Azusa Pacific University achieved a historic placement in The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S., as the top-ranked evangelical Christian university in California and the highest ranked institution in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). APU holds the No. 101 spot in the nation, positioned alongside premier universities such as Princeton (No. 1), Stanford (No. 3), and USC (No. 49). This marks the highest national ranking achieved by the university.
“This significant recognition by The Wall Street Journal affirms Azusa Pacific is a top Christian university in the nation with a clear track record of proven results,” said Adam J. Morris, PhD, president. “We provide our students with a transformative Christ-centered education that equips them to succeed as ethical and competent leaders in their chosen fields upon graduation. With strong marks in alumni earnings, social mobility, and character development, APU is a preferred choice for those seeking excellent academics, solid career preparation, a diverse and welcoming community, and opportunities to deepen their faith.”
In addition to the Best U.S. Colleges placement, APU also ranked high on the WSJ/College Pulse lists for Social Mobility (No. 29 nationally and No. 5 among private universities), Student Experience (No. 73), and Best Salaries (No. 161).
“We are honored by this national recognition of the extraordinary education provided by Azusa Pacific University faculty,” said Anita Fitzgerald Henck, PhD, provost. “The depth of student/faculty interaction in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting, in addition to global engagement and academic service learning, provides a truly holistic education. APU offers the best of academics, combined with Christian faith integration, and engagement with community partners at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level.”
TheWall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S. is the preeminent college ranking report which rates the top 500 colleges and universities in the country. Unlike other national rankings which prioritize admission rates and subjective criteria such as reputational rankings from opinions of leaders at other universities, WSJ’s methodology is more reflective of outcomes such as salary impact for graduates, years to pay off net price of tuition, graduation rate impact, social mobility, and student satisfaction. Other distinct factors include learning opportunities, preparation for career, character score, and diversity.
Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution on the West Coast, equips students to become compassionate leaders who impact the world for Christ. APU offers 66 bachelor’s degrees, 40 master’s degrees, 32 certificates and credentials, and 9 doctoral programs to more than 6,500 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.
To Matthew Browning, MA ’94, EdD, living out his calling is more than talking about the Lord’s goodness; rather, his actions through cultivating a love for service and leadership in young adults is at the core of his purpose. Whether students know him through his role as the director of Commuter Life, or as Student Government Association advisor, Browning has established a legacy at Azusa Pacific University that glorifies God.
Born in Santa Ana, Calif., Browning and his family moved to Hawaii early in his childhood. He loved spending time close to the ocean. Before entering high school, Browning’s family moved to Arizona. In 1985, he decided to come to California to study religion and behavioral sciences at California Baptist University.
Browning matriculated at APU for a Master’s in College Counseling and Student Development. His first position at the university was as the financial aid director, but his goal was always to work in student affairs in order to create opportunities for students to build community and learn to share God’s love out in the world. His hopes came to fruition when he was offered the role as associate dean of students. Browning found fulfillment developing activities for students and organizing Welcome Weekend.
To continue expanding his skillset, Browning went to Pepperdine to earn a doctorate in education. He left APU for a short period of time to work at the English Language Institute as a vice president, delegating teachers to China. Former APU president Jon Wallace invited Browning to return with the intent of building international programs. “I’ve always been passionate about making sure we understand our responsibility as Christ’s followers, which includes spreading the Gospel around the globe,” Browning said. In 2006, as the associate vice president for internationalization, Browning played an integral role in creating the Center for Student Action (now the Office of Service and Discipleship). Browning helped set up multiple study-away programs, as well as Outreach programs in Mexico.
“The corner of Citrus and Alosta is a very small piece of God’s kingdom, so as difference makers it’s important for our discipleship to manifest itself across the world.”
Now serving as the director of Commuter Life, Browning is enthusiastic about implementing a space that uplifts commuters and reminds them that they belong at APU. “My goal is to increase community for commuter students, so that they are included in consistent opportunities to build connections with others,” he said. By leading the Commuter Life staff in the Cougar Dome, the hub that contains resources and activities tailored to commuters, Browning has developed engaging events such as ping pong tournaments and video game afternoons.
Everything Browning has done and continues to contribute to APU is rooted in his passion for guiding students through some of the most influential years of their lives in college. “I hope to find a balance of challenging and supporting students at the same time so we can encourage them to think and dream big,” he said. Browning feels blessed to be immersed in a community that puts God first. “It’s as simple as loving your neighbor, caring for people, watching out for those in need, and celebrating diversity.”
