News
Jeffrey Hutter, Dean of BU’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine, to Retire
Announcement comes as SDM is set to complete massive renovation this summer
Goldman School of Dental Medicine Dean Jeffrey Hutter, here presenting candidates during the 2015 Boston University Commencement at Nickerson Field, announced his retirement on Monday after more than a decade leading the school. Photo by Natasha Moustache for Boston University Photography.
Jeffrey Hutter, the dean of Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine since 2008, announced on Monday that he will retire as of March 31. The school, which has had only three deans in its nearly 60-year history, will fill the role with an interim dean until a national search can be conducted and a permanent replacement named.
Hutter said he and his wife, Kathleen, along with their two dogs, Kelly and Molly, will fly to Honolulu the morning after his last day, fulfilling a dream he’s held for years to return to the place where he was stationed with the US Navy Dental Corps and where he spent some of his earliest days in dentistry, Pearl Harbor.
“My wife and I had set a goal, we reached those ages this year, and we asked ourselves, do we stay on, or not,” the 71-year-old Hutter said Monday afternoon as the surprise news of his departure started to get out. “I didn’t want to become a dean who just hung on. We set a date and we were going to keep to that date.” He said he and his wife look forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in Hawaii in a few years, and noted that they will also be closer to their daughter and grandson in California.
The transition comes just as the school is in the final stages of a major project—a three-year, $112 million renovation of its building at 100 East Newton Street that’s expected to be finished this summer. The school is home to more than 800 students and 300 faculty, as well as staff and volunteers, and it serves more than 30,000 patients a year.
Read the full story on BU Today.
How the Biden-Harris Administration Can “Build Back Better” the Arts
FACULTY EXPERT
How the Biden-Harris Administration Can "Build Back Better" the Arts
BU College of Fine Arts Dean Harvey Young outlines four ways the federal government can help the arts industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
New Policy Lab Investigates Medicaid's Intersection with Racial Justice, COVID-19
The new BU Medicaid Policy Lab studies how the federal-state program is tackling problems like racial disparities and COVID-19 -- and what it could do better.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
This 10-Foot-Long Machine Churns Out 2,000 Face Masks an Hour
BU engineers say the printing press–like machine could be installed at, and used by, hospitals, corporations, and universities.
BU INFLUENCERS
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Peter Fox-Penner of the BU Institute for Sustainable Energy explains how the deregulation philosophy in Texas led the energy grid to fail during the cold snap to NBC News... Dean Sandro Galea and Julia Raifman of the BU School of Public Health describe how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations in Vox... Jessica Stern of the BU Pardee School of Global Studies discusses how democracies can grapple with citizens who turn to authoritarianism in Foreign Affairs... Johannes Baker and David Starobinski of the BU College of Engineering describes how tech companies protect your privacy when you use COVID exposure apps in The Conversation... Ibram X. Kendi of the BU Center for Antiracist Research heralds the arrival of the Black Renaissance in Time... Robinson Fulweiler of the BU College of Arts & Sciences talks about the difficulties for academic mothers trying to advance research careers in Science.
BUzz Bits
BU IN DC
College of Communication Dean Mariette DiChristina moderated a panel discussion on decarbonization for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine's Climate Conversations webinar series on February 18th.
Twenty BU graduate students and postdoctoral associates participated in a science policy workshop hosted by BU Federal Relations and the MIT Washington Office on February 17th. They subsequently met with Congressional staff on February 18th.
School of Public Health Dean Sandro Galea spoke on a virtual National Institute on Drug Abuse panel about enhancing health disparities research related to substance abuse on February 16th.
Catherine Klapperich and Uday Pal of the College of Engineering and Stefan Hofmann of the College of Arts & Sciences were inducted as American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows on February 13th.
BUZZ BITS...
- The Biden-Harris Administration announced the creation of a Climate Innovation Working Group last week to identify cost-effective technologies to achieve net-zero emissions in the U.S. by 2050. The group is co-led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and will also "emphasize research to bolster and build critical clean energy supply chains in the United States and strengthen American manufacturing."
- On Thursday, Congressional Democrats introduced the U.S. Pathway to Citizenship Act, a comprehensive immigration bill based largely on President Joseph Biden's proposal. Among other provisions, the bill would exempt STEM PhD holders from the statutory cap on visas so they can remain in the United States and would allow certain undocumented young people to immediately apply for a green card. The bill faces many hurdles to passage, but demonstrates Democrats' priorities for immigration policy.
