Accolades

Elaine Mormer named fellow of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Elaine Mormer, the director of audiology clinical education in Pitt’s Department of Communication Science and Disorders, was named a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

To be named a fellow is among the highest honors ASHA bestows. The professor and vice chair for clinical education in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences was honored with inclusion in the 2023 class for outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.

Mormer received the Provost’s Innovation in Education Award in 2019 and the American Academy of Audiology Outstanding Educator Award in 2020. She researches hearing loss in older adults and is a co-investigator on the Hearing for Communication and Resident Engagement (HearCARE) research project, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Mark DeRuiter takes leadership role in American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Mark DeRuiter, vice chair for academic affairs and professor in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, was elected to serve as vice president for standards and ethics in audiology for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

In his role on the ASHA board of directors, DeRuiter will help plan and coordinate the organization’s educational activities and ensure established standards for certification in audiology. A fellow of ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology, DeRuiter’s research focuses on auditory processing disorders and issues in clinical education.

DeRuiter also directs Pitt’s clinical science doctoral program in speech-language pathology in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.

6 Pitt faculty receive NSF CAREER Awards

Six faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh earned National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, one of the foundation’s most prestigious in support of early-career faculty.

Winners not only serve as principal investigator on a project, but also integrate an education aspect into their research. NSF selects recipients who are role models and can lead advances in their department and at the University.

Here are this year’s recipients from Pitt:

Amir Alavi

The assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering has been working to engineer a new class of intelligent materials that can create the foundation for mechanical computing systems. A $535,120 CAREER award will further his research in self-powered mechanical "metamaterials" that can think for themselves without the need for delicate processors or batteries — materials that will be useful for everything from medical implants to space computing.

Mostafa Bedewy

The assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science in the Swanson School will use his $596,734 award to develop laser-induced nanocarbon (LINC) to expedite and revolutionize flexible device manufacturing processes by creating graphene and related nanomaterials directly

Maria Chikina

The assistant professor of computational and systems biology in Pitt’s School of Medicine received a $749,994 CAREER award to build general and flexible algorithms that can reduce large collections of data into smaller, biologically meaningful representations that are concise enough to be easily manipulated by nonexperts while rich enough to support the originally intended analysis and future data reuse.

Xiaowei Jia

This assistant professor of computer science in the School of Computing and Information wants to know:  How can new advances in machine learning impact real-world problems and discoveries? In June 2023, Jia earned $599,987 for his project, “Combining Machine Learning and Physics-based Modeling Approaches for Accelerating Scientific Discovery.”

Lingfei Wu

The assistant professor of informatics and networked systems in Pitt’s School of Computing and Information earned $565,087 for his probe into the distinct roles research teams play in unfolding the advance of science and technology. Wu’s project, “How Does Core Scientific Knowledge Advance Understanding Team Innovation at the Foundations of Sciences,” was funded for a five-year period.

Xiayun Zhao

The assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science in the Swanson School received $657,610 to further her research in photopolymer additive manufacturing (PAM). This technology utilizes two lights to cure photosensitive materials and curb the associated overcuring, allowing for the fabrication of components with higher resolution and greater precision than existing PAM technologies.

— Brandie Jefferson, photography by Aimee Obidzinski

Anthony Dellitto earns University of Buffalo Alumni Achievement Award

Anthony Delitto, dean of Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, earned a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Buffalo, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in physical therapy in 1979.

The professor of physical therapy has expanded the department’s doctoral program and research efforts, which has resulted in a No. 1 ranking from U.S. News and World Report.

Not only has Delitto authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers, but he also treats people with painful musculoskeletal disorders. He conducted one of the first large Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute trials; the $13-million grant for the TARGET study investigated innovative ways to deliver psychologically informed physical therapy.

Delitto’s other honors include a Golden Pen Award, a Steven J. Rose Award for Excellence in Research and a Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy from the American Physical Therapist Association (APTA).

Oscar Marroquin in Division of Cardiology named vice dean for clinical affairs

Oscar C. Marroquin, associate professor in the Division of Cardiology, has been appointed to the role of vice dean for clinical affairs for Pitt’s School of Medicine. Marroquin has also been named senior vice president of UPMC and president of its Physician Services Division, a role in which he will oversee more than 5,000 employed physicians and staff.

A professor in the School of Medicine for two decades, Marroquin also holds secondary appointments in the School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and Pitt’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. In his new role as vice dean, Marroquin will work collaboratively with Pitt Med leadership to advance clinical education.

