Peter Felten, assistant provost for teaching and learning, and executive director of ������Ƶ’s Center for Engaged Learning, was quoted in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education feature examining the enduring value of discussion-based, text-centered learning.

The article, explores how the college’s Great Books curriculum emphasizes conversation, critical thinking and intellectual community in an era increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.

Felten emphasized that the most transferable aspect of St. John’s model is not necessarily its curriculum, but its underlying philosophy of education, specifically that learning can be difficult and is a communal act.

“I don’t think we spend enough time talking with students about how what we’re doing is supposed to be challenging,” says Felten. “If you’re in a community where you see other people struggling with the same material, and you can talk with them and think with them and not feel like you’re weird because it’s hard, then I think it’s motivating, then it’s exciting.”

������Ƶ Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas contributed insight to a recent Inside Higher Ed article examining how artificial intelligence is shaping the outlook of today’s college students and recent graduates. The story, explores growing concerns about how AI may affect careers, learning and the future of higher education.

��������������,��whose work focuses on free speech, emphasized the importance of helping students understand AI as a tool that requires thoughtful and ethical use rather than fear or avoidance. He spoke to the negative reaction from graduates at several commencement ceremonies when the commencment speaker brought up the topic of AI or AI was used as part of the ceremony.

“These reactions may seem emotional and disproportionate on the surface, but AI arrived at a moment when many of these young people were already questioning how technology has shaped their relationships, their attention spans, their mental health and even their sense of belonging,” he told Inside Higher Ed. “Add AI disruption to that, and there’s a growing sense among young people that they are inheriting systems that they didn’t design and they don’t fully control.”

But Balderas says the reaction is more than just about job security.

“When AI starts appearing in spaces that have traditionally carried emotional meaning—like graduation ceremonies—the reaction is going to be bigger than the specific incident itself,” Balderas said. “This is tapping into a deeper fear that society is becoming very good at simulating human interaction while becoming worse at actually practicing it.”

A history major with teacher licensure from Marietta, Georgia, Dierker’s research project, “Improving Youth Voter Turnout: The Role of Civic Education in Modern Political Socialization”, examines how schools can better and further prepare students for active citizenship. Dierker presented the project at the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum in April.

“Students are more likely to participate in civic life when they feel empowered and connected to political systems,” Dierker said. “Schools that encourage critical thinking, respectful discussion and participatory learning help prepare students to become engaged citizens.”

While young voters have historically had lower turnout rates than older age groups, Dierker believes younger generations are engaging politically in new ways, particularly through social media and digital activism.

“Social media allows Gen Z to interact with a wide range of political viewpoints and participate in conversations on a much larger scale,” she told the Times-News. “At the same time, it can intensify political polarization and shape how young people perceive society.”

������Ƶ student Amanda McGee ’26 was featured in a  article highlighting her research and community outreach efforts aimed at improving public health in Alamance County. The story focuses on McGee’s development of a wellness campaign designed to encourage healthier living through accessible, community-based strategies.

A strategic communications major and Communications Fellow, McGee created a multi-platform campaign inspired by “Blue Zones,” regions of the world associated with longer, healthier lives.

“This project has helped me recognize my calling,” McGee said. “It’s made me feel so capable and inspired to continue pursuing work in the public health field that creates change, even on a small scale.”

Her project combines social media outreach, local partnerships and interactive workshops that encourage participants to build sustainable habits related to movement, purpose, rest and nutrition.

“Completely eliminating unhealthy behaviors is often unrealistic,” she said. “A more effective approach is encouraging small, manageable changes that can be integrated into daily routines.”

McGee presented her project at ������Ƶ’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28.

������Ƶ communications faculty Amanda Sturgill and Karen Lindsey were quoted in a recent The Assembly article examining controversy surrounding the Greensboro Police Department’s social media strategy and questions about the role of humor in public communication.

The story explores how the department’s increasingly viral online presence has sparked debate about professionalism, public trust and community engagement.

Sturgill, an associate professor of journalism, whose research focuses oon the impact of social media, discussed how online engagement can reinforce existing opinions rather than bridge divides.

“People tend to over-value things that they agree with and already think,” Sturgill said, noting that controversial posts may deepen polarization instead of building trust with skeptical audiences.

Karen Lindsey, assistant professor of strategic communications, emphasized the importance of aligning social media content with an organization’s broader mission and goals.

