire skills. 鈥淭here鈥檚 potential for real productivity increases, with people writing more code more quickly,鈥� Crowston says. 鈥淏ut the fear is that because you have the machine doing these tasks, people will stop practicing them, with negative consequences for their own abilities.鈥�

To explore this possibility, Crowston, professor of practice Michael Fudge and Francesco Bolici, associate professor at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy have put together a three-year proposal for the National Science Foundation.

The Sloan Foundation grant will kickstart the first year of research, supporting student involvement鈥攄octoral students Akit Kumar at 性视界 and Alberto Varone in Italy, along with undergraduate Cassandra Rivera ’27 are part of the team鈥攁nd two initial studies.

鈥淚 was extremely pleased to receive this funding,鈥� Crowston says. 鈥淚t gives us external validation that our project is addressing an interesting and important idea.鈥�

Learning to Code

The first of the two studies will examine how undergraduate students in a required introductory Python course use generative AI tools. 鈥淭he hypothesis is that if you鈥檙e just using the tool to do your work, you鈥檒l finish the assignments but won鈥檛 actually learn,鈥� Crowston says. 鈥淲e expect students who ask questions to understand each line of code to learn more.鈥�

The researchers are also exploring what motivates these different patterns of use. Students who are genuinely interested in programming may turn to AI in ways that deepen understanding, while students who feel time pressure or are taking the class only to fulfill a requirement may be more inclined to let AI do the work.

At the same time, Crowston noted, programming itself may be evolving. 鈥淢aybe the days of coding each for loop are behind us,鈥� he says. 鈥淢aybe the real skill is learning how to convey what you want to the AI鈥攁nd to check that it did it correctly.鈥�

The study will explore how these novel AI skills intersect with the traditional skills of programming.

Long-Term Impacts of AI

Experienced programmers are subjects of the second study. The team plans to interview 40 individuals who develop software to support scientific research about how they use generative AI, what benefits they see and whether they worry about long-term impacts on their own abilities.

For scientific domains, the stakes may be especially high. While AI models have been trained on large amounts of general-purpose Python, they have seen far less specialized code鈥攕uch as software used to model black hole collisions or other niche scientific phenomena.

鈥淵ou could imagine the model producing code that looks plausible but isn鈥檛 scientifically accurate,鈥� Crowston says. Experienced programmers recognize this risk, he says鈥斺�渢hey鈥檙e really, really worried about it鈥濃�攂ut newer programmers may not have the same skepticism.

Crowston believes the project taps into a broader question facing many professions. What happens to expertise when AI takes over routine tasks? Early evidence from several industries suggests that entry-level hiring is already declining.

鈥淚f companies rely on AI to do the work entry-level people used to do, then two years later they have nobody with two years of experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not great for students鈥攁nd it鈥檚 a challenge for employers and universities alike.鈥