Inside UMassD August 20, 2026

Campus Community Accomplishments

Professor Steven Cadrin (Fisheries Oceanography) was featured in an article covering the first International Cooperative Research Gathering with Scotland, which brought together 16 members of the Scottish Fishermen's Organization for NOAA Fisheries' first-ever international cooperative research knowledge exchange.

Professor Rebecca Hutchinson's (Art) solo exhibit "Embedded In the Overlap" will be shown at the Yellowstone Art Museum through January 2027. 

Professor Brian Williams (History) was featured in a podcast on the latest developments in Ukraine based on his fieldwork for the CIA in Afghanistan and in the Crimea.

Assistant Professor Kristopher Jackson (Nursing) and Assistant Professor Martha Whitfield (Nursing) co-published "Work, Sex, and Substances: Differences in Self-Reported Chemsex Behaviors Between MSM Sex Workers and Digital Content Creators" in Sexuality Research and Social Policy. This study examines differences in chemsex prevalence and substance use/acquisition patterns among men who have sex with men engaged in different forms of sexual labor. 

Assistant Professor Anoo Vyas (Law) was featured in a Huffington Post article about a recent Supreme Court ruling and the legal questions surrounding President Trump's references to a 2028 presidential run.

Associate Professor Dilshod Achilov (Political Science) published "Going beyond defiance: redefining women's engagement in collective mobilization in Central Asia" in the Asian Journal of Political Science. The study examines the gender dynamics of elite-challenging collective action in post-Soviet Kazakhstan, with particular focus on women's roles in pro-democratic mobilization.    

Assistant Teaching Professor Basil H. Aboul-Enein (Health & Society) recently co-published "Pharmacy Students' Perception of E-Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the League of Arab States: A Regional Scoping Review" in Pharmacy. The article assesses pharmacy students' perceptions of the pivot to e-learning in the League of Arab States during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the shift affected student engagement, learning outcomes, and institutional preparedness. Aboul-Enein also co-published "Can physical education be used to promote social justice? Conceptualizing a framework and thematic domains" in the International Journal for Equity in Health. This piece proposes a conceptual framework and examines thematic domains from contemporary literature related to how physical education curricula and instruction may be used to promote social justice. 

Professor Mary McCurry (Nursing) has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct international research aimed at reducing stigma and improving health care for people who use drugs. McCurry will collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University researchers to improve global nursing education on evidence-based, empathetic care for patients affected by substance use disorders.

Assistant Professor Micheline Labrie (Estuarine & Ocean Sciences) received $104,718 from the Town of Orleans for "Technical Support of the Town of Orleans - Water Quality and Wastewater Planning". The project will provide technical analysis, data interpretation, and planning support to help the Town of Orleans address water quality concerns and develop effective wastewater management strategies.

Assistant Professor Lauran Brewster (Fisheries Oceanography) received $494,784 from NOAA for "SanctSharks: Three-Dimensional Movement, Habitat Use, and Activity Level of Prohibited Sharks Across U.S. Atlantic National Marine Sanctuaries and Other Conservation Areas". The project will utilize multi-species shark tagging data to evaluate how well U.S. Atlantic marine protected areas encompass critical shark habitats.

Yaren Yildiz '25 MFA has been selected as one of the International Sculpture Center's 2026 Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award recipients.