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Articles by Jack Truschel
Summer fun with reading
Q: What are some fun ways to incorporate reading into summer activities with children? Golinkoff: Fun is right! We want to make reading fun, instead of a drag or something we have to push kids to do. Reading with the family totally normalizes it, and if kids think their family is excited about reading, they are more likely to be excited, too. You can try designating a special reading time where all family members close off their tech and read together for 30 minutes.
For the Record, July 31, 2025
For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.
A bright future for lifelong learning
When Trudie Thompson reflects on her years with the University of Delaware's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Kent-Sussex, she doesn't just think about the classes she's taught (and taken), the knowledge she’s gained or the leadership council’s many accomplishments. She thinks about the community she's found—a vibrant network of accomplished professionals, engaging teachers and voracious learners.
Trustees approve faculty promotions
The University of Delaware Board of Trustees approved promotion and tenure decisions for 82 faculty members at its semiannual meeting on May 13. In addition, 22 faculty now have emeritus status.
Laura Carlson named interim UD president
The University of Delaware Board of Trustees has selected Provost Laura Carlson to serve as interim president of the University, effective July 1, Board Chair Terri Kelly announced today. Carlson will succeed Dennis Assanis, the University’s 28th president who recently announced his plans to step down on June 30. “Provost Carlson has graciously accepted this assignment from the Board,” Kelly said.
Perfecting the pitch
UD’s prowess in biomechanics, the study of using engineering principles to analyze human movements, has led to lifelong success for its alumni. Baseball season spurs biomechanics memories Jim Richards was frustrated. For weeks, he had been attempting to render data of a cerebral palsy patient into a 3D model with no luck. Finally, he turned to University of Delaware graduate student Scott Coleman.
Faculty Senate April 2025 meeting
The University of Delaware’s Faculty Senate expanded educational access and opportunity through the approval of new academic degrees, certificates and pathways at its meeting on April 7. In total, the Senate approved 149 updates to undergraduate programs and 64 updates to graduate programs through the Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda.
I Heart UD Giving Day
The University of Delaware's largest annual day of giving and gratitude is Wednesday, April 30. Since 2018, I Heart UD Giving Day has generated more than $5.8 million for hundreds of UD causes and programs. For this year’s event, UD students, faculty, staff and alumni have organized more than 200 projects, creating opportunities for Blue Hens to support the causes that matter most to them.
7 fun ways to teach kids the value of saving
This April, Delaware celebrated the 27th annual Teach Children to Save Day, a national financial literacy initiative coordinated locally by the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE) at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, in partnership with the Delaware Bankers Association and the Delaware Financial Education Alliance.
Campus Safety Update
University of Delaware Police have made an arrest stemming from on-campus bicycle thefts dating to November 2024. Frank Montgomery, Jr., 33, of Newark, has been arrested and charged with two felonies — receiving stolen property valued over $1,500 and possession of burglar tools or instruments involving the disabling of security systems. Montgomery, who is unaffiliated with the University, faces two additional misdemeanor charges, along with unrelated outstanding capiases.
UD alumni making a difference
The University of Delaware Alumni Association (UDAA) has announced the 2025 recipients of the Alumni Wall of Fame Awards and the Outstanding Alumni Awards, which will be presented at a celebration during Alumni Weekend on Friday, June 6.
Paradise restored
Doug Tallamy, the TA Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware, is trying to encourage people to rid their property of invasive plants and replace them with native plants. In October, he set out with students from the course Introduction to Insect and Wildlife Field Studies to curtail some pesky invasive plants from the UD Wetlands.
Saving the Rodney Reservoir
Sakhi Phang, a senior in the University of Delaware’s Landscape Architecture program, has spent the past two summers working with the residents of the West Side of Wilmington, Delaware, to develop their vision for a public park and community garden on the grounds of the defunct Rodney Reservoir. Local residents formed the grassroots organization Green for the Greater Good with the goal of keeping the site safe, public and green.
