Browsing popular bookstores, Lauren Churilla can't help but notice the predominance of male figures in history books. She is one history scholar who sees an opportunity to reverse the trend.

Churilla joined the Department of History two years ago as a graduate student. She is also a full-time curator at St. Vincent College's Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery. She currently pursues a research interest in women empowerment and self-defense tactics from 1880-1930. 

CMU's International Film Festival will bring 16 award-winning films to Pittsburgh that explore identity on a personal level, as a collective group, as a specific race or gender and through different languages and cultures.

Each screening also will feature a special event, such as appearances by the director, panel discussions, presentations and culinary displays relevant to the films' themes. 

As president and CEO of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE), alumna Sach Takayasu played an instrumental role in what she describes as "giving a voice to the business interests of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders."

President Barack Obama chose Takayasu as one of 19 business leaders to be briefed on the 2016 Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Dietrich College Personal Mention shares news and accomplishments from the college's faculty and staff. 

Included in this issue are Gary DiLisio, Kiron Skinner, Rebecca Nugent and more.

Read Dietrich College Personal Mention .