When Browning is not at APU, he’s most likely cruising around on his motorcycle or spending time with his daughters and grandchildren.
Whether Browning is planning a commuter life event, enjoying fellowship with students, or having a theological conversation with colleagues, he is dedicated to fulfilling his calling through his involvement in higher education. He is excited for what the future holds as he continues to plant the seeds that allow students to grow and flourish.
The University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents celebrated progress, reviewed an initial version of next year’s budget, and continued future planning at their September 5-6 meeting at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Thanks in part to ongoing fiscal stability from the state, UA is on stable footing and celebrated a strong start to the Academic Year. The Board of Regents and university leadership continue to chart a positive path forward for UA, with an emphasis on maintaining affordability and empowering Alaska in an environment of fiscal restraint and rising operational costs.
On behalf of the entire Board, I’m thrilled to welcome students back to the University of Alaska for the Fall Semester,” said UA Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins. “The Board is dedicated to our students, staff, and faculty, and to continuing the positive progress the system has made over the last several years.”
Looking Back: A Year of Progress Regents marked the 25th Anniversary of the UA Scholars Program and passed a resolution celebrating its success and impact across Alaska. The UA Scholars Program awards a $15,000 academic scholarship to the top 10% of each Alaska high school’s graduating class. Since its inception in 1999, the program has awarded over $76 million in scholarships.
“The Board of Regents is pleased to welcome the 25th Class of UA Scholars to our university system, and we congratulate them on their enrollment and investment in their future,” Chair Seekins said. “The Board increased the amount of the UA Scholars Award this year because we believe in the program and are proud of its long-running positive impact on Alaskans and our state. I look forward to seeing this 25th class of scholars learn, grow, and empower Alaska.”
The Regent’s Ad Hoc Committee on Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation met on September 4 to hear updates on other scholarships and student aid opportunities. Both the UA Scholars Program and Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) were expanded this year to provide students with greater flexibility and aid. A key feature of the APS program is that it is available for all levels of post-secondary education, from certification and technical training to master’s and doctoral programs. When combined, APS and the UA Scholars Program make up to $43,000 in scholarships available to qualified high school graduates to support their post-secondary education.
“UA provides affordable and accessible education for Alaskans, and APS and the UA Scholars program are just some of the many financial aid resources available for students,” said UA President Pat Pitney. “Alaskans can be confident in the opportunities and quality of UA programs. Our enrollment is growing, and public opinion of the institution is strong and continuing to improve.”
Regents anticipate a final report with recommendations for a system-wide recruitment, retention, and graduation strategy to be complete by January 2025.
Looking Forward: Planning for the Future During the full Board Meeting, Regents reviewed the initial budget considerations for Academic Year 2025-2026. As a part of the budget, Regents are considering a modest tuition increase to balance affordability with rising operational costs. The proposed rise in tuition is offset by increased emphasis on non-loan student financial aid.
More than 11,000 UA students received some type of aid last year, totaling $95.5 million. University leadership has already begun engaging student governance about the proposed tuition changes, and will continue to do so throughout the fall semester. Tuition rates have been the same for the last five years at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and UAS, and for two years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Regents will take action on the budget and tuition proposals at their November Meeting,
“UA has regained a stable fiscal foundation and is attracting more students and research partners – but like other organizations, we are managing increased operating costs due to inflation and the general macroeconomic environment,” President Pitney said. “The budget considerations and tuition proposals on which the Board will take action in November seek to maintain affordability for our students, and foster increased enrollment, while also being able to recruit and retain the workforce necessary to meet our educational mission. In addition to increased support from the state, student growth, the universities continue to work daily to make the hard management choices necessary for cost containment.”
Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO) Ben Shier led a discussion with the Board and Faculty Alliance Chair Jennifer Carroll on Generative AI (GenAI). UA plays an important role in educating students on how to think critically and use GenAI safely within and outside of the classroom, as well as preparing them for the practical and ethical use of AI in their future workplaces. The university is also using AI in research, data analysis, mapping, and other areas requiring analysis of large data sets.
THE GAME: The Washington football team (2-0) takes on Washington State (2-0) this Saturday in the 116th meeting between the two: the Boeing Apple Cup. This year, the game will take place at Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks. Kickoff is Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT, and the game will air on Peacock. UW and WSU first met on the gridiron in 1900 and, since 1963, have played for the Apple Cup trophy. For the first time since 1961, the game will be a non-conference meeting. Following the Apple Cup, the Dawgs open Big Ten Conference play on Sept. 21, when Northwestern travels to the Pacific Northwest.
