The University of Delaware is committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research and service. From its roots as a private academy in 1743, the institution today is a research-intensive, technologically advanced university with global impact.

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One hundred years ago today, University of Delaware Professor Raymond Kirkbride led eight students to France for an academic year to promote cross-cultural understanding and peace. It was the first for-credit study-abroad program in the United States and became a model for global education around the world. A century later, UD continues to be a national leader and innovator in global education, with unique programs like World Scholars and a growing community of international students on campus.
Watch this video to learn more about how UD is celebrating and expanding Professor Kirkbride’s bold vision.

July 7, 1923: The Day UD Changed the World

Coastal cities of the future need creative climate change adaptation tools today. University of Delaware disaster researcher A.R. Siders believes managed retreat— the purposeful movement of people, buildings and other assets from areas vulnerable to hazards—can be a powerful tool for expanding the range of possible solutions to cope with rising sea levels, flooding and other climate change effects when used proactively or in combination with other measures. 

Read more: 
https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2021/june/managed-retreat-ar-siders-coastal-cities-future-climate-change

Managed retreat—a powerful tool for future climate change adaptation

The mission of the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research is to support and advance research, education, and clinical training in Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. We are interested in supporting researchers in conducting clinical and translational research to improve the timeliness and accuracy of the diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, person-centered clinical care, and quality of life for patients across the continuum from typical aging to dementia and families. We combine clinical, academic, and research experience in medicine, neuropsychology, physiology, and engineering from the University of Delaware and ChristianaCare Health System.

Learn more about DECCAR: https://sites.udel.edu/memory-research/

The Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research

University of Delaware students created a listening device for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to become composers of their favorite childhood songs. The students reached out to Autism Delaware and visited the Sensory Room at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center to pilot the listening device, developed by UD researchers Daniel Stevens, a professor of music theory in the School of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences, Matthew Mauriello, assistant professor of computer and information sciences in the College of Engineering.

They applied for and were awarded $50,000 from the Maggie E. Neumann Health Sciences Research Fund to advance their research. The fund specifically targets interdisciplinary research and innovation that aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

For more information on the project, email asdmusic.ud@gmail.com

Children with autism become composers using listening device

What you plant in your backyard or community can have a significant impact on the ecosystem. In this video, University of Delaware researcher Doug Tallamy shares one simple action we can all take to better support birds and other wildlife. Tallamy, an expert on the science of plant-insect interactions, is the T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UD. He is also a New York Times’ bestselling author of such works as Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks.

Plan for the Planet: Doug Tallamy

Vita Nova is UD's student-operated fine-dining restaurant, offering an award-winning lunch buffet Monday through Friday and an elegant five-course meal. Vita Nova serves as a learning laboratory for students in the University of Delaware Lerner College of Business & Economics Department of Hospitality and Sport Business Management.

Each student gets a diverse educational experience by rotating through 17 different positions both in the dining room and in the kitchen. Students gain invaluable culinary, service and management experience in this learning lab.
https://lerner.udel.edu/centers/vita-nova-restaurant/

Uniquely UD: Vita Nova Restaurant

the-keys-to-holiday-happiness-gratitude-giving-and-genuine-connection

The keys to holiday happiness: Gratitude, giving and genuine connection

University of Delaware professor shares research-backed strategies

Assistant Professor of Marketing

Happiness

Consumer Behavior

Social Psychology

Behavioral Decision Making

Kindness

 The holiday ads insist that it’s the time for cheer, buying gifts and reconnecting with friends and family. Various factors – social media, remote work, politics – have made that more difficult than ever. There is hope: Research by the University of Delaware's Amit Kumar shows the path to genuine happiness this season.

Kumar, assistant professor of marketing in UD's Lerner College of Business & Economics, offered the following three strategies.

Gratitude: • Gratitude and giving thanks has benefits for both the giver and the receiver. It makes both parties feel good, and provides a real-life human connection at a time when those are hard to come by.

"Investing in doing is a better route to social connection than spending on having." - Amit Kumar  A shift in gift buying strategy: • Experiences can make for better gifts than trinkets, coats, jewelry or other items. There's a better chance of social connection if you're doing something rather than giving something.

Type less, talk more: • It's important to keep in touch, but reconnecting during the holidays through a phone call or face-to-face interaction (virtually or in person) has a better chance of strengthening our bonds.

More information on Kumar, who is also an assistant professor of psychological & brain sciences, can be found on his website. To contact Kumar directly and arrange an interview, visit his profile and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu. 

ud-physicists-track-one-of-the-most-powerful-solar-flares-in-nearly-two-decades

UD physicists track one of the most powerful solar flares in nearly two decades

The physicists are seeing a roughly 65% increase in ground-level radiation, which is possibly the largest since 2006.

A massive solar flare – possibly the strongest recorded in nearly 20 years – has unleashed a wave of charged particles toward Earth, sparking radio blackouts across parts of Africa and Europe and triggering measurable increases in radiation levels worldwide.

At the University of Delaware, physicists Pierre-Simon Mangeard and John Clem are closely monitoring the event through UD’s neutron monitor network, a global system that tracks cosmic radiation from observatories in Newark, Greenland, Canada, Antarctica and Hawaii.

