Two mid-career officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation began classes this fall as the first students in the new Counterterrorism and National Security Fellows Program at the Sanford School. The program is designed to give mid-career military and national security officials a deeper understanding of the policy-making process, broaden their communication and problem-solving skills and deepen their understanding of other cultures.

Early life experiences shape the academic paths of many professors, but few find their research as directly connected to their roots as Jay A. Pearson, assistant professor at the Sanford School. Disparities across cultural groups and consequences of ethnic identity formation are not only the focus of Pearson’s research; he has experienced them firsthand.

The initial response to Hurricane Sandy has, necessarily, focused on immediate needs, such as restoring power, providing shelter and trucking in fuel to the area. However, after the most pressing problems are resolved and communities begin the long task of rebuilding, public health officials should make it a priority to assist some of the most vulnerable members of these communities — pregnant women and their unborn babies.

The 2012 presidential election was the year for Twitter and data mining, which both changed the way candidates ran campaigns and how the campaigns were covered in the media.