Year in Review: Top Stories of 2025

Memorable Moments

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  Catholic University Designated an R1 Research University

  The R1 designation recognizes The Catholic University of America as among a select number of the highest performing research universities in the nation.

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  Remembering Pope Francis

  Pope Francis' 2015 visit to campus was a memorable moment of connection to the papacy.

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  Students Celebrate Election of First U.S. Pope

  The election of the first-ever American pope, Leo XIV, was a big moment for one of the most important places for the Catholic Church in the United States.

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  Microsoft Leader Tapped to Direct New AI Institute

  Taylor Black, director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, is the founding director of the Leonum Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies.

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  New Theology Faculty Focus on Human Dignity, Carmelite Spirituality

  The School of Theology and Religious Studies welcomed three new faculty this fall semester: Angela Franks, MA 1998, associate professor in systematic theology; Charles Camosy, associate professor of moral theology/ethics; and Father Craig Morrison, O.Carm., MA 1989, the new chair of the Center for Carmelite Studies.

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  Undergraduate Nursing Program Among Top 30 in the U.S.

  The U.S. News & World Report ranked the BSN program #28 out of 686 nationwide. 

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  Justice Clarence Thomas Speaks at University’s Law School

  The Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT) at the Columbus School of Law opened its academic year of programming by hosting a conversation with a Supreme Court justice. 

  
   

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  Sainthood Sought for Alumnus

  Daniel Anderl, B.A. 2021 (in memoriam), was a rising junior when he was shot at his family's home by an assailant targeting his mother, a federal judge. Daniel is remembered for his commitment to his faith and campus community.

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  Campus Lab Builds Critical Components of LHC Upgrade

  University researchers are part of an international effort upgrading the pixel detector at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle accelerator, for the next generation of discoveries about the fundamental forces that shape our universe. 

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  Our Campus, Our Future

  University President Peter Kilpatrick gave a State of the University address about the successes, challenges, and opportunities presented by a strategic renewal for the future of the institution.