Marroquin earned his medical degree from the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. He completed an internal medicine residency at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, followed by fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology and a certificate in clinical research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

A member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians, Marroquin’s academic interests focus on outcomes research in interventional cardiology and heart disease in women. He also specializes in turning real-world data into evidence and is currently chief analytics officer at UPMC, where his team works to apply “big data” approaches to measure and predict clinical outcomes. Marroquin is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.

Christine McClure awarded by State of Black Learning, Strong Women Strong Girls mentorship organization

Christine McClure, a senior research science in Pitt’s School of Public Health, won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the State of Black Learning.

The award, presented each year at the annual event on educating and engaging with Black students in Pennsylvania, honors a teacher or educational professional who has made a positive difference in the overall learning climate for Black children.

McClure’s (GSPIA ’06G, EDUC ’18G) research seeks to understand the intersectional experiences of women of color in higher education to inform the creation of more equitable spaces for minoritized groups.

McClure received her award at the 2023 State of Black Learning Conference, Aug. 9-11 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel.

Also, in early August, McClure earned an award from Strong Women Strong Girls, a mentorship organization that offers programming for high-school and elementary-aged girls in Pittsburgh and Boston.

McClure (GSPIA ’06, EDUC ’18G) won one of three Strong Awards, in the professional category, for her work mentoring women in higher education. She serves as board chair for When She Thrives, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to equipping single mothers through personal and professional development, education and advocacy.

The accolade was presented at the organization’s ninth annual Strong Awards breakfast ceremony on Aug. 11.

4 Pitt people win Sigma International Awards for Nursing Excellence

Three faculty members and an emeritus dean from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing received with Sigma International Awards for Nursing Excellence.

Each year, the international nursing honors society recognizes superior achievement in developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. The winners will be honored during Sigma’s 47th Biennial Convention on Nov. 11-15 in San Antonio, Texas.

“Our winners have exemplified the spirit of excellence, innovation, and dedication to mentorship, service, research, and leadership that we strive to cultivate at Pitt Nursing,” said Christine E. Kasper, dean of the School of Nursing. “Their accomplishments not only elevate Pitt Nursing’s reputation, but also inspire and motivate us all to reach new heights in our own pursuits. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments.”

Here are this year’s recipients from Pitt:

Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, a dean emeritus and distinguished service professor of nursing, has been awarded the Mary Tolle Wright Award, which recognizes extraordinary excellence in leadership, visionary and innovative approaches and the development of nursing leaders and leadership. Dunbar-Jacob served as dean of Pitt Nursing for more than 20 years and, under her leadership, it became one of the first schools in the nation to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Throughout her career, Dunbar-Jacob has been a sought-after presenter, mentor, advocate, researcher and educator. Because of her leadership and visionary approach to nursing, Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan selected Pitt to establish the undergraduate nursing curriculum for its newly established medical school. Dunbar-Jacob also received the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research Pathfinder Distinguished Research Award and was a member of the inaugural class of Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.

Professor Richard Henker has been awarded the Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for extraordinary excellence in service. The award celebrates voluntary service projects that address global health disparities, health care, the nursing profession and Sigma.  This prestigious accolade acknowledges Dr. Henker’s exceptional contributions and positive impact on a global health disparity of a targeted population, specifically in Laos and Cambodia. Henker was recognized for exceptional contributions and positive impact on a global health disparity, particularly for active projects guiding policy changes with the ministries of health in Laos and Cambodia.

Young Ji Lee, associate professor of nursing and medicine and Pitt Nursing’s vice chair of administration, has been awarded the prestigious Virginia K. Saba Nursing Informatics Leadership Award. This award honors an individual for innovative and cutting-edge work that results in significant development, contributes to advancing nursing informatics and achieves a recognizable and momentous public benefit. In 2018, Lee contributed to the revision of the American Nurses Association’s Core Principals on Telehealth, a guide for health care professionals who use connected health technologies. The results electronically connected clinicians to clinicians, patients to clinicians and even patients to other patients and is considered a breakthrough in the field of informatics.

John O’Donnell, professor and chair of the Department of Nurse Anesthesia and director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, has been awarded the Lucie S. Kelly Mentor Award. A powerhouse in the field of nurse anesthesia and simulation, O’Donnell has gained a national and international reputation for excellence, making him a sought-after mentor and collaborator. In 1994, he accepted a faculty position teaching within the nurse anesthesia program at the School of Nursing. Just one year later, he assumed the role of associate director of the program. Today, 1057 CRNA graduates from Pitt Nursing account for approximately 2% of the nations’ nurse anesthetist workforce. 

