2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW
Faculty in the Field
During the annual UPCEA conference held April 15-17 in New Orleans, (from left) faculty members Delila Omerbasic, AJ Durand, and Rebecca Carr led a roundtable discussion titled Creating Neurodiverse-Affirming Adult Learning Spaces. School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) student Kelly Nguyen (far right) also attended. As the host city, Tulane SoPA presented multiple sessions during the conference. Members of the Learning Design & Development team contributed as panelists throughout the week. Former Associate Dean Ilianna Kwaske, served as conference co-chair.
Award-Winning Faculty
Brooke Grant, PhD, senior professor of practice in the Education Program in the School of Professional Advancement, was awarded the Tulane President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching for cultivating welcoming learning environments grounded in high standards, clear expectations and consistent feedback.
Halima Leak Francis, PhD, director of the Tulane SoPA John Lewis Public Administration Program was recognized with the Spirit of Tulane Award by President Fitts for her service and dedication to the university community.
Setting Standards, Surpassing Expectations
Leading Conversations in Higher Education
During the annual UPCEA conference held April 15-17 in New Orleans, (from left) faculty members Delila Omerbasic, AJ Durand, and Rebecca Carr led a roundtable discussion titled Creating Neurodiverse-Affirming Adult Learning Spaces. SoPA student Kelly Nguyen (far right) also attended. As the host city, Tulane SoPA presented multiple sessions during the conference. Members of the Learning Design & Development team contributed as panelists throughout the week. Former Associate Dean Ilianna Kwaske, served as conference co-chair.
SoPA at the Capitol
On April 1, 2026, representatives from The School of Professional Advancement joined university leaders at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge for Tulane Day at the Capitol — an annual opportunity to showcase the university’s contributions to Louisiana in research, education, innovation, workforce development and more.
Inspiring Innovation
Michelle Jackson, Public Administration Program faculty member, empowers young entrepreneurs through Tulane innovation programs.
Collaboration in Action
Ambika Prasad, PhD, in collaboration with Mallory M. Caterine, PhD, (School of Liberal Arts) presented their work, The Artful Leader: Teaching Leadership Through Art, Classical Texts, and Community, at the Twenty-First International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at the University of Galway
More Faculty Notes
- Kinesiology instructor Jacinda Roach, PhD, serves as the principal investigator for MS REACH, a 5-year CDC-funded project to address health issues and rates of chronic disease among women across six Mississippi Gulf Coast counties.
- Michael Wallace, EdD, named one of Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers for leadership in homeland security education
- Halima Leak Francis, PhD, moderated Unearthing Our Stories, a Tulane History Project panel, an event about preserving and documenting campus and community history across Louisiana.
- Brian McNamara, PhD, published Loper Bright and the Assault on Expertise with the Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy.
