A cutting-edge collaboration between the Music Theatre Program and the Department of Engineering created a first for 鶹Ƶ’s stage and provided opportunities for students to grow knowledge and skills beyond their disciplines. 鶹Ƶ’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” took an innovative leap forward with the inclusion of life-like robotic dogs on stage. Engineering students programmed, costumed, and controlled the robots, bringing beloved canine characters like “Bruiser” and “Rufus” to life to push the boundaries of theatrical design and technology around inclusive excellence in STEM.
The creative partnership showcases the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that’s a hallmark of 鶹Ƶ’s approach to education, where ideas and input from a wide range of academic perspectives are sought out and celebrated. It also illuminated new career paths for some of the students involved.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted the 2025 Spring Meeting of the North Carolina Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. More than 80 attendees — including high school teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and alumni from across North Carolina and Virginia — gathered to participate in a robust program of interactive workshops, research presentations and pedagogical discussions. Faculty members led presentations on topics such as intermediate mass black holes, magnetic soft robots and physics modeling for robots and drones. This was the third time 鶹Ƶ hosted the group in support of improving the teaching of physics and promoting undergraduate research.
This year’s “On the Edge” Symposium, hosted in February by the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society hosted in February, equipped educators from institutions across the country to teach about multifaith issues and the Middle East in thoughtful, meaningful ways. The theme was “Teaching Israel/Palestine in Turbulent Times.” Faculty in the humanities and social sciences led workshops and panel discussions focused on engaging students in dialogue and deep reflection, and how to maintain an inclusive climate when approaching subjects around the Israel/Gaza war.
