Florida State University to launch national search for successor

Ted Ellis, the inaugural director of Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute, will step down June 30 after helping expand the institute’s programming, partnerships and community engagement.

Housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the Civil Rights Institute (CRI) commemorates, celebrates and studies the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The institute brings together students, faculty and staff from across academic disciplines, including sociology, public health, urban and regional planning, criminology, social work, medicine, nursing and education.

The CRI was conceived in 2018 by FSU alumni and siblings Doby and Fred Flowers, with support from a volunteer board of faculty, staff and community leaders. In 2023, the CRI expanded its operations with the backing of President Richard McCullough and Provost James Clark and hired Ellis, a nationally recognized artist and scientist, as its first full-time director.

“I am very grateful to Ted Ellis for so ably leading CRI,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “He has made a lasting and positive impact. FSU is deeply committed to searching for and hiring a new director to build on Ted’s legacy.”

During his more than two-and-a-half years as director, Ellis advanced the institute’s mission by engaging students, faculty, staff and the community through programming, research and partnerships that foster civil rights education and dialogue.

“Director Ellis has made a lasting impact on the Civil Rights Institute and on Florida State University,” said Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. “His passion, vision and commitment to expand the work of the CRI have helped the institute grow in meaningful ways, both on campus and in the broader Tallahassee community. I’m deeply grateful for all he has contributed during his time as director, and I wish him the very best in his future work to celebrate and promote civil rights for all.”

Under Ellis’s leadership, the CRI expanded its programming and community engagement efforts, including the launch of the C.K. Steele Speaker Series, named for Tallahassee civil rights leader Rev. Charles Kenzie Steele. The speaker series honors Steele’s legacy through lectures, workshops and discussions that explore civil rights issues, historical perspectives and contemporary challenges.

“While this chapter of my service concludes, my commitment to preserving, promoting, and advancing African American history remains unwavering,” Ellis said. “I will continue my work with the 400 Years of African American History Commission under the U.S. Department of the Interior and proudly support the ongoing growth and impact of the Florida State University Civil Rights Institute. The work of educating, inspiring, and empowering future generations through history, culture, and justice must continue — and I remain dedicated to that mission.”

A nationally acclaimed visual artist, Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Dillard University and a master’s in museum studies from Southern University in New Orleans. His work includes portraits of civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks and has been displayed in the halls of Congress.

Florida State University will launch a national search for the next director for the Civil Rights Institute. More information will be announced in the coming weeks.

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A career dedicated to translating research into policy and practice has earned Thomas G. Blomberg, dean of Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the 2026 August Vollmer Award from the American Society of Criminology (ASC).

Widely regarded as one of the field’s highest honors, the award recognizes an individual whose “scholarship and professional work have made outstanding contributions to justice and the treatment or prevention of criminal or delinquent behavior.”

Blomberg, the Sheldon L. Messinger Professor of Criminology, earned three degrees from UC Berkeley, including a doctorate in criminology. He became dean in 2003 and helped elevate the college into the world’s top-ranked criminology program.

Bringing research to life

In his work as a researcher, Blomberg pursued a goal as simple as it was ambitious: reducing the pain and suffering caused by crime by ensuring research informed policy and practice.

One of the clearest examples of that philosophy was the Juvenile Justice Educational Enhancement Program (JJEEP), which Blomberg helped develop to improve educational outcomes for justice-involved youth.

Associate Professor George Pesta, director of the College’s Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research, called JJEEP one of Blomberg’s most impactful projects.

“His research conceptualization and implementation of JJEEP was truly translational and, for those involved, transformative,” Pesta said. “He embedded researchers in a statewide accountability system for the education of incarcerated youth where we worked with state agencies, local school districts, and private providers of juvenile justice services.”

From 1998 to 2010, JJEEP developed, implemented and maintained a research-driven system that guided policy and improved educational program performance for thousands of Florida delinquent and at-risk youths. At its peak, there were more than 200 juvenile justice education programs in Florida serving 30,000 youths each year.

