Dietrich College News

Released at the beginning of each month, Dietrich College News is your chance to stay up-to-date on the latest news, events and accomplishments of Dietrich alumni, students, staff and faculty.

Have a story or event to share? Email us!

Celebrating Dietrich College's Tartans on the Rise

Meela Imperato (DC 2013, 2015), Sasha Cohen Ioannides (DC 2020) and Shaun Ranadé (DC 2015; MCS 2015; ENG 2016), have been recognized as part of the 2025 class of Tartans on the Rise, a group of recent alumni who are already making an impact in their professional fields.

Learn more about this year's class of Tartans on the Rise.

Experts Tackle Generative AI Ethics and Governance at 2025 K&L Gates-CMU Conference

Thought leaders from industry, academia, government and civil society gathered to discuss ethics and governance of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) during the March 10 to 11 K&L Gates-Carnegie Mellon University Conference in Ethics and Computational Technologies.

Read more about the conference.

Cloaked in Color: Some Female Hummingbirds Evolve Male Plumage to Dodge Harassment

Scientists have long been aware that female hummingbirds can take on the bright colors used by males, but the reason remained a mystery until a game-theoretic model developed by researchers including Kevin Zollman, director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics, helped solve the puzzle.

Read more about how game theory helps us understand hummingbirds.

Fields-Black Receives Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize for 'COMBEE'

Carnegie Mellon University Professor of History Edda Fields-Black has received the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize for her book "COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid and Black Freedom During the Civil War." The award recognizes exceptional scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier or era.

Read more about 'COMBEE'.

Faculty Spotlight: Atoosa Kasirzadeh

Atoosa Kasirzadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy with a courtesy appointment in the Software and Societal Systems Department, works at the intersection of AI development and ethical governance. She combines careful technical analysis with philosophical insights to investigate how advanced AI systems can be developed and deployed while benefiting humans and societies.

Learn more about Atoosa's research and her goals for the next generation of scholars.

Upcoming Events

• Dietrich College Brunch & Buggy: Join members of the Dietrich College community for the annual Brunch and Buggy watch party! Gather under the tent on the Baker Hall Terrace on April 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to enjoy a light brunch and see the races up close. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. Explore more Spring Carnival Events.

• America's Role in the World: on April 17 at 4 p.m., Audrey Kurth Cronin, Trustees Professor of Security and Technology and director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST), will lead a panel on America's role in the world. Panelists will explore the United States' historical and contemporary role in international affairs by examining past successes and missteps, the value of U.S. diplomacy in a rapidly changing world, and the future of U.S. leadership in global affairs. This panel is part of the Deeper Conversations series. Register for America's Role in the World.

• The Federal Government and Knowledge Production - Balancing Innovation, Policy and Public Good: on April 21 at 4 p.m., panelists will explore the federal government's role in funding, shaping and disseminating knowledge across various sectors. Panelists will focus on the mechanisms, benefits and challenges of federal involvement in knowledge production, translation and dissemination. This panel is part of the Deeper Conversations series. Register for The Federal Government and Knowledge Production.

• Alumni Events: From cherished, in-person Carnegie Mellon traditions to virtual learning experiences with researchers at the cutting-edge of their fields, CMU offers a variety of events for alumni to connect with each other and the university, expand their knowledge and networking opportunities, and make memories together. Explore alumni events.

Story ideas or feedback?

Let us know.

STAY CONNECTED