Highlanders in the News: July 2024

Our Highlanders are using their education to do extraordinary things. Here, we’ll highlight some notable mentions from local, regional, national and international news media. Whether our students, alumni, faculty and staff are featured as subject matter experts in high-profile stories or simply helping make the world a better place, we’ll feature their stories.

• Back in March, Associate Professor of Economics Can Dogan published “Starting Up AI,” a paper he co-wrote with Emin Dinlersoz and Nikolas Zolas about business applications for artificial intelligence. Dogan was recently quoted by The New York Times for an article on that same subject. Dogan’s paper found that “businesses originating from A.I.-related applications over the years had greater potential than others for job creation, payroll and revenue,” and Dogan told the New York Times that “existing businesses should find out what they can do with these technologies … I think that is the key for wider adoption.” That story was also picked up by The Economic Times.
• Not long after he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, Nathan Piatt ’24 picked up another impressive honor: winning the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Amateur Championship. Piatt came in at 8 under par and, according to coverage of the tournament by Trib Live, he gave nods to some of the trophy’s previous winners, including Sean Knapp and Arnold Palmer: “Names that are just huge in [the] world of golf,” Piatt said. “It’s pretty special to be a part of it.”
• Brayden Bradbury ’21 has followed his family's footsteps into local history – by joining the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department early last month, he’s made himself the agency’s first third-generation firefighter. He’ll work alongside current Roanoke Fire-EMS 1st Lt. Kevin Bradbury, his dad, while also taking up the calling of his grandfather, retired Deputy Chief Ralph Tartaglia. “It’s significant because three generations have actually stayed within our department,” Deputy Chief Andy Foley told The Roanoke Times last month. “You have three generations that actually love this department and want to make their own stamp.”
• Graphic Design Professor Ken Smith is one of this summer’s artists in residency at the Roanoke History & O. Winston Link Museums. A painter and history buff, Smith will lead interactive printmaking sessions this month, and his residency will culminate Sept. 8 with an exhibition at the Link museum that will run through the first week of November. A June 11 article in The Roanoke Star has more details about the residency, the activities and the exhibitions.
• Early last month, we told you about the grant Radford University received to grow information technology and cybersecurity workforce development. Here’s a recent story by WFXR-TV about that $203,000 award, which came via the GO Virginia State Board. The Roanoke Times also covered the grant on June 10 and had a story on June 23 about an additional grant Radford got from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help plan improved healthcare worker training opportunities.