“Through JJEEP, Tom influenced state policy, helped enshrine research into state statute, improved services for incarcerated youth and, most importantly, he made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of youths in Florida and the country,” Pesta said. “For me, and many others, JJEEP fundamentally shaped our career trajectories. It trained us in how to participate in translational research and use it to improve lives. The lessons I learned at JJEEP guide me today. Without it, I would not have spent a career in research.”

Citing his unparalleled and “outstanding contributions to justice and to the treatment and prevention of crime,” the three authors of his nominating letter noted Blomberg’s prolific rate of publication, his promotion of evidence-based policy and his efforts to strengthen the field of criminology and criminal justice.

Dan Mears, Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology in the college, co-authored the nominating letter. Mears called Blomberg an essential reason he came to Florida State and said the diversity of Blomberg’s contributions to the field of criminology set him apart.

“He’s led a college, won teaching and mentoring awards, presented before legislatures, written books and given presentations internationally,” Mears said. “Tom’s longevity, his diversity of contributions and his persistent framing of science to inform policy and practice are unique. The Vollmer Award is clearly about all those things and Tom checks all those boxes.”

Malcolm Feeley, Claire Sanders Clements Dean’s Professor of Law Emeritus at UC Berkeley and a co-author of the nominating letter, noted that the award’s namesake, August Vollmer, founded both UC Berkeley’s School of Criminology and the ASC.

“The list of winners includes a U.S. senator, eight federal judges, two former longtime directors of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and a handful of the most honored police chiefs in the history of the country,” he said. “It’s a mind-boggling list, and Tom certainly deserves to be on it.”

Blomberg has authored or co-authored scores of studies and co-authored American Penology: A History of Control, a seminal book in the field that was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. He has lent his expertise to the U.S. Congress, foreign governments and state and local policymakers.

Under his leadership as dean, the college has climbed national rankings and today ranks as the top criminology program in the world.

“Through the years, I’ve been the beneficiary of some fortunate circumstances,” Blomberg said. “This award is a surprise and an incredible honor but ultimately it’s a reflection of this university, college, our wonderful faculty and staff and, of course, our students.”

Building a college into a national leader

Todd Clear, professor at Rutgers University, worked at the college for several years and co-authored the letter nominating Blomberg for the Vollmer Award.

“Tom is an accomplished scholar and he made his mark through his research and creating a framework and an energy behind what was then a new idea of translational criminology,” Clear said. “But he also made his mark in the many of (the college’s) alumni who have made exactly the contributions that the Vollmer Award stands for. He set a tone for the school to care about that kind of work, and the students who leave there carry on that vision.”

Clear is the founding editor of the Journal of Criminology and Public Policy and said Blomberg’s help was instrumental in helping grow the journal from a promising publication to an influential source for policy-relevant research.

Assistant Professor Julie Brancale first met Blomberg as a criminology undergraduate student preparing to take the next step in her education in law school.

Brancale said she sought Blomberg’s advice and a letter of recommendation for law school. He agreed to write the letter and asked her a question that changed her life.

“He asked me what I wanted to do with my law degree,” she said. “I knew I liked school and I was good at school but the directness of that question showed me it was something I hadn’t really thought through.”

Subsequent conversations with Blomberg and an invitation to join him on a research project opened a new path for Brancale.

“I wanted to help people, to make a difference and to leave a positive mark on the world,” she said. “Tom really took me under his wing and showed me what translational research was and what kind of impact it could have on society and how it could make positive change. These were all things I wanted to do with my life.”

A capstone but not an end

Beginning this year, FSU’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is set to embark on a renovation of the Kellogg Building, located next door to its current home. The project, which will add 50,000 square feet of space to the college, is set to happen 75 years after the first criminology courses were offered at FSU.

Blomberg has shaped the course of the college more than any other figure. But the Vollmer Award puts the spotlight on his long-held desire to make a difference.

