The Pulse: September 2026
Message From The Dean
Dear CPS Community,
As we move into fall, I’m struck by how much momentum is building across our college: in our classrooms, our research, our real-world learning, and the everyday work of the people who make CPS what it is.
Last month, we celebrated our newest cohort of doctoral graduates — a milestone that reflects years of persistence, curiosity, and hard-won expertise. This month, we’re looking ahead with opportunities to connect across our community.
I’m also proud of the growing conversation around AI literacy happening across our college. Not just in our programs, but in how we’re thinking, teaching, and working together. I hope you take some time to check out the latest Just Jared podcast where I sit down with a current student and recent graduate to discuss the good, bad, and ugly of AI. It’s a timely reminder that while AI is a powerful tool, our most valuable work still happens in the connections we make with one another.
That’s also why I want to make sure you know: this newsletter is meant to reflect your stories. If you’re a student doing research or experiential learning worth sharing, if your personal journey may help others, or if you are a faculty member with a perspective the field needs to hear, we want to help you tell it. You’ll find easy ways to do that throughout this issue but you can also see pathways to share your story here.
Thank you for everything you bring to this college. I hope you find something in this issue that sparks an idea, a connection, or a next step.
Student Events & Opportunities
Mark your calendars! Fenway welcomes CPS graduates to the stage in 2027
Northeastern just announced Commencement 2027 dates and this year undergraduate and graduate 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
CPS will still hold a celebration at Leader Bank Pavilion as well where graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage to be recognized individually. Dates TBD.
More info: commencement.northeastern.edu
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), a six-month program 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.
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. If you’d like to attend, register here as soon as possible — spots are limited.
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!
Got a story to share?
We’re always looking for students to feature in Faces of CPS or our research and experiential learning spotlights. Check out all the ways you can participate!
New Semester, New Connections, New Opportunities.
Join us for the Northeastern University Project Management (NUPM) Annual Welcome Event and kick off the academic year with the NUPM community! Meet fellow graduate students, learn about upcoming NUPM events and opportunities, grow your network, and discover ways to get involved.
September 23
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
AAl Cabral Center, John D. O’Bryant African American Institute
Register here – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nupm-welcome-event-2026-tickets-2000910981609?aff=oddtdtcreator
Come connect, learn, and start the year with us. See you there!
Join Husky Communicators!
As we begin the 2026-27 academic year, 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].
Boston Fall Service Day 2026
Join Community Service & Civic Engagement (CSCE) and Off-Campus Engagement and Support for Boston Fall Service Day, part of Northeastern Global Service Week! Pick from 9 community projects, from replanting neighborhood gardens to refreshing local parks to supporting Boston’s shelters and housing organizations. It’s a great way to make a positive impact, meet new people, and get to know the neighborhoods where we learn, live, and work. Spots are limited, so grab yours soon.
Bagels, Belonging, and Tea
Looking to connect with others on campus? Do you like arts and crafts? Join us for an event where you can create a vision board! Join the Office of Global Services, NUPD, Off Campus Housing, the University Health and Counseling Services, and the International Tutoring Center for a fun event where you can meet other new international students, learn about campus resources, and participate in a fun vision board activity!
Date and Time: Monday, September 28, 10-12 PM ET
Location: Egan Research Center, Raytheon Amphitheater, 120 Forsyth Street, Boston, MA 02115
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.
Graduates and Alumni Stories
Congratulations Doctors!
The College of Professional Studies celebrated its 2026 doctoral graduates at the annual Doctoral Hooding and Graduation Ceremony, recognizing their academic achievements, perseverance, and contributions to their fields. The ceremony marked an important milestone for graduates as they joined the Northeastern alumni community and prepared to apply their scholarship and expertise to meaningful challenges in their professions and communities.
Student Research
CPS News
Faculty and Staff
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.
Register today! 2026 CPS Faculty Development Conference!
Join us virtually on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 12–5 p.m. ET for the CPS Faculty Development Conference:
Teaching Forward: Relevance, Rigor, and Distinction in Professional Education
The full schedule for this year’s conference is live – check it out here. Our sessions 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
Preparing the Workforce for an AI-Driven Future
In a new episode of Voices of CPS in partnership with BioTechX USA, Northeastern University’s Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning and AI explores how higher education can help today’s workforce adapt to rapid digital transformation. The conversation examines the growing need for “bilingual” professionals who combine deep domain expertise with AI fluency, while also emphasizing healthy skepticism, ethical data judgment, and continuous learning.
🎥 Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOI4Bej3HRo
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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