The Pulse: October 2026
Message From The Dean
Dear CPS Community,
October has a way of reminding us how much is already in motion. The term is fully underway, and this issue of The Pulse reflects a college that is busy learning, building, and connecting.
I’ll start with news I’m especially excited to share: for Commencement 2027, CPS bachelor’s and master’s students are invited to participate in the university ceremonies at Fenway Park on May 8. We’ll also hold our own CPS celebrations at Leader Bank Pavilion, so every graduate still has the chance to cross the stage and be recognized individually. If you’re on track to finish by next summer, now is a good time to mark your calendar.
Next month we celebrate First-Generation College Student Month, and I’d encourage any student who is the first in their family to pursue a degree to consider sharing your story via this short form. Your path may be exactly what someone else needs to see to believe theirs is possible.
This issue also launches our new Program Spotlight series, beginning with Project Management. And our student research section features doctoral students tackling questions of belonging, youth support, mental health, and the future of work. For our faculty and staff, there are several calls to share what you know, from our Faculty Development Conference on October 23 to proposals for Love Data & AI Week.
As always, thank you for the work you do to make CPS a place where learning leads to real impact.
Best,
Student Events & Opportunities
Mark your calendars for Fenway!
Northeastern just announced Commencement 2027 dates, and this year bachelor’s and master’s students from CPS are invited to participate in the ceremonies.
📅 Saturday, May 8, 2027
🕙 Graduate ceremony: 10 a.m.
🕓 Undergraduate ceremony: 4 p.m.
📍 Fenway Park, Boston
In addition, CPS will hold two stage-crossing celebrations at Leader Bank Pavilion on Sunday, May 2. The 9 a.m. ceremony will celebrate BS, MA, and MPS graduates while the 1:30 p.m. ceremony will honor MS and MSL grads.
More info on the College of Professional Studies Commencement page
Celebrating our First-Generation College Students
November is First-Generation College Student Month and we want to spotlight the CPS students and alumni who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. We’re looking for CPS community members willing to share their story for a profile series running throughout November. Your experience could be exactly what another first-gen student (or a prospective one) needs to read right now.
Opportunity for Student Research: SOURCE 2026
Showcase of Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 PM ET | Cabot Cage, Boston Campus
Curious about research or creative work happening across the university? Join SOURCE, a fair-style event where faculty and graduate students showcase current research and creative projects — and connect with undergraduates like you. Whether you’re looking for an open position or just want to explore what’s out there, SOURCE is a great way to discover opportunities and meet potential mentors.
Join Husky Communicators!
As the 2026-27 academic year gets underway, we are recruiting members for our student group: Husky Communicators. Interested in writing, website management, social media, or event planning? This is the group for you!
What are the benefits of participation? Creative teamwork, building your portfolio, real world experience, learning new skills!
What is the time commitment? It’s really up to you. But consistent involvement is important.
Visit our award-winning website, the Husky Media Lab, to learn more about the group.
If you’re interested in joining the group, please contact faculty advisor Carl Zangerl at [email protected].
Thinking About Grad School? Meet Northeastern at the Fall Grad Fairs
Whether you’re finishing up your degree or planning your next move, Northeastern’s Graduate Fairs are a chance to explore graduate programs, talk with admissions counselors and faculty, and get your questions answered in person. Bring a friend or colleague who’s considering grad school, too.
Boston
Tuesday, November 3 | 4–8 p.m.
Northeastern Alumni Center, 6th Floor
716 Columbus Ave, Boston
New York City
Saturday, November 21 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Great Hall, 221 East 71st Street, New York
Opportunity for Student Research: i2i
Are you interested in health sciences? Whether you’re finishing your bachelor’s in Health Services, pursuing your master’s in Regulatory Affairs, or exploring something else entirely, applications are now open for the second cohort of Innovate2Impact (i2i). This six-month program is geared for emerging and established researchers translating health-related research into real-world impact.
Participants get training, expert mentorship, and networking opportunities, including a Cohort Kick-off & Expo (Nov. 19, Boston), the NSF I-Corps™ Spark Program (Jan. 2027), Pitch Lab Workshops (Feb.–March 2027), and a Commercialization Workshop Series (March–April 2027) — culminating in the Impact Launchpad (May 2027, Medford), where top participants pitch to mentors, innovation leaders, and investors. Deadline: October 8th.
Tap Into The Northeastern Network
Whether you’re a current student, recent grad, or alum, we all have something in common: a desire to connect and help each other. Unique job opportunities, career support, a chance to mentor or seek mentorship, and countless resources are all available to you here, in one place. With over 350,000 alumni worldwide, NUsource makes it easy to find and connect with alumni in your industry.
Get Connected with Student Engagement
Want to stay in the loop on all CPS student events? Check out the CPS Student Engagement website! Not sure where to start or just want to talk to someone who gets it? Chat with a CPS Student Ambassador in your field or on your campus. Scroll to “Chat with our Ambassadors” Click “See More Profiles” on the lower right Click “Ask me a question” on the profile that is right for you and start chatting!