QUICK HITTERS: UW and WSU played the 2011 Apple Cup at Lumen Field, due to the renovation of Husky Stadium … UW won that one, 38-21 … the Huskies also played the 2005 opener (vs. Air Force) and the entire 2012 home schedule at what is now called Lumen Field. … UW has not allowed a touchdown in two games so far this sesaon … the last time UW went two games in a row without allowing a TD was 1991 (games 9-10, USC and Oregon State) … the Huskies rank No. 9 in the nation in both pass efficiency and pass efficiency defense … Washington has won 16 consecutive home games, the second-longest, current home win streak in the nation, and fourth longest in school history … the Huskies’ nine-game road win streak is tied for the sixth-longest current road streak in the nation … QB Will Rogers’ next touchdown pass will be the 100th of his career … 34 players made their Husky debut in the Weber State game, including nine true freshmen … four more players saw their first UW action vs. EMU … not counting the four-game 2020 season, the Huskies have won 10 or more games in five of the last seven seasons … Washington is 74-26 since the end of the 2015 season, and 27-3 over the last 30 games … the current UW roster includes players who list hometowns from 19 different states, as well as in Germany and Canada … UW’s 110-man roster entering the year includes 25 true freshmen, 20 redshirt freshmen, 16 sophomores, 27 juniors, and 22 seniors … the Husky roster includes five players in their sixth season at UW: DL Jacob Bandes, RB Cameron Davis, S Kamren Fabiculanan, LB Drew Fowler, and LB Alphonzo Tuputala … those five are playing for their fourth different head coach in 2024.
TELEVISION: The Washington-Washington State game will air on Peacock, with Paul Burmeister, Colt McCoy, and Zora Stephenson calling the action. For more information on how to watch Peacock, go to http://www.peacocktv.com.
RADIO: All Washington football games will air on the Washington Sports Network from Learfield, with Tony Castricone (play by play), former Husky tight end Cameron Cleeland (analyst) and former UW basketball player Elise Woodward (sidelines) on the call. Radio coverage begins four hours before kickoff on the network’s flagship station – Seattle’s SportsRadio KJR 93.3 FM – with “Husky Gameday” live from The Zone for Husky home games. Statewide coverage on the 16-station Washington Sports Network begins two hours before kickoff. The entire broadcast is available worldwide on the Huskies Gameday mobile app and the Varsity app. The UW broadcast of this game will also air on Sirius/XM channel 97 or 195. Additionally, the Husky Football Coach’s Show airs each Monday during the season at 6:00 p.m. PT.
B1G TIME: As has been well documented over the last year-plus, Washington has officially joined the Big Ten Conference ahead of the 2024-25 school year, effective on Aug. 2, 2024. The Huskies are joined be fellow former Pac-12 programs Oregon, UCLA and USC in making the move to the B1G, which now includes 18 schools. Washington was one of four founding members of the Pacific Coast Conference (along with Cal, Oregon and Oregon State), and, along with Cal, was one of just two teams that were a part of that league (which changed names to the AAWU, Pac-8, Pac-10 and Pac-12) for the entirety of its full-fledged existence from 1915 to 2024.
FUTURE SCHEDULES: Last October, the Big Ten revealed 18 football teams’ home and away, conference opponents for the next for the next five seasons (2024-28). Here are the UW’s home and road, Big Ten games, for the coming four years: 2025: home – Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers; road – Maryland, Michigan, UCLA, Wisconsin 2026: home – Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State; road – Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, Purdue, USC 2027: home – Maryland, Michgan State, Nebraska, Oregon, USC; road – Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers 2028: home – Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, Wisconsin; road – Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon
HUSKIES vs. COUGARS HISTORY: The Washington-Washington State series dates back to 1900, when the teams played to a 5-5 tie in Seattle. Washington holds a commanding 76-33-6 edge in the 115-game series, including a 43-16 record in Apple Cup games (1963-present). The UW is 43-16-5 against WSU in games played in Seattle (all venues), Washington is 13-7 in games played in WSU’s Martin Stadium as the first UW-WSU game wasn’t played there until 1982. UW is 33-15-1 in away games in the series, including games played in both Spokane and Pullman. The Huskies have won 19 of the last 25 Apple Cups, and had a seven-game win streak broken in 2021. No Apple Cup was played in 2020 due to the pandemic. It was the first break in the series since World War II, when WSU didn’t field a team for two seasons (1943-44).
