Dear Colleagues,

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if email stopped working?

I’m sending today’s message after the Board of Visitors meeting, where JMU's important work around artificial intelligence took center stage. The board heard an update on university-wide AI developments from the Artificial Intelligence Strategic Working Group co-chairs, Yasmeen Shorish and Michael Swartely. Yasmeen and Michael informed the board of the recent creation of JMU’s AI Principles, which are available for your review online. They also described JMU’s recently enhanced access to multiple large language model platforms.

Then board members heard from faculty and a current student to learn more about how innovative modifications to core courses in the College of Business will help students learn how to use AI effectively and ethically to enhance their learning and job preparedness.

As always, there are many more interesting activities being driven by your colleagues. Read on for more! And please keep sending notes of your achievements to provost@jmu.edu.

• Dr. Tomás Regalado López, professor of Latin American literature in the Department of World Languages and Literatures, was named as the Center for Global Engagement Anaza Benjamin Distinguished Director of the Year. The award is designed to honor a study abroad program director who provides a high level of student support and mentorship, models resiliency amidst adversity and shows their passion for study abroad programming. CGE recognized Tomás for his tireless work supporting JMU semester programming in Salamanca, Spain. Beyond spending countless hours recruiting and mentoring students, hosting info sessions, and meeting with students and families, he played an instrumental role in expanding the academic programming by developing new courses that allow students to fulfill their General Education requirements abroad. He also worked closely with the Office of Family Engagement to offer the first Families Abroad program in Spain.
  
  
• Dr. Piyusha Mutreja, associate professor of Economics and International Business, recently published “Urban bias in capital allocation: Evidence from China” in Economics Letters. The co-authored work examines urban bias in capital allocation using firm-level data from China. The researchers infer the cost of capital from firm returns and compare urban versus rural firms within the same prefecture. They found that urban firms have significantly lower returns, indicating cheaper access to capital, and this gap is large for state-owned enterprises but negligible for nonstate firms.
  
  
• Dr. Sam Prins, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and professor of Statistics, was elected president-elect of the Council for Colleges of Arts and Sciences. She will progress to become president in November 2027.
  
  
• The JMU Choral Area was selected as one of five invited university choral programs included on the Chorus America website in the 2026 University Choral Program Spotlight: Five Programs Creating Future Leaders in the Field. The site highlights relevant, dynamic college and university programs that are developing leaders ready to make an impact on the choral landscape of today and tomorrow by showcasing their value to influential leaders across the U.S. and Canadian choral community.

If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to take a look at our site on the role of Academic Affairs in the Madison Promise. While the site is in its infancy, our intent is for the site to convey important information, provide responses to FAQs, solicit questions and comments, and provide opportunities for faculty and staff to be involved in strategic plan work. Let us know what you think through the links on the page.

Sincerely,
Fletcher

Academic Affairs faculty and staff can email to contact the provost directly.

This is an open line of communication allowing faculty and staff to ask questions, but it is not a substitute from the crucial interactions they have with their academic unit head, department head and dean.

Students should contact AcademicQuestions@jmu.edu with questions.