“This is a significant event, still in progress,” said Mangeard.   The physicists are seeing a roughly 65% increase in ground-level radiation, which is possibly the largest since 2006. 

These elevated readings are known as a Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) – a rare occurrence caused by high-energy particles accelerated by solar flares that penetrate Earth’s magnetic field and reach the surface. The data being collected now will help researchers better understand how such bursts of solar activity impact Earth’s atmosphere, communications systems and even aviation safety.
 Clem and Mangeard’s work at UD’s Bartol Research Institute and Department of Physics and Astronomy contributes to global efforts to monitor and predict space weather events, including solar storms and coronal mass ejections. The team’s continuous, real-time data help scientists worldwide assess potential disruptions to satellites, power grids and high-altitude flights.

As analysis of this flare continues, UD’s neutron monitor network will remain a key resource for understanding how space weather events ripple through our planet’s systems.

Experts available for interviews:  • Pierre-Simon Mangeard, research associate, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• John Clem, associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

To contact Mangeard or Clem, email mediarelations@udel.edu. 

acing-ai-interviews-career-expert-on-strategies-for-job-seekers

Acing AI interviews: Career expert on strategies for job seekers

Director, Lerner College Career Services Center

Job Search

Linkedin

Recruitment

Hiring

Resume

Salary Negotiation

Mentoring

 AI-conducted interviews are becoming a standard step in the hiring process, but many job seekers still aren’t sure how to handle them. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté says candidates should treat these algorithm-driven interviews with the same seriousness as traditional ones and details how this can be done. 

Panté, director of UD’s Lerner College Career Services Center, can discuss what today’s AI interview platforms really measure – from confidence and tone to eye contact and facial expressions –  and how job seekers can stand out. She can also explain what recruiters are looking for in the AI-generated summaries that often determine who moves to the next round. 

Panté’s expert tips include: • Check equipment to make sure everything is working and the software is updated; turn off all notifications to avoid distractions and set up the space with good lighting, a neutral background.

• Smile and maintain your energy, as some AI software will assess your tone and engagement.

• Prepare as you would for any other interview - review the job description, research the organization, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when providing examples.

• Be sure to look at the camera and not the screen. It might feel awkward but that’s technically where the "eye contact" will be.

• Some platforms will allow you to review your recording before submitting. Use this opportunity to take notes about your body language, pacing and clarity.

To contact Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the connect button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu. 

from-classrooms-to-communities-rethinking-civic-engagement-in-k12-education

From classrooms to communities: Rethinking civic engagement in K–12 education

University of Delaware researcher explores how participatory governance in schools can strengthen democracy, amplify community voices and foster civic engagement among youth.

When national headlines focus on school board battles and political polarization, James Bridgeforth, assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Delaware, is focused on what’s possible instead: building a more inclusive, participatory model of democracy through public education.

His research in UD's College of Education and Human Development explores how community voice, equity and local leadership intersect to shape education policy – and how school boards can serve as vital engines for rebuilding public trust in government.

"Despite the often sensationalized stories of chaotic school board meetings and the influence of more national "culture war" issues, I still believe that it's possible for people from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view to come together to figure out how to best serve the needs of all of our children." – Bridgeforth  Bridgeforth’s work centers on education governance, policy and leadership, with particular attention to how racism and anti-Blackness manifest in schools and policymaking spaces. His scholarship highlights the importance of inclusive decision-making, arguing that effective education policy must be representative of the diverse communities it serves. He recently published the report "Navigating Democracy in Divided Times" with co-authors on this topic.

As part of his work with the Getting Down to Facts III project at Stanford University, Bridgeforth collaborates with researchers studying how to improve California’s TK–12 system and inform the next governor’s education policy agenda. His work documents the complex realities faced by local school board members – often minimally paid community leaders navigating contentious public discourse, social media pressure and limited resources. He notes that this research can be applied to school boards around the country. 

The next frontier: Youth civic engagement  Over the next several years, Bridgeforth aims to deepen understanding of how schools can nurture young people’s civic skills and leadership capacity through participation in governance. One proposed project – "Strengthening Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement and Student Voice in Educational Governance" – uses participatory action research to explore how student board member policies and engagement practices foster civic agency and democratic mindsets.

This collaborative work brings together youth-led community organizations and education researchers to study how these experiences shape long-term civic behavior – from voting to public service.

Why it matters  Bridgeforth’s research arrives at a pivotal time for American democracy. As trust in public institutions erodes, local school boards remain one of the  spaces where citizens can directly shape policy. His work points to a hopeful truth: democracy’s renewal may begin in classrooms, communities and the local school board meetings shaping them.

