Mary Gerend, a junior psychology major at Nebraska, was attempting to bike 300 miles in April to raise money for the Head for the Cure Foundation, a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to supporting the community of brain cancer patients, their families, friends, caregivers and other supporters. Mary’s mother, Amy, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a Stage 4 brain tumor, last year. The Kansas City Star published an April 11 article on the fundraiser.
Twenty-seven students in Kevin McMullen’s course Editing and the Publishing Industry co-edited a new annotated version of Susan Glaspell’s 1915 novel “Fidelity,” which was published by the Southern Illinois University Press last October. Third Coast Review published an April 13 review of the re-release.
Bedross Der Matossian, history, has been awarded a 2026 fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation — one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for scholars. Articles on the achievement appeared in KHGI, the Lincoln Journal Star and Armenian Weekly.
Tim Borstelmann, Elwood N. and Katherine Thompson Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Modern World History, was interviewed for an April 20 KUNR Public Radio story on the United States’ 250th anniversary. He noted that the Bicentennial came during a period of deep national strain. “You might think about the context of 1976,” he said. “The civil rights movement, women’s rights and the counterculture created a kind of social crisis.”
Kevin Smith, political science, was interviewed for an April 23 Roll Call article on some Republican candidates — including Omaha’s Brinker Harding — embracing President Donald Trump’s endorsement despite the risks. He noted that Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District is closely divided and that candidates must appeal to a sizable number of independents. Smith said Rep. Don Bacon “was able to do that very successfully, because though he was a Republican — and a moderately conservative Republican — he made no bones (that) he was willing to speak out against his party, and that played well with the independents in the district.”
Husker researchers are documenting ranchers’ land management decisions as part of a $5 million research project focused on sustainable beef production and grazing systems. The project is led by Galen Erickson, animal science, in collaboration with Effie Athanassopoulos, School of Global Integrative Studies, and Gwendŵr Meredith, School of Natural Resources. Farms.com ran an April 23 article on the project.
Husker researchers led by Eric Weaver, biological sciences, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. Stories on the research appeared in KETV, the Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska Public Media, Omaha World-Herald, AgDaily, Farms.com, Feedstuffs, The Microbiologist, The Poultry Site and RFD-TV.