Last year at Husky Stadium, a 42-yard field goal from UW’s Grady Gross with 0:00 on the clock gave the Huskies a 24-21 win. In 2022 in Pullman, UW out-scored WSU, 16-0, in the fourth quarter in a 51-33 win. Michael Penix Jr. passed for 485 yards and three TDs, while Wayne Taulapapa rushed for 126. In 2021 in Seattle, the Cougars broke a seven-game losing streak in the series, with a 40-13 win at Husky Stadium. In 2019 in Seattle, an efficient Washington offense led the way in a 31-13 Husky win. Jacob Eason was 15-for-22 for 241 yards and a TD. WSU passed for 308 yards and gained 27 first downs, but rushed for only 31 and scored just one touchdown. In 2018, Washington won, 28-15, in snowy Pullman, limiting the high-flying WSU offense to just 237 yards. Myles Gaskin’s 80-yard TD run was the highlight. In 2017 in Seattle, the Huskies built a 34-0 lead en route to a 41-14 win as Gaskin rushed for 192 yards and four TDs on 25 carries. In 2016 in Pullman, Jake Browning completed 22-of-29 passes for 292 yards and three TDs and the UW led 28-3 after one quarter, in a 45-17 UW win. In 2015, Gaskin ran for 138 yards and two TDs, and the Huskies got interception returns for scores from Sidney Jones and Azeem Victor in a 45-10 win.
In 2014 in the Palouse, Dwayne Washington rushed for 135 yards, including TD runs of 60 and 51 yards, to lead the UW to a 31-13 win. The Huskies held the Cougars scoreless until five minutes into the fourth quarter. In 2013 in Seattle, the Huskies overcame a 10-3 halftime deficit in a 27-17 victory. Bishop Sankey led the Dawgs with 200 rushing yards on 34 carries while Keith Price completed 15-of-20 for 181 yards.
In 2012 in Pullman, WSU overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then won 31-28 in OT. In 2011 at CenturyLink Field, the UW won, 38-21, behind 291 yards and three TD passes from Price. In 2010, Washington beat the Cougars, 35-28, in a tightly-contested game in Pullman. The winning score came on a 27-yard pass from Jake Locker to Jermaine Kearse with 44 seconds remaining. In 2009, the Huskies posted the first Apple Cup shutout since 1964 with a 30-0 win over the Cougars at Husky Stadium, breaking a two-game losing streak in the series.
In 2008 in Pullman, the Cougars prevailed, 16-13, in double overtime. The year before at Husky Stadium, Alex Brink passed for 399 yards and hit Brandon Gibson with a pair of fourth-quarter TDs to lead WSU to a 42-35 win. The Huskies broke another two-game losing streak with a 35-32 win in Pullman in 2006. In 2005 at Martin Stadium, the Cougars beat the Dawgs, 28-25, behind a solid performance from Brink, who threw for two TDs and ran for another.
Before that, in 2003, UW pulled a third-straight upset (by AP ranking) in the series when an unranked Husky team notched a 27-19 win over No. 8 Washington State. In 2002 in Pullman, in a game that surely ranks as one of the most memorable ever in the series, Washington shocked the No. 3 Cougars with a triple-overtime, 29-26 win, despite trailing by 10 with only 4:30 to play. In 2001, when the two teams met at Husky Stadium, the 16th-ranked Huskies upset the No. 9 Cougars with a 26-14 win.
APPLE CUP FACTS: A few notes on the Apple Cup, presented by Boeing: • This year’s game will be the 116th meeting between UW and WSU. The Huskies lead 76-33-6. The series began in 1900, when the teams played to a 5-5 tie. • The UW-WSU game wasn’t called the “Apple Cup” until 1963. Prior to 1963, the two teams played for the Governor’s Trophy (1931-62).
• Washington has played just 12 overtime games in its history (overtime didn’t start until 1996 in college football). Four of those 12 games have come against WSU: 1996 (UW win), 2002 (UW win), 2008 (WSU win), 2012 (WSU win). • The last seven times that the Cougars were ranked in the AP top 25 heading into an Apple Cup, the Huskies have won the game (2001-02-03-15-16-17-18). • The Huskies have never lost more than two games in a row to WSU. On the other hand, UW has had 9 streaks of three or more wins in the series. • From 1955 through 1981, the Apple Cup was played in Seattle (odd-numbered years) or Spokane (even-numbered years), rather than Seattle and Pullman.