— Katelyn Kocis

Pittsburgh Quantum Institute appoints Michael Hatridge as new director

The Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI) has appointed Michael Hatridge as its new director. The associate professor of physics and director of Pitt’s physics and quantum computing major brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of quantum science and technology to the role.

The PQI is a collaborative initiative between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University, and continues to be a leading collaborative interdisciplinary organization that advances research, education and training in quantum science and engineering.

“We are very excited that Michael has been named director of PQI,” said Adam Leibovich, dean of Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and College of General Studies. “Michael has proven himself to be a true innovator — in the classroom, in his lab and through the collaborations he’s built with colleagues across disciplines. He has the vision and experience to lead PQI in great new directions. The Dietrich School is looking forward to continuing our strong partnership with PQI.”

Hatridge will be responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing the institute's research programs, fostering collaborations with industry and government partners and furthering the education and training of the next generation of quantum scientists.

“I am honored and excited to lead the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute into its next phase of growth and impact,” said Hatridge. “Quantum science and technology have the potential to revolutionize various fields, from computing and communication to sensing and materials science. I look forward to working with our exceptional faculty, researchers and students to push the boundaries of quantum research and innovation.”

“We are delighted to welcome Michael to this role,” said Rob Cunningham, vice chancellor for research infrastructure at Pitt. “His expertise and leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our position as a global leader in quantum research.”

Robert Weyant of dental school appointed to Lancet Commission on Global Oral Health

Robert Weyant, professor and chair of the Department of Dental Public Health in Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine, has been appointed as a member of the Lancet Commission on Global Oral Health.  

The Lancet, the world’s highest impact academic journal, established the commission in early 2020 in recognition of the global neglect of oral diseases and the need for a broader understanding and commitment to global oral health within public health and global health agendas. 

This major undertaking has brought together 27 experts from 16 countries to conduct a scientific review, inquiry and response to urgent, often neglected or understudied oral health predicaments.

Weyant, who is also Pitt’s associate dean of dental public health and community outreach, brings his unique expertise and experience in basic and social epidemiological research related to oral health disparities to the team to address the global policy neglect of oral diseases.

Learn more about the commission’s work to achieve transformational policy and political change.

Graham Hatfull earns lifetime achievement award from European Society of Mycobacteriology

Phage researcher and clinical pioneer Graham Hatfull is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Gardner Middlebrook Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM) for his contributions to the study of tuberculosis and related diseases.

The Eberly Family Professor of Biotechnology in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences has pioneered the use of bacteriophages, or just “phages,” to combat antibiotic resistant infections.

Last year he reported on two such efforts in the journals Cell and Nature Communications. One study focused on using genetically engineered phages to rid a cystic fibrosis patient of a yearslong bacterial infection that had prevented him from receiving a lung transplant. Another was on the first use of phage therapy to treat a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium chelonae in an immunocompromised patient.

Hatfull’s lab uses its library of phages, as well as a large stock of bacteria samples, to find the best option to attack infections caused by different strains of bacteria.

The lab’s clinical operation reaches around the globe. The team receives requests from patients who have run out of options to treat infections; in return, Hatfull’s team does the legwork of finding a matching phage, or cocktail of phages, for the job and sends them to people for treatment.

The lifetime achievement award is named for Gardner Middlebrook, who helped develop a blood test and a treatment for tuberculosis, which is caused by infection with a specific strain of Mycobacterium.

PhD candidate Lorraine Blatt wins National Academy of Education fellowship

Lorraine Blatt, who is studying developmental psychology in Pitt's Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), was named a 2023 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation fellow. The graduate student is among 35 fellows — selected from a pool of 355 applicants — who will receive $27,500 for a period of up to two years to complete their dissertations and attend professional development retreats.

At LRDC, Blatt’s research examines how structural influences on social policy and education shape children’s developmental trajectories and ultimately uphold structural inequities. She is particularly interested in how de facto school segregation relates to academic and social development in early and middle childhood. Since 2020, Blatt (A&S '19G) has published peer-reviewed articles in AERA Open, American Educational Research Journal, International Journal of STEM Education and Perspectives on Psychological Science.

Her winning dissertation, “Contexts of School Segregation and Children’s Academic Skills and Social Development in Elementary School,” uses multilevel growth curve and mixed effects modeling to examine links between school segregation and children’s academic skills and social development. This study will examine whether these links differ across children’s racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. It will explore social outcomes rarely considered in segregation research, including children’s prosocial behavior, school belonging and stress about school.  

