Group of graduate students and faculty walking in front of ASU Charter stone

Design aspirations in action

Nine design aspirations guide the ongoing evolution of ASU as a New American University. These institutional objectives are integrated in innovative ways throughout the university to achieve excellence, access and impact.

ASU graduate students reflect on how these principles have influenced their academic and research journeys, with stories spanning interdisciplinary collaboration, societal transformation and global engagement. Explore their insights and learn how these aspirations shape the New American University experience.

Leverage Our Place

ASU embraces its cultural, socioeconomic and physical setting.

"My work centers on the original indigenous stewards of the lands on which my work is conducted."
— Joseph Gazing Wolf, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Life Sciences

"My research documents 75 years of Spanish dance in the Phoenix Valley."
— Julie Chacon, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, School of Music, Dance and Theatre

"My work investigates the impacts of climate and land use on future water resources over the Colorado River Basin."
— Kristen Whitney, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Earth and Space Exploration

Transform Society

ASU catalyzes social change by being connected to social needs.

"My research describes how police leaders can prevent misconduct and contribute to a society where citizens' rights are upheld."
— Benjamin Smith, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, School of Applied Professional Studies

"The knowledge produced by my research is valuable for state policymakers as they respond to novel public health crises."
— Chan Wang, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, School of Public Affairs

"My academic journey at ASU has instilled in me the belief that the knowledge and skills acquired should be used to create positive societal impact."
— Jatin Oberoi, Thunderbird School of Global Management

Value Entrepreneurship

ASU uses its knowledge and encourages innovation.

"My long-term ambition is to establish a clinic that uses video games and computers, combined with music, art and play therapy to address engagement in pro-social behaviors and proper self-expression of emotions."
— David Bravo, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Educational Leadership and Innovation

"We discovered a novel technique combining 3D printing and a deposition-based approach for fabricating nanoparticle-based composite sensors, suitable for identifying undiagnosed diseases."
— Sayli Jambhulkar, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks

"A part of the work included in this dissertation has resulted in one granted patent for biomarkers of infectious disease."
— Paniz Jasbi, College of Health Solutions

Conduct Use-Inspired Research

ASU research has purpose and impact.

"My research involves determining the impact of interpersonal trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms on touch aversion, touch behaviors and relationship quality."
— Aubrie Munson, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

"My research informs neurorehabilitation and clinical research to improve balance and help reduce falls for people living with Parkinson's Disease."
— Andrew Monaghan, College of Health Solutions

"My research focuses on collaborating with the City of Phoenix to understand the root causes of consumer food waste and design appropriate interventions to tackle this problem."
— Adenike Opejin, College of Global Futures, School of Sustainability

Enable Student Success

ASU is committed to the success of each unique student.

"I work full time, have five kids and suffered health challenges. My teachers and success coach have been wonderful in working with me and keeping me on track."
— Kendra Briscoe, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

"My study focuses on student success by examining the academic challenges, symptoms of distress, academic resilience and perceived social support to examine persistence and psychological well-being."
— Jessica Hopkins, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology

"My research aims to create methods for teaching nursing students clinical judgment skills."
— Mari Poledna, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

ASU creates knowledge by transcending academic disciplines.

"I'm committed to interdisciplinary research by bringing together economics, sociology, psychology and managerial sciences to study the labor phenomena."
— Nicolas Didier, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, School of Public Affairs

"This dissertation aims to fuse the disciplines of organizational communication perspectives with journalism research by understanding journalism as a collection of organizations."
— Nisha Sridharan, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

"I identified astronomy and cosmology as a chance to do cross-discipline research and identified an opportunity to create something new through a fusion of astronomical concepts and principles as well as those from software engineering."
— Charles Jeffries, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence

Be Socially Embedded

ASU connects with communities through mutually beneficial partnerships.

"I aim to culturally diversify the staff and leadership of art museums in the United States through partnerships with the Perez Art Museum Miami, the Heard Museum, the ASU Art Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Memphis Brook Art Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art."
— Deliasofia Zacarias, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, School of Art

"My research is focused on how social services and humanitarian organizations can sustainably provide services to society."
— Iman Parsa, W. P. Carey School of Business, Department of Supply Chain Management

"Through my research I work with clinicians at Mayo Clinic on transforming current medical procedures that will dramatically improve a patient's quality of life."
— Raymond Tindell, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy

Engage Globally

ASU engages with people and issues locally, nationally and internationally.

"My research is the result of a partnership between the University of Guyana and Arizona State University."
— Malcolm Williams, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Educational Leadership and Innovation

"My research links consumers and producers of coffee in developing countries. My goal is to find ways in which developed countries can help struggling smallholder farmers."
— Katherine Fuller, W. P. Carey School of Business, Morrison School of Agribusiness

"I was given the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Cuba to understand global policies, media and culture."
— Adriana Gonzales-Chavez, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Practice Principled Innovation

ASU places character and values at the center of decisions and actions.

"I hope to guide more ethical use of A.I. as a tool to assist people rather than replace them. Neither software engineers nor artists should have to fear their livelihoods."
— Adam Hardy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence

"Embracing principled innovation is pivotal when designing game-based interventions for youth vaccination."
— Lihong Ou, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

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