For the Record, April 3, 2026

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

Rudi Matthee, John and Dorothy Munroe Distinguished Professor of History, published "Jean-Baptiste de la Maze, missionnaire jésuite français (1624-1709), et sa description du Chirvan," Studia Iranica 53 (2024), pp. 183-235.

Presentations

Amish Trivedi, assistant professor of English and creative writing, and Jenn Trivedi, associate professor of anthropology and core faculty member in the Disaster Research Center, presented at the 2026 Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) annual meeting about different facets of the current state of higher education in America. Jenn Trivedi has also been named the program chair for the 2027 SfAA annual meeting in Norfolk, Virginia.

Resident Ensemble Players lighting and sound supervisor Eileen Smitheimer produced Sound Lab for the 2026 United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference. Sound Lab is an immersive, hands-on training environment for emerging sound designers and technicians. The USITT conference transformed the Long Beach Convention Center into a fully interactive, theme-park style environment to demonstrate how theatrical sound skills translate into industries like themed entertainment, including work associated with companies like the Walt Disney Company and Universal Destinations and Experiences.

Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing and psychological and brain sciences, presented "Hello, Neighbor: Interactions with Weak Ties in One's Community Can Increase Prosocial Behavior" at the Society for Consumer Psychology annual meeting in San Diego, California. At this research conference, the session his presentation was in-"Conversation and Consumer Connection: How Everyday Interactions Shape Community and Judgment"-also won the 2026 Society for Consumer Psychology Best Conference Theme Award.

Six peer writing tutors from the University's Writing Center presented original research at the Mid-Atlantic Writing Centers Association (MAWCA) conference on March 28, 2026. The group included graduate student Haley Drysdale and undergraduates Patience Adodoadji, Ella Cetina, Max Contreras, Paul Fimiano and Brie Lafferty. Presentation topics ranged from designing inclusive spaces to linguistic justice to an analysis of the experience and impact of Black tutors. MAWCA is a regional affiliate of the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA). The region comprises New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. MAWCA's mission is to provide networking and professional development opportunities to writing center professionals-both peer tutors and directors-through the annual spring conference and regional events and workshops.

On March 17, 2026, Cooper Feeny, a master of science student in the water science and policy program, and Holly Talbot, a master of science student in the environmental science and management program, attended the Delaware River Watershed Hill Day 2026 in Washington, DC. This year's Hill Day gathered nearly 40 members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, who met with their congressional representatives to discuss critical funding and policy issues for the protection, restoration and conservation of the Delaware River Watershed. Representing 200 organizations spanning Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maryland, the coalition stressed the Delaware River Watershed's essential role in providing clean drinking water to 14.2 million people and its impact on the region's economy. Feeny and Talbot represented UD's Water Resources Center, a part of the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

On March 20, 2026, Megan Wassil, a doctoral candidate in the water science and policy program, presented at UD's Spark Symposium. This annual event, led by the Graduate College, brings together UD's cutting-edge research in meaningful conversation with the broader community. Wassil's presentation translated her complex research on PFAS in Delaware drinking water streams into an engaging story for a diverse audience. She was one of four doctoral candidates who presented their work at the symposium, bridging the gap between complex ideas and everyday life, to students, University faculty and staff and community members in a series of dynamic and engaging presentations. In addition to being a doctoral candidate, Wassil serves as a research assistant at UD's Water Resources Center, a part of the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Julia O'Hanlon, health and aging policy services coordinator at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), led a presentation at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association's (NARFE) Wilmington, Delaware, Chapter 1922 meeting. The NARFE program focuses on senior resources and services in Delaware, supporting the entire federal community. O'Hanlon was welcomed by NARFE's Wilmington chapter president, Mark Oliver, and chapter members to discuss IPA's work on healthy aging and its intersections with policy and public administration topics. She discussed IPA's applied research and public service projects, including its work assessing senior center programs, demographic trends and aging in place. Other topics explored included local NAFRE members staying connected in the community, being civically engaged and being part of other groups through educational enrichment and volunteerism. The Institute for Public Administration (IPA) is a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

Honors

Nancy Getchell, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, has been named a North American Society (NAS) of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance Fellow. The NAS fellowship recognizes SHAPE America members who have made significant and lasting contributions and demonstrated outstanding competence through professional involvement for at least two decades. The fellowship aims to bring together recognized leaders from various fields to collaborate and generate fresh perspectives on the latest issues and trends affecting the professions. Getchell, who has been a member of SHAPE America since 1988, has served in various leadership roles for the organization, including chair of the Motor Development and Learning Academy, co-chair of the task force on the Active Start National Standards for guidelines for infant and preschool physical activity, co-chair of the Motor Behavior Special Interest group and a Research Council member. She also served as associate editor of SHAPE America's research journal, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. "It is truly an honor to be selected as an NAS Fellow, especially at this stage of my career. This recognition reflects my long-standing commitment to advancing our profession through motor development scholarship, teaching, and professional service," said Getchell. "Just as importantly, it acknowledges the mentors, colleagues and students whose collaboration and support have enriched my work and strengthened our field."

Several members of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration received awards and recognition at the 2026 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) annual conference, held March 20-24, 2026, in Hollywood, California. This is the profession's largest gathering, bringing together public administrators, including public servants, nonprofit professionals, researchers, scholars, students and more nationwide to discuss relevant topics. This year's theme was resilience and renewal, working toward building the bridge needed to take their work from today's environment to what comes next. Recognized were

• Jessica Sowa, Biden School professor and senior fellow at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), who served as the 2026 ASPA Conference co-chair and received both the Chester A. Newland Presidential Citation of Merit and the Mary Guy Lifetime Impact Award for ASPA Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations;

• Maria P. Aristigueta, IPA senior fellow and professor emeritus, who received the 2026 Distinguished Service Award from the ASPA Section on Hispanic, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Public Administration;

• Calaia Jackson Franco, a doctoral candidate in the public policy and administration program and research assistant at the Biden School who was recognized as a 2026 ASPA Founders Fellow;

• Alisa Moldavanova, MPA program director, masters studies director and associate professor in the Biden School who won the 2026 ASPA Section on Public Administration Research Book Award for The Overlooked Pillar: Making a Case for Cultural Sustainability;

• Reidel Vichot, a doctoral candidate in the public policy and administration program who won the 2026 Student Travel Award and the 2026 Service to the Section Award from the ASPA Section on Nonprofits; and

• Daniel Zorrilla, a doctoral candidate in the public policy and administration program who was honored as a 2026 David Gould Scholar from the ASPA Section on International and Comparative Administration.

Appointments

David Hannah has been hired as the associate business officer for the Graduate College. Hannah, who currently serves as the business administrator II for the University of Delaware's Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been with UD for over 20 years and possesses deep experience in business operations, financial management and team leadership. Hannah earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from UD and a master's in health and wellness management from the University of Cincinnati. He will begin his new role on April 10, 2026

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