“It’s the thread through all of his work,” his wife Jeanine said. “It’s the connection between research and policy and he’s still so excited to make it.”

“I was at my computer and it was 2:30 in the morning when I got the news about the Vollmer Award,” he said with a laugh. “I love my job and the cumulative experience of my life, the memories I’ve made, the happy faces of students graduating, faculty earning tenure, what more could anybody ask for? What an honor. What a privilege.”

Blomberg added: “If there is one single thing that’s salient in any success I’ve had, it’s Jeanine. When I think about how brilliant she is, the wise counsel she’s given me, and how she’s able to help me see things I’d never otherwise see, I am humbled.”

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Florida State University’s education and educational research program ranks No. 25 globally, No. 2 among public universities in the United States and No. 1 in Florida in the 2026-27 Best Global Universities rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida State also ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions in psychiatry and psychology (No. 80), social sciences and public health (No. 89) and arts and humanities (No. 92).

The rankings evaluate more than 2,250 universities in more than 100 countries based on academic research performance and global and regional research reputation. The methodology emphasizes factors such as publications, citations and international collaboration.

“These rankings across crucial professions and disciplines reflect the quality of our faculty and the impact of their scholarship,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “The recognition earned by our education program, along with strong performances in psychology, the social sciences and the humanities, demonstrates the public value proposition of the academic excellence across Florida State University.”

FSU’s performance reflects the university’s continued growth as a leading research institution. The university recorded a record $488 million in research expenditures, a 50 percent increase since 2021, and surpassed $1.2 billion in research funding proposals in 2025.

U.S. News uses data from Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection and InCites Benchmarking & Analytics to evaluate universities. The Best Global Universities rankings focus primarily on institutions’ research performance and scholarly impact rather than undergraduate education.

For more information and the complete rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities website.

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As a nationally recognized leader in supporting student veterans, Florida State University is further empowering those who served through a new merit scholarship offered in partnership with the Stamps Scholars Program.

Launching this fall, the Stamps Veteran Scholars Program will honor the service, leadership and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans by providing transformative educational and leadership opportunities. It will be the nation’s first Stamps Scholars Program designed specifically for undergraduate student veterans.

“Stamps Veteran Scholars at FSU will be individuals of exceptional intellectual curiosity, demonstrated leadership and a deep commitment to service,” said Billy Francis, director of the FSU Student Veterans Center. “We are looking for students who seek not only to succeed academically, but to contribute meaningfully to our campus community and the world beyond.”

The SVSP at FSU will launch with an inaugural cohort of up to five Stamps Veteran Scholars, each receiving a merit scholarship and enrichment support package. Through a dollar-for-dollar funding match between Florida State University and the Stamps Scholars Program, the SVSP is designed to provide select student veterans with education and networking opportunities that provide a foundation for future growth.

Each veteran scholar will receive a total of up to $26,000 toward the completion of an undergraduate degree. That includes covering any remaining balance of Florida State’s estimated cost of attendance, up to $8,000 per year. It also includes up to $10,000 in enrichment funding that can be applied toward professional and scholarly enhancement opportunities, including study abroad experiences, undergraduate research, leadership programs and national conferences.

Stamps Veteran Scholars will also join a national network of Stamps Scholars and alumni, gaining access to a community of accomplished student leaders, mentorship opportunities and experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

“The SVSP will build upon FSU’s foundation of veteran student support by helping to eliminate financial barriers, empowering recipients to fully dedicate themselves to their academic goals, undergraduate research and leadership development as they transition into impactful civilian careers.”

– Billy Francis, FSU Student Veterans Center director

E. Roe Stamps IV is a businessman, private investor and philanthropist who, with his late wife Penny, has supported students through their philanthropic work since 2000. They founded the Stamps Scholars Program in 2006 to help exceptional students achieve their education and life goals. Through partnerships with universities across the country, the program supports high-achieving students through scholarship funding, leadership development and enrichment experiences.

