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Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology  ›  News Archive  ›  news  ›  2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Strategic Insights from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Commander Bryan Kilcoin

The National Security Fellows Program at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) welcomes senior service members from the various branches of the US military to spend an academic year conducting research, engaging with faculty and scholars, and sharing their unique insights with students. This year, CMIST’s US Coast Guard Fellow, Commander Bryan M. Kilcoin, is conducting research that explores the security implications of increased automation at US ports.
Thursday, December 04, 2025

Why Local Politics Matters: Beyond an Academic Exercise

When people think of American politics, their thoughts often go to the nation's capital, where the Executive Branch, Congress, and the Supreme Court make the pivotal decisions that dominate national headlines. However, a comprehensive understanding of civics requires looking beyond Washington, DC, towards the widespread efforts to strengthen democracy at the subnational level. In fact, most governing—from elections to policy implementation—happens at the subnational level.
Thursday, November 20, 2025

Learning Beyond the Classroom: CMIST Undergraduate Summer Internships

This past summer, three CMIST students—David Glick, a political science, security, and technology (PSST) major, Nazmee Kamal, a vocal performance major and American politics and law minor, and Carter Musheno, an international relations and political science (IRPS) major—participated in internships that exemplify how experiential learning fosters critical thinking, initiative, and adaptability. From Washington, DC, to the Republic of Palau, they applied their coursework to tangible challenges while gaining firsthand insight into their respective fields.
Thursday, November 13, 2025

CMIST Highlights Nine New Courses at Politics and Pie Event

Twice a year, the Carnegie Mellon Institute of Technology and Strategy (CMIST) hosts Politics & Pie, an event that brings students, faculty, staff, and advisors together to explore upcoming courses in political science, international relations, emerging technologies, and law. At this informal gathering, students have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas about coursework and professional development opportunities as they plan the next steps of their academic journey at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ).
Thursday, October 30, 2025

The Power of Multidisciplinary Expertise: Lala Qadir Joins CMIST for Lawfully Speaking

This fall, Lala Qadir, senior director of technology security and AI policy at Microsoft, joined the Carnegie Mellon Institute of Strategy and Technology (CMIST) for the fourth installment of Lawfully Speaking: A Forum on Law and Ethics. During the event, entitled “From Science to Strategy: Navigating a Career at the Nexus of Law, Technology, and Policy,” Qadir spoke about her own winding career journey, which took her from chemistry to policy, to law, to strategy. A key theme that emerged from the discussion was that, with resilience and grit, some of the most fruitful career experiences arise from unexpected decisions and even obstacles.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Supporting People Facing Difficult Decisions with Baruch Fischhoff

From deciding whether to undergo a medical procedure to whether to support nuclear power, navigating complex and uncertain situations is part of the human experience. In his new book, Decisions: Studying and Supporting People Facing Hard Choices, Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff describes the evolution of decision science and offers an encompassing view of how behavioral decision research bridges theory and practice.
Thursday, September 25, 2025

CMIST Graduate Programs Foster Professional Development

For graduate students at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), thinking intentionally about professionalism begins before they even finish orientation and lasts for the duration of their program. Through a combination of workshops, presentations, and one-on-one meetings, students in the Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS) and Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations (MS STAIR) apply their coursework to strategic problems, plan their career trajectories, and hone their professional skills.
Friday, September 12, 2025

Making the Most of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Experience: The Impact of a Semester in Washington

The journey to graduation is frequently enriched by experiential learning opportunities, such as the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Washington Semester Program (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ/WSP), which open doors to unique academic and professional experiences. Even for students at the beginning of their ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ journey, learning about and planning for programs such as the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ/WSP can help shape scholarly and extracurricular choices that will support their success in the future.
Monday, August 25, 2025

Meet the New Faces of CMIST: Welcoming Our Faculty and Fellows

As another academic year begins, the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST) welcomes an impressive group of new faculty, fellows, and students. By expanding our community with diverse expertise, CMIST strengthens its ability to address critical challenges regarding technology, policy, and security.
MITS Students Harness AI’s Potential to Advance Research and Education
Wednesday, July 30, 2025

MITS Students Harness AI’s Potential to Advance Research and Education

At ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, students in the multidisciplinary Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS) program are tackling the challenge of deploying AI tools to advance research and education across disciplines in the university setting. Through a series of capstone projects, MITS students are helping to enhance the ability of organizations to make effective decisions in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
A Student’s Guide to Navigating the First Year at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ
Tuesday, July 22, 2025

A Student’s Guide to Navigating the First Year at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

As the new academic year approaches, many ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) community members are preparing to return to familiar campus rhythms. Aleksaundra Handrinos, a rising senior studying ethics, history, and public policy (EHPP), as well as international relations and political science (IRPS), shares some of her insights for students just beginning their ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ experience.
Faculty Spotlight: Hannah Bailey
Thursday, July 17, 2025

Faculty Spotlight: Hannah Bailey

Hannah Bailey is an assistant professor in the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology. Her research examines how authoritarian states develop and use emerging technologies, focusing on the goals and impacts of state-sponsored digital persuasion in the global public sphere.
Fostering Learning Through Experience: Undergraduate Research for Credit
Monday, June 30, 2025

Fostering Learning Through Experience: Undergraduate Research for Credit

This past spring semester, a record twenty-nine students participated in the Carnegie Mellon Institute of Strategy and Technology’s (CMIST) Undergraduate Research for Credit course. For both students and faculty members, this opportunity offers a multitude of benefits for their professional work, personal learning, and community connection.
The Bartos Cycle: Preparing Students for the Professional World
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Bartos Cycle: Preparing Students for the Professional World