AT LUMEN FIELD: UW opened the 2005 season at what is know known as Lumen Field (the Seahawks’ home field) in a neutral site game vs. Air Force, and then played the 2011 Apple Cup and the entire 2012 season there, during the renovation of Husky Stadium. The Huskies lost the 2005 game (20-17), won the 2011 Apple Cup, and then went 5-1 at Lumen Field in 2012. All totaled, the Huskies are 6-2 in the Seahawks’ home stadium.
EARLY FOR APPLES?: This year’s Boeing Apple Cup will be, easily, the earliest-played UW-WSU football game, in terms of the calendar, in the 115 times that it has been played. The majority of Apple Cups have been played in November, though more than a handful took place in October, the earliest being Oct. 11, 1941. In fact, through 1970, college football didn’t generally get underway until the third Saturday of September (or later). In 1949, the annual UW-WSU football game settled into the final game of the regular season, with rare exceptions when it was next-to-last (2001, 2007-08-09).
For the last four years, “Contemplating the Constitution” has invited the Oklahoma State University campus to share its thoughts and reflections on an aspect of the U.S. Constitution. This year, the program is expanding to invite participation from the entire Stillwater community.
The Constitution begins with the familiar phrase, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice…” Participants are invited to consider one component of the preamble. The 2024 prompt asks: “What does ‘establish Justice’ mean to you? Distill your thoughts and observations into six words.”
Responses will be published to the OSU Library’s website and on display in Edmon Low Library the week of Constitution Day. More than 280 responses have already been submitted. Responses have included “Upholding justness and legitimacy for everyone,” “Impartiality, order, protection, accountability, harmony, integrity,” and “The creation of independent, fair courts.”
Constitution Day is a federal observance recognizing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787. The law establishing the holiday was created in 2004. The act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day.
OSU students who participate in “Contemplating the Constitution” will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win one of five $200 scholarships. To learn more about Contemplating the Constitution, see responses to this and previous years’ prompt and to submit your own six-word response, visit library.okstate.edu/constitution.
This year’s activity is co-sponsored by the OSU Library, the OSU Department of Political Science and Pi Sigma Alpha.
The Spears School of Business is releasing a series of feature stories to celebrate the 2024 Spears Business Hall of Fame inductees and Outstanding Young Alumni. Previous profiles highlighted Vickie Carr, Eddy Ditzler, Ken Eastman, Carl Wiese and Bob Ault. Check back each week for a new profile leading up to the Oct. 4 ceremony.
Melinda Bell grew up helping at her father’s financial planning and tax planning practice in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
She remembers preparing envelopes for mail, answering phones and shredding discarded documents while she was out of school for winter break. Today, she runs the business, which is now headquartered in Stillwater.
Bell, one of three Spears School of Business Outstanding Young Alumni award recipients this year, gravitated toward finance since her early days in the family office. In 2010, she returned to Stillwater to work as an advisor at Cochran Bell Wealth and Tax Strategy with her dad. Ten years later, she acquired the practice with her husband, fellow OSU alumnus Kevin Bell, leading it to significant growth.
Melinda Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from OSU with minors in accounting and economics. An active participant in community service, she has received recognition as a Young Professionals of Stillwater Leader Under 40.
When you were growing up in Shawnee, what made you know you wanted to go to OSU?
Bell: A lot of our family activities consisted of going to OSU sporting events, and we spent the majority of our family time at different OSU events. I didn’t apply to any other colleges. It was only OSU from the get-go.
How have all of your studies in OSU’s business school — finance, accounting and economics — influenced your career?
Bell: At first, I was focused on financial planning and investments, and then when I had the opportunity to come back and work for my dad, he told me, “OK, but you’re going to have to learn tax.” My appreciation for tax and financial planning grows every year — you can’t really do one without it affecting the other. This allows me to provide comprehensive financial planning and tax planning, by being able to speak to both sides of the story. You can come up with a solid financial plan, but if you’re going to be hit with a big tax bill, then you need to make sure you plan accordingly.
Economics affects everything from buying and spending and saving and interest rates to people’s behavior and their mentality. It all ties together. I like that if we do something on the investment side, I have the capability to work up a tax projection and be able to say, “Here are the numbers. Here’s how it’s truly going to affect you on your tax return.”
Were there any certain professors or classes that especially stood out to you?
Bell: Dr. (Michael) Applegate was one of my econ professors. He always started out class, especially after a football game or a basketball game, he’d always say, “It’s another beautiful day in Oklahoma.” Now, I work closely with Dr. Brad Lawson through different (avenues) in the community.
