Comprehensive school literacy model project

Sarah Irvine Belson, Baker School of Education

The Comprehensive School Literacy Model Project represents a partnership between AU’s Institute for Innovation in Education and DC Public Schools (DCPS) to implement evidence-based literacy practices in secondary schools. Educators and researchers will co-develop a literacy plan for DCPS middle and high schools to build educators’ use of evidence-based literacy practices to support all students. The project will use the Generic Implementation Framework (GIF) to study implementation phases, providing schools with a toolkit for implementing evidence-based literacy systems and practices. The project will create sustainable systems for literacy improvement in DCPS and provide guidance to other U.S. school districts to ensure all students build the literacy skills needed to succeed in post-secondary education and careers. 

Raychelle Burks, College of Arts and Sciences

Instituting cutting-edge educational and research practices requires not just training students but also supporting continuing professional development for faculty and staff so that they can successfully onboard new approaches. This project builds on several years of work the NSF-funding undergraduate student focused Digital Imaging and Vision Applications in Science (DIVAS) program which provides students with Python-based computational training and research experience withing a community of practice. The Empowering DIVAS Mentors (EDM) program supports faculty and staff professional development in DIVAS related knowledge and skills so that they can enact the DIVAS program – in part or in full – at their institutions.

Read more about the project here.

Establishing measures for an institutional designation for teaching excellence colleges and universities

Corbin M. Campbell, Baker School of Education

This project develops a Teaching Excellence Colleges & Universities (TECU) designation to advance societal impact by promoting equitable and high-quality college teaching. Building on 15 years of research and a large-scale observational study of over 700 courses, the initiative will establish TECU metrics, pilot evaluations at select institutions, and create a national network for innovation. The project’s advisory board, including academic leaders, prospective students, and families, ensures alignment with stakeholder needs. By fostering teaching cultures that enhance graduation rates, civic engagement, equity, and belonging, this actionable research empowers institutions to drive individual and societal progress.

From research to practice: Translating CMF-CW, a tool for automatically checking chemicals against CW-Control lists

Stefano Constanzi, College of Arts and Sciences

The Chemical Match Finder for Chemical Weapons Control Lists (CMF-CW) is a browser-based application that automates the determination of whether a chemical name corresponds to a substance on the Chemical Weapons-control list. Strengthening chemical security is essential to maximize societal benefits while reducing risk. Due to the complexity of chemical nomenclature and the number of possible chemical combinations, it is time-consuming and unfeasible for stakeholders to differentiate between legal and banned chemicals, including customs And export-control officials and law enforcement personnel. This project will produce user-facing materials, like videos, guides, FAQs, and flyers as well as engage stakeholders via free webinars, targeted demonstrations, and presentations at relevant fora.

Read more about the project here.

Jonathan Fox, School of International Service

In this research-practitioner partnership between the Accountability Research Center (ARC) at SIS and the Colombian civil society organization Viso Mutop— known for supporting local organizations in environmental justice, peace-building, and human rights. By addressing sustainable development, environmental justice, and human rights, this research fosters impactful, locally driven solutions for regional challenges.  

STRADA: Socio-Technical Research on AI & Data Governance in Action 

Rohan Grover, School of Communication

Socio-Technical Research on AI & Data Governance in Action (STRADA) aims to affect how data is governed in response to growing concerns about mass data collection, platform power, and rapid A.I. development. This project translates research into policy impact by bringing findings on data privacy laws to policymakers, advocates, and industry practitioners. STRADA will impact how privacy tech software is designed, adopted, and regulated. This will advance inclusive excellence by shaping what “privacy” means and how it is put into practice—while promoting civic engagement, collective accountability, and participatory governance.  

Mary Eschelbach Hansen, College of Arts and Sciences; Juan Antonio Montecino, College of Arts and Sciences; Ignacio González, College of Arts and Sciences; Secil Akin, College of Arts and Sciences

This project by the Institute for Macroeconomic and Policy Analysis (IMPA) translates research on corporate taxation into actionable tools and policy evaluations. Challenging traditional critiques, the research shows that increasing corporate tax rates reduces inequality in income and wealth and generates significant government revenue without harming investment and economic growth. Through policy briefs, open-access code for its macroeconomic policy model, and public outreach, the project equips policymakers, professionals, and the public with evidence-based insights.  