The Stamps Scholars Program currently supports more than 1,330 Scholars, with 39 partner institutions nationwide. Together with alumni, the Stamps community includes more than 4,400 exceptional leaders.

“We are honored to partner with Florida State to recognize and support veterans whose service, leadership and sacrifice have strengthened our country,” Roe Stamps said. “The Stamps Veteran Scholars Program reflects our commitment to helping these exceptional students pursue their educational goals, develop their talents and continue making meaningful contributions in their communities and professions. We look forward to welcoming them into the broader Stamps Scholars community.”

In establishing the SVSP at FSU, the Stamps Scholars Program has recognized FSU’s stature among peer institutions in veteran support, retention, graduation and career-placement metrics. Central to this success is FSU’s commitment to providing students with comprehensive services, dedicated facilities and robust campus relationships. The Student Veterans Center hosts more than 30 annual veteran-centered programs and events to cultivate a deep sense of community and belonging among military-affiliated students.

“The SVSP will build upon FSU’s foundation of veteran student support by helping to eliminate financial barriers, empowering recipients to fully dedicate themselves to their academic goals, undergraduate research and leadership development as they transition into impactful civilian careers,” Francis said.

For more information about the SVSP, visit veterans.fsu.edu/stamps-veteran-scholars-program.

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Florida State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives has acquired a collection of rare legal documents donated by independent Emmett Till researchers Kevin Murphy and Colleen FitzPatrick. The collection expands public access to historical records tied to one of the most significant civil rights cases in American history.

The acquisition consists of copies of records from the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant were tried for the kidnapping and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. Till’s murder and the subsequent trial became pivotal events in the Civil Rights Movement. The collection strengthens FSU’s extensive holdings in regional and Southern history.

“Preserving primary sources from pivotal moments in our nation’s history is at the very core of our mission. By making these rare courthouse records accessible digitally, FSU Libraries provides scholars and the public with resources to examine the legal landscape of the civil rights era and ensure these histories are never forgotten.”

— Katie McCormick, associate dean for Special Collections & Archives

Among the donated records are Circuit Court case files for each charge against Milam and Bryant, including records related to witnesses called to trial. The documents provide new resources for scholars studying the 1955 murder case.

“Preserving primary sources from pivotal moments in our nation’s history is at the very core of our mission,” said Katie McCormick, associate dean for Special Collections & Archives. “By making these rare courthouse records accessible digitally, FSU Libraries provides scholars and the public with resources to examine the legal landscape of the civil rights era and ensure these histories are never forgotten.”

Recovering the records from the Mississippi courthouse required extensive preparation, including the use of K95 masks, protective gloves and portable lighting.

In the courthouse basement, researchers found the Emmett Till documents in varying states of preservation. Some remained in relatively good condition within leather-bound volumes, while others showed significant deterioration from decades of exposure to moisture, mold and rodents.

“We experienced emotions that ran the gamut from exhilaration in finding them to such deep sadness that the records, in the state that we found them, served as a metaphor for the burying of truth and justice in one of the worst moments in American history,” Murphy said. “The entire experience was profoundly moving; to rub our fingers over the actual signatures of Mose Wright, Willie Reed, Mandy Bradley, et al in the State Witness Fee Book, brought us right back to those days of 1955.”

FitzPatrick and Murphy credited Tallahatchie County Circuit Court Clerk Daphane Neal and her assistant, Angie Clark, with helping facilitate their work in the Sumner Courthouse archives. The research team spent four days examining and digitizing records during visits in June and August 2025.

“Finding these records was both a technical challenge and a profound historical responsibility,” FitzPatrick said. “By digitizing this collection, we are preserving the tangible proof of a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, making sure these voices are never silenced by time.”