UD Board of Trustees to meet Dec. 10
The University of Delaware Board of Trustees will hold its fall semiannual meeting at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the Audion at STAR Tower as well as broadcast on UDLive. The meeting, which will be open to the public, will include an allotment of time for members of the public to comment. The meeting agenda for this public meeting, listing the resolutions expected to be approved by the board on Dec. 10, will be posted online once available. On or before Dec.
Investing in marine science research
On Nov. 21, University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis, First Lady Eleni Assanis and community members from across the University gathered in Gore Recital Hall to announce and celebrate Patricia and Charles Robertson’s extraordinary $5 million commitment to graduate research in the School of Marine Science and Policy.
2024 High Index Senior
If there’s a statement Katherine Snyder couldn’t disagree with more, it’s this: “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.” Snyder learned not only how to play 15 instruments but also how to teach them during her four years at the University of Delaware — and she did it all while being at the top of her class. “Teachers have to be the most experienced in what they do because they're passing their knowledge on to other people,” Snyder said.
A day of passion and purpose
On May 1, the University of Delaware community came together for I Heart UD Giving Day. With more than 6,400 donors raising over $1 million for UD causes led by students, faculty, staff and alumni, the event was another successful chapter in this proud Blue Hen tradition. “I Heart UD Giving Day is about community,” said Jim Dicker, vice president of development and alumni relations.
Earth science education
Up until her first year of high school, Emmie Rossi, now a senior at the University of Delaware, never considered herself a schoolwork fanatic. But that all changed when she took an earth sciences course with Mr. Alusik at Westfield High School in New Jersey. “Mr. Alusik was an amazing teacher, and that was the first time that I really enjoyed school,” Rossi said.
Fun and Finances | UDaily
CEEE has been helping connect Gooding with Delaware schools for some time now and contacted Howard about the possibility of hosting the event. “I just think this is amazing; I wish every student in the state could see it,” said Gail Colbert, personal finance coordinator at CEEE. Students didn’t seem quite sure what to expect but quickly warmed to the act, clapping along and cheering Gooding’s instrumental solos and feats like playing two guitars at the same time.
Virtual Anatomy | UDaily
The human body's intricate anatomy is vividly displayed in 3D on an interactive screen, comparable to a 50-inch television. This practical teaching and learning tool allows University of Delaware students to study the human body and highlight bones, muscles, veins, arteries, nerves, and tissue in shades of blue, purple, red, and green. These virtual anatomy tables serve as many students’ first real hands-on encounter with anatomical structures.
One in a Million
A graduate student needed a specific book for her studies that was only available in one library in Switzerland. A faculty member doing concussion research needed access to regularly and newly published journal articles. Another faculty member was unexpectedly hospitalized before a deadline and needed a book chapter scanned and delivered to him. A student at a University halfway across the country needed to borrow UD’s collection of oversized papal papyrus facsimiles.
A sweet experiential learning opportunity
There’s a sweet new addition to the University of Delaware’s Trabant University Center. Buddy Valastro, known as the “Cake Boss,” donated a "Cake ATM" to UD and visited the University on April 9 to speak to students and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Promoting diversity in nursing
After completing her DNP studies, LaFashia transferred into her most rewarding role yet: director of workforce partnership development at Nemours. In 2021, LaFashia launched the Workforce Pipeline Development Program (WPDP) at Nemours, which aims to address diversity in nursing by offering career-planning opportunities to underrepresented teens and young adults. The program also provides clinical rotations in pediatric acute care and ambulatory settings for nursing and medical assistants.
Tracing elements in the Antarctic coastal seas
Chris Marsay, associate scientist in the School of Marine Science and Policy in the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, is taking part in the latest research cruise as a part of the GEOTRACES International Program. He headed to the Amundsen Sea Sector of the Southern Ocean on Nov. 23, 2023, and will work through Jan. 28, 2024.
UD leaps in sustainability rankings
The University of Delaware’s commitment to sustainability is being recognized by a global higher education analyst. QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) released the 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, placing UD at #33 in the United States and #240 globally out of nearly 1,400 institutions. UD’s 2024 international ranking is a jump of nearly 200 places from QS’ sustainability rankings in 2023.
