Mentors' Circle

For the Record, Oct. 10, 2025

Article by UDaily staff Photo by Evan Krape October 10, 2025

University of Delaware community reports new publications, presentations, honors, appointments

For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Recent publications, presentations, honors and appointments include the following:

Publications

Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing, was featured in a Cornell University article, “Behavioral economics: Born at Cornell, embraced by policymakers,” about the history of behavioral economics. Kumar earned his Ph.D. at Cornell, and the article highlights some of his research and teaching.

Benjamin James, assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) School of Education, published “Exploring Linguistic Capital and Social Reproduction in ‘Elite’ Bilingual Schools Across the Globe” in Bilingual Review Revista Bilingüe and “Challenging Dominant Conceptions of ‘Academic Language’: Preservice Teachers’ Shifting Orientations in One Teacher Preparation Course” in TESOL Journal with coauthors G. C. Bunch and N. W. Lang.

Sanford Student, assistant professor in CEHD’s School of Education, published several articles. They include “Growth across grades and common item grade alignment in vertical scaling using the Rasch model” in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice with coauthors D. C. Briggs and L. Davis; “Digital module 38: Differential item functioning by multiple variables using moderated nonlinear factor analysis” in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice with SOE Assistant Professor Ethan McCormick; and “Recognition vs. ability to use external aids: An exploratory item response analysis of the Functional External Memory Aid Tool (FEMAT)” in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research with coauthors A. Saylor and A. Lanzi. Student specializes in measurement, psychometrics and quantitative methods.

Presentations

Trevor A. Dawes, vice provost for libraries and museums and May Morris University Librarian, was a panelist for a conversation hosted on Sept. 22, 2025, by Lyrasis, titled “Planning in Disrupted Times: Protecting What Defines Us.” This panel was the first session of Lyrasis’ new Members’ Table series. It featured Dawes, Anthony Chow, the director of San Jose State University’s School of Information, Jason Kucsma, the executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, John Chrastka, the founder and executive director of the EveryLibrary Institute, and Takeya McLaurin, the chief human resources officer at Lyrasis. The panelists had a candid conversation about how academic libraries, public libraries and iSchools are standing strong with and for staff, students and the broader community amid challenges to educational and cultural heritage institutions.

The percussion studio at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway.

Gene Koshinski and Tim Broscious, UD Faculty Artists in Residence with their group Quey Percussion Duo, recently returned from a two-week tour in Europe from Sept. 8-19, 2025. The tour included five prestigious arts universities in Essen, Germany (Folkwang University of the Arts), Dortmund, Germany (Orchesterzentrum NRW), Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Conservatorium van Amsterdam), Ingesund, Sweden (Karlstad University), and Oslo, Norway (Norwegian Academy of Music). Each stop on the tour included a workshop, masterclass and a full concert presentation.

Sheng Lu, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, served as a panelist for the session on textile and apparel nearshoring at the 16th Sourcing Journal Fall Summit on Sept. 25, 2025, in New York City. The event was attended by more than 200 executives from leading U.S. fashion companies.

Stephanie Smith Budhai, associate professor in CEHD’s School of Education, facilitated a professional development workshop for the Delaware Superintendent Study Council and Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten on "Cultivating AI Criticality in K-12 Schools" in September 2025.

Honors

Stephanie Smith Budhai, associate professor in CEHD’s School of Education, was selected to participate in the National Technology Leadership Summit on Sept. 19-20 in Washington, D.C. The National Technology Leadership Summit brings together national leaders from educational associations, as well as editors of educational technology journals, directors of nonprofit foundations, federal policy makers and corporate representatives, with the goal of accelerating the meaningful impact of digital technologies in education. Smith Budhai specializes in educational technology, equity and civic engagement.

Yubin Jang, a Ph.D. in education and social policy student in UD’s Graduate College, has been selected as a 2025-2027 University Council for Educational Administration Jackson Scholar. The prestigious Jackson Scholars Network supports students of color in educational leadership and policy, providing mentoring, professional development and community to prepare the next generation of scholars. Jang is advised by School of Education Associate Professor Lauren Bailes, and her research interests include principal leadership, educational policies, professional development and school environments.

Appointments

Karen Asenavage Loptes, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UD, has been appointed to the inaugural Osher National Resource Center (NRC) Advisory Council for a three-year term. Highly respected within the Osher Network, Loptes brings her valuable UD OLLI perspective, insight and guiding voice to the council as it leads the 124-member Osher Network. OLLI, a unit of the UD Division of Professional and Continuing Studies, is an academic learning cooperative open to adults ages 50-plus to take and teach classes together. Course offerings are determined by member interest as well as the passions and expertise of the dedicated volunteer member-instructors at each program’s location, with no grades, exams or educational prerequisites. UD OLLI is one of the earliest and largest lifelong learning organizations in the country, with programs in Dover, Lewes, Ocean View, Wilmington and online.

Sanford Student, assistant professor in CEHD’s School of Education, was named to the Maryland State Department of Education Technical Advisory Committee and California's Desired Results Developmental Profile Technical Advisory Committee.

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