Prior to graduate school, Blatt was a researcher at the Urban Institute, where her work focused on child care, education and anti-poverty policies. In graduate school, she has continued her commitment to research-informed policy through work with the Research-to-Policy Collaboration and teaching an undergraduate course on child development and social policy.

Charles Kotuby in School of Law named visiting professor at Kyiv School of Economics

Charles Kotuby, professor of practice in Pitt’s School of Law, was appointed as a visiting professor at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) in Ukraine.

The executive director of Pitt’s Center for International Legal Education will foster education efforts to help Ukraine recover from its current war, and will move Pitt and KSE toward greater cooperation. Kotuby joins Pitt Associate Professor of Economics Tymofiy Mylovanov at the school.

Through CILE programs like the Rule of Law Fellowship, Kotuby has already contributed to Pitt’s efforts to help Ukraine. The fellowship — sponsored by local and international firms, foundations and companies — funds tuition and living expenses to deserving Afghan and Ukrainian lawyers pursuing an LLM, or specialized master’s degree in law, from Pitt’s School of Law.

Kotuby is also actively representing Ukrainian clients with claims related to Russia’s invasion as well as various pro bono legal reform efforts in the country.

Read more about how Pitt’s School of Law is helping in Ukraine.

Abimbola Adewumi is Pitt’s new chair of pediatric dentistry

Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine named Abimbola Adewumi its new chair of pediatric dentistry. She will lead the department, which educates Doctor of Dental Medicine and dental hygiene students as well as graduate residents in the specialized field.

Adewumi comes to Pitt by way of the University of Florida College of Dentistry, where she served as a clinical professor. She was also a faculty member on the school’s craniofacial team and researched cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies.

The board-certified pediatric dentist hails from London, where she completed her master’s degree at the University of London and her specialist training at the King’s College Dental Institute and St. George’s Hospital.

Pitt’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry offers care to patients in the tristate region, including routine exams and cleanings, restorative dentistry and sedation dentistry, among other treatments. Patient self-referrals are welcome — call 412-648-8930 to schedule an appointment for anyone under the age of 18.

Pitt Medicine researchers published in Molecular Cell study

In a new Molecular Cell study, a Pitt team has uncovered a novel mechanism by which cells monitor iron availability, with low iron levels stimulating stress signaling pathways to preserve cell fitness. The findings appear to be particularly important in red blood cells, which use large amounts of iron for the oxygen-transporting protein hemoglobin.

“Because iron plays crucial roles in the body, levels must be precisely monitored within cells,” said senior author Shiori Sekine, assistant professor in the School of Medicine and member of the Aging Institute. “Insufficient iron can cause iron deficiency anemia, which is the most common form of anemia worldwide. But on the other hand, excess iron is also toxic to the body. Our study brings attention to an unappreciated iron monitoring system.”

Sekine conducted this study with Yusuke Sekine, assistant professor in the School of Medicine and member of the Aging Institute, and Ryan Houston, their shared laboratory research technician, as well as researchers from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The researchers showed that mitochondria, the cell’s energy factories, have a special system to monitor cellular iron levels that involves a protein called DELE1. When iron levels are normal, DELE1 is imported into the mitochondria and quickly degraded. But under low iron conditions, DELE1 remains on the mitochondria surface, where it activates cellular stress responses to help blood cells survive under iron-limited conditions.

Their findings shed light on a new role of mitochondria as iron-sensing organelles, which could eventually inform new strategies to treat anemia and other red blood cell disorders.

Ken Ho from School of Medicine wins 2023 Kerry Stoner Award

Ken Ho, associate professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, won the 2023 Kerry Stoner Award.

The honor is presented annually by the Allies for Health + Wellbeing, formerly the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, to an individual for progressing the legacy of its namesake, who died of complications from AIDS in 1993.

Ho is the medical director for the Pitt Men’s Study, the Pittsburgh branch of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, and for Project Silk, a community resource that provides free STI and HIV testing for youth and young adults. His research includes HIV prevention, currently with a focus on the use of intermittent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Considered a national expert on HIV prevention, Ho also was also recognized by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2022 as one of the region’s top doctors.

Margaret Rosenzweig is Pitt-Bradford Oncology Nursing Society scholar-in-residence

Margaret Rosenzweig, a distinguished service professor in Pitt’s School of Nursing, was appointed as a scholar-in-residence for the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

Rosenzweig will work in the position with ONS’ chief clinical officer to strategize the organization’s research priorities. Her work in breast cancer — including forming a support and advocacy program in collaboration with Magee Womens Hospital and leading the Allegheny County Breast Consortium — aligns with ONS’ mission to care for and understand cancer patients.

