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

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Rethinking AI in the classroom: A literacy-first approach to generative technology

University of Delaware professor Rachel Karchmer-Klein offers a new approach for educators in this new age of AI.

As schools nationwide navigate the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence, educators are searching for guidance that goes beyond fear, hype or quick fixes. Rachel Karchmer-Klein, associate professor of literacy education  at the University of Delaware, is helping lead that conversation.

Her latest book, Putting AI to Work in Disciplinary Literacy: Shifting Mindsets and Guiding Classroom Instruction, offers research-based strategies for integrating AI into secondary classrooms without sacrificing critical thinking or deep learning. Here is how she is approaching the complex topic. 

Q: Your new book focuses on AI in disciplinary literacy. What is the central message?  Karchmer-Klein: Rather than positioning AI as a shortcut or replacement for student thinking, the book emphasizes a literacy-first approach that helps students critically evaluate, interrogate, and apply AI-generated information. This is important because schools and universities are grappling with rapid AI adoption, often without clear guidance grounded in learning theory, literacy research, or classroom practice. 

Q: What inspired this research?  Karchmer-Klein: The book grew directly out of my work with preservice teachers, practicing educators, and school leaders who were asking practical but complex questions about AI: How do we use it responsibly? How do we prevent over-reliance? How do we teach students to question what AI produces? I also saw a gap between public conversations about AI which often focused on fear or efficiency and what teachers actually need: research-informed strategies that support deep learning. My long-standing research in digital literacies provided a natural foundation for addressing these questions.

Q: What are some of the key findings from your work?  Karchmer-Klein: AI is most effective when it is embedded within strong instructional design and disciplinary literacy practices, not treated as a stand-alone tool. The research and classroom examples illustrate that AI can support student learning when it is used to prompt reasoning, reveal misconceptions, provide feedback for revision, and encourage multiple perspectives. Another important development is the emphasis on teaching students to evaluate AI outputs critically by recognizing bias, inaccuracies, and limitations, rather than assuming correctness.

Q: How could this work impact schools, teacher education programs and the broader public?  Karchmer-Klein: For educators, this work provides concrete, evidence-based literacy strategies coupled with AI in ways that strengthen, not dilute, student thinking. For teacher education programs and school districts, it offers a research-based framework for professional development and policy conversations around AI use. More broadly, the work speaks to a public concern about how emerging technologies are shaping learning, helping to reframe AI as something that requires human judgment, ethical consideration, and strong literacy skills to use well.

ABOUT RACHEL KARCHMER-KLEIN  Rachel Karchmer-Klein is an associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware where she teaches courses in literacy and educational technology at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. She is a former elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist. Her research investigates relationships among literacy skills, digital tools, and teacher preparation, with particular emphasis on technology-infused instructional design. 

To speak with Karchmer-Klein further about AI in literacy education, critical evaluation of AI-generated content and teacher preparation in the era of generative AI, reach out to MediaRelations@udel.edu. 

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How AI can improve poor leadership writing and boost productivity

Director, Lerner College Career Services Center

 Poor written communication from leaders can create the kind of confusion it intended to avoid. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté suggests using  AI to sharpen emails, clarify expectations and reduce unnecessary calls. Getting through to employees with strong messaging can boost productivity by saving time and reducing unwanted meetings, she says.

Panté, director of UD's Lerner Career Services Center, says that good leadership writing should be direct and outcome-driven, with no fluff, and offered the following advice for improvement.

✅ Don’t bury the lead. Start with what decision needs to be made, what action is required, and the deadline. If your writing doesn’t reduce ambiguity, it’s going to add to it. Vague communication can create interpretation gaps which, in turn, can create more meetings. When ownership isn’t defined, decisions aren’t documented, or outcomes aren’t clear, teams default to “Let’s hop on a call.” Meetings then become the fallback for unclear thinking. 

✅ Generative AI can be a powerful clarity tool if it’s used intentionally. When used well, it can sharpen your ask and structure communication for action. The key is prompting it to refine your message, not just polish it. 
Leaders can use prompts like:  • “Rewrite this message so the action, owner, deadline, and success metrics are explicitly stated" 
• “What assumptions or ambiguities exist in this message?”

✅ Good writing can replace unnecessary meetings. If communication is not direct, outcome-driven, and structured for action, it will cost you time somewhere else. 
Here are some practical actions that leaders can make in their writing: • Start with the Ask - Be explicit about what decision or action is needed. Don’t make people search for it.
• Define Outcomes - Clarify deliverables, timelines, budgets and state what success looks like.
• Clarify Ownership - Identify who is responsible for the request.
• Document Decisions - Write down what has been decided and reiterate next steps, owners, and deadlines.

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

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New AI model predicts harmful videos before they go viral

The system flags videos that may trigger suicidal thoughts, a safety measure that could enhance how social platforms monitor content

 Certain short-form videos on major social media platforms can trigger suicidal thoughts among vulnerable viewers, according to new research led by the University of Delaware's Jiaheng Xie. His team developed  an AI model that can predict and flag these videos.

In the study, published Nov. 17 in  Information Systems Research, UD professor Jiaheng Xie and his co-authors showed how AI can  assist with safety by predicting high-risk videos before they go viral by looking through both the content and what people write in the comments.

• Distinguish what creators choose to post from what viewers think or feel after watching.

• Separate known medical risk factors from emerging social media trends, such as viral heartbreak clips or challenges that may influence teens.

• This system is especially novel because it predicts the high-risk videos before they reach large audiences. 
 

Xie is available for a Zoom interview to share how the model was developed and how it could potentially change the way platforms such as TikTok moderate. 


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Acing AI interviews: Career expert on strategies for job seekers

 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. 

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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

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. 

how-ai-will-transform-the-economy-predicting-the-next-breakthroughs

How AI will transform the economy: Predicting the next breakthroughs

Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair of Computer and Information Sciences

AI is already revolutionizing the world around us. University of Delaware experts are at the forefront of this innovation, researching and inventing new ways to use AI in everyday life. Below are a number of UD experts who can discuss these topics and the breakthroughs being made. 

 AI meets the edge – Weisong Shi, Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair of Computer and Information Sciences, explains how AI and edge computing will transform everything from self-driving cars to real-time healthcare.




 AI’s energy appetite – Steven Hegedus, Professor, dives into the massive energy demands of AI, with expertise in photonics and chip-level signal processing.







 Building AI from the hardware  – Sunita Chandrasekaran, Associate Professor and leader of the First State AI Institute, focuses on AI hardware innovations shaping the future of computing.




Email mediarelations@udel.edu to speak to any of these experts. 



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