Jack Frederick
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full-time cat owner and husband to @bfreds22 ❤️ | @UNCHussman alumnus | Past: @TheWilsonTimes, @DTHsports | Black Lives Matter
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Articles by Jack Frederick
Learning Blooms on AU’s Green Campus
Plants respond to their environment. Across species, budding sprouts stretch toward the sun. This phenomenon, known as phototropism, continues throughout the lifecycle as flora bends around obstacles and out of the shade to catch life-giving rays. A popular American University elective similarly beckons students outside into the sunshine to take advantage of the 84-acre, accredited, award-winning campus arboretum they call home.
Bon Voyage: Two Eagles Selected for Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship
Cathrine Volk, SIS/BA ’28, might not have become an Obama-Chesky Voyager for Public Service if she hadn’t first been a Girl Scout. Through the organization, the international studies major was introduced to the foundations of civic engagement—and how decisions are made through shared governance.
Back-to-School Survival Guide
While it’s not yet time to trade summer pool days and popsicles for pencils and planners, the first day of school is around the corner. Back-to-school preparations — which set the tone for a successful year ahead — are about more than new shoes and checking off supply lists. “It’s about routines, relationships and readiness,” says Jazzmyne Townsend.
Support for DC Dads
After their daughter was born in 2019, Kalvin Bridgewater was so focused on helping his wife get the help she needed that he didn’t fully recognize how he was struggling, too. In the weeks after birth, Bridgewater’s wife was diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD). She’d been crying a lot, constantly doubting herself, and she did not want to be social or touched.
You are here: American University News Fly Me to the Moon (For Science)
The Artemis II rocket captured with the moon. Photo courtesy of NASA. Four astronauts just took “one giant leap for mankind” toward the future of deep space exploration—and American University is part of that historic moment. At 6:35 p.m. on April 1, NASA’s Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida—beginning a journey further from our home planet than any human has ever traveled.
You are here: American University News American University Programs Ascend to Top 50 in Global Subject Rankings
American University has further established its global standing in the social sciences, earning top 50 spots in three major categories according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. In the data released on March 25, the university earned elite distinctions for its programs in social policy, politics and international studies, and development studies.
Explore the World Through Spring Art
Aimee Olivo has fond memories of walking along the beach with her children in Surf City, North Carolina, gathering seashells and other objects that washed ashore. After collecting their treasures, the family returned to their spot in the sand and began turning the ordinary outdoor items into artwork.
You are here: American University News Embracing the Rough Edges of American History
Lonnie Bunch III, CAS/BA ’74, MA ’76, was just four years old when his life’s calling began to surface. Growing up in mid-1950s Belleville, New Jersey, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution recalled his grandfather, Lonnie “Doc” Bunch Sr., providing his first glimpse into the power of the past. While reading together, the sharecropper-turned-dentist showed Bunch a 19th-century photo of Black children.
This Arlington Bakery Helps Make Pi Day Delicious
This Arlington Bakery Helps Make Pi Day Delicious The holiday celebrating a mathematical constant brings a crowd to Livin’ the Pie Life. By Jack Frederick March 6, 2026 at 8:59 am Share Every March 14, two homophones collide on Pi Day. And the holiday honoring a mathematical constant (3.14) has become one of the busiest days of the year for Arlington’s Livin’ the Pie Life.
AU Honored as 2025-26 Top US Student Fulbright Producer
American University on Tuesday was named a top producer of Fulbright US students for 2025–26 by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. With 16 recipients selected in this latest round, AU has secured its place as a leader in the US government’s flagship international academic exchange program for the 10th time in the last 14 years.
SPA Hosts 600 Furloughed Federal Workers for Classes Without Quizzes
American University’s School of Public Affairs harked back to its founding mission—to train federal employees to help the nation navigate troubled times—when it hosted Classes Without Quizzes on October 10 for several hundred furloughed public servants, contractors, and others impacted by the government shutdown.
A Busy U: They Do “Happy Work”
Kimberly Lehn, SPA/BA ’02, SIS/MA ’05, can trace the foundation of her career in national security—including 14 years in the CIA—back to her first experience with American University’s Office of Merit Awards (OMA). Before briefing the president and vice president in the Oval Office and leading the development of the bipartisan Pacific Deterrence Initiative, Lehn studied in South Korea in 2000 on a David L. Boren Scholarship—an opportunity the OMA staff helped her land.
Servant Will Become a Leader Through the Newman Civic Fellowship
Even before she enrolled in grade school, Stella Koch, SOC/BA ’27, knew the importance of giving back. She remembers tagging along at age five with her grandma, Tina, to church soup kitchens and coat drives in her hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania—where the number of people experiencing homelessness has increased 69 percent over the last 10 years. “My grandma is a very giving person,” Koch said.
