A Few of Our Favorite Moments: Celebrating CAS in 2024
At the College of Arts and Sciences, big ideas take shape, curiosity drives discovery, and people work together to make a difference. This year, CAS celebrated groundbreaking innovations, inspirational educators, and students who are pushing boundaries and making an impact in the classroom, on stage, in laboratories, on the field, across Washington, DC, and beyond.
We published nearly 100 news stories in 2024, capturing many of the year鈥檚 most exciting and meaningful moments. Here we share just a few of them. We hope you鈥檒l be as inspired as we are by the people who make the College of Arts and Sciences such a dynamic place to learn, teach, and grow. Happy New Year from all of us at CAS!
Why We Teach: CAS Faculty Share What Inspires Them in the Classroom
At AU, teaching is at the heart of everything. In this collection, our professors share what they love most about teaching and reflect on the curiosity, critical thinking, and creative inquiry that define a College of Arts and Sciences education.
Read the full story: "Why We Teach"
Hedayat Fund for Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Spark AI Research and Ethics Work 听
A generous gift from Hamoon Hedayat and Nancy Hedayat makes them the first individuals to establish a fund dedicated to artificial intelligence research at AU. The Hedayat Fund will jumpstart the College鈥檚 vision for an interdisciplinary hub for generative AI scholarship.
Read the full story: "Gift Establishes New Fund for AI Research at CAS"
Swiftonomics Comes to AU: Hit Taylor Swift Econ Class Debuted in Fall
A wildly popular class, ECON-396-01, analyzed the vast economic impact created by Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour. Topics include job creation, tourism, Swift鈥檚 impact on consumer and media markets, market power, intellectual property rights, and more.
Read the full story: "Swiftonomics Comes to AU"
Professor Thomas Costello Creates AI DebunkBot to Discourage Conspiracy Theories
Psychology Professor Thomas Costello is part of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology team of scientists who created , an artificial intelligence bot that chats with users while respectfully and factually debunking their conspiracy beliefs. 听Image created with generative AI
Read the full story: "DebunkBot Persuades People from Believing Conspiracy Theories"
To Survive and Thrive: Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Fights Against Sexual Violence
In 2018, Nadia Murad, CAS/BA 鈥24 was co-winner (with Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynaecologist) of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for the efforts of both people to end sexual violence as a weapon of war. She graduated from AU during 猫咪社区app University鈥檚 147th commencement last May. 听
Read the full story: "To Survive and Thrive"
Learning as an Act of Resistance: AU Professor Offering Secret Classes for Girls in Afghanistan
Since the Taliban closed schools in Afghanistan to girls in 2021, Bashir Mobasher, the inaugural Afghan Exile Scholar Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology, has worked to launch underground schools and clandestine online education programs for women and girls across Afghanistan.
Read the full story: "Learning as an Act of Resistance"
AU Launches PhD in Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences
The new PhD Program in Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences will give students the cross-disciplinary expertise necessary to help solve some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges, from infectious disease to food security, climate change, clean water, and more.
Read the full story: "AU Launches PhD in Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences"
Matthew Van Hoose Delights Baseball Fans for 14 years as Organist for Washington Nationals
Since 2010, CAS musician-in-residence Matthew Van Hoose has served as the Washington Nationals all-star organist. Perched high above home plate, Van Hoose has provided the soundtrack to more than 1,000 DC ballgames鈥攆rom Stephen Strasburg鈥檚 highly-anticipated debut in 2010 to a storybook 2019 World Series run.
Read the full story: "Playing in the Big Leagues"
CAS Students Complete Dream Biotech Internships at United Therapeutics
$16 billion market cap biotech leader United Therapeutics offered summer internships for four CAS students: Jacob Calderon (BS biology 鈥25), Oreoluwa Erinfolami (MS biotechnology 鈥24), Charlotte Owusu-Hammond (MS biotechnology 鈥24), and Michael Trzaskowski (BS biology 鈥25).
Read the full story: "CAS Students Complete Dream Biotech Internships"
AU Scientist Contributes to Discovery That Nearby Exoplanet Might be Habitable
New research from a team that includes AU Physics Research Professor Thomas Fauchez finds a hint of the presence of a nitrogen-rich atmosphere on exoplanet LHS 1140 b, along with the possibility that it could potentially be capable of supporting habitable conditions. Image credit: ESO/spaceengine.org
Read the full story: "AU Scientist Contributes to New Findings about Exciting Exoplanet"
High-Flying Physics: Students' Balloon Reaches Stratospheric Heights
AU physics students launched a high-altitude balloon, capturing breathtaking photos and invaluable data. The balloon ascended 18+ miles into the stratosphere and traveled 35 kilometers horizontally before descending, collecting real-time data on position, air temperature, air pressure, and received signal strength.
Read the full story: "High-Flying Physics"
AU Econ PhD Student Creates Foundation to Support Ghanaian Students
Economics doctoral student Felix 鈥淣ana鈥 Boakye Yiadom founded , a nonprofit that provides need-based scholarships to students in Ghana. Its mission is to empower students to attend school, build self-reliance and resilience, and unleash their potential to make a difference in the world.
Read the full story: "AU Econ PhD Student Creates Foundation to Support Ghanaian Students"
New Boutique Hotel in Alexandria Purchases Collection of 15 Works by MFA Student Andres Izquierdo
When visitors check into Alexandria's new boutique hotel, , they are in for a treat鈥15 original paintings by AU Studio Art MFA Student Andres Izquierdo are on display in the newly renovated building. Izquierdo is a lawyer by training and currently a staff member at the Washington College of Law.
Read the full story: "Trading Law Books for Paintbrushes"
Healthy Food Scarce in Underserved DC Wards, Student Researchers Find
A team of 10 猫咪社区app University public health and data science students teamed up to examine access to healthy food for District of Columbia residents. Funded by , the project sent the students to visit 128 food retailers across all eight DC Wards to measure the shelf space dedicated to healthy and unhealthy items.
Read the full story: "Healthy Food Scarce in Underserved DC Wards"
Winners Announced for 2024 Mathias Student Research Conference
In 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences expanded the 34th Mathias Student Research Conference to include the arts, making it the largest, brightest conference to date, with more than 145 student presenters.
Read the full story: "Winners Announced for 2024 Mathias Student Research Conference"听
AU and Federation of Southern Cooperatives Create Toolkit to Promote Racial Justice in 猫咪社区app Farm Bill
础鲍鈥檚 Antiracist Research and Policy Center (ARPC) teamed up with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund to produce the Pointing the Farm Bill toward Racial Justice: Farm Bill Toolkit 2024. It breaks down the bill and provides direction on ways to advance equity across the bill鈥檚 12 titles.
Read the full story: "AU and Federation of Southern Cooperatives Create Toolkit to Promote Racial Justice in 猫咪社区app Farm Bill"
Audacious Changemaker Faith Massey 鈥25 Dreams Big
Sociology student Faith Massey 鈥25 won the 2023鈥25 , which includes funding for a summer work-travel experience. She spent part of her Summer Voyage at the Faith and Politics Institute鈥檚 John Robert Lewis Scholars and Fellows Program and at Harvard鈥檚 Junior Summer Institute in Public Policy and International Affairs.
Read the full story: "Audacious Changemaker: Dream Big"