FSU College of Communication and Information Professor Davis Houck, the Fannie Lou Hamer Professor of Rhetorical Studies whose research helped establish FSU’s Emmett Till Archives, said the records “add to our understanding of decision making in how the case was both prosecuted and defended. From the voir dire process to prospective witnesses, their discovery of these extremely rare documents helps round out our understanding of this grave miscarriage of justice.”

The digitized collection is available to the public through the FSU Libraries digital repository. Visit the Emmett Till Trial Collection webpage to view the latest findings of this historic case.

For more information, visit the FSU Special Collections and Archives website or contact the department staff via email at lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu or by phone at 850-644-3271.

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Florida State University art historian Stephanie Leitch has been named a 2026-2027 Berlin Prize Fellow by the American Academy in Berlin for research that examines how copied images shaped early modern knowledge of the world.

Leitch, professor and chair of FSU’s Department of Art History, will use the fellowship to complete a book exploring how recycled images influenced perceptions of distant peoples, places and animals during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Berlin Prize is awarded annually to U.S.-based scholars, writers, composers and artists who represent the highest standards of excellence in their fields.

“This highly competitive honor reflects both the strength of Dr. Leitch’s scholarly work and the national and international reputation of our faculty,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “This recognition underscores the caliber of research and creative activity taking place among our faculty and the global impact of their work.”

During her residency in Berlin, Leitch will conduct research for a co-authored book, New Worlds, Recycled Images: The Imprint of the Copy in Early Modern Travel Narratives, written with Yale University scholar Lisa Voigt.

The project examines how printers reused woodblock images in books about newly encountered places, peoples and animals. As those images circulated across different publications, they often carried assumptions and inaccuracies into new contexts, helping shape how readers understood the wider world.

“I have the great fortune of finally getting a fellowship at the perfect stage for a writer,” Leitch said. “The chapters have been mostly written, and I get to reshape the book while being close to my primary sources.”

Leitch will work with the Derschau Sammlung at Berlin’s Kupferstichkabinett, home to one of the world’s best-preserved collections of early modern woodblocks. The collection includes nearly 2,000 woodblocks from the 16th and 17th centuries and offers rare insight into how printers created, modified and reused images in the early days of mass communication.

One of the book’s central examples is Dürer’s famous rhinoceros woodcut, which became one of the most widely reproduced images of the animal in Europe. Although Dürer never saw the rhinoceros himself, his image was repeatedly copied and repurposed in books about natural history, geography and travel.

“Printers worked in a very sustainable fashion,” Leitch said. “They reused blocks whenever they could instead of carving new ones. Our book looks at the repercussions of using images again and again and the stereotypes that emerged from that repetition.”

The project makes a significant contribution at the intersection of art, science and technology by illuminating a period when knowledge was more holistically conceived, before modern academic disciplines emerged as separate fields.

Although the project focuses on early modern print culture, Leitch sees its questions as newly urgent in an age of rapid image circulation. Her research shows that concerns about copied images, visual authority and the relationship between media and belief long predate the digital era.

“As obscure as 16th-century printmaking has felt at times, I think our particular historical moment makes it especially relevant,” she said. “It’s instructive to look at this earlier moment of technological development and ask how it shaped what people believed about the world.”

Leitch, who has taught at Florida State for 20 years, credits the university’s Special Collections and Archives with helping shape her scholarship. She regularly introduces students to rare books and early printed materials, allowing them to engage directly with historical artifacts.

“Once students have these materials in their hands, they understand just what an important role images have in our understanding of history,” she said.

Leitch said she is also looking forward to joining a cohort of scholars, artists and journalists from a range of disciplines.

“To be able to put my head together with people like that is an unparalleled opportunity,” she said.

Leitch’s residency begins in August and concludes in December.

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Long before Florida State University became known for its research enterprise and nationally ranked academic programs, the arts were helping shape the life of the university.

Music, theater and visual arts were among the earliest academic offerings at the institution that would become FSU, predating many of the STEM and professional programs taught at the university today.