“It’s really important to think about your goals for being present on social media,” Lindsey said. “And then, before you post anything, decide if it is aligning with those goals. Is your goal laughs and likes? Is it something larger?”

The article also includes perspectives from ������Ƶ alum Robin Cheeley ’81, a veteran journalist and communications professional whose company, WriteRight, advises people and companies on social media strategy and crisis communications.

Read the full article, “,” in The Assembly.

������Ƶ Assistant Teaching Professor of Finance Vaishali Shah was featured in a recent WalletHub expert panel discussing the importance of budgeting and practical strategies for managing personal finances. The article, , brought together financial experts from across the country to offer guidance on building healthy financial habits and improving long-term financial well-being.

In the article, Shah emphasized the value of budgeting as a tool for intentional decision-making and financial stability. She discussed how creating and maintaining a budget can help individuals better understand spending patterns, prepare for unexpected expenses and work toward long-term financial goals.

“Knowing how much you’re spending allows you to begin making intentional decisions so that you buy only what is truly fulfilling and you can save and grow a secure future,” said Shah.

Shah also highlighted the importance of flexibility and consistency in budgeting, noting that successful financial planning is not about perfection but about developing sustainable habits over time.

The piece highlighted Go Baby Go, a national program that helps provide modified ride-on cars to children with mobility disabilities. The initiative gives children greater independence and opportunities for movement through specially adapted vehicles designed to meet individual physical needs.  On April 4,  the ������Ƶ Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing Club and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to ������Ƶ’s campus for the first time.

“I think it was really special to see the students have a lot of fun with the event and really be so focused in customizing these cars,” said Julianna Millet ’26, an ������Ƶ engineering student who helped spearhead the effort. “At the same time, it really gives back to helping local families and helping kids. It’s kind of a win-win.”

The story was also featured on WFMY News 2, the CBS affiliate in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Hutchinson began research shortly after arriving on campus and is working alongside Assistant Professor of Biology Efrain Rivera-Serrano to study how certain viruses interact with the immune system.

“As a nursing major, I have always wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” he said. “My interest in cancer research became more personal after my grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia. Although leukemia was not the direct model used in my current project, that personal experience motivated me to pursue cancer-focused research more broadly.”

The article emphasizes that Hutchinson’s work is part of a broader effort to develop innovative cancer therapies that complement traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. By understanding how viruses trigger immune responses, researchers hope to create more targeted and effective approaches to fighting the disease.

Hutchinson presented his research at ������Ƶ’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28.

The story highlights ���Dz���the effectiveness of new NFL kickoff rules introduced in 2024. The changes, designed to improve player safety, created multiple “touchback” scenarios, situations where the ball is placed at different yard lines depending on how a kickoff ends.

“A big misconception is that moving touchbacks farther up automatically leads to higher scoring,” Guider told the Times News. “What surprised people is that starting field position didn’t have a statistically significant impact on whether a team scored or how long a drive lasted.”

Guider presented his research during the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28.

������Ƶ Associate Professor of Sport Management David Bockino was featured in a recent exploring how the Kentucky Derby helped shape the history and mainstream appeal of sports betting in the United States.

The story examines the Derby’s long relationship with wagering, tracing how betting became central to the race’s culture and broader popularity. Bockino offered historical context on how horse racing served as an early entry point for legalized, public sports betting and helped normalize wagering.

“Horse racing has always had this sheen of respectability,” said Bockino. “The idea that you dressed up for the event in some capacity, the idea that you drank fancy drinks. The idea that this was an ‘outing’ made the underlying betting foundation more acceptable to American society. Everyone looks nice when you turn on the television [to watch the Derby]. That sort of facade was built up around horse racing and the event over the years … but in the end, it’s really just a betting endeavor.”

His perspective highlighted the Kentucky Derby’s lasting influence on American sports culture, from the traditions of race-day betting to the modern expansion of legal sports wagering across the country.

“People were always ready to bet [on sports],” Bockino said. “There hasn’t been a great societal shift in people wanting to bet on sports. There’s just been a great technological shift where you can now bet on your phone. You can bet on horse racing, or a table tennis event in China. Technology has made betting so much easier. But people have always wanted to and have always found a way to bet on sports. If you look back at the origin of any American sport, there were people betting on the outcomes from the very beginning. Horse racing included.”

Bockino’s upcoming book  explores the “definitive, colorful history of American sports betting that challenges the dialogue around one of our country’s fastest growing (and most controversial) industries.” It was featured in the New York Times list of