Now that you’re here working in Stillwater, what has it been like for you to see the business school, OSU and the City of Stillwater grow since your time as a student?
Bell: One of the things that OSU does a great job at is assisting the City of Stillwater with growth and figuring out how they can help the city and both benefit from it. I really appreciate that OSU wants to help have a good community that they’re located in. I’m always learning about different resources on campus available and being able to connect with the professors that we might know on campus or people that work on campus. It’s nice to be able to reach out to students to come work for us.
What advice would you offer to current Spears Business students?
Bell: Get involved as much as possible, whether that is different organizations on campus or working on campus. The more connections that you can make and leadership positions, those will be able to translate well in the work field. The academic part is important, but it’s also about how you can interact and relate to people and make those connections.
Did you have any favorite organizations or ways you were involved on campus?
Bell: I was an involved member of Kappa Delta sorority. I served as treasurer and held different leadership positions. I also was a director with Into The Streets.
What does it mean to you to receive this Outstanding Young Alumni award and be honored at the Oct. 4 banquet?
Bell: It’s a very humbling award, and it is also motivating. We have a motto at our office, “Humble but hungry.” When I think about all of the students that have graduated and that are part of the Spears School of Business, and to think that I’m one of three that was selected for this award, and I know that there’s others that have accomplished great things in their careers and have been able to start businesses — it’s a really big honor to be able to be recognized and to be able to celebrate it, just knowing what great things other alumni have achieved. It’s humbling and exciting.
Griffith University is proud to announce Professor Paul Clarke will join the University as the inaugural Executive Director of the new Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics and the Raymond James Chair of Translational Biomedicine.
In the new executive leadership role, Professor Clarke will work alongside colleagues who are dedicated to the development of novel therapies, vaccines and diagnostics for diseases of global impact, and the translation of world-leading biomedical research to improve human health.
Professor Clarke brings an enormous depth of experience to the role as both a leader and internationally recognised biomedical researcher who has worked at the translational interface between medicine and biology for more than 25 years.
Professor Clarke’s area of discipline focuses on investigating cancer cell biology and cellular responses to anti-cancer drugs.
“I am delighted to be joining Griffith to lead the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics and integrate the outstanding biomedical research capabilities at the University,” Professor Clarke said.
“This is an exciting time for biomedicine in South East Queensland and I believe there will be outstanding opportunities to build our connections with healthcare and industry to deliver real improvements in people’s lives.”
He has received a prestigious Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award, Research Fellowships from The Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
Professor Clarke comes to Griffith from the University of Queensland where he is the Director of the Frazer Institute which he has led to significant success since 2017.
Prior to that, he held leadership roles in the School of Medicine at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Lee Smith said Professor Clarke’s wealth of experience aligns strongly to the strategic vision and goals of Griffith’s new flagship Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics.
“His leadership experience in Australia and the United Kingdom will allow him to play a key role in fostering a high-performing and collaborative research environment which integrates Institute members from across the University to leverage Griffith’s significant breadth, depth and excellence in discovery and translational biomedical research,” Professor Smith said.
“We welcome the opportunity to build on our proud history of research excellence and translational successes.
“We look forward to forging a transformative new chapter for biomedical research at Griffith University under the leadership of Professor Paul Clarke.”
Professor Clarke will join Griffith University on 4 November, 2024.
he University of Pennsylvania today announced $10 million in funding dedicated to its new Center for Media, Technology, and Democracy. The Center will be housed in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering) and will operate in partnership with five other schools at Penn.
The Center will benefit from a five-year, $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as well as an additional $5 million in combined resources from Penn Engineering, Penn Arts & Sciences, the Annenberg School for Communication, the Wharton School, Penn Carey Law, and the School of Social Policy & Practice.
“There is a critical societal need to better understand—and respond to—the way media and information technologies mediate and even influence global conversations,” said J. Larry Jameson, Penn’s Interim President. “Championing truth and upholding democracy are important elements of Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice. We are uniquely positioned to lead on this great challenge through our accomplished faculty in AI and data science who work across disciplines. We are deeply grateful to the Knight Foundation for partnering with us on this critical endeavor.”
At the outset, the Center will propel research involving media, technology, and democracy within Penn. Once established, however, the hope is for the Center to become a global hub for researchers, private sector leaders, and for policymakers—by sharing research findings and creating near real-time dashboards that provide a clear view of the current media landscape, informed by empirical research. Over the long term, the Center also aims to serve as a central repository for data sharing with the broader research community.