As scholar-in-residence, the professor of medicine will collaborate with organizations and nurse scientists to address emerging oncology research priorities at the national level. Rosenzweig’s lab at Pitt also developed the Advanced Practice Provider Web Education Resource to address the unmet educational needs of advanced practice providers.

Stephanie Eckstrom of Pitt-Bradford Social Work program gets award from AAUW Bradford branch

Stephanie Eckstrom, director of Pitt-Bradford’s Master of Social Work program, earned the Gateway to Equity award from the Bradford branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

The Gateway to Equity Award is given annually to an individual, group or organization that advances the AAUW’s mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.

Eckstrom (A&S ’14G) has led the regional campus’ MSW program since its 2002 inception. As an adjunct professor in Pitt-Bradford’s sociology program, she created the course Sociology of Sexuality. She also helped to form the school’s Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies program and minor.

Along with several other School of Social Work committees, Eckstrom serves as co-chair for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is also a member of the President’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and plans events for heritage and history months at Pitt-Bradford.

Aman Mahajan awarded funding to develop cardiovascular monitoring technology

Aman Mahajan, Peter and Eva Safar Professor and Chair of Pitt’s Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, earned two grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to develop innovative cardiovascular monitoring technologies.

Mahajan is the contact principal investigator on an NIH Small Business Technology Transfer grant to develop a wearable, AI-enabled cardiac sensor. The funding is shared with LA-based Sensydia, which will partner with the Pitt researchers to develop a low-cost, noninvasive cardiac performance system that can measure hemodynamics without requiring a clinical procedure. The device would allow earlier, safer and more affordable diagnoses, improved surveillance capabilities, more frequent monitoring of at-risk patients and better clinical decision support for clinicians in guiding therapies.

Mahajan and Ramakrishna Mukkamala, a professor in Pitt’s Department of Bioengineering, are also principal investigators on a project to develop an arm cuff that monitors blood pressure, cardiac output, and left ventricular ejection fraction better than existing technologies. The researchers’ “Smart Cuff” will allow clinicians to rapidly diagnose problems and select appropriate therapies conveniently using a single device.

Haider Ala Hamoudi named to City & State PA's Law Power 100 List

Haider Ala Hamoudi, interim dean of Pitt’s School of Law, has been included on the Law Power 100 List published by City & State PA.

The magazine publishes a list of the most influential legal professionals in Pennsylvania annually. Hamoudi was recognized for his leadership at Pitt as well as his expertise in Middle Eastern and Islamic law. The professor is also editor-in-chief of Arab Law Quarterly and advised Iraqi legislature’s Constitutional Review Committee throughout 2009.

Hamoudi’s research focuses on the complexity of the actual operation of law, rather than studying only authoritative legal texts at face value.

Pitt representatives facilitated, presented at a UN side event

More than 130 experts and advocates for reparatory justice attended a side event co-hosted by several University of Pittsburgh units during the second session of the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

The May 31 event — “Building a Case for U.S. Reparations" — is part of a larger initiative by Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College, the Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice, and the Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) to foster conversation and build a global database on racial equity.

The database project, which aligns with the U.N.'s goal to develop policy solutions that address the status of people of African descent around the globe, began with U.N. Permanent Forum member Justin Hansford's visit in fall 2022.

The Howard University professor of law came to Pittsburgh to present on narratives and data of racism. After hearing Hansford's community-engaged work, Pitt's Ron Idoko — who holds a dual role as associate director of CRSP and the Frederick Honors College's associate director for honors education in social innovation — initiated the global database collaboration.

"The database is actually designed to capture what we think are the best practices, initiatives and policies toward racial equity, and so that the United Nations' Permanent Forum can utilize that data as part of their global declaration in 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly," Idoko said.

Frederick Honors College Dean Nicola Foote opened the event, which corresponded with the Permanent Forum's second annual assembly, with a keynote on the school’s and Pitt’s commitment to supporting transformative social change and the Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent. Other presenting partner organizations included Howard University School of Law, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, FirstRepair and the African American Redress Network. 

Editor's note: This story has been updated.

Photo by Ron Idoko. From left: Gabby Yearwood, managing faculty director of Pitt's Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice; Nicola Foote, dean of the Frederick Honors College; and Justin Hansford, Howard University law professor and member of the United Nations' Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.