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.

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Introducing The Pittsburgh Review of Books: A Hub for Literary Voices

The Pittsburgh Review of Books (PRoB) has launched, offering a new platform dedicated to reviews, essays and conversations about literature and culture.

Created by Ed Simon, public humanities special faculty in the Department of English, PRoB is rooted in Pittsburgh’s tradition of creativity and exchange. The publication seeks to highlight both established and emerging voices while fostering dialogue that connects local perspectives to national conversations.

Read how the PRoB aims to introduce Pittsburgh writers to the world and to introduce world writers to Pittsburgh.

Dietrich College Welcomes 2025-2026 Cohort of Scholars

Carnegie Mellon University welcomes its fifth cohort of Dietrich College Scholars this fall — an exemplary group of students pursuing doctorates in the humanities and social sciences.

The fellowship program, run jointly by associate deans Sharon Carver and Ayana Ledford, provides a pathway to success through financial support, opportunities to expand networks and professional development. It also offers incoming doctoral students an opportunity to develop relationships with graduate students across departments within Dietrich College.

Meet each of the new Dietrich College Scholars and learn about their research interests.

CMU Program Helps Students Incorporate Sustainable Learning Environment Into Diverse Fields

At Carnegie Mellon University, students in the Environmental and Sustainable Studies (ESS) program are confronting climate change, water scarcity and pollution through hands-on research and interdisciplinary education. 

From designing sustainable architecture to analyzing water systems in Costa Rica and developing soil safety kits, these students are applying knowledge across science, engineering, humanities and business to create real-world solutions for a more sustainable future.

Read about the hands-on research and interdisciplinary education available through the ESS program.

Faculty Spotlight: Sara Moussawi

Sara Moussawi is an associate teaching professor in the Information Systems Program. She studies how people connect with conversational AI in order to design systems that are trustworthy, human-centered and seamlessly integrated into daily life.

"People are using conversational AI agents for everyday tasks," said Moussawi. "But a pervasive emerging trend is that individuals are also connecting with them and relying on them in more personal ways. My research has been exploring these dynamics since the early days of Siri and Alexa – before such interactions became mainstream – examining how humans form attachments and develop cognitive and emotional perceptions that shape adoption and long-term use."

Read about how Moussawi first became interested in AI, as well as her hopes for the future.

2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings

Carnegie Mellon University earned a top 20 place in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released Sept. 23. Several Dietrich College undergraduate programs were recognized in specialty categories:

• #1: Information Systems Program (listed by U.S. News & World Report as Management Information Systems)

• #4: Statistics & Data Science (listed by U.S. News & World report as Data Analytics/Science)

• #11: Psychology

Please note that U.S. News & World Report does not rank all programs Dietrich College offers.

Read CMU’s story on the recent rankings.

Upcoming Events

• Neighborhood Lunch in North Fayette: Meet alumni on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Bravo Italian Kitchen, Pittsburgh.

• Network Happy Hour at Hazel Grove Brewing: Celebrate the start of Fall with a casual Happy Hour at a Tartan-owned brewery in Hazelwood. Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh.

• The CMU Experience: A Conversation with Gina Casalegno: Join recent graduates and parents on Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, D.C.

• The Victor M. Bearg Science and Humanity Lecture: Hear Karel Janacek (MCS 2002, MCS 2004) give a talk titled, "From Polarization to Moderation - Voting by Consensus with D21" on Oct. 23, starting at 5 p.m. Cohon University Center, McConomy Auditorium, Pittsburgh.

• Roush Automotive Collection Tour: Join members and friends of the Detroit and Southeast Michigan network on a tour of the Roush Automotive Collection on Oct. 24, 2:30 to 6 p.m, Livonia, Mich.

• Volunteer Event & Brunch Social: Build connections and give back with the SD CMU Network by volunteering at Feeding San Diego on Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brunch to follow at a nearby restaurant. San Diego, Calif.

• 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.

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