News

NASA Leader; College Costs; Thought Leadership

BU IN DC

School of Public Health (SPH) Dean Adnan Hyder and members of the SPH community attended the 2025 American Public Health Association Meeting & Expo between November 2nd and 5th. Dean Hyder also hosted an Alumni & Friends reception on November 3rd.

Senior Vice President and General Counsel Erika Geetter participated in the Association of American Universities General Counsels Annual Meeting between November 2nd and 4th.


BUZZ BITS...

On Wednesday, the federal government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history. In other news:

  • On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump announced that he intends to re-nominate investor Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator. In May, Trump withdrew Isaacman's previous nomination and placed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in charge of the agency. Isaacman has proposed a significant reorganization of NASA and aims to "get some of that $1 trillion in university endowments into the fight, alongside NASA, to further science and discovery." The U.S. Senate will need to approve his nomination before he can assume the role.
  • The Navy confirmed that Dr. Rachel Riley is the new leader of the Office of Naval Research, replacing Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus. Riley previously worked on cost-cutting initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services through her role with the Department of Government Efficiency.
  • The Department of Education (ED) concluded the second and final negotiated rulemaking session focused on implementing the federal graduate student lending changes enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law this summer. Participants coalesced around a narrow definition of "professional degree" that would exclude many programs of study from qualifying for a new $50,000 annual student loan limit. ED plans to solicit stakeholder feedback on a proposed rule and issue final regulations in time for the new loan limits to take effect in 2026.

SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IN HIGHER ED

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing titled "Reforming Financial Transparency in Higher Education" on Thursday. Lawmakers and witnesses called for reforms to help families more easily compare college costs, including improvements to financial aid offer letters and net price calculators offered by colleges, as well as updates to the federal government's College Scorecard website. Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) touted his College Transparency Act, coauthored with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Cassidy had previously requested public feedback on improving transparency around college cost and value.

Watch the hearing


EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Office of Research and Public Relations are hosting "Strategic Communications: Crafting Impactful Thought Leadership" on Thursday, November 13th at 1 p.m. Join Kevin Anselmo from Experiential Communications for this 90-minute Zoom workshop that focuses on helping participants translate their messaging strategy into compelling written content that drives influence and visibility. This session will help you discover how to use the power of thought leadership and learn how you might be able to leverage digital platforms like Substack, LinkedIn, The Conversation or other online blogs.

RSVP today


 

Justice Sotomayor, Rep. McGovern, Antimicrobial Resistance

ON THE CHARLES RIVER

LAW Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig, from left, Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Cesar Lopez-Morales (LAW’14), at the Shapiro Lecture at Tsai Center October 24, 2025.
Photo by Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor Offers Advice, Insight to BU Law Students

In a wide-ranging conversation, she emphasized, "Your reputation — and your integrity — are all you have. You must guard them.”

See what else she had to say


BU IN DC

President Melissa Gilliam with Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) - October 28, 2025
Photo Credit: Jennifer Grodsky, Boston University Federal Relations

BU President Melissa Gilliam Meets with Congressman McGovern

President Gilliam discussed the federal government's investment in scientific research and how BU is supporting students with Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) on Capitol Hill last week.

Learn more


RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Hand of scientist or doctor showing a microbiological culture Petri dish with bacteria where an antibiotic resistance test has been carried out.
Photo by TopMicrobialStock | iStock

World Health Organization Reports 40 Percent Jump in Antibiotic-Resistant Infections; BU-Based Nonprofit Leads the Fight Back

CARB-X, an antibiotics research accelerator, is helping bring new medicines, vaccines, and tests to clinics worldwide with support from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and other funders.

Understand how they are fighting back


THOUGHT LEADERS

In Case You Missed It...

BU College of Communication students are filling local news gaps, covering 26 local communities with guidance from Professor Tina McDuffie... BU School of Public Health Professor Sarah K. Lipson's national Healthy Minds Study finds that college student mental health continues to improve... BU School of Public Health Professor Noel Vest shares his journey from incarceration to earning a Ph.D... Steven Sandage and Laura Captari at the BU Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute examine whether news and social media negatively impact mental health... Elizabeth Bettini of BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development talks with Education Week about how overburdened special education teachers are turning to artificial intelligence.