Steve Riccobono, assistant vice president of human resources, attended the National Workers’ Compensation conference to accept the Theo Award on behalf of The New York College and University Risk Management Group (NYCURMG), representing 27 colleges and universities across the state. The Theo Award recognizes excellence in workplace safety and worker’s compensation systems.
The Daily Hub
A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
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Hazel Sun, BArch ’20, was profiled in the Village Voice. “Sun approaches design as a conversation between people, nature, and culture. Her work at Hart Howerton, an award-winning firm specializing in hospitality projects, shows her belief that spaces can become destinations for connection. By combining architectural precision with ecological sensitivity, she infuses her projects with a sense of warmth and belonging.”
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Visiting Professor of Fine Arts Karen Bachmann was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered for a segment on Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri.
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Former Undergraduate Architecture student Jamaal Durr was featured in The Kettering Foundation in a profile that explores his journey to becoming a full-time artist. “I’m ready to make art that speaks to something greater than just my individual journey. I’m really excited to step into this kind of role and speak for more people. I like that people are able to resonate with the work that I have been doing or see themselves in it, or even hear themselves in the narrative.”
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Associate Professor in the School of Information John Decker presented a paper titled “Closing the Barn Door After the Horse Has Bolted. Problems Making AI Safe & Ethical” for the SIG AI Symposium at the 2025 ASIS&T Annual Conference in Crystal City, VA.
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Illya Azaroff, MArch ’97, was inaugurated as the 2026 President of the American Institute of Architects. “Architects are at the forefront of designing buildings and spaces that can withstand nature’s fury,” said Azaroff in his inaugural address. “As AIA President, I will work to ensure architects are empowered to create communities that are better prepared to deal with future disruptions.”
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Semantic Lab co-director Matt Miller analyzed AI scraper activity and traffic patterns on the Lab’s Wikibase instance, highlighting how disguised bots generating nearly a million requests per day can overwhelm small research infrastructures.
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Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Information Jennifer Hubert Swan published a children’s feature in The New York Times book review titled “My Kid Loves Percy Jackson. What Should They Read Next?”
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Pratt’s AquaSteady research was featured in an article by project collaborator New Mexico State University (NMSU). “Apart from its potential to improve soil water retention, [AquaSteady] could also increase microbial activity in the soil, leading to better soil health in agricultural fields. This could be a critical water management strategy for soils in New Mexico,” said John Idowu, professor in the college of agricultural, cultural, and economic sciences at NMSU.
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Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, associate professor of writing, received a Warhol Foundation grant to support her forthcoming publication, Proving Ground: Proposals for a Genealogy of Black Feminist Land Art. “The incisive criticism and expansive scholarship of this year’s grantees underscore the invaluable role of visual art in our lives today.”
More Pratt Institute News
Pratt Architecture Graduates Are Building the World Around Us
For over 70 years, Pratt Institute has been preparing architects to shape the world we live in, from the homes and schools that anchor neighborhoods to the parks, infrastructure, and civic spaces that bring communities together.
Pratt Alumni Reunite on the Court for Annual Basketball Game
From Pratt Institute News
Alumni Bernard Chang and Kadir Nelson were both honored during the event for their ongoing dedication to Pratt’s basketball program.
Three Pratt Students and Two Alumni Named 2026 Fulbright Semifinalists
From Pratt Institute News
Each year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers graduating seniors, recent college graduates, graduate students, and young professionals from the United States the opportunity to engage in academic projects, learn from diverse cultures, and work on pressing societal issues.