University of Delaware

A broader lens | UDaily The first National Council for Black Studies graduate assistant gains deeper understanding of her culture and background

Graduate student Lois Bilson is the first National Council for Black Studies graduate assistant, gaining professional experience and global perspective within Africana Studies. brnw.ch/21x07tx

Power of paradox propels UD's Wendy Smith | UDaily Pioneering business professor wins Francis Alison Award, University's top faculty honor

Wendy Smith, Dana L. Johnson Professor of Management and expert in paradox theory, is the 2025 recipient of UD’s highest faculty honor, the Francis Alison Award.

She is the first professor from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics to receive this distinction.

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UD neuroscientist Manuel Schottdorf helped build Humanity’s Last Exam, a global test designed to see how well AI can truly reason.

It’s part of an international effort to measure what machines understand and what they still can’t.

Learn More: brnw.ch/21wZZNw

Five University of Delaware students stand together on outdoor steps in front of a city building, wearing UD apparel in blue and gold. On the right side of the image, a blue graphic panel features a circular badge that reads “2026 NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

The University of Delaware’s World Scholars Program earned the 2026 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

One of just three institutions recognized nationwide for excellence in international education. brnw.ch/21wZTg5

Curating a century | UDaily Graduate student explores 100 years of student news and discovers a rich history

From social storytelling to the archives, Lori A. Danley is bringing 100 years of history to life—curating 100 Years of the Lincolnian Newspaper as a graduate student in University of Delaware Africana Studies Program.

Read the full story: brnw.ch/21wZPL4

The neuroscience of eating | UDaily UD professor discovers neural network that could unlock the mystery of how we decide what food is rewarding

New research from Lisha Shao, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in UD’s College of Arts and Sciences, reveals how the brain makes split-second decisions about whether food is worth eating—offering new insight into appetite, reward, and behavior. brnw.ch/21wZFfb

Delaware Biotechnology Institute director appointed | UDaily Recognized research leader, collaborative force heading up biotech hub

Delaware Professor April Kloxin has been named director of the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI), a hub for life science research, innovation, and workforce development.

Read more: brnw.ch/21wZDg6

Two women stand smiling in front of a “Good Morning America” sign, each holding a copy of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.

This week, CEHD Professor Roberta Golinkoff from @udcehd.bsky.social appeared on Good Morning America with co-author Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to share the updated Einstein Never Used Flash Cards—and how it helps kids thrive in a high-pressure world.

Watch: brnw.ch/21wZvp5

Photo Credit: Katie Horn

New leadership for UD Graduate College | UDaily Health communication researcher Kami Silk named to new role

Dr. Kami Silk has been named the new dean of the University of Delaware Graduate College.

Silk brings extensive experience in graduate education and research administration and will play a key role in advancing graduate student success and interdisciplinary scholarship.

Learn more: brnw.ch/21wZr8S

Today we celebrate Dr. King’s enduring legacy and remember that our greatest purpose is found in how we show up for one another.

Invisible particles from space are everywhere, and a UD physicist figured out how to detect them.

Professor Spencer Axani’s invention, CosmicWatch, is helping scientists study the universe and giving students hands-on access to real particle physics right in the classroom.

🌌: brnw.ch/21wZ1Ge

Alumni Samantha Konspore, Michael Akinbola and Abbey Thistle (standing beside Tom Brady) all work for the New England Patriots.

Meet the UD alumni working behind the scenes with the New England Patriots, using the skills and values they built in Newark to support players, fans and the game-day experience. brnw.ch/21wYXTA

Sweeney (left) worked with Jill Fredel, atTAcK addiction director of communications and board member.

UD grad Dan Sweeney is partnering with atTAcK addiction to change the narrative around substance use and recovery.

By centering lived experience and community voices, his work aims to reduce stigma and support better outcomes.

Read more about his research: brnw.ch/21wYW0y

Who Are the Nation's Top Education Scholars? (Opinion) The RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings recognize researchers who shape practice and policy.

Congratulations to @udelaware.bsky.social faculty members Gary T. Henry, @bakerdphd.bsky.social, and Amy Ellen Schwartz, recognized in the @edweek.org 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings and ranked among the best education scholars in the nation: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Kelly VanLiew stands in front of the Biden Institute on UD's campus.

Meet Kelly VanLiew, a sophomore public policy major and Blue Hen Ambassador who’s passionate about civic engagement.

From representing students at the Biden School to interning with the Biden Institute and Make It Count UD, Kelly is driving impact on and off campus.

David Martin, Karl W. and Renate Böer Chair in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Delaware.

UD's David Martin has been named to the National Academy of Inventors 2025 Class of Fellows, one of the highest honors for academic inventors.

