Top Stories
| Gina Adams: Power Player Who Supports Scholars |
| This week, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education featured two members of the AU community recognizing them for their outstanding achievements. Diverse featured American University alumna and Board of Trustee's member Gina Adams for her philanthropy and mentorship work. President Sylvia Burwell said, “Our entire community at American University has benefited from Gina Adams -- for her insight, her collaborative leadership, and the wealth of experience she brings. She's a leader who exemplifies the value of service and education, the importance of partnerships across government and the private sector, and a commitment to making a lasting impact on the world.” (7/13) |
| Camille Nelson: Opening Doors for Others |
| Washington College of Law Dean Camille Nelson was also recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education for her dedication and passion for ensuring access to minority and marginalized students. Of her efforts, Nelson said, “I have managed to have access. What that means for me, as a leader, is that I am someone who cares deeply about the pipeline, the pipeline to education, the pipeline to career opportunities and leadership.” (7/18) |
Additional Feature
| Dr. John C. Watson to Receive Ida B. Wells Award |
| RadioFacts.com covered an announcement about John C. Watson, professor of communication, who will receive the National Association of Black Journalists Ida B. Wells Award. The award recognizes individuals who work to ensure that newsrooms and news coverage reflect the diversity of their communities. Watson said, “I see [this recognition] not as a reward for what I have done in the past, but encouragement to stay on track in the future.” (7/16) |
Faculty Author
| How First Ladies Have Nudged America to Be Better |
| Anita McBride, executive-in-residence in the School of Public Affairs, co-wrote an opinion article for The Dallas News about the influence of America's first ladies. McBride and her co-author wrote, “The stories of first ladies are important. Their impact is integral to both the presidency and wider societal change.” (7/14) |
Expertise
| Lenin Statue at Final Sandwiched by Ads for Budweiser, Visa |
| Keith Trisko Darden, associate professor in the School of International Service, spoke to The Associated Press about advertisements placed around the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at the World Cup final. Darden said, “I think Lenin has rolled over in his grave so many times in the last 25 years that there's probably friction burns on his corpse.” The article was published in 320 outlets, including The New York Times. (7/14) |
| Trump: 'No Reason' Why Russia Would Meddle |
| Garret Martin, professorial lecturer in the School of International Service, spoke with WUSA-9 about U.S.-Russia relations following President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting in Helsinki. Martin said, “It's quite an unprecedented moment to see an American president make such a public rebuke against his own intelligence community.” Martin also spoke with WTAE about the topic, and School of International Service Professor Keith Trisko Darden discussed the issue with CNN and AP Radio. (7/16) |
| Why Catholics and Jews Dominate at the Supreme Court |
| Lauren Strauss, scholar-in-residence in the Department of History, spoke to the National Catholic Reporter about the religious makeup of the Supreme Court. Strauss said the large percentage of Jewish justices is “reflective of the American Jewish community and its relationship with more liberal or progressive political parties.” (7/13) |
| What You Should (and Shouldn't) Store in a Safe-Deposit Box |
| Caroline Bruckner, managing director of the Kogod Tax Policy Center, spoke to Bankrate about how tax reforms will impact safe-deposit boxes. Bruckner said, “The elimination of the 2 percent miscellaneous deduction means that taxpayers can no longer deduct the cost of investment expenses, such as safety deposit box rentals.” (7/16) |
| The Rise of Biological and Chemical Weapons |
| Associate Professor of Chemistry Stefano Costanzi spoke to The Telegraph about how nerve agents and chemical weapons can affect people. Costanzi said, “That is followed by the collapse of the nervous system, with death typically resulting for respiratory failure and seizures.” (7/17) |
| How to Craft the Perfect Comeback, According to Experts |
| Scott Talan, assistant professor of communication, spoke to Mental Floss about how to craft the perfect comeback in the digital age. Talan said, “We're still human beings, even on screens. And we prefer something that is well-stated and has a fun energy and wit about it.” (7/16) |
Additional News
| Maria Butina, Russian Gun Rights Advocate, Charged in U.S. With Acting As Russian Federation Agent |
| In the midst of ongoing investigations into Russia's influence on U.S. politics and the 2016 election, the Federal Bureau of Investigation brought charges of conspiracy and failing to declare as an agent of a foreign government against Maria Butina, a Russian national who graduated in spring 2018 with a master's degree from American University's School of International Service. News media coverage of Butina's arrest focused on many aspects, including the information contained in the indictment, Butina's initial court appearance, and her time at AU. The topic garnered substantial local and national coverage. (7/16) |
| Lockdown, Sparked by Report of Armed Man, Ends at Washington, DC University |
| News media covered a report of an armed individual near American University's campus, which prompted a campus lockdown. Many news reports included information provided by University Communications. The lockdown lasted several hours while AU police, working with area authorities, conducted a search of campus building-by-building. The lockdown ended without incident. Multiple local and national outlets covered the incident. (7/18) |
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