Over the decades, those programs have grown into nationally recognized schools in music, film, theater, dance and design while bringing world-class artists, exhibitions and performances to campus.

Today, as Florida State celebrates its 175th anniversary, the arts remain central to the university’s identity by enriching campus life, connecting the university with the community and preparing generations of artists, performers and creators.

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Florida State University alumni are using artificial intelligence to help make legislation easier to understand.

Their startup, Delilah, is an AI-powered platform that summarizes complex bills and allows users to ask questions about proposed laws through a conversational interface.  Founded by recent FSU graduates with experience in government and public policy, the company has gained national attention, reaching the Top 100 on the App Store.

Delilah, short for Dashboard for Economic and Legislative Insights with Live Analytics and History, grew out of founder Joseph Visconti’s experience as a gubernatorial fellow at the Florida Capitol.

Working closely with legislation, he saw firsthand how difficult it can be for citizens to navigate bills that can span hundreds of pages.

“We have these really long bills that do important things, but they’re extremely hard to read and understand,” Visconti said. “We wanted to make these bills accessible and comprehensible for people who aren’t working in government.”

Delilah allows users to ask questions about federal, state and local legislation, receive summaries and access links to the original bill text. The team says the platform is designed to help users research public policy without specialized legal or legislative expertise.

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Florida State University has named nationally recognized scholar and academic leader Kirk A. Foster as the next dean of the College of Social Work.

Foster currently serves as dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington and will begin his role at Florida State on Aug. 17.

With more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, teaching and research, Foster has built a career focused on strengthening communities, advancing evidence-based practice and preparing students for careers in public service and behavioral health.

“Dr. Foster is an accomplished leader with a strong record of academic excellence, translational research, student success and community engagement,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Florida State University, who previously served seven years as dean of the FSU College of Social Work. “He understands the important role social workers play in supporting individuals, families and communities, and the crucial workforce contributions that the College makes to the State of Florida. He brings the experience and vision needed to lead the college into its next chapter.”

“He understands the important role social workers play in supporting individuals, families and communities, and the crucial workforce contributions that the College makes to the State of Florida. He brings the experience and vision needed to lead the college into its next chapter.” 

— Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

Before joining UT Arlington in 2024, Foster served as director of the School of Social Work at East Carolina University and previously held leadership roles at the University of South Carolina. 

Foster also enjoys a strong national reputation within his profession. He serves as president of the Society for Social Work and Research, the field’s leading scholarly organization, and has held numerous leadership roles advancing research and evidence-based practice in social work.

Foster’s work has focused on behavioral health, community partnerships and strengthening public trust in institutions. His research has examined topics including economic mobility, neighborhood change and relationships between communities and law enforcement. He is the co-author of “Chasing the American Dream: Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes,” which received the Society for Social Work and Research’s award for Best Scholarly Book in 2016.

“I am honored and excited to join the FSU College of Social Work. I look forward to working with staff, students, faculty, alumni and community partners throughout the state to write the first chapter of the College’s next 100 years of impact and transformation.”

— Kirk Foster, new dean of the College of Social Work

The FSU College of Social Work prepares students for careers in clinical practice, mental health services, child welfare, veterans services and community leadership. The college is nationally recognized for its online graduate programs and research focused on improving health and well-being across Florida communities.

“I am honored and excited to join the FSU College of Social Work,” Foster said. “I look forward to working with staff, students, faculty, alumni and community partners throughout the state to write the first chapter of the College’s next 100 years of impact and transformation.

Foster earned a Ph.D. and Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He succeeds Dean David Springer, who is returning to the University of Texas at Austin as a Centennial Professor in Leadership for Community, Professional, and Corporate Excellence and University Distinguished Teaching Professor.

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Seven distinguished faculty members from Florida State University have been elected as new members of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL).

Membership in ASEMFL is one of the highest honors for scholars in the state, recognizing researchers who live and work in Florida and have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and medicine nationally and globally. FSU now has 38 elected faculty members of the organization, including President Richard McCullough.