Translating research into practice: Evaluating multi-agency police peer support programs to advance civic engagement in officer wellness

Janice Iwama, School of Public Affairs 

This research evaluates multi-agency police peer support programs in Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey, to strengthen officer wellness and organizational trust. This project examines how peer support programs are structured, implemented, and perceived by law enforcement officers. Program records, interviews, and observations inform actionable recommendations that improve program design, structure, and impact of each peer support program. Research findings are disseminated through scholarly and practitioner-oriented channels and allow peer support guidelines and training to be improved. This collaborative effort advances scholarly knowledge and practical solutions that support law enforcement officer wellness, strengthen public trust in such institutions, and contribute to broader goals of civic engagement and social equity.

Read more about the project here.

K.L. Knee, College of Arts and Sciences

This project translates groundbreaking research on groundwater flow, water quality, and ecosystem health in Nuʻuuli Pala Lagoon, American Samoa’s largest and most threatened wetland, into actionable tools and resources. Building on NOAA-funded findings that quantified groundwater and pollutant inputs, the team will engage local stakeholders through bilingual signage, a dedicated website, workshops, and hydrology courses for students in the Science Department at American Samoa Community College. By fostering civic engagement and equipping policymakers, students, and community members with accessible knowledge, this initiative empowers local efforts to protect the lagoon and promote environmental stewardship.  

Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Alanna Warner-Smith, Elise Ferrer, and the Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences

The Department of Anthropology at American University has launched "Revitalizing Public Anthropology for Societal Impact," a four-aim initiative focused on building a sustainable translational infrastructure. Through an annual conference, year-round programming, and an open-access repository, the initiative actualizes AU Anthropology’s longstanding commitment to RICE principles, institutional knowledge, and community partnerships. The initiative will 1) disseminate the department’s current research (which has important political, social, environmental, and historical significance), 2) facilitate reciprocal knowledge sharing between academia and the public, and 3) offer training for non-academic organizations, nonprofits, and individuals in anthropological methodologies.

Garima Sharma, Kogod School of Business; Sarah Iverson, College of Arts and Sciences; and Nicole Darnall, Kogod School of Business and School of Public Affairs

In partnership with American University's Procurement and Contracts Department and Office of Sustainability, the project addresses the critical challenge of integrating environmental and social criteria into organizational procurement decisions to advance sustainability and social justice. The research uses the Innovation Compass methodology to identify opportunities and barriers in sustainable procurement. Outcomes include systems maps, implementation tools, and protocols embedded into AU’s practices. By disseminating findings through reports, webinars, and conferences, the project equips higher education institutions with actionable strategies for sustainable procurement impact.

Raising fireproof children: Translating life-sustaining practices into toolkit and film for black youth wellness

Kenjus Watson, Baker School of Education

This project addresses the alarming rise in suicide among Black youth by developing culturally grounded approaches to wellness and prevention. Building on the Apocalyptic Education framework, the project emphasizes connection to culture, community, ancestral wisdom, and healing practices rather than relying solely on traditional mental health interventions. Supported by a research translation grant, the project will transform years of scholarship and community-based work into an accessible toolkit and documentary film. By sharing these resources with educators, youth workers, families, and communities, the project aims to translate academic research into practical strategies that foster resilience, strengthen relationships, and create environments where Black youth can thrive.

Read more about the project here.

Bei Xiao, College of Arts and Sciences

TRAC started incubating this project in 2024. Professor Bei Xiao’s project couples machine learning for natural language processing and human predictions to determine the success of new treatments in clinical drug trials based on trial descriptions. This work will translate NSF-funded research by Dr. Xiao and others (awards #2050727 and #2030015) that developed advanced algorithms for investigating factors that are linked with failures in clinical testing of new drugs. In this work, the researchers found that the success of clinical testing can be predicted with an average accuracy of 80% using their models (Feijoo et al. 2020). The researchers also found common protocol characteristics across therapeutic areas that are linked to clinical trial success, and identified key features of stakeholder collaboration that influence the success or failure of a trial (Lin et al. 2021).

Read more about the project here.