Ximena Cid

Professor of Physics Ximena Cid recently co-founded the Society of Indigenous Physicists. Consisting of indigenous individuals who currently hold, or are on track to complete, undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degrees in the fields of physics, astronomy, planetary sciences, as well as those whose paths intersect these disciplines in related fields like engineering, the group’s mission is to serve as a connection point for this often-disconnected community.

Chris Hallenbrook

Associate Professor of Political Science Chris Hallenbrook published his first book, Justice Across Generations (2025), as part of the Political Philosophy and Public Purpose series at Palgrave Macmillan Press. The book creates a social contract theory of intergenerational justice — specifically, one that builds on the work of John Rawls. Hallenbrook and his co-author apply the theory to important public policy areas, including the national debt, education, the development of artificial intelligence, and racial justice.

Kevin Montes

Kevin Montes, professor of psychology, received a $150,526 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for his project “Assessment of risky drinking typologies among college student alcohol users.” The project investigates drivers of high-intensity alcohol consumption, including an emerging, risky trend called BORG (Blackout Rage Gallon) drinking that has been popularized on social media.

Jerry Moore

Emeritus Professor of Anthropology Jerry Moore published Cat Tales: A History (2025), which uses the latest archeological evidence to trace the history of human-cat relationships. The book delves into topics such as how our ancient ancestors interacted with feline predators, why humans find cats to be “charismatic,” how cats ended up sailing the ancient world, and how cats adapted to urban environments.

Jimena Sarno

Assistant Professor of Art Jimena Sarno opened her first major solo museum exhibition, Rhapsody, at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. For Rhapsody, Sarno collaborated with artists, teachers, and makers, most of whom are from the Global South, combining filmmaking, sound, and sculpture with contemporary and traditional craft practices. Sarno was also profiled in the New York Times article “Five Rising Contemporary Artists You Should Know,” and the exhibition is on view until February 2027.

Philip Vieira

Professor of Psychology Philip Vieira received a $15,000 CSUBIOTECH Research Development Grant. The grant will fund a project to develop cutting-edge biosensor technology to understand sex differences in response to drugs like cocaine and fentanyl. The project has high relevance for addressing the opioid crisis and improving treatment approaches

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