Kudos (Fall 2025)
Dickinson’s thought leaders were featured across major media platforms during the last several months, including CNN, MSNBC, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Salon, Oprah Daily and The Los Angeles Times. Topics ranged from judicial independence and climate science to cultural psychology and political polarization. Faculty also contributed to national conversations through podcasts, academic publications and international conferences, reinforcing the college’s reputation for timely and impactful scholarship.
Featured Faculty
Professor of Music Jennifer Blyth and Associate Professor of Music James Martin recently took center stage as pianist and baritone in a special recital at the American Philosophical Society. The event, hosted in partnership with the National Constitution Center, featured two original song cycles composed by Jeffrey Rosen, the center’s president and CEO, and served as the launch for Rosen’s new podcast, Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness, co-hosted with renowned historian and documentarian Ken Burns.
Professor of Biology Scott Boback was interviewed by The Sentinel regarding the protected status of timber rattlesnakes.
Professor of History and Benjamin Rush Chair in the Liberal Arts and Science David Commins’ scholarship on Saudi Arabia received attention after publication of his book, Saudi Arabia: A Modern History. The book was cited in Informed Comment as a key source for understanding the kingdom, and he was featured in a long-form interview on the New Books Network podcast, spotlighting his expertise on Middle Eastern history and politics.
Professor of Geosciences and Moraine Chair in Arctic Studies Ben Edwards’ research collaborations on glaciers and volcanoes were highlighted by One Green Planet and Sustainability Times, extending the college’s profile in the field of climate science.
Senior Lecturer in Psychology Michele Patterson Ford’s insights on midlife self-reflection were featured in Oprah Daily.
Professor of Psychology and Glen E. & Mary Line Todd Chair in the Social Sciences Marie Helweg-Larsen was quoted in ShermansTravel for her expertise on the Danish concept of hygge.
Professor of Mathematics Lorelei Koss published “Frieze Symmetry Patterns of Pennsylvania German Fraktur” in the LASER Journal. Ryan West ’25 helped locate and categorize some of the hand-drawn fraktur used in this project as part of a Dana Research Assistantship.
Visiting Professor of International Security Studies Jeffrey McCausland maintained a high national profile through weekly appearances on CBS News Radio’s John Batchelor Show. He offered analysis on global geopolitics, including nuclear drills in Eastern Europe, the conflict in Gaza and shifting international alliances. In addition, The Atlantic published his comments on Pentagon restrictions on civil-military academic exchanges.
Associate Professor of History and Walter E. Beach ’56 Chair in Sustainability Studies Emily Pawley was involved in a session called “Un-inevitability and Climate Histories for the Future” at the European Society for Environmental History event in Uppsala, Sweden.
Professor of History and Pohanka Chair in American Civil War History Matthew Pinsker provided historical context on current political polarization, examining parallels to the lead-up to the Civil War. His insights were featured in the Los Angeles Times and in a Substack column by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
Associate Professor of Political Science Toby Reiner published Community (Key Concepts), which examines the debates surrounding community in modern political and social thought. A commentary, “Community in an Age of Polarization,” was published in Polity.
Professor of Mathematics and John J. & Ann Curley Chair in the Liberal Arts Dave Richeson published “How Much Strong to String a Cardioid?” in The American Mathematical Monthly.
Dickinson has been named one of 75 “new dream schools” in Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You, by New York Times bestselling author and higher-education expert Jeffrey Selingo. The book highlights institutions across the country that pair academic rigor with engaged campus life and strong postgraduation outcomes.
Administrator Accolades
The Center for the Futures of Native Peoples and its work on the legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School was featured in WPMT-TV FOX43, with Director Amanda Cheromiah discussing the emotional and historical significance of the disinterment and repatriation project.
Provost Renée Ann Cramer P’28 lent her expertise to Madame Figaro’s Scandales podcast, discussing celebrity culture and Jennifer Aniston.
President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, continued to serve as a prominent national voice on threats to judicial independence and the intersection of law and politics. His commentary was featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bloomberg Government, Bloomberg Law and Salon. He also appeared on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins and MSNBC’s Chris Jansing Reports and was featured in a widely republished interview piece by The Conversation. In The Guardian, he warned of unprecedented attacks on the judiciary by President Donald Trump’s legal team, remarks that were subsequently picked up by Daily Kos and Raw Story. Jones was quoted in Bloomberg News twice, emphasizing the resilience of judges facing intimidation and later criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court’s use of the “shadow docket.” His public opposition to the nomination of Emil Bove was widely covered, including in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, MSNBC, PBS NewsHour and BBC News. He also spoke on the Legal AF podcast, highlighting the work of the Article III Coalition to defend the courts. Regional outlets including WITF-FM and The Patriot-News featured Jones’ leadership among higher-education officials opposing federal overreach. His expertise was cited in a local WPMT-TV FOX43 report on hate-crime laws. He also provided commentary to WHTM-TV ABC27 about the Justice Department’s efforts to garner private voter data through a lawsuit against Pennsylvania.
Jones joined legal scholars, historians and advocates at a national symposium marking the 100th anniversary of the Scopes “Monkey” Trial—one of the most pivotal courtroom battles over science, religion and education in U.S. history. The event, held July 18-20 in Chattanooga, Tenn., was organized by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Center for Inquiry and featured panels as well as presentations that explored the enduring impact of State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, a 1925 legal case in which a young teacher was convicted of teaching evolution in violation of state law. During the conference, Jones was honored with the Defender of the Constitution Award for his historic 2005 ruling in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.
Neil Leary, director of the Center for Sustainability Education, was interviewed by WHTM-TV ABC27 about the health risks of wildfire haze.
Debi Swarner, associate dean and pre-health professions advisor in the Center for Career Development, participates as a member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions. After 18 years of involvement with the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, she received the Buck Hill ’68 Award.
Kudos as of Sept. 26.
Read more from the fall 2025 issue of Dickinson Magazine.
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Published December 1, 2025