AU Welcomes Class of 2029 During Opening Convocation
Students at convocation. Photos by Jeff Watts. On day one, the American University community showed up so the Class of 2029 could see they won’t go it alone the next four years. “You are here because you belong,” President Jon Alger said during opening convocation, August 22. “And at American University, it’s our intent to make sure that every student can live up to their full potential. This is your place to dream big, find your purpose, and forge your own path.
What AU’s Class of 2025 Needed to Know
Their classwork is done; their tassels have been turned. But even as a chapter is closing for the class of 2025—American University’s largest graduating class in history—their AU story isn’t finished. “Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will always be an Eagle. As we say around here, once an Eagle, always an Eagle,” President Jon Alger said.
President’s Award Winner Has Faith in Herself
President's Award winner Faith Massey with President Jon Alger. Photo by Jeff Watts. When Faith Massey, CAS/BA ’25, arrived at American University she had to learn to ask herself: Why not me? “Having a mustard seed of faith will propel you the furthest because you truly don’t know where you can go,” said Massey, winner of the 2025 President’s Award—AU’s highest undergraduate award. “You’ve got to be willing to bet on yourself.
Snapshots from Inauguration Week
There was a celebratory mood across the American University campus last week, as the community hosted nearly 30 inauguration events in the leadup to President Jon Alger’s installation on March 28. Here are some snapshots from the events, which marked a new era for the university under Alger’s leadership.
AU Honored as a Top Fulbright Producing Institution in 2024-25
American University has this week been named a top producer of Fulbright US students and Fulbright US scholars for 2024–25 by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. AU is one of just 19 institutions across the country—and only 13 doctoral universities—that earned both distinctions, recognizing the university for having 12 students and six senior scholars selected for the US government’s flagship international academic exchange program.
American University Achieves R1 Status
For the first time in its history, American University has received R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education—the nation’s leading framework for categorizing US higher education institutions.
Continuing the Conversation on Community
At the start of a two-hour brainstorming session last week, American University faculty, staff, students, and university leaders were asked to jot down ideas about how to promote dialogue and foster relationships between people who disagree. “Building an understanding,” one participant wrote on a sticky note that became part of a makeshift wall of ideas. “You don’t have to agree, but you can have an understanding of a person’s perspective.” “Talk less,” another wrote.
AU Community Unites to Celebrate Service
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” On January 21, a day after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration—and on what would have marked Martin Luther King Jr.’s 96th birthday—American University president Jon Alger recited those 13 words delivered by the civil rights leader in a 1957 sermon.
SPA Alumnus Lands AU’s First-Ever Schwarzman Scholarship
Edozie Umunna, SPA/BA ’24, has never been to China before—or even Asia for that matter. But later this year, the political science graduate will immerse himself in one of the world’s superpowers as one of just 150 recipients of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship.
The Hype Man for Flo Milli
Before he takes the Bender Arena stage at 8 p.m. on Thursday to open for Flo Milli, Rayyan Al Romaih, Kogod/BS ’25 expects he’ll feel what he does two hours before any gig—butterflies. “I’ll usually get a little nervous before my sets,” the DJ who goes by Rayyan said. “But the second I click play, I lock in all of it goes away.” Rayyan has performed around the globe, from Mykonos, Greece, to Madrid, Spain, and London, to Saudia Arabia, where he grew up.
Learning from Disagreement
American University president Jon Alger asked a crowd of more than 100 people packed into the Hall of Science on October 21 for the launch of the Civic Life to look around at the faces gathered in the room. “All of us have important roles in developing an environment in which everyone feels welcome and included,” Alger said.
Modeling What it Means to be a Diverse Community
Last week’s launch of the Perspectives on the Civic Life Presidential Speaker Series offered a window into President Jon Alger’s vision for establishing American University as a national leader in civic engagement. “This is an incredibly diverse institution with people from all over the nation and the globe [who have] different backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs. That diversity is a strength. We all have much to contribute, and we all have much to learn,” Alger said.
How Optimistic Are Young Americans?
While young Americans remain hopeful about their own future, they don’t have the same confidence in the direction the nation is headed, according to new research from AU’s Sine Institute of Policy and Politics. Sine’s third annual survey—released on September 17—revealed an “optimism gap” among the 1,214 respondents, ages 18–34.
Serving up Caffeine and Community: The Bridge Offers Extra Shot of Ambiance
Whether iced or hot, with cream and sugar or not, Americans love coffee a latte. According to a Drive Research survey released earlier this year, roughly half of people in the US frequent a coffee shop at least once per week. At AU, faculty, staff, and students can get their fix from a trio of rivaling java joints—the Bridge Café, Starbucks, and the Davenport Lounge—located no more than a three-minute walk from one another.
