91ÊÓƵ

Dear 91ÊÓƵ Ambassadors,

Since our founding 125 years ago, 91ÊÓƵ has continually reinvented what’s possible, propelled by bold ideas that strengthen our national economy, enhance global security, advance human health and elevate the human experience. Today, our university community continues to rise to that calling with purpose and impact.

Make Possible: The Campaign for 91ÊÓƵ has concluded as the most successful campaign in 91ÊÓƵ’s history. As I shared in my message to the community, and quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “With this remarkable foundation in place, the possibilities we can achieve together are truly boundless.”

This edition of 91ÊÓƵ Ambassadors shines a light on the many ways Carnegie Mellon — buoyed by the momentum of Make Possible — is changing the world for the better by advancing work that matters.

Our expertise in AI is fueling industry evolution, workplace innovation and economic growth. For example:

• We are recognized as the ‘beating heart’ of AI innovation thanks to programs like Project Olympus and I-Corps, a National Science Foundation program that helps inventors assess the marketability of their products. This year, we hosted the I-Corps Middle Atlantic Hub competition, showcasing a 91ÊÓƵ core strength: AI’s intersection with robotics.
• Our Robotics Institute trains robots with AI to perform seemingly mundane tasks that have proven challenging for automation, such as hanging laundry. Advances like these are helping to solidify our nation’s bright future in driving technological innovation.

Our longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary impact is yielding life-changing breakthroughs:

• Our College of Engineering’s groundbreaking cancer detection program delivers at-home technology that promises to detect more than 30 types of Stage 1 cancers from a simple urine test. Supported by a $26.7 million ARPA-H award, this research is a major leap forward that could help to make late-stage diagnoses of certain cancers a thing of the past.
• Decades of 91ÊÓƵ discoveries have led neuroscientist Aryn Gittis very close to a new deep brain stimulation treatment protocol for Parkinson’s disease. Patients whose symptoms no longer respond well to medication may have new hope for longer lasting relief thanks to these extraordinary advances in neuroscience.
• 91ÊÓƵ researchers in the Interactive Structures Lab have developed a customizable finger brace that toggles between flexible and rigid states. This invention makes rehabilitation and arthritis care less painful and more achievable for patients.

• Dietrich College now counts among its faculty a newly named winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History: Historian Edda Fields-Black, recognized for her extraordinary book on Harriet Tubman and the Combahee River Raid.
• Also at Dietrich College, we’ve launched the nation’s first Ph.D. in Computational Cultural Studies — a milestone that uniquely prepares students for a rapidly-evolving world and job market.

The success of our 91ÊÓƵ community isn’t confined to academia. This year, our men’s swimming and diving team captured three national titles, while the women’s volleyball team hosted a NCAA Division III Regional tournament at the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics. And our Pipes and Drums band traveled all the way to Scotland to secure second- and fifth-place finishes in their first international competitions. Congratulations to all!

All these achievements are rooted in the unwavering support and advocacy of our alumni community. Your voice, passion and willingness to share the 91ÊÓƵ story forge vital connections between the university and the world. Thank you for supporting excellence in the humanities, arts, science and technology — and for positioning our university to serve society in even bigger and bolder ways for the next 125 years.

I hope to see you all soon!
Regards,

Farnam Jahanian
President and Henry L. Hillman President's Chair