The Pulse: December 2025
Message From The Dean
The official first snow hit Boston this weekend. There’s something about the snow that instantly quiets everything. Fitting for this time of year as we wind down the term and wind-up preparations for the holidays and extra time with friends and family.
As we near the end of 2025, I want to share how deeply I appreciate our entire CPS community. The faculty and staff who work tirelessly to meet our learners where they are, all over the global network. To our alumni and community partners who remain steadfast in our shared vision to expand access to lifelong, meaningful learning. And to our students, the heart of our community, you inspire us all every day. We see you working hard — not just in your classes, but in your co-ops, your communities, your families, your day-jobs, your many, many other responsibilities that shape not just who you are, but who we are as a college community. You come from every corner of the world and represent every conceivable ambition. For as long as I am dean of this college, our students will be centered in everything we do — because potential never expires.
Neither should opportunity.
As you read through the highlights of recent news and activities in this month’s issue of The Pulse, I encourage you to pay special attention to the stories of the people who make this place so special. Remember, you are all a part of that story.
Thank you for all you do.
Wishing you all peace and joy this holiday season!
Jared
Student Events & Opportunities
Are you planning to graduate this year?
First, congratulations! Second, ICYMI the 2026 Commencement dates and locations for the College of Professional Studies in Boston have been announced!
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Graduates
Date: Friday, May 1, 2026 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Location: Leader Bank Pavilion in the Boston Seaport District
Date: Friday, August 21, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.*
Location: Blackman Auditorium on campus (with a celebratory toast to follow in the Curry Student Center)
* Our doctoral programs have opted to move Commencement to late summer to better align with the timing of degree completion.
More detailed information, including, regalia, and guest ticketing will be posted on the Commencement website as it becomes available.
Please be sure to apply to graduate. This is a required step by the Registrar’s Office and ensures you’ll receive an invitation to participate in your Commencement ceremony. The ceremony registration portal will open on January 28, 2026. This portal will allow graduating students to claim guest tickets and order regalia. Students who have applied to graduate will receive an email when the portal opens.
CPS News
CPS Research: Student Edition
Foundation Year Students Share Research Results during Poster Session
Foundation Year students grapple with one of the most pressing global health challenges of our century—the diminishing supply of effective antibiotics. This hands-on science program led by Kari Jensen gave Foundation Year students the opportunity to explore scientific research, opening doors to potential new careers in the field of science and research. Check out this short video of their recent poster session!
Global Campus Network News
Keep up with the latest from our colleagues around the network! Check out stories from our campus network where CPS is heavily active in teaching and research.
Faculty and Staff
End of Year Wrap Up of Faculty and Staff Accomplishments
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to give faculty and staff across the CPS community an opportunity to share some of their biggest accomplishments. Please take some time to share a few highlights from this year in the linked survey below. Things you might consider sharing:
- Published works (journals, book chapters, conference procedings, etc.)
- Program or systems innovations
- Teaching innovations
- Professional recognitions or awards
- Significant community outreach/engagement
- New grants or research projects
Even if you feel like you already shared something, we will be using this tool as the aggregator of all our work and will then take these submissions and develop a “year in review” story for January. Thank you in advance for sharing!
Wellness and Belonging
Northeastern University seeks to foster a community of belonging. Our university is stronger as a result of the varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that the members of our global community bring to the pursuit of knowledge. Please visit our SharePoint site regularly for more information about upcoming events and other resources at CPS Wellness & Belonging.
HR Hackathon a Huge Success!
November’s HR Hackathon led by CPS’s Workforce Transformation Lab attracted leaders in technology and talent acquisition for a day-long session bridging the gap between research, technology, and people to address pressing challenges in talent management. Thanks to all who participated!
Daniel Serig Selected for the Artificial Intelligence Humanities Sandpit
This humanities-led, interdisciplinary research sandpit puts humanities insights and methodologies at the heart of artificial intelligence (AI) technology design. It’s funded by a grant from UK Research and Innovation through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute and the University of Edinburgh
This opportunity proved popular with almost 900 applications across disciplines, countries and career stages. Securing a place in the sandpit means Serig’s application ranked in the top 7% (60 participants). Congratulations, Daniel! Learn more about the program in their white paper.
Welcome to CPS!
We are thrilled to welcome Ernesto Custodio to CPS. He joins our MS Project Management faculty and the Miami campus bringing over 15 years of executive experience in IT transformation, product management, and Agile leadership across diverse industries including fintech, automotive, and technology education. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University, where his dissertation focused on effective collaboration models for distributed Agile teams, along with an MBA from the same institution.
A recognized thought leader in Agile methodologies, he is an Agile Education Program Fellow by Scrum Inc. and holds numerous professional certifications including PMP, SAFe Program Consultant, and multiple Scrum certifications. Custodio has mentored over 2,000 professionals throughout their career and authored the Scrumdamentals book series on Agile practices. His blend of academic credentials, industry expertise, and proven success in building high-performing global teams positions him well to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in preparing students for today’s dynamic business environment.
Do you have news for The Pulse?
As this college-wide monthly newsletter evolves, we look forward to hearing from you. Please send an email to [email protected] with a summary of content and links to the full story.
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