Professor of English Jessica Brown, Ph.D., was one of 10 faculty members in the U.S. to receive a Lang Fellowship through Rare Book School in AY 2025. This two- year fellowship allowed her to attend a course on the Transmission of the Bible from Beginnings to 1500 at Oxford University in July of 2026. The course, taught by Peter Toth, allowed her to have rare access medieval manuscripts from the Bodelian’s collection. She was able to examine early Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic, Ge’ez (Ethiopian ), Greek, and European manuscripts that are very rarely shown to the public. Her work as a Lang Fellow over the last two years will inform the course on bookbinding and book history that she will be teaching this fall and also the study abroad course to the UK that she will be piloting this spring. This fellowship (in cooperation with LLMC and the Nielsen Library) has also provided funding for the university to acquire a number of rare texts for Adams State’s special collections library.
Associate Professor of Biology David Bertolatus, Ph.D., was accepted into the UNIDOS Leadership Institute, a program of the National Science Foundation designed to enhance collaboration among STEM departments at HSIs nationwide. In August, he traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the in-person kick-off for the institute, which will continue remotely for the rest of the academic year.
Instructor of Distant Education Ashraf Esmail accomplishments include:
Honors
Presented with an award at the Research Association for Minority Professors Conference
Presented with an award at the Association for Social and Behavioral Scientists Conference
Presented with an award at the Loving Hearts Congenital Heart Walk supporting the Children Heart Foundation
Articles/Book Chapters
Burke, Jessica, Lisa Eargle, and Ashraf Esmail (2026). Resource Exploitation, Pollution, and Quality of Life in Developing Nations. In Natural Disasters, the Environment, and Technological Pathways to Sustainable Recovery. Edited by Sylvester Udeorah Henrietta Okoro, Ghosh Thinnakkakath, and Anthony Ogbo. Pg. 241-270. IGI Global
Mavyon, Rouby, Ashraf Esmail, and Hovsep Mavyan (2026). The Impacts of Mental Health and Physical Injuries Resulting From Abuse: Analyzing Barriers to Healthcare Access for Female Victims of Abuse. In Policy, Prevention, and Structural Responses to Violence Against Women. Edited by Perry Lyle, Ghosh Thinnakkakath, and Jyoti Kukreja. Pg 91-116. IGI Global
Esmail, Ashraf and Brandon Hammon (2026). The Legacy Must Live: HBCUs and the Fight For Generational Hope. In Hope on the Mountain of Fear: Compelling Viewpoints on Economic Justice and American Democracy. Edited by Bankole Thompson. Pg 75- Pulse Global Publishing
Monroe, Paula and Ashraf Esmail (2026). Study Analysis of School and Community Collaboration Bridging Community Gaps in Urban School Enrichment Programs Through Qualitative Case Study. Community Dynamics: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal. 2, 32-40
Presentations
Perry, Kristie, Ashraf Esmail, and Tia Suggs. (2026). Targeted Violence and Terrorism
Prevention Program. Presented at The Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists New Orleans, La.
Esmail, Ashraf, Tia Suggs, Katina Whorton, Raymond Delaney, and Darryl Roberts (2026) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Program. The Role of HBCU’s.
Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Conference. Philadelphia, PA
Delaney, Raymond and Ashraf Esmail (2026). The Role of AI in Restorative Practices:
Impact on the School-To-Prison Pipeline. Presented at the Research Association for Minority Professors Conference. New Orleans, La
Esmail, Ashraf, Kriste Perry, and Ashraf Esmail (2026). Resilience and Risk: A Study of Terrorism Threats and Prevention on HCBU Campuses. Presented at the Research Association for Minority Professors Conference, New Orleans, La.
Assistant Professor of Psychology Chris Kam, Ph.D., had “Watching a Video of College Professors Disagreeing Agreeably to Lower Affective Polarization,” published at the end of July, by the journal Psychological Reports.
Professor of History and Department Chair Richard Loosbrock, Ph.D., was the historical ambassador on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad’s Centennial State Limited for the Colorado 150 on July 31 and August 1. He gave mini-history lectures to all of the cars and mingled with passengers to talk history of Colorado and the SLV. He presented a program at the Saguache County Museum on Railroads, the West, and the San Luis Valley, on August 16.
Clinical Counselor Katy Plumb, two-time alumni, improved her credentialing from an LPCC (licensed professional counselor candidate) to LPC (licensed professional counselor) in July of 2026 and became a nationally certified counselor as well.
Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Nick Saenz, had the article, “Straight Lines, Broken Histories: Reconsidering Colorado’s Starting Point” published by History Colorado.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kassiopeia Smith, Ph.D., participated in the 2026 UNIDOS Leadership Institute at the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras on August 20–21. The Institute is a professional and leadership development program for faculty and staff at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, with an emphasis on shared leadership, collaboration, professional growth, and leading meaningful institutional change. The two-day workshop launched a year-long program that includes leadership coaching and the development of a strategic change project aimed at strengthening STEM education, student success, and institutional capacity.