- BU alumna Sara Garcia (CAS '12) has been appointed special assistant in the U.S. Department of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. Garcia previously worked on postsecondary education policy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Center for American Progress.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join the Office of Research for its next Research on Tap on Tuesday, February 23rd at 2:00 p.m. "Eliminating Health Disparities: Society & Biomedicine" will feature microtalks by BU faculty using cutting-edge research tools to study societal determinants of health, community engagement, and biomolecular sciences to adopt a more holistic approach to disease prevention and treatment. One goal of this Research on Tap is to explore the possible subsequent development of an Affinity Research Collaborative, funded by the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and the CTSI. For those interested in collaborating more on this topic, there will be a follow-up session on March 1st.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) released its Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for basic scientific research in behavioral science for fiscal years 2021-2022. The BAA is seeking novel and multidisciplinary approaches in areas of behavioral and social sciences to improve Army personnel readiness. The Institute will accept either basic research proposals or proposals from early career investigators who have not yet received ARI funding. Proposals should address one of the following topics: personnel testing and performance, learning in formal and informal environments, organizational effectiveness, or leader processes and measurement. White papers are strongly encouraged.
BU & MIT Host Science Policy Webinar & Congressional Meetings on February 17-18
BU Federal Relations and the MIT Washington Office hosted a virtual science policy workshop for graduate students and post-docs to learn the basics of science policymaking and advocacy in D.C. Participants heard from several research policy experts and advocates on key aspects of the legislative and regulatory process that impact the federal research enterprise, the current state-of-play on science policy, and tips for successful science advocacy. Registrants then had the opportunity to try out their new skills through virtual meetings with Congressional staff. With the start of both a new Administration and new Congress, it was a great time to learn how their scientific training can impact the federal legislative and regulatory process. There was a total of 35-40 graduate students and post-docs interested in learning how science policy is developed and utilized in government.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Science Policy Webinar Workshop
Panelists:
- Toby Smith, Vice President for Policy, Association of American Universities (AAU)
- David Goldston, Director, MIT Washington Office
- Jennifer Poulakidas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations, UCLA
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Virtual Advocacy Day (Congressional Meetings)
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 7:00 pm – Networking Happy Hour
Sponsored by Engaging Scientists & Engineers in Policy (ESEP) Coalition and the National Science Policy Network (NSPN)
For questions or other inquiries, please contact Emily Burlij in BU Federal Relations at: eaburlij@bu.edu.
House Committee Approves Aid For Colleges, Arts
BU IN DC
Joshua Shifrinson of the Pardee School of Global Studies spoke about growing tensions between the U.S. and China at the Woodrow Wilson Center's virtual 2021 China Fellowship Conference on February 4th.
Peter Fox-Penner of the Institute for Sustainable Energy participated in an energy policy webinar hosted by OurEnergyPolicy, with opening remarks from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), on February 10th.
Tiffany Li of the School of Law discussed privacy in a pandemic during the Privacy Papers for Policymakers virtual event on February 11th.
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES AID FOR COLLEGES, ARTS
On Tuesday, the House Education and Labor Committee approved a COVID-19 relief bill that would provide nearly $40 billion in emergency aid for nonprofit colleges, with instructions that schools use half the funds for direct financial assistance to students. The bill would also direct $100 million to the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education for research on student learning loss during the pandemic, as well as $135 million each for the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities to support cultural organizations. The measure will move to the full U.S. House of Representatives next week, and the U.S. Senate is expected to begin their own work on a stimulus proposal in late February. Democrats hope to have a stimulus bill signed into law by mid-March.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee easily approved the nominations of Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh as Secretary of Labor. The full Senate is expected to approve both nominees soon.
- The Biden-Harris Administration has named Kathleen Hogan as the acting under secretary for science and energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Hogan had served as deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Gavin Schmidt will temporarily serve in the newly created role of NASA senior climate advisor, ensuring that the agency is involved in the Biden Administration's climate agenda. Schmidt is currently the director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Join the Office of Research for "The Innovator's Journey: Embracing Creativity & Discomfort in the Pursuit of Impact" on February 25th at 3 pm. Faculty innovators from across BU will give lightning talks about their diverse paths from invention to market to impact. The session will touch on the challenges and opportunities of navigating the world of business as an academic researcher, the importance of setting a personal objective and assessing market need, and the concepts of creativity and innovation in the context of translational research. The talks will be followed by a moderated Q&A led by Rana K. Gupta, Director of Faculty Entrepreneurship.