Eagle Tales: Hoops and Campus Hospitality
Tiana Hakimzadeh. Graphic by Jaylene Arnold. I’ve worked at AU for 10 years. Before that, I worked in admissions at the University of Maryland. My job is to oversee the campus visit experience for Undergraduate Admissions, including the Welcome Center—which draws 30,000 visitors each year—and the 40 undergraduate students in the AU Ambassadors program. My office is on the second floor of the Katzen Arts Center.
A Voice for the Fans
When the Washington Commanders travel to Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium to take on the Buccaneers on Sunday, they’ll kick off a brand-new era for a storied 92-year-old National Football League franchise. Highlighted by the first career start for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick in April’s draft, the Commanders boast an abundance of potential, a new head coach, a relatively new name and identity, and an ownership group that purchased the team from Daniel Snyder just last year.
Twenty-One Fun Facts about AU History
Whether you’re new to AU or a longtime Eagle, here are 21 things to know about campus history. Athletics moments that didn’t last In 1926, AU students voted for the official school colors to be orange and blue. That color combo—which belongs to another AU—eventually gave way to red and blue. AU competed on the gridiron for 16 seasons from 1926 to 1941, tallying an abysmal 24–67–6 record. In fall 1969, AU approved club football and a trustee donated $30,000 to cover half the expenses for three years.
ICYMI . . . It’s Brat Summer
Unless you just fell out of a coconut tree, you’ve seen the explosion of memes on social media featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, whose historic White House run is at the center of a Venn diagram where politics and pop culture collide. So what does it all meme? For the context, AU Now turned to SOC journalism professor Sherri Williams, an expert on race, gender, social media, and the representation of Black women in media.
Dialogue for Democracy
In today’s political landscape, the gulf between Democrats and Republicans has never felt wider. Americans hold deeply negative views of those across the aisle, with more than 8 in 10 expressing the belief that “Republicans and Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems,” according to the Pew Research Center.
From Trash to Treasure
If you can name it, odds are it was there. Converse sneakers, Crocs, cleats, and uncooked ramen. Jeans, t-shirts, mini fridges, rugs, and a TV. An unopened bottle of Goya adobo seasoning, a macroeconomics textbook, laundry baskets. A Hydro Flask water bottle and a black velvet hooded cape. The pile of gently used items even included a hand-painted canvas of Megamind, the blue cartoon supervillain from the 2010 DreamWorks film of the same name.
Celebrating Community During Commencement
Just days before AU’s 147th commencement, the Division of Student Affairs hosted six affinity graduation ceremonies in Constitution Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of diverse and talented graduates from historically underrepresented communities. Established in 2017, the festivities represent AU’s commitment to honoring the various intersections of identity that contribute to the fabric of AU.
Honoring Some of AU’s Best and Brightest
From the laboratory to the library, Mary Graydon Center, and Jacobs Recreational Complex, American University students leave an impact on every inch of campus—and places far beyond it. On May 9, the breadth and depth of those changemakers’ work over the last year was on full display at the 2024 University and Student Achievement Awards celebration and reception.
AU’s Class of 2024 Flies the Nest
Four years after they were introduced to college life through a Zoom screen amid the pandemic, 3,000 resilient and jubilant Eagles collected their diplomas in person before a packed Bender Arena during AU’s 147th commencement, May 10–11. “Despite challenges, you persisted. You came together as a community to support one another and move forward together,” Sylvia Burwell said during her final commencement as AU’s 15th president. “You showed the world that this AU community is unstoppable.
Back to the Start: Commemorate Earth Day at Airlie
AU faculty, staff, and students are invited to celebrate Earth Day where it began. The seed of the environmental event took root nearly 55 years ago at Airlie, the 300-acre property in Warrenton, Virginia, that was gifted to AU in 2016 as part of the Change Can’t Wait campaign. The brainchild of environmental activist Gaylord Nelson—a former Wisconsin senator, who also served as the state’s governor—Earth Day was designated an annual celebration in 1970.
A Reporter Shares Her Own Story
Alisyn Camerota, SOC/BA ’88, remembers standing in the middle of American University’s quad as a first-year student, white knuckling her microphone with both hands. She had come from the Jersey Shore to DC to learn how to become a TV reporter. But take after take revealed she had a lot to learn about working in front of the camera.
Speaking to the Nation
It can take a while for any reporter to land their first national byline. But in School of Communication professor Sherri Williams’ Race, Ethnic and, Community Reporting class, a small group of AU students will have that opportunity before they wrap up the spring semester.