“The University of Pennsylvania has the expertise and research capacity to study media and the information ecosystem holistically,” said Knight Foundation president and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth. “This new Center will encourage greater collaboration and create centralized resources to support scholarship and convenings across campus. It will also help establish Penn—and Philadelphia—as a leader in media, technology, and democracy.”
The Center’s primary mission will be to gather data into one repository and to facilitate research synergies across the fields of law, political science, media, communications, data science, AI, and more.
“The contemporary media ecosystem is comprised of a wide array of diverse producers, consumers, and content types. Understanding systems at this scale and complexity presents unprecedented challenges to methods and research design,” said Penn Provost John L. Jackson Jr. “This pioneering research center will develop new programs, support new opportunities, and coalesce many different data sets so that they are available for others to use. In these ways, it will vividly reaffirm Penn’s leadership in the interconnected study of global media, technology, and democracy.”
The Center will operate around four programmatic pillars, including an annual flagship conference for media leaders industry-wide, an internal grants program to support research among Penn faculty and students, a research infrastructure to facilitate data sharing and collaboration, and a cohort of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
“One of the Center’s primary goals is to promote empirical research into digital media’s impact on democracy,” said Christopher S. Yoo, Imasogie Professor in Law and Technology at Penn Carey Law, with secondary appointments in SEAS and Annenberg. “Without sound, evidence-based insights into what is really going on, arguments risk devolving into polarized positions, which in turn can lead to a breakdown of trust in media and institutions and our shared commitment to democratic processes. The health of our society depends on finding ways to prevent that from happening.”
Professors Yoo and Duncan Watts, the grant’s two principal investigators, are trusted partners in industry and academia.
Yoo is the founding director of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition at Penn Carey Law. His work focuses on normative issues in legal policy. Watts, founding director of Penn’s Computational Social Science Lab, is an empirical scholar whose research is marked by innovation. He is also the Stevens University Professor and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor with appointments in Penn Engineering, Annenberg, and Wharton, where he is also the inaugural Rowan Fellow. Together, Yoo and Watts offer synergies between policymakers and leaders in media and technology.
“The United States and other countries around the world are living through a series of crises associated with a high level of affective polarization and diminishing trust in institutions. Increasingly, we are finding ourselves in different universes in terms of what we understand about the world,” said Watts. “But public discourse is limited to simplistic explanations of what’s happening. Social media has a lot of data, but it is hard to get.
“Our approach will utilize a combination of AI methods applied to large data sets and behavioral experiments to uncover the prevalence, causes, and consequences of misinformation and bias. These empirical insights will inform our legal and policy work that is dedicated to identifying system solutions that benefit society.”
The Penn Center for Media, Technology, and Democracy will be housed in one of Penn’s newest buildings, Amy Gutmann Hall, a hub for cross-disciplinary collaborations that harness research and data across Penn’s 12 Schools, located at 34th and Chestnut Streets. The search for an executive director for the Center is underway, along with other staff to manage operations, communications, and the Penn-wide research network.
“The timing is obvious, and the need is obvious. We are committed to bringing together many disparate data sources that are hard to get and organizing and analyzing them so that those resources are available for everyone to use,” said Yoo.
Over the years, and with increasing frequency, leaders across the University of Pennsylvania have made public statements in response to external events. These statements addressed political, judicial, or military actions of social consequence, evidence of discrimination or violations of human rights, and natural disasters of human or ecological importance. Other universities and institutions have followed a similarly well-meaning trend. These public statements have offered a way to demonstrate that Penn is engaged and supportive of our University community, as well as our local community, alumni, and academic colleagues. Statements also allow institutional leaders to affirm a connection to University citizens personally affected by these world events. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and others value acknowledgement of the impact external events can have on their lives. It is not surprising that these messages increased during the pandemic, when we faced unprecedented challenges and social connections were so desperately needed.
But there are also challenges and consequences to these messages. The plights to which they respond are substantive and deeply meaningful, but sadly these events across the world are almost limitless. Responding to one issue inevitably highlights issues and groups that receive no message—omissions that carry their own meanings, however inadvertent. In many cases, messages take sides, or may appear to, on issues of immense significance or complexity. Although there is alignment on the consequences of a natural disaster, economic, social, and legal actions, and even acts of war, have proponents and opponents.
It is not the role of the institution to render opinions—doing so risks suppressing the creativity and academic freedom of our faculty and students. Even as they seem to provide emotional support to individuals in our communities, institutional pronouncements undermine the diversity of thought that strengthens us and that is central to our missions.