The Bernie Sanders Sitting Meme’s Instant Popularity, Explained by Science
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
The Bernie Sanders Sitting Meme's Instant Popularity, Explained by Science
A BU engineer uses artificial intelligence research to reveal the characteristics that make a meme go viral.
FACULTY EXPERT
Three Takeaways from President Biden's Rapid Movement on Climate Policy
BU international relations and environmental policy expert Henrik Selin reflects on the whirlwind of climate action issued from the Oval Office.
ON THE CHARLES RIVER
Maria Dykema Erb Was a First-Generation Student. Now She’s Here to Help BU’s First-Gens
The inaugural director of the BU Newbury Center says, "I want to be the person I needed back then.”
BU INFLUENCERS
In Case You Missed It...
Research from Julia Raifman of the BU School of Public Health shows that COVID unemployment assistance puts food on the table... BU College of Fine Arts Dean Harvey Young discusses how the Biden-Harris Administration can save the arts with The Boston Globe... Jayita Sarkar of the BU Pardee School of Global Studies argues that the U.S. needs to take domestic nuclear terrorism seriously in The Washington Post... Eileen Costello of the BU School of Medicine talks about setting up a mobile pediatric vaccination vehicle during the coronavirus outbreak in STAT... Tiffany Li of the BU School of Law writes about building robust and ethical vaccine verification systems in a new Brookings Institution report.
Congress Begins Debate on COVID Stimulus
BU IN DC
College of Engineering Dean Kenneth Lutchen met with Massachusetts Congressional offices to discuss federal support for research and engineering education as part of the American Society for Engineering Education's Public Policy Colloquium on February 3rd.
Ibram X. Kendi of the Center for Antiracist Research participated in a virtual townhall with Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) on antiracist policy-making on February 4th. He also discussed his latest book at a virtual National Museum of African American History & Culture event on February 2nd.
Pamela Templer of the College of Arts & Sciences, Evan Kuras of the URBAN Program, School of Public Health student Catherine Connolly, and College of Arts & Sciences student Jennifer Rindy addressed the National Science Foundation's Research Traineeship annual meeting on January 28th and 29th.
CONGRESS BEGINS DEBATE ON COVID STIMULUS
Both chambers of Congress approved budget resolutions along party lines this week, paving the way for legislators to consider a new COVID-19 stimulus package. Congress adopted budget reconciliation instructions which will allow Senate Democrats to pass a $1.9 trillion bill proposed by the Biden Administration with a simple majority, as opposed to the usual 60-vote majority required for most legislation. Ten Senate Republicans have proposed their own $600 billion package, but Democrats have not signaled an interest in a smaller bill. Biden's American Rescue Plan proposes COVID-19 relief funds for public colleges, but does not contain the full set of relief for private institutions or research agencies requested by research universities.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of Education nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona. Responding to questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cardona expressed concern about the adverse impact of student loan debt, but did not take a position on her recommendation for student debt cancellation.
- The Biden-Harris Administration announced two new higher education appointees at the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday. Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, an advocate for education equity and president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy since 2008, will be deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Postsecondary Education. Julie Margetta Morgan will be senior adviser to the under secretary for education, the Department official who typically oversees higher education. Morgan has served as vice president of the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute and as an aide to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in both her Senate office and presidential campaign.
- BU alumna JoAnn Chase (COM '85) was named director of the Environmental Protection Agency's American Indian Environmental Office on Tuesday.
EVENTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
Back by popular demand, the Office of Research and BU Public Relations will host Brad Phillips of Throughline for a virtual, interactive media training and messaging workshop to help researchers deliver a message that audiences will remember, act upon, and share. Come learn how to develop memorable messages that resonate with reporters and stick with audiences, boil complex topics down into meaningful takeaways, navigate challenging questions and more. The training takes place on February 17th at 3:00 p.m., and participants will have the option to follow up with one-on-one consultation.