American University College of Arts and Sciences

Today, we congratulate President Alger's formal installation as the 16th president of American University. The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to celebrate this historic moment! President Alger is an avid supporter of the arts and can frequently be found in the audience cheering on our student performers. We look forward to welcoming him to many more performances during his time at AU! Photos by Elena Zimmerman and Jillian Skara

?? Bringing Sound to Life through Theatre Sound Design Samantha Farace (CAS ’26), an audio production major at American University, recently served as the sound designer for AU’s sold-out fall theatre production Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea. In our latest CAS Conversation, she shares how her work in AU’s Audio Technology Program and passion for music and theatre come together on stage. Farace brings a thoughtful, narrative-driven approach to her work: “The sound that the audience hears doesn't exist for the characters. It's about storytelling and building a world.” Read about her creative process, inspiration, and what it takes to design sound for the stage: https://bit.ly/4l5YTN3

? It's almost showtime! ? 9 to 5, The Musical hits the Greenberg Theatre stage TOMORROW and runs through this weekend. Featuring the iconic music of Dolly Parton, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is about three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do—even in a man's world! Do you have your tickets yet? https://bit.ly/484wmQr ?? by Jillian Skara

American University professor astrophysicist Johannes U. Lange and student Abby Fisher are part of the DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) team behind the most detailed publicly available 3D map of the cosmos! The groundbreaking dataset, featuring 18.7 million galaxies, quasars, and stars, is helping scientists explore dark energy, galaxy evolution, and the fabric of the universe itself. Best of all? It’s free and open to all space enthusiasts. Read more about AU’s role in this cosmic breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4iVLyFc Image: KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/B. Tafreshi

Nearly 200 CAS students participated in our 35th annual Mathias Research Conference this past weekend! Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines presented original research to faculty, friends, and colleagues. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Laura DeNardis, gave an enlightening presentation on ethical flashpoints in AI. What an inspiring weekend of scholarship, research, and curiosity! #GoEagles

Congrats to American University sophomores Olivia Bohart and Jack Weber for participating in Lockheed Martin's 8th annual Ethics in Engineering Competition in February! #FeelGoodFriday They designed a decision support capability for allocating resources for fighting wildfires, proposing & justifying technical and ethical trade-offs between AI tools & human-in-the-loop capabilities. They reached out to industry and academic leaders in the wildfire-fighting community and did a great job integrating their AU knowledge with their new domain knowledge in communicating their approach. #GoEagles

?? Eagle Intern Spotlight ?? Meet Celestial Gomes, CAS/BS '27, a Fall 2024 Environmental Interpreter & Field Biologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Q: What did your day-to-day look like as the Environmental Interpreter & Field Biologist? A: Every day was different, but during my time there, I enjoyed observing and performing bird demos for the center's visitors. It allowed me to learn and spread conservation messages to the zoo's visitors. Each discussion and demonstration I participated in made me more confident in my scientific communication. Q: What did you love most about your internship? A: I loved the focus on learning during my internship. I had no experience in a zoo or knowledge of birds, but the staff I worked with supported me through my nerves. I gained confidence in presenting scientific information, and the individualized experience was rewarding. Q: What career advice would you give to your fellow Eagles? A: Try everything—from opportunities that do not align with your career path to opportunities that seem too far out of reach or competitive. There's nothing wrong with rejection when you try! Q: Is there someone you would like to thank in the AU Community? A: I would like to thank Professor Nabina Liebow from the College of Arts and Sciences' Leadership and Ethical Development Program (CAS LEAD) for always pushing me to pursue opportunities and put myself out there! She helped me discover myself and feel confident in my future.

Meet Iris: American Universitys' First AI-Powered Robot! Iris remembers names, speaks nine languages, answers complex questions, summarizes classes, and even writes and explains code—all while turning to face whoever’s speaking. Iris isn’t just a search engine; she’s a next-level AI assistant bringing human-like interaction to AU: https://bit.ly/4iKUT2D Created by Computer Science Professorial Lecturer Aref Zahed, Iris is redefining AI engagement on campus. Need the latest on March Madness, the weather, or DC’s cherry blossoms? Iris has you covered. She can also translate class lectures, write grant proposals, manage classroom tech, and even send emergency alerts to campus security. Oh, and did we mention? She’s fully solar-powered!

?? The?35th Annual Robyn Rafferty Mathias Student Research Conference?is happening?in person on?Saturday, March 22, 2025, at AU's Don Myers Technology & Innovation Building (DMTI)!??? This conference is a platform for?American University College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) undergraduate and graduate students?to showcase their original research, scholarship, and creative work. For 2025, we’re introducing two AI-focused award categories: ???AI in Mathematical, Computer Sciences, and Natural Sciences ???AI in Arts, Humanities, and the Social Sciences ?? Presenters will have the chance to win?monetary awards and certificates?signed by the CAS Dean Linda Aldoory ???Location & Logistics: ?? Free parking at Nebraska Ave & American University School of International Service garages ?? Free American University shuttle from?Tenleytown-AU Metro ?? https://lnkd.in/gxwj9kg2 Join us in celebrating innovation and academic excellence! #AUResearch

While we're cheering on the AU men's basketball team (GO EAGLES!), we're also digging into bracketology ?? ?? Each year, millions of Americans try to solve a math problem by filling out their NCAA tournament bracket. And yet, no one has picked all 63 matchups correctly. Dive into the math of picking March Madness matchups with Math/Stats Professor Mike Limarzi: https://bit.ly/4i99k0p