Graduates and Alumni Stories
Program Spotlight
We’re launching a new Program Spotlight series highlighting the people, experiences, and opportunities that make CPS programs unique. Each spotlight will feature a different program, with stories shared in the CPS newsletter and across our social media channels.
We’re kicking things off with Project Management! If you’re a Project Management student, faculty member, or alum with a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Share your story through the Faces of CPS form.
Project Management
Project Managing the Project Management Club
The graduate students leading NUPM, CPS’s student-run project management organization, bring careers spanning finance, civil engineering, professional kitchens, and marketing. This year, they want to turn the club into the resource they wish they’d had.
Get an inside look at the Northeastern University Project Management Student Association (NUPM) through the stories and perspectives of its student leaders and members. In this video, students share how the organization helps them build industry connections, develop essential career skills, and create valuable networking opportunities. Watch to learn about upcoming NUPM initiatives, student-led events, and how joining can enhance your project management journey at Northeastern.
Project Management Stories & Links
How to Become a Project Manager: A Comprehensive Guide
10 Project Management Tips for Non-Project Managers
Interview with My Hoang Tran, Master of Science in Project Management Graduate
Interview with Casandra Onwuocha, Master of Science in Project Management Graduate
Explore Project Management Certificates and Degrees
Student Research
CPS News
Faculty and Staff
Share What You Know: Call for Professional Development Proposals
Some of the best expertise at CPS is already down the hall, or on the other side of a Teams call. We’re inviting staff and faculty to propose a professional development session built on what you know and do well. That could be a tool you’ve mastered, a process you’ve streamlined, a teaching approach that works, or lessons from a project that didn’t go as planned. Sessions can be formal or informal, and no topic is too niche if it helps a colleague work smarter. If you’ve ever thought “someone should run a session on this,” that someone might be you. Submit your proposal here.
Call for Proposals: Love Data & AI Week 2027
Northeastern’s Data & AI Literacy Program is looking for staff and faculty presenters for Love Data & AI Week, February 8–12, 2027. If you’ve been experimenting with AI in your work, wrangling data in a smarter way, or thinking critically about where the two meet, this is a chance to share it with colleagues across the university. Sessions can be a 30-minute lightning talk, a 50-minute standard session, or a hands-on workshop of up to two hours. This year’s program is open to students and features external speakers alongside Northeastern presenters, with a keynote from Gabriela Torres, Director of AI Innovation Ecosystem Development at the Massachusetts AI Hub. Proposals are due by end of day October 22. Submit your proposal here, and see the full Call for Proposals for topic ideas and guidelines.
Opportunity for Collaborative Research
Northeastern is co-sponsoring the second cohort of Innovate2Impact (i2i), a six-month program connecting Northeastern researchers with the training, mentorship, and networks needed to move health-related innovations toward real-world impact. The program — run in partnership with Tufts CTSI, Tufts University, and MIT — combines a customer-discovery curriculum (via the NSF I-Corps™ Spark Program), pitch and commercialization workshops, and ongoing mentorship, culminating in a May 2027 Impact Launchpad where selected participants present to investors and innovation leaders.
Faculty with health-related research at any stage — from early concept to established program — are encouraged to apply, or to point promising students toward the opportunity.
Applications close Thursday, October 8.
Faculty: Showcase Your Research at SOURCE 2026
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 PM ET | Cabot Cage, Boston Campus
Faculty and graduate students are invited to participate in SOURCE, a fair-style showcase connecting current research and creative projects with undergraduate students. While many faculty use SOURCE to recruit students for open positions, that’s not a requirement — the event is equally valuable as a way to introduce undergraduates to your work and spark their interest in research and creative endeavor. If you’d like to take part, please register using this brief form as soon as possible, as spots are limited.
Registration is Open! Join us at the 2026 CPS Faculty Development Conference!
Our fully virtual conference is Friday, October 23, 2026, from 12–5 p.m. ET. This year, our theme is Teaching Forward: Relevance, Rigor, and Distinction in Professional Education. You can see the full schedule on our event website and registration is open – click here to sign up!
This year’s conference will explore practical strategies for meaningful change in teaching and learning, with a focus on:
- Practice-Focused, Career-Connected Learning — preparing students through applied, experiential learning and industry connections
- Authenticity and Automaticity in Learning — evolving course design, assessment, and learning experiences
- What Differentiates Us? — defining and communicating the unique value of CPS education
Share your expertise with the college!
If you’re publishing research, speaking at a conference, or have a perspective on where your field is headed, we’d like to help you tell that story. Thought leadership features are a chance to put your work in front of colleagues across CPS and beyond. Simply submit your story at the link below and we’ll be in touch!
Share Your Story
Got a story to share?
Got a story to tell? We’re always looking for students, staff, and faculty across CPS to be featured — through Faces of CPS profiles, research and experiential learning spotlights, thought leadership pieces, and more. Check out all the ways you can get involved!
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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