Congratulations on this well-earned recognition. brnw.ch/21wYiVv

Laura A. Carlson appointed UD President | UDaily The University of Delaware Board of Trustees voted to appoint Laura A. Carlson as the institution's 29th president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Today, the University of Delaware Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Laura A. Carlson as the institution’s 29th president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Read the full announcement: brnw.ch/21wYdv0

International students, including Fatema Mohammadi (top row, right), enjoy a UD football game after learning about the sport and what it’s like to be a UD football player at a Football 101 event, sponsored by UD Athletics.

UD football players welcomed international students for a Football 101 experience, offering a look inside the sport and sparking new connections through teamwork and curiosity.

Read more: brnw.ch/21wXGy9

As dean for a day, Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay (front right) talks with junior nursing students, Sophie McIntosh (back left) and Theresa Bosick (front left), and Kate Hatcher, a health behavior science major and Healthcare Theatre actress, after observing a pediatric simulation.

UD welcomed Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay as “Dean for a Day,” giving her a firsthand look at how our students, research and clinics are driving health innovation in Delaware. From cutting-edge simulation to community care, it was a day of collaboration, learning and impact. brnw.ch/21wXBES

Five University of Delaware professors have been named to @clarivate.com's 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers — an international designation that recognizes scholars whose publications rank among the top 1% in citations worldwide.

Learn more about their impact: brnw.ch/21wXqNh

The moth defender | UDaily UD undergraduate student looks at how mosquito control methods threaten caterpillars

If you're a bird, bee or butterfly, you're always looking for a good meal. Em Beauchamp, a University of Delaware senior, wants to be sure they're eating something safe.

Learn more about her research: brnw.ch/21wXgEF

Making an impact in the lives of LGBTQ+ students - College of Education & Human Development University of Delaware graduate student supports LGBTQ+ youth, drawing on personal experience and strengths of UD’s program.

Student Spotlight: After finding a “home” in our #schoolpsychology program, grad student Lauren Dombrowski shares their commitment to supporting #LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware schools, drawing on personal experience and strengths of @udelaware.bsky.social’s program: www.cehd.udel.edu/graduate-stu...

Images of Blue Hen Journalists placed in a torn-out-newspaper-style treatment, set against a gradient background.

In a world saturated with headlines, these Blue Hens remind us why storytelling still matters. brnw.ch/21wX2u6

As the world’s faith in journalism falters, UD-trained reporters are rising to meet the moment — challenging disinformation, defending democracy and rebuilding trust in the truth.

Explore how UD alumni are redefining storytelling in the latest issue of UD Magazine: brnw.ch/21wWUJq

A composite image featuring three sections. On the left, a scientific illustration of a brain with hormone-like chemical structures overlaid in white. In the center, an older woman smiles warmly, wearing a red cardigan and standing in a softly blurred outdoor setting. On the right, a scenic view of Mount Fuji with a colorful cityscape below, suggesting a Japanese cultural or research context.

UD researcher Melissa Melby found that menopause symptoms may not be as gender-specific as we think. Only 3 symptoms differed by sex—and all were higher in men.

This World Menopause Day (Oct. 18), rethink what you thought you knew.

Read More: brnw.ch/21wWJGm

An illustration featuring an adult and a young adult. The illustration represents an article that shares research about better ways to support Delaware's LGBTQ+ youth.

LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware are facing significantly higher rates of mental health symptoms and substance use compared to their peers. Assistant Professor @ericlayland.bsky.social, from @udcehd.bsky.social, is helping uncover why.

📰: brnw.ch/21wWIs4

Is it possible to improve the nutritional value of staple crops?

UD researchers, with Rodale Institute and @stroudcenter.bsky.social, found that adding beneficial bacteria to spring wheat boosted its protein content. A promising step toward more nutritious, sustainable crops. 🌾

📰: brnw.ch/21wWGqg

University of Delaware biomedical engineer Jason Gleghorn is developing cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip models, about the size of two postage stamps, that offer a faster, less-expensive way to study disease and to develop pharmaceutical targets.

Learn more: brnw.ch/21wWqzp

Bridging policy and practice - College of Education & Human Development As the first doctoral graduate of the University of Delaware’s interdisciplinary education and social policy program, Hojung Lee is setting a powerful example of how rigorous, data-driven research can...

CEHD alum @hojunglee.bsky.social is shaping education policy. As @udelaware.bsky.social’s first doctoral grad in education and social policy and now a postdoc at Rice University, her work on equity earned recognition as a 2025 @appam.bsky.social Fellow. Read more: www.cehd.udel.edu/bridging-pol...

Using nature to fight liver cancer | UDaily Chemistry breakthrough provides pathway to low-cost treatments

UD is using nature to fight a deadly type of cancer. Chemistry professor William Chain and his lab have invented a way to create a molecule found in guava plants that is known to fight liver cancer, opening doors to cheaper, more accessible treatments. 🌱💪

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