Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
September 16, 2025 September 16, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

News & Features

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR The QuestBridge National College Match program provides low-income students with full four-year scholarships to college partners.

University expands reach to low-income students with QuestBridge partnership

By PARKER HAN | February 3, 2023

QuestBridge announced its partnership with the University in a press release on Jan. 19. QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with leading colleges and opportunities. In Fall 2023, the University will participate in the QuestBridge National College Match, a program that connects low-income students with admission and full four-year scholarships to QuestBridge college partners.

COURTESY OF TRU-UE 97% of votes were in favor of unionization.

Graduate students vote to unionize with a 97% majority

By JIAYI LI | February 1, 2023

Graduate students across three Hopkins campuses voted in a union representation election, facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), on Jan. 30 and 31. The election was organized by Teachers and Researchers United (TRU), which is affiliated with United Electrical Radio, and Machine Workers (UE). 

COURTESY OF VID SMOOKE Smooke describes pivoting from the career world into academia.

Humans of Hopkins: Vid Smooke

By ARANTZA GARCIA | January 26, 2023

Vid Smooke is a professor of Music Theory at the Peabody Institute. In an interview with The News-Letter, they describe their experience in academia, their educational philosophy and the arts scene in Baltimore. 

Hopkins community mourns the loss of Sharleen Argamaso-Hernan

By SHIRLENE JOHN | January 22, 2023

The University is mourning the death of Sharleen Argamaso-Hernan, assistant director of academic support, who passed away on Dec. 25, 2022. Argamaso-Hernan was assistant director for the Study Consulting Program and oversaw the first-year course Introduction to Hopkins: Arrive & Thrive. 

Hopkins community mourns the loss of Saeeda Osei Frimpong

By YANA MULANI | January 15, 2023

The University is mourning the death of Saeeda Osei Frimpong, who passed away on Jan. 11. Frimpong was a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. She was a member of the African Students Association, the American Red Cross Corps and the Black Student Union. 

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Students and faculty discuss the necessity of diversifying faculty.

University announces three scholarly cluster hires aimed at increasing faculty diversity

By YANA MULANI and HELEN LACEY | December 17, 2022

The University announced plans to hire 13 new faculty members in three areas of study as part of the Fannie Gaston-Johansson Faculty of Excellence Program (FGJFEP) on Nov. 16.  Named after the University’s first Black woman to become a tenured professor at Hopkins, Fannie Gaston-Johansson, the FGJFEP has resulted in the recruitment of 35 tenure-track professors over a six-year period. The program is part of the Faculty Diversity Initiative (FDI), recently revived under the University’s Second Roadmap on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

COURTESY OF KENNA LOWE Daniels spoke on the significance of cultivating democratic ideals at the University. 

Exclusive interview with President Ronald J. Daniels

By YANA MULANI and SHIRLENE JOHN | December 16, 2022

In an interview with The News-Letter on Dec. 12, University President Ronald J. Daniels discussed the function of higher education in American democracy, the importance of accountability in the University’s decision making and the creation of democratic spaces on campus. 

COURTESY OF JOSH AMBROSE Nine teams presented their startup project to judges on Fuel Demo Day.

Hopkins startup CurveAssure win grand prize at FFU Fuel Demo Day

By AIMEE CHO | December 12, 2022

CurveAssure, a student startup creating a spine monitor device to identify the best treatment and pathways for the patient, won the grand prize at the FastForward U (FFU) Fall 2022 Fuel Demo Day. The Fuel Accelerator track is a non-dilutive, extracurricular accelerator that runs each semester to fund Hopkins student startups. This fall, nine student startups were selected through a written application and an interview. 

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Anderson’s donation is the largest private contribution to a university in Italy.

James Anderson, Hopkins alumnus, and Morag Anderson gift $100 million to SAIS Europe

By JIAYI LI | December 10, 2022

Hopkins alumnus James Anderson and his spouse, Morag Anderson, donated $100 million to the University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Europe. In recognition of the donation, which is the largest private contribution to a university in Italy, the Bologna Center campus will now bear the name “The Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe Bologna Center James and Morag Anderson Campus.”

COURTESY OF ROWAN LIU Jenkins and Beam discuss what imagined futures look like for the transgender community. 

Tabb Center hosts speakers to present on intricacies of transgender oral history

By ROWAN LIU | December 10, 2022

Andrea Jenkins and Myrl Beam shared their work with The Tretter Transgender Oral History Project (TTOHP) and the ways storytelling can foster trans justice and empowerment on Dec. 6 at Bird in Hand cafe. The Winston Tabb Special Collections Research Center organized the event as part of a project that will create a group to record and spread trans oral histories in Baltimore. 

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR The Hopkins Food Pantry provides resources for Hopkins affiliates facing food insecurity.

Looking into Baltimore: Impacts of food insecurity

By AASHI MENDPARA | December 8, 2022

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2021 report on household food security in the U.S., 13.5 million households are food insecure. Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future conducted a study in 2018, which reported that one in four Baltimore residents live in areas that lack accessible options for healthy and affordable food. 

COURTESY OF STEVEN DAVID David advised students to explore unique opportunities that can help them meet new and interesting people. 

Humans of Hopkins: Steven David

By LONDON CRADDOCK | December 8, 2022

Steven David is a tenured professor of International Relations at Hopkins. During his 40 years at the University, he has taught classes on nuclear weapons and political violence as well as on peace and war. He is currently writing two books, the first focused on Sino-American competition in developing countries and the second on threats to Israel's existence. In an interview with The News-Letter, David discussed his journey into academia, his current projects and advice for students. 

Students highlight that the final draft of the MOU is not representative of the concerns shared by the Hopkins and Baltimore communities.

University releases final draft of MOU for the JHPD

By AASHI MENDPARA | December 6, 2022

Vice President for Public Safety Branville Bard sent an email to the Hopkins community on Dec. 2 announcing the final draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the University for the implementation of the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD).

COURTESY OF JOHNS HOPKINS OUTDOORS CLUB Members of the club emphasized that JHOC not only provides them with a break from the study culture of Hopkins but is also an exciting way to connect with the environment. 

JHOC resumes in person trips for interested Hopkins students

By AIMEE CHO | December 6, 2022

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this past year, the Johns Hopkins Outdoors Club (JHOC) resumed normal activities after a pause during the pandemic. JHOC returned to hosting a variety of outdoor trips every weekend for any interested Hopkins students to join. These activities include hiking, mountain biking, caving, canoeing, climbing and backpacking.

COURTESY OF HELEN LACEY Students convened to discuss the JHPD’s implementation.

IDEAL hosts student-led discussion about the JHPD

By HELEN LACEY | December 5, 2022

The University’s IDEAL chapter hosted a discussion titled “The Johns Hopkins Police Department: It’s Approval and Consequences” on Nov 30. The seminar provided students with the opportunity to address their concerns about the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) and public safety with fellow students.

COURTESY OF JIAYI LI Flyers were posted around campus to inform the Hopkins community about the Urumqi fire and the protests in China. 

Students hold vigil for victims of Urumqi fire to show solidarity with protesters in China

By JIAYI LI | December 3, 2022

Hopkins affiliates and community members gathered outside Brody Learning Commons on Nov. 28 to hold a candlelight vigil for victims of the Urumqi fire in Xinjiang, China.  Distributed leaflets described the fire as one of the many tragedies resulting from the Chinese government’s COVID-19 policy. Due to lockdown-related blockages, the fire department was unable to reach the building in time.

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