Led by Corbin M. Campbell, 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.  

Led by 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.  

Led by 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.  

Led by 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.  

Led by 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. 

Led by 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.

Led by 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).

Led by Raychelle Burks College of Arts and Sciences