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) students preparing to enter the workforce are fortunate to be able to turn to the professional expertise of Haleigh Bartos. An associate professor of the practice at Carnegie Mellon Institute of Strategy and Technology (CMIST), Bartos offered a Summer Internship Workshop last month to help students develop strategies to optimize their break. Her willingness to extend beyond the classroom speaks to her holistic approach and dedication to mentoring the next generation of professionals.
Developing Intellect in a Digital Age
Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Developing Intellect in a Digital Age

On May 8, 2025, Professor Audrey Kurth Cronin, director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), delivered a thought-provoking keynote address to Phi Beta Kappa inductees, which included seven CMIST students. In her remarks, Professor Cronin explored the dynamic relationship between technological advancement and the core principles of the Enlightenment, and called inductees to embrace reflective thinking and lifelong learning.
CMIST Fellows Advance Mission and Impact
Friday, May 16, 2025

CMIST Fellows Advance Mission and Impact

Five fellows—four national security fellows from various military services and a political science postdoctoral fellow—contributed to the university's research, teaching, and engagement. This cohort, bridging military and academic insights, enhanced the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) community through collaborative engagements and mentorship, leaving a lasting imprint on both CMIST and the broader university.
Cultivating Dialogue: CMIST's Academic Year in Review
Monday, May 05, 2025

Cultivating Dialogue: CMIST's Academic Year in Review

As the 2024-2025 academic year at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) comes to a close, we reflect on the broad spectrum of engagements offered this year. Our events have fostered critical discussions, connected students and faculty with national and international leaders, and explored topics of strategy, technology, and policy.
Political Science Honor Society Initiates Founding Members
Thursday, April 10, 2025

Political Science Honor Society Initiates Founding Members

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) has reached an exciting new milestone in its commitment to academic excellence in political science. With this spring's initiation of its first class into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ joins a prestigious network of more than 850 chapters nationwide. In addition to recognizing academic achievement, the Alpha Nu Alpha chapter will open the door for students to further engage in leadership, networking, and professional growth opportunities in the political science community.
Politics & Pie: A Delicious Dive into CMIST’s Upcoming Courses
Wednesday, April 02, 2025

Politics & Pie: A Delicious Dive into CMIST’s Upcoming Courses

Once a semester, CMIST brings students, faculty, and staff together for the much-anticipated event, Politics & Pie. While the promise of pie may be a draw, the real highlight of the event is the opportunity to learn about upcoming courses, consult with faculty, and explore academic and research opportunities in political science, American politics and law, and international relations.
When Technology Transforms War: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Friday, March 28, 2025

When Technology Transforms War: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Rapidly developing new technologies such as drones, lethal autonomous weapon systems, and artificial intelligence are creating a modern revolution in military affairs that poses legal and ethical questions about warfare. William Renn Gade, deputy general counsel for intelligence and security with the Department of Defense, recently explored the impact of technological advancements on the law of warfare as part of the “Lawfully Speaking: A Forum on Law & Ethics” series.
Exploring the Spread of Misinformation in War and Conflict with Daniel Silverman
Friday, March 14, 2025

Exploring the Spread of Misinformation in War and Conflict with Daniel Silverman

With over half of adults worldwide now consuming news via social media platforms, inaccurate information can reach thousands of people within minutes, affecting everything from public health to elections to our understanding of current events. In his new book, CMIST assistant professor Daniel Silverman extends the study of factual misinformation, conspiracy theories, and fake news into a new, high-stakes domain: conflict zones.
Developing Leadership Through Service
Thursday, March 06, 2025

Developing Leadership Through Service

What does community-driven social change look like? And how are ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) students learning and contributing beyond campus? Undergraduates in the Dietrich Community Engagement Fellowship dedicate two years to exploring such questions through a combination of academic and experiential pursuits.
Founding Global Security: ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Hosts International Fellows
Monday, February 17, 2025

Founding Global Security: ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Hosts International Fellows

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ) recently welcomed a distinguished group of international fellows for in-depth briefings on key topics from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ's leading experts, followed by a tour of the robotics research lab. Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) joined with Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy to host 79 officers, representing 77 countries from the International Fellows Program of the United States Army War College, for this exclusive event.
Bridging the Gap: How CMIST is Shaping the Future of Tech Policy
Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Bridging the Gap: How CMIST is Shaping the Future of Tech Policy

In Washington, DC, where policy and technology often collide, Harry Krejsa, the new director of studies at Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), is carving a unique path. With a mission to bridge cutting-edge technical research and policy, Krejsa is working to translate innovation into actionable strategies that will strengthen both national and global security.
Learning by Doing in the Nation's Capital
Wednesday, February 05, 2025

Learning by Doing in the Nation's Capital

From Capitol Hill to nonprofit and advocacy organizations, students in the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Washington Semester Program (ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ/WSP) spent the fall gaining professional experience and exploring career interests in Washington, DC. Open to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ undergraduate students pursuing any major, the program combines coursework with experiential learning — all while living in the heart of the nation.
Developing a Personalized Roadmap: The Benefits of Declaring a CMIST Major
Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Developing a Personalized Roadmap: The Benefits of Declaring a CMIST Major

Whether they ultimately plan to pursue a career in government, politics, or the private sector, students who declare one of the three majors offered by the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) learn the skills needed to positively impact society. We asked CMIST sophomores to share their experiences with the declaration process and how declaring in their first year has influenced their academic journey.
CMIST Welcomes New Talent to Advance Expertise and Impact
Friday, January 17, 2025

CMIST Welcomes New Talent to Advance Expertise and Impact

The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST) is pleased to welcome a diverse group of new faculty, staff, and leadership. Bringing fresh perspectives and experience to CMIST, they will strengthen our ability to address critical challenges regarding technology, policy, and security.
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