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When a major Colorado nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence needed a new leader, they turned to a Schar School alum. Meet Whitney Woods and see how her 91���� degree inspired her to pursue public service.

91���� researcher Anamaria Berea was selected to serve on NASA's Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (DARES) Task Force 1.

An intercollegiate study, in partnership with university Facilities, analyzes the effects of campus events and weather on local air and water quality.

In spring 2025, students in EVPP 480 Sustainability in Action gave a crucial boost to Chesapeake Bay oysters by constructing oyster reef balls where the bivalves can attach, grow, and develop into natural reef structures.

Federico Frum, BA Art and Visual Technology ’05, believes in the power of art to bring people together. Known professionally as MasPaz—Spanish for “more peace”—Frum has spent his career fusing activism and creativity, using bold street murals, community engagement, and cultural storytelling to spread a message of unity.

John Kotcher has been named interim director of the Center for Climate Change Communication. Kotcher succeeds Edward Maibach, the center’s founding director and Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, who is retiring after 18 years.

After interning and working at key institutions in Washington, D.C., Schar School master’s graduate Brandon Ledford discovered local government was a more satisfying alternative. He says others could as well.

91���� economics professor and alumnus Tyler Cowen, BS Economics ’83, has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in philanthropy.

Felicia Baez-Smith, MPH ’19,has built a powerful public health career rooted in community impact, leading initiatives from opioid overdose prevention to pandemic response and mental health advocacy. Recently named to George Mason’s 2025 Forty Under 40 by the Black Alumni Chapter, her journey—from student advocate to statewide public health leader—shows how one person’s dedication can transform systems, uplift communities, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

The state budget, signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on May 2, represents the Commonwealth of Virginia’s continued investment in 91���� as the state’s leading university for access, innovation and upward mobility. The funding goes into effect July 1, 2025.