Celebrating MLK Day
Monday, Jan. 15, isn't just a day off school and work — it's an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While the University of Delaware offices are closed and many UD students are home for winter break, several events are scheduled around the state to honor the life of Dr. King. Who: Delaware State Bar Association. What: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast and Statewide Day of Service. When: Monday, Jan. 15.
New dean at CANR
Brian E. Farkas, an industry leader, researcher and professor in food science, has been appointed dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), University President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced on Wednesday, Jan. 10. “I am pleased to welcome Brian Farkas to UD as the next dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” Assanis said.
Marine scientist
Just as some kids fall in love with the sea on their first trip to the beach, University of Delaware doctoral student Leland Wood fell in love with marine science at a young age. Wood grew up along the Pacific Coast in Newport, Oregon, a small fishing town home to a large scientific community.
New OLLI director champions lifelong learning | UDaily
As the new director of the University of Delaware’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program for adults age 50-plus, Karen Asenavage Loptes arrives to the role from a diverse career in international and higher education, including more than 12 years at UD’s English Language Institute (ELI) as associate director and director of academic programs.
Resilient Roots | UDaily
On Dec. 6, a packed audience gathered in the Tower at STAR to celebrate the resilience and success of a remarkable cohort of University of Delaware students. After escaping Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, these 15 women — scholars in the Women’s Initiative in Service and Education (WISE) program — have found a new home at UD. Celebrating their extraordinary stories, the UD community in attendance was invited to renew their support for the WISE scholars.
UD Board of Trustees to meet Dec. 5
The University of Delaware Board of Trustees will hold its fall semiannual meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. in the Audion at STAR Tower as well as broadcast on UDLive. The meeting, which will be open to the public, will include an allotment of time for members of the public to comment. The meeting agenda for this public meeting, listing the resolutions expected to be approved by the board on Dec. 5, will be posted online once available. On or before Dec.
GivingTuesday at UD
This year on GivingTuesday, held Nov. 28, the University of Delaware community invites Blue Hens and friends to support the 130+ fundraising projects featured on HenFunder, UD’s crowdfunding platform. Led by UD students, faculty, staff and alumni, each fundraising initiative provides opportunities for Blue Hens to grow and thrive in the classroom, on the field, on stage, in the lab and even abroad.
Celebrating scholarship success
National Scholarship Month ends on Nov. 30, but the success of University of Delaware scholarship students is worth celebrating year-round. The impact of scholarships is often expressed in large numbers — in 2022-23, UD granted $75,022,065 in need-based awards — but these numbers become truly meaningful through the real-life success of individual Blue Hens.
Bird-friendly windows
In the United States alone, hundreds of millions of birds die every year from inadvertently flying into windows. At the University of Delaware’s Cannon Laboratory, located on the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, students are familiar with these unfortunate window strikes, as birds will oftentimes find themselves accidentally flying into the building’s floor-to-ceiling reflective windows.
Evaluation science grads are in demand
Lauren Camphausen knew exactly what she wanted, but she wondered how to make it real. She wanted to help people, to be a force for good in the world. She wanted to earn her graduate degree and find the career potential it would unlock. She worried, though, that it all would be too tough to achieve as a working parent — until she saw the new master’s program at the University of Delaware.
Hope in the fight against gender-based violence
The fight against gender-based violence is a multi-faceted and complex issue. So when the organizers of a recent national conference about the topic held at the University of Delaware started planning the event, they intentionally took an interdisciplinary approach. The approach worked.
The many facets of a family farm
In the AGRI 130 course, students learned about the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and saw it implemented on the tour. Fifer explained that while regulations and paperwork are necessary, some commercial accounts require additional audits for food safety and ethical labor practices, which are expensive to undergo. Each retailer may insist on a particular way of packaging, labeling and tracking.
2023 Francis Alison Award
As the son of a piano mover, University of Delaware Professor Joseph Fox understands — by experience — the kind of planning and painstaking effort required to move fragile, high-value items to their next destination. And helping his father with that heavy-duty work may have been good practice for what was to come — decades of helping students move toward degrees, careers, increasing expertise and scientific discovery.
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