News
Studies show that mentoring can also benefit the mentors decades after experiences
Mary Fry, professor of educational psychology at KU, has co-written two studies that examined mentoring programs. One found that the Strong Girls program benefited those providing the guidance to young girls 10 years after their experience, and another found “sideways mentoring” among peers helped scholars for as long as 20 years.
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Thu, 04/30/2026
Race, gender and internal migration shape how individuals seek out healthcare in South Africa, study finds
A new article by Tyler Myroniuk, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Kansas, explores factors that shape healthcare-seeking behavior in South Africa, finding that race and gender often impede the process.
Thu, 04/30/2026
Artist, naturalist Ray Troll to give talk April 30 at KU
Artist and naturalist Ray Troll will present “Fostering Fossil Fascination: Living the Paleo Nerd Life” at 3 p.m. April 30. The 2011 Guggenheim Fellow will discuss his career as a visual artist and science communicator and share information about the image displayed in Ritchie Hall that he donated to the KU Department of Geology.
Wed, 04/29/2026
Spencer Museum, Charlotte Street announce Rocket Grants 2026 call for artists
The Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas and Charlotte Street have announced the 2026 open call for Rocket Grants, with applications opening May 6. The deadline to apply is June 17. An information session will be held May 21 at the Spencer Museum for artists interested in applying.
Wed, 04/29/2026
Study: Faced with a hotter future, America needs better data and response plans
A new paper from researchers at the University of Kansas looks at extreme heat events in the United States, arguing a combination of inadequate data and unclear delineation of responsibility among government agencies leaves the nation unprepared for a hotter climate.
Wed, 04/29/2026
Lost history recovered: KU digital humanities team adds missing pages to The Call archives
In a cardboard box tucked away in an office in the 18th and Vine District, a decade of Kansas City history was slowly turning into a collection of unreadable plastic circles. A KU librarian and three undergraduate students stepped in to preserve the archives from The Call.
Wed, 04/29/2026
KU nominates two undergraduates for Udall Scholarship
Two undergraduates at the University of Kansas are nominees for Udall Scholarships, which recognize students who demonstrate leadership, public service and commitment in the fields of tribal public policy, Native health care or the environment.
Wed, 04/29/2026
Research finds journalism classes lack consistent approach to AI use across institutions
Researchers at the University of Kansas analyzed syllabi from journalism classes from 15 universities across the United States, finding they took a varying approach to AI use when they acknowledged it at all. Some treated it as a threat, others permitted its use under strict boundaries, and others treated it as a subject of ethical inquiry. A standard approach could benefit students and schools, researchers said.
Tue, 04/28/2026
KU announces 2026-2030 Self Graduate Fellows
In fall 2026, the fellowship reaches 67 total current fellows, making it the largest fellowship size ever in the program’s history. The total value of the four-year Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship exceeds $275,000.
Tue, 04/28/2026
Winners crowned at the 68th annual Snyder Book Collecting Contest
The University of Kansas Libraries recently honored 11 student finalists and awarded cash prizes during a reception at Watson Library. Established in 1956, the contest is designed to encourage students to experience the joy of building personal libraries highlighting their unique interests and passions.
Mon, 04/27/2026
KU School of Business launching online master’s in business analytics for fall 2026
The University of Kansas School of Business will begin offering an online version of its Master of Science in Business Analytics program this fall to better serve working professionals.
Mon, 04/27/2026
OneKU Denim Day brings global perspectives on sexual violence to university
The University of Kansas will host OneKU Denim Day on April 29, featuring film screenings and a panel discussion exploring sexual violence in the U.S. and Japan. The free, public event aims to promote awareness, dialogue and support for survivors.
Mon, 04/27/2026
KU Veterans Alumni Network to host reception for university’s military-affiliated community
The KU Veterans Alumni Network will host its End-of-Year Reception on May 7 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. The event is open to the public. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends are invited to attend in support of KU’s military-affiliated community.
Fri, 04/24/2026
KFRTI Director Jennifer Johnson credits team after receiving IFSAC Organizational Excellence Award
Jenn Johnson, director of the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute, was awarded the Organizational Excellence Award by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress on April 10.
Fri, 04/24/2026
School of Pharmacy announces Distinguished Service Award recipient
Gene Hotchkiss has been selected as the recipient of the KU School of Pharmacy’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award after a lifetime of service to the school. He is a KU alumnus and completed his career as senior associate dean before retiring in 2020.
