Congratulations, graduates!

Recent headlines warn of cooling tech job postings and lower starting salaries, and stories are rife with fears that artificial intelligence, or AI, will eliminate entry-level roles. 

For students considering a degree in computer science or software engineering, the news can sound discouraging.

Computer scientists in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University say the reality is more nuanced, complex and hopeful. 

They point out that although tools and platforms evolve, the core skills of computer science remain valuable across industries. Those foundations have already survived major technological shifts, becoming more essential as industries adapted to new challenges.

The future of engineering-driven health innovation is currently unfolding at Arizona State University.

In the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, a new generation of biomedical entrepreneurs is translating fundamental discoveries into technologies that improve human health.

Supported by ASU’s innovation ecosystem and the National Institutes of Health, here are three researchers that are bridging the gap between academic research and clinical application through startup ventures born right out of their labs.

When Mariana Torres first stepped onto the campus of Arizona State University, she was stepping into uncharted territory — not just for herself but for her entire family. A first-generation Latina and the first in her family born in the U.S., Torres admits she felt completely lost at first.

“I didn’t know how to get an internship, how to network or even what it meant to navigate college,” she said. “Everything was overwhelming, exciting, intimidating, unfamiliar.”

Fast-forward to today, and Torres, a W. P. Carey School of Business student, has not only found her footing but she’s thriving — a long list of scholar awards, volunteer work, and internships with Walmart and Google. She has also analyzed data for companies like Intel, Netflix and The Grammys. 

She credits ASU with helping her open doors to new career opportunities. And a global network of top employers and organization agrees.

The newest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, or GEURS, again ranked ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates — ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue. Among all U.S. institutions, ASU was ranked No. 14. Globally, the university is ranked No. 37, up from No. 41 last year, ahead of the University of Melbourne, LMU Munich and King’s College London.

When Shawn Bratton dropped out of college his freshman year, he never would have dreamed he would end up becoming a four-star general and the vice chief of space operations. But with some luck and hard work, he now holds the second-highest role at the U.S. Space Force.

Read more.

When people are feeling happy, they’re more likely to see other people as happy. If they’re feeling down, they tend to view other people as sad. But according to a new ASU study, when dealing with dogs, this well-established psychological effect ceases to work as expected.

Read more.

Washington Monthly has ranked Arizona State University among the top 10 public institutions in the country for its affordability and accessibility. 

Nineteen students and recent grads will pursue a range of projects — from math and business to global security and digital storytelling.

Arizona State University and the nonprofit organization Games for Change have entered into a collaborative agreement to advance educational innovation through game-based learning, research and microcredentials. 

The partnership brings together one of the nation’s most innovative universities and a leading nonprofit at the intersection of games and social impact.

The initiative centers on a shared commitment to equipping learners of all ages with future-ready skills by leveraging the power of play, creativity and emerging technologies.

The innovation corridor is expected to create 34,000 jobs and $4.6 billion in economic output. When all seven phases of Novus are finished, it will include 10 million square feet of housing, offices, restaurants, hotels, shops and open spaces.

Arizona State University ranks fourth among public universities in the U.S. for developing the next generation of digital and AI-ready leaders, according to a new survey.

The Digital Leaders in Higher Education Survey, released June 4, ranked ASU 16th among all American universities — public and private — and 55th among 200 universities around the world. The rankings were released by Emerging, a consulting firm that specializes in employability.

“Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping every sector of the economy, and ASU is preparing our graduates for this emerging reality with urgency and purpose,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost.

Read more.

Discussing the weather is small talk for most of us.

But ask Erinanne Saffell her thoughts on the topic and you may be flooded with details about everything from the drought to dust storms. 

Saffell is the Arizona state climatologist and an associate teaching professor at Arizona State University’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning.

After having served time in prison in his youth, Lance Graham now serves a purpose helping other inmates. Through ASU's Pen Project, Graham and students on the West Valley campus provide feedback to incarcerated writers who are trying to improve their skill set.

Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College has a new name: the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.

https://news.asu.edu/20250114-arts-humanities-and-education-name-change-asus-mary-lou-fulton-teachers-college-reflects

A variety of ASU programs are helping students bond with older adults in an effort to build connections and reduce loneliness.

Learn more: https://news.asu.edu/20250110-sun-devil-community-asu-connects-younger-older-generations-ease-loneliness 

More than 11,300 ASU students will receive their diplomas as ASU kicks off a week of commencement celebrations. Find out more about the makeup of the graduating class, as well as the schedule of ceremonies, at ASU News.

Learn more: https://news.asu.edu/20241206-sun-devil-community-fall-graduation-highlights-resilience-success

Arizona State University continues to set the standard in online learning, having earned a Gold rating — the highest distinction — in the inaugural Times Higher Education Online Learning Ranking 2024. This recognition places ASU among the top institutions worldwide for excellence in online education.

Learn more: https://news.asu.edu/20241211-university-news-asu-earns-gold-inaugural-times-higher-education-online-learning-ranking