2025's Most Impactful Stories
This past year was a great one for Washington College in the news.
Our depth of knowledge and expertise across a wide array of topics and issues has generated impressive media coverage for the College and its people this year. Below is a sampling of articles and features where Washington topped the headlines these past 12 months.
Political Violence Is Part of the American Story. It Is Also Changing.
The New York Times
Adam Goodheart, Hodson Trust-Griswold Director of the Washington College Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, was quoted extensively in this article. It was picked up by more than 30 state papers, including the Miami Herald and the Tri City Observer.
MAGA Civil War Sparks Fears Of Chaotic Trump White House
Barron's
Flavio Hickel, assistant professor of political science, was quoted in this article from Agence France Presse (AFP) which was picked-up by Barron's and over 141 outlets across France, the U.S., China, and Taiwan. Hickel was used as a political commentary source by AFP several times this past year for articles detailing Trump's first 100 days in office, Elon Musk's political party, as well as the MAGA vs. "Tech Bros" dispute. In total, his commentary to AFP and other national sources appeared in 315 outlets worldwide.
Starr Center Secures Funding for African American History Initiative
MSN
After issuing out a press release to regional media, this story was picked up by the Southern Maryland Chronicle, which went on to appear on MSN. It was also picked up by the Chestertown Spy.
Puppy Spotted At College Campus In Training To Be Service Dog
MSN
Skylar Fairbee ’26, the head of the Fetching Freedom club on campus, shared a few cute photos of their newest puppy-in-training and an update on the pup's time in class and traversing campus. After turning the update into a story, it was issued out to media and was shared by Patch.com's Maryland news coverage. That article eventually found its way to national audiences via MSN and to TV viewers in the Baltimore area via WBAL-TV.
Are Gen Zers becoming more religious?
Newsweek
Nick Garcia, assistant professor of sociology, was quoted in this article, which also ran in Newsweek Español.
Behind the rise of Latin America’s Right
The Telegraph
Political science department chair Christine Wade was quoted in this British national paper. The article was picked up by AOL, MSN and Yahoo in both the U.S. and UK.
America's looming food bank crisis
Newsweek
Valerie Imbruce, Lammot du Pont Copeland Director of the Washington College Center for Environment and Society (CES), was quoted on the dire circumstances and issues around SNAP cuts in this article. Her commentary was used in 14 Newsweek articles about SNAP reductions throughout 2025. She was also used as a source on the subject by U.S. News & World Report and APG Media, whose resulting article was picked up by 15 state newspapers across the country. She also authored an Washington Insider column on the topic.
Democrats stuck in political ‘wilderness.’ Will they pivot to the center in 2026?
Yahoo
In addition to his commentary on national politics, Flavio Hickel, assistant professor of political science, was quoted frequently on Maryland politics this year by the Baltimore Sun. This article joins more than 20 others in the Sun, many of which went on to be picked-up by outlets across the U.S. including Yahoo, the Sun Herald, and the Modesto Bee.
An explosion of sea urchins threatens to push coral reefs in Hawaii ‘past the point of recovery’
CNN
Provost Kiho Kim's expertise in environmental science was sought out for this article in declining reef populations.
South Korea's population crisis shrinks military amid threat from North
Newsweek
Andrew Oros, professor of political science and international studies, had his research included in this article prior to the release of his latest book, Asia’s Aging Security: How Demographic Change Affects America’s Allies and Adversaries. This year he also penned a Washington Insider column on the U.S. aging population and low birth rate.
You're chopping onions wrong! Mathematicians reveal the best way to dice the vegetable - and why you should NEVER make horizontal cuts
Daily Mail
Dylan Poulsen, John W. Allender Associate Professor of Data Ethics, had previously calculated the best way to slice an onion in a blog post that was picked up by The New York Times last year. This year it was again mentioned in the UK's Daily Mail and as part of a visual essay in The Pudding.
Learn more about Jorō spiders in the US. Critters to return in 2026.
USA Today
USA Today ran a mention of Angela Chuang's public call for research assistance on a Baltimore population of Jorō spiders after seeing a mention of it on WBOC-TV. The press release and resulting initial coverage, which included the Baltimore Sun, reached more than 25 other pick-ups spanning smaller outlets across the Chesapeake region.
'This isn't a bird problem, it's a design one' – 3 simple, expert methods to stop birds flying into windows, doors, and outdoor mirrors
Homes & Gardens Magazine
Maren Gimpel, associate director of Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory, was consulted for this article which included mentions for the bird friendly glass testing at the Observatory and the windows installed at CES' Semans Griswold Environmental Hall. Throughout the year, her knowledge on bird migration and habits were included in 4 other Homes & Gardens Magazine articles as well as in Real Simple, Yahoo Life, and A to Z Animals.