Going forward, the University of Pennsylvania will refrain from institutional statements made in response to local and world events except for those which have direct and significant bearing on University functions. The University will issue messages on local or world events rarely, and only when those events lie within our operational remit.
This new approach will not be easy. The very reasons that have prompted past statements remain just as powerful today. Each of our institutional leaders came to these roles, in part, because of a strong moral compass. These individuals will continue to lead in this manner, but should not speak on behalf of a diverse community that is charged to create and debate new ideas. Every day brings risk of a natural or human-made event that tugs at our souls, and a community conditioned to receiving responses toward such events may feel their absence acutely. No established lines separate what is or is not of direct concern to University operations, so we expect occasional disagreement about where those lines are drawn. A great university such as Penn can use the debates that arise to grow stronger.
The goal and the outcome of quieting Penn’s institutional voice is that the expertise of our faculty will be amplified. Faculty members play an essential role in educating the public and offering the insights borne from their scholarship and research. Penn is, and should remain, a trusted source of truth.
This policy is intended solely to guide the communications of University leaders—including the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Chairs, and other leaders communicating in official capacities, where their statements may imply institutional positions.
By upholding our commitment to academic independence, Penn reaffirms a dedication to a culture of excellence, freedom of expression and inquiry, and respect—values that are fundamental to the dynamic and inclusive culture of the University of Pennsylvania.
Facing these challenges together is another way to enhance our institutional culture, develop our community, and live our values.
The University of Pennsylvania of today is a product of each of its 284 years of history. Our storied traditions help us rise to contemporary challenges and opportunities.
Today, Penn is introducing two new institutional positions: a statement of University Values and a statement Upholding Academic Independence. These statements sit alongside two older collections of words, one from last year, and one from 1755.
The words from 1755 comprise our Latin motto, Leges Sine Moribus Vanae, commonly translated into English as “Laws without morals are useless.” These few words communicate deeply. The motto urges us to do what is good and practical, and also what is right. This spirit has guided Penn for centuries, and I am proud to be part of an institution built upon such a motto.
The words from 2023 were expressed by In Principle and Practice. This strategic framework was the product of a yearlong process to address how Penn’s history and present resources can help guide our approaches to benefiting the world. The words reflect how we are anchored, interwoven, inventive, and engaged, and they chart a course for our actions. We are on that course now. We have already announced Penn Washington to strengthen our position in our nation’s Capital. We are simultaneously integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into research and education, advancing the arts, and accelerating efforts to battle climate change. We will soon be announcing an internal initiative to stimulate even more creative approaches to support our strategic framework. Like our motto from 1755, the words of In Principle and Practice also guide us.
Today, we introduce a statement of University Values. These values are also a product of our long history, and yet re-presenting them in new words today carries added importance. Over the past months we have found ourselves reacting to the events of the world and responding to events on our campus. Both the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community and the University Task Force on Antisemitism called for an explicit articulation of our values to help guide us through these challenges. Like the committee that developed In Principle and Practice, the Task Force and Commission sought and received broad input about our values from the Penn community. The current statement reflects this input and aspires to capture what is distinctive about Penn. Our values were always there and are best revealed through our actions. But the words we use to express them are guideposts along the way. I urge you to read and reflect upon those words.
Today, Penn also introduces Upholding Academic Independence. Over the years, and with increasing frequency, leaders across the University—indeed across most universities—have made public statements in response to external events. By and large, these messages sought to provide acknowledgement and solidarity following often horrific circumstances. Although well-meaning, these institutional messages fundamentally compete with the free and unencumbered creation and expression of ideas by individuals. Going forward, the University of Pennsylvania and its leaders will refrain from institutional statements made in response to local and world events. By quieting Penn’s institutional voice, we hope to amplify the expertise and voices within.
The release of this new guidance should not be construed as fear to take a studied position. Quite the opposite, it is a confirmation of our commitment to academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas. Likewise, the timing should not be interpreted as a response to past or upcoming events, or prior institutional positions. We will, of course, continue to communicate about policies and activities that have direct relevance to the University’s missions and its operations. This new guidance represents the culmination of intensive deliberation about how Penn and its leaders can best support our mission and our community—now, and moving forward.
The University of Pennsylvania is a scholarly community, reflecting a complex set of resources, relationships, and responsibilities. We are guided by framing and foundational words from hundreds of years ago, from last year, and from today. Over time, new words will capture and shape how we define and describe ourselves and chart our course. We are, and hope to forever be, a work in progress, and an institution that creates and disseminates knowledge for good.
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