“This recognition of seven of our faculty members underscores the world-class caliber of research and scholarship taking place at Florida State University,” McCullough said. “Election to ASEMFL is a testament to their dedication, innovation, and profound impact on their respective fields. From pioneering advancements in magnetics and particle physics to revolutionary breakthroughs in healthcare technology, quantum materials, dyslexia research, and anxiety treatment, these scholars embody FSU’s commitment to academic excellence and societal impact.”

The newly elected FSU members are:

• Kathleen Amm: Amm is director of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (National MagLab), headquartered at FSU. An FSU alumna, she is an expert in superconductivity and
  magnet technology with more than 20 years of experience leading industrial and national laboratory programs, including prior leadership at GE Research and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her work focuses on high magnetic field science and engineering with applications in medical and energy.
• Suvranu De: De serves as the Google Endowed Dean for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and is a professor of mechanical engineering. His pioneering research focuses on multiscale modeling, virtual reality for healthcare, noninvasive neuroimaging and artificial intelligence. He is an elected fellow of multiple professional societies, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
• Jorge Piekarewicz: Piekarewicz is a a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics whose research centers on the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions of density. His work bridges the gap between terrestrial experiments and astronomical observations, using physical observables to understand the complex interior and properties of neutron stars.
• Harrison Prosper: Prosper is the Kirby W. Kemper Endowed Professor of Physics and a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to high-energy physics, particularly through his work with the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. His research has contributed to discoveries involving the gluon, top quark and the Higgs boson, as well as advancements in using Bayesian statistics and machine learning in high-energy physics analysis.
• Mike Shatruk: Shatruk is an inorganic materials chemist specializing in solid-state and molecular magnetism and the discovery of new quantum materials. As the founding director of the FSU Quantum Science Initiative, Shatruk works at the boundary between materials chemistry and physics to uncover correlations between crystal structure and magnetic properties of quantum materials. His research, supported by numerous grants, utilizes advanced X-ray and neutron scattering methods to explore intermetallic magnets, stimuli-responsive materials and molecular qubits that could revolutionize optoelectronic devices, quantum technologies, computing and medical sensing. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• Rick Wagner: Wagner is a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology and holds the W. Russell and Eugenia Morcom Chair. He also serves as an associate director of the Florida Center for Reading Research. His research focuses reading acquisition and dyslexia, advancing the scientific understanding of phonological processing and reading disabilities.
• Brad Schmidt: Schmidt is a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology. He also directs the Anxiety and Behavioral Health Clinic at FSU. He is an internationally recognized expert on the nature, causes, treatment and prevention of anxiety psychopathology, PTSD, substance use and suicide prevention, and he has published more than 575 peer-reviewed articles.

The new inductees will be formally recognized at the ASEMFL annual meeting in November. For more information about the academy and its members, visit the ASEMFL website.

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Allison Justice is a doctoral student in the Florida State University Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and an assistant professor in the FSU School of Physician Assistant Practice whose career is built on a foundation of service to others. Long before guiding future clinicians or pursuing her doctorate at FSU, Justice served her country as a flight medic with the Florida Army National Guard, completing two deployments to Iraq in OIF 06-08 and OND 2011. Her military background forged a deep resilience and a mission-first mindset she carries into both her doctoral studies and her civilian career. 

This veteran spirit anchors her roles in education, clinical practice and advocacy. In the classroom, she shapes the next generation of medical professionals as an assistant professor, a responsibility that pairs with her leadership as president-elect of the Florida Academy of PAs. She also serves as the founding faculty adviser for the HOME (Homeless Outreach Medicine and Education) Street Medicine Program, managing the logistics and performing outreach that allow FSU students to support essential healthcare in Tallahassee’s encampments. Across all these responsibilities, she connects tactical military medicine, advanced instructional design and hands-on community advocacy.

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