Fri, 04/24/2026
Poetry translator serves as cross-cultural ambassador for latest project, ‘Last Stops of the Night Journey’
A University of Kansas professor says his latest translation of an Italian poetry collection, like all his work, is driven by his love of literature. Patrizio Ceccagnoli will give a reading for Milo De Angelis’ “Last Stops of the Night Journey” on April 28.
Thu, 04/23/2026
Spencer Museum announces 2026 Brosseau Creativity Award recipients
The Spencer Museum of Art has awarded four KU undergraduate students from Kansas with Brosseau Creativity Awards, which honor innovative and risk-taking creative work in any area of study.
Thu, 04/23/2026
KU Bales Choral Society to stage spring concert
The KU Bales Choral Society will present its spring concert at 7 p.m. May 3 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. The BSC is composed of University of Kansas faculty, staff and students, and KU brass and percussion musicians make up the orchestra.
Wed, 04/22/2026
KU School of Business announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
The KU School of Business will recognize John Brandmeyer and Ron Lockton as 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for their leadership, impact and service.
Wed, 04/22/2026
First US ambassador-at-large for Arctic Affairs and 11th Airborne Division colonel to open the 2026 KU Security Conference
Mike Sfraga, the first U.S. ambassador-at-large for Arctic Affairs, and Col. Russell Vanderlugt, commanding officer of the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division Arctic Aviation Command, will be in conversation with Dole Institute Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib at 7 p.m. May 5.
Wed, 04/22/2026
Christian nationalists more likely to oppose gun regulations and support political violence, study finds
A new article by Don Haider-Markel, professor of political science at the University of Kansas, finds that for Christian nationalists with a high gun-owner identity, there is an instilled culture of personal and community protection that makes them more likely to endorse extreme actions like violence.
Tue, 04/21/2026
Joshua Newman named dean of the KU School of Education & Human Sciences
The University of Kansas has named Joshua Newman as the next dean of the School of Education & Human Sciences. Newman is currently the associate dean for research and Sara Lavinia de Keni Endowed Professor at Florida State University’s Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
Tue, 04/21/2026
$2.5M gift continues momentum for KU’s entrepreneurship hub
Mathew and Kelly Stava have pledged $2.5 million to propel completion of a new building that will serve as the entrepreneurship hub for the University of Kansas.
Tue, 04/21/2026
KU Global Scholars to showcase international research at annual symposium
Seven University of Kansas seniors will mark the end of their Global Scholars experience by presenting their research to the public April 23. The Global Scholars program provides intercultural learning opportunities and faculty-mentored research for students with an interest in international studies.
Tue, 04/21/2026
Study finds high school journalism leading the way in financial literacy, even if business isn't part of curriculum
Journalism classes usually are not paired with business lessons. While there have been calls for increasing business knowledge in journalism, research from the University of Kansas has found that high school journalists are learning business skills even though they are not a core part of the curriculum.
Mon, 04/20/2026
KU hydrologist receives Fulbright Scholar Award to research High Plains aquifer
Sam Zipper, an ecohydrologist at the Kansas Geological Survey and assistant professor at the University of Kansas, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Mon, 04/20/2026
KLETC hosts inaugural 5K, 1-mile event supporting fentanyl awareness
In partnership with the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, KLETC hosted its first Law Enforcement Against Fentanyl 5K race and 1-mile walk. The event took place on the center’s Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, offering participants a rare opportunity to run on the training track.
Mon, 04/20/2026
NSF digitization project opens access to millions of African plant specimens
A National Science Foundation grant led by Town Peterson, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and senior curator with the KU Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, is uniting 21 U.S. herbaria, biodiversity data specialists and African researchers to create one of the largest digital resources of tropical African seed plants ever assembled.
Mon, 04/20/2026
Bart Swartz named growth officer for KU Achievement & Assessment Institute
The Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas has named Bart Swartz its first growth officer, a new executive role created to strengthen AAI’s position as a national leader in research-based solutions for education and community well-being.
Mon, 04/20/2026
Advisory: Media invited to ceremonial groundbreaking for KU Entrepreneurship Hub on April 24
KU leaders, alumni, donors and community partners will gather April 24 to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of KU’s Entrepreneurship Hub, a new, donor-funded facility operated by the School of Business and designed to serve students of all disciplines.
Fri, 04/17/2026
Kit and Diana Smith pledge $3 million to support KU Law students and student-athletes
Christopher “Kit” and Diana Smith have tapped into their passions for the law and student athletes and pledged $3 million to the University of Kansas — $2 million to create the Dean Davis Law School Scholars Fund and $1 million to create the Kit and Diana Smith Athletics Scholarship.