For journalists covering education, race or civic engagement, Bridgeforth offers data-driven insight, lived experience and policy expertise – helping make sense of one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we build systems that truly serve all students and communities? This work collectively demonstrates a number of promising opportunities to foster more inclusive, community-connected forms of governance, particularly in a time of eroding trust in government institutions." – Bridgeforth   ABOUT JAMES BRIDGEFORTH  Assistant Professor,  College of Education and Human Development  James Bridgeforth is an educator, researcher and policy advocate whose work focuses on community voice in education policy and the politics of educational leadership. His scholarship has appeared in top journals including Journal of School Leadership, Education Policy Analysis Archives, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Educational Administration Quarterly, and he has contributed to Education Week and The Washington Post. A recipient of the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Bridgeforth holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy from the University of Southern California, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Georgia College & State University.
 Expert available for:  Interviews on K–12 school governance, education policy and democracy Commentary on community voice and equity in education decision-making Analysis of youth civic engagement and participatory leadership  To contact Bridgeforth, email mediarelations@udel.edu. 

in-the-news-chronicle-features-university-of-delawares-career-center

In the news: Chronicle features University of Delaware's Career Center

At the University of Delaware, career-development officials believe in teaching students how networking exists all around them, in both curricular and co-curricular realms, by taking career readiness outside the Career Center and infusing networking principles and practices into academic courses, social activities and alumni events. 

UD's Career Center was highlighted in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article for innovative and exemplary networking practices and teachings. 

 “If we get students to not think about networking as this static skill I have to build, and it’s more of a natural part of who I am, and it’s in my toolbox, it becomes less arduous, less scary, and easier to do," Rachel Coppola, UD’s Director of Life Design and Career Integration, said in the featured video. 

Reporters wishing to speak to career experts can reach out to mediarelations@udel.edu. 

the-missing-ai-revolution-smarter-leadership-not-smarter-machines-says-workforce-expert

The missing AI revolution: Smarter leadership, not smarter machines, says workforce expert

University of Delaware’s Saleem Mistry argues that artificial intelligence’s real frontier isn’t automation — it’s helping leaders think faster, decide better and reclaim time for what truly matters.

Associate Professor, Management

Organizational Behavior

Team Charters

Leadership

Muliteaming

Team Resilience

Artificial intelligence has transformed industries, but its most overlooked potential lies in helping leaders themselves think more clearly and decide more effectively, according to Saleem Mistry, Associate Professor of Management at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics. Mistry focuses on enabling leaders to be more productive, think clearly and make better decisions.
 Focusing on the leader, not just the organization  Mistry’s work examines how leaders at every level  can use AI to enhance productivity and decision-making. While most organizational conversations about AI focus on operational efficiency or customer service, he argues that the true frontier is leadership productivity.

“Leadership productivity directly shapes organizational performance. AI can be transformative when it helps leaders think faster, decide better and regain the time they’ve lost to administration.” – Mistry  As a professor of management and leadership, Mistry is often asked how AI will change the workplace. Those conversations usually revolve around automating workflows, not empowering leaders. Yet, as he notes, an MIT report found that 95 percent of generative AI pilots are failing — largely due to the absence of clear business use cases.

 That insight shaped his direction: leadership itself may be the missing use case. Having spent much of his earlier career in high technology, Mistry saw firsthand that innovation succeeds or fails based on how effectively leaders model new tools. 

Demonstrating practical applications  Mistry recently analyzed the 2024-2025 U.S. Office of Inspector General reports on leadership challenges based. He analyzed each leadership challenge using three guiding questions: 1) Do the problems stem from leaders struggling with time, decisions or task management? 2) How might AI help? 3) Where could AI have the greatest impact?

The results included:

Executive Example (Amtrak): AI could power a real-time RACI dashboard to clarify accountability, track decisions and eliminate bottlenecks. Mid-Level Example (EPA): “Agentic AI” could cross-check allegations against verified data before termination decisions, preventing ethical and legal missteps. Supervisor Example (CISA): AI could scan incentive data for waste and anomalies, saving hours of manual review.  Why it matters  By automating repetitive, data-heavy tasks, AI gives leaders something they desperately need: time. Time to think strategically, coach teams and make better decisions. Mistry’s findings link AI adoption directly to mental well-being, arguing that improved decision productivity leads to improved organizational health.

“Decision productivity is business productivity. Organizations that make faster, fairer and more informed decisions outperform those that don’t.” – Mistry  Next steps: Building the framework for responsible AI leadership  Mistry’s next milestone is to develop a  set of leadership use cases that can be used by business leaders at all levels where AI can deliver the greatest  impact. He is also developing frameworks for responsible AI adoption that help leaders determine when and how to deploy these tools ethically — across decision-making, communication, planning and task management.

“AI won’t replace leaders,” Mistry concludes, “but leaders who learn to use AI effectively will outperform those who don’t.”   ABOUT SALEEM MISTRY  Associate Professor of Management Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics Mistry’s research focuses on the future of work, with a particular emphasis on how individuals navigate workplace transitions. His research explores how people adjust to both minor and major changes in their careers, such as shifts in jobs, responsibilities, teams or entire organizations. A growing area of his expertise is the strategic use of artificial intelligence to enhance productivity for leaders, teams and human resource professionals. His research connects academic insights with practical applications, helping to shape how people and organizations adapt to an evolving professional landscape.  

Reporters who would like to speak to Mistry can click on his profile. 

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