Hummus, Falafel, and the Unlikely Rise of Cava
With eight locations in DC and more than 300 across the US—and plans for another 700 by 2032—Cava, the largest chain of Mediterranean restaurants in the country, has taken a huge bite out of the market share. “We want to be the leader in Mediterranean,” CEO Brett Schulman told an audience of mostly students at the Kogod School of Business on February 14.
Duke Spotlight: The Invisible Engine Behind Athletics Events
Spotlight: Athletic Facilities, Game Operations, Championships and Events (AFGO) Years at Duke: 9 Number of employees: 12 Who they are: From fixing toilets in Wallace Wade Stadium and polishing the handrails in Cameron Indoor Stadium, to managing logistics of a soccer match in Koskinen Stadium, the Athletic Facilities, Game Operations, Championships and Events (AFGO) unit is the invisible engine that powers everything related to Duke Athletics events.
Need A GoPro Or Other Equipment? Borrow Tech for Free
For an Occupation and Technology class, Tami S. Atkins needed an iPad. So, Atkins, an instructor in the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, borrowed one from the Office of Information Technology (OIT). The device gave students an opportunity to try assistive technology tools from the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program, a state and federally funded program that helps promote independence for people with disabilities through access to technology.
Blue Devil of the Week: The Heart of the Student Experience
Name: Mary Pat McMahon Position: Vice Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs Years at Duke: 3 What she does at Duke: As the chief student affairs officer, Mary Pat McMahon shapes the campus experience for nearly 17,000 students at Duke. Her priority is supporting students and ensuring they have a healthy and holistic experience on campus.
An Unforgettable Dog and Her Duke University President Companion
During the peak of the pandemic, Duke University President Vincent E. Price's inquisitive goldendoodle, Scout, was almost always by his feet while he discussed difficult decisions with other leaders during Zoom meetings from home. One day in late 2020, before an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Price knew Scout might get into mischief while he talked about Duke's testing protocols on a national stage, so Price asked his wife, Annette, to let Scout play in the backyard during the interview.
Build Your Career Skills in 2023
One of the first times Rebecca Horn noticed that Duke was different than other employers was during her first annual performance evaluation after coming to Duke University Hospital as a neuroscience step-down unit clinical nurse in 2017. After covering what she did well, the bulk of the conversation was about what she wanted to do next. “In other places I’ve been, it’s been like ‘You’re doing a good job, keep on keeping on,’” Horn said.
Meet Twin Sisters Who Work at Duke
In high school, Tierra Brodie and Ciarra Brodie started part-time jobs together at Duke. Ciarra worked at the salad bar, Tierra at the grill station in the Marketplace on East Campus, where they were often greeted by confused looks. “Usually when everyone sees us, they think we’re the same person,” Tierra said. “We’re sisters and twins, but obviously not everyone knew that in the beginning. They saw one of us, and they were like, ‘didn’t I just see you?’” No, they explained, that’s my sister.
Duke Leadership and Management Academies Celebrate 2022 Graduates
The 2022 classes of the Duke Leadership Academy and the Duke Management Academy celebrated the completion of their yearlong professional development journeys last week with a pair of graduation ceremonies at the Nasher Museum of Art. The 26 members of the Duke Leadership Academy gathered for an event on Monday, and the 20-member Duke Management Academy class was honored on Friday. Both programs are designed to nurture the leadership skills of the staff members who will help shape Duke’s future.
Volunteer to Talk With Students About Your Healthcare Career
As part of its commitment to increase awareness of healthcare careers, the Duke Area Health Education Center program (Duke AHEC) is recruiting Duke University Health System faculty and staff in clinical and non-clinical roles to speak with middle and high school students about their jobs when needed, at career fairs, clubs and in classroom settings. The Duke AHEC, one of nine AHEC programs in North Carolina, has partnered with Durham schools for about 20 years.
Join Duke’s Get Moving Challenge 2023
After a pause since the pandemic, the annual Get Moving Challenge for staff and faculty returns on Jan. 9. Registration is open for the 10-week challenge, which runs Jan. 9 through March 17, 2023, to help employees start or maintain wellness routines in the new year. Community members can participate as individuals or in teams of five to 11 to compete for the most steps, exercise minutes and weight lost.
Duke Chaplain Lifts the Spirits of Catholic Patients
Patients at Duke University Hospital sometimes misinterpret Omoviekovwa Nakireru’s starched black shirt and white clerical collar as portending bad news. After 45 years as a Catholic priest — a calling with an important role to play in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites — Nakireru has learned to anticipate that association between his clothing and unwelcomed news. So, when he enters a patient’s patient room, he arrives with a soft smile.
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