The Hans Christian Andersen Award is a lifetime achievement award given by International Board on Books for Young People, and is the highest international distinction given to a living author and illustrator of children’s books. Dr. Phillips was honored with the opportunity to meet Gao and to speak with the press about her work. Dr. Philips has incorporated Gao’s work into he teaching at Hunan First Normal University.

A PDF of an article published by Hunan Book City can be downloaded at the button below.

The 2026 Rome Seminar, held June 1-5, was organized by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) in partnership with the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas. The biennial program acts as an intellectual and spiritual incubator, connecting university executives with the global leadership of the Catholic Church to reinforce the mission of faith-based higher education.

The centerpiece of the seminar took place Wednesday, June 3, when Father Maher and his peers met with Pope Leo XIV in a room adjacent to the Paul VI Audience Hall. Speaking to the U.S. and Canadian educators on a rainy morning in Rome, the pope praised their dedication but issued a sharp challenge regarding the current state of modern university life, specifically targeting the fragmentation of knowledge and the rise of new technologies.

The pope cautioned that while universities excel at creating specialized experts, many students “struggle to find direction in their lives, partly due to an inability to connect information with deeper knowledge or maintain a sense of purpose.” He urged university presidents to cultivate a “living environment” where disciplines intersect with the search for truth and human dignity.

Pope Leo XIV also addressed the practical disruption of artificial intelligence in the classroom. He noted that the proliferation of AI tools makes evaluating student work increasingly difficult, demanding that educators adapt creatively.

“It is crucial that young men and women learn to engage positively with new technologies,” the pope said, “while at the same time truly developing their God-given skills and capacities to reason, to think critically and commit knowledge to memory.”

As part of the visit, the ACCU delegation presented the pontiff with a symbolic papal gift: a framed pledge titled “A Gift of Service,” representing 5,000 hours of community service to be performed by students across the member institutions.

Throughout the five-day seminar, university leaders stayed at the Residenza San Paolo VI, located directly on St. Peter’s Square. The dense itinerary featured high-level briefings with representatives from various Vatican dicasteries – the administrative departments of the Holy See – as well as interactions with scholars at Rome’s historic pontifical universities. Discussions focused heavily on Catholic social thought, sustainability, global migration, and synodality.

For Niagara University, a Vincentian institution founded in 1856, the program will assist the university in growing its Catholic identity and Vincentian mission, as the seminar’s core themes directly mirror its campus values. Father Maher’s participation alongside other prominent leaders underscores a collective effort among U.S. institutions to navigate modern technological challenges while preserving core spiritual values. 

Father Maher, who has served as Niagara University’s 26th president since 2013, will bring the insights gained from the Vatican and the ACCU back to the Western New York campus as the university continues to implement its long-term strategic goals.   He previously served as a national media correspondent during Pope Francis’ visit to the United States in the fall of 2015, appearing on “The Tavis Smiley Show,” which airs on PBS, Telecare TV, a 24-hour Catholic news network, and several ABC, CBS, and NBC affiliates.

Garrell, an environmental science major, and Ashbaugh, a biotechnology major, presented a poster entitled “Quantifying Flagellar Motility Patterns in Bacteria to Inform Agnostic Biosignature Detection.” Their work was based on Dr. Marnocha’s NASA- funded project on movement as an agnostic biosignature.

Dr. Marnocha presented a mini-talk on “Fostering Field Science and Establishing Science Identity in Early Career Through the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology” as a former recipient of the grant, as well as a talk on “Persistence of Extracellular
Biogenic Sulfur and Associated Organics from Acidic Springs” with co-author and Niagara University alum Haley (Parker) Hobble ’18.

“Presenting my undergraduate research at AbSciCon was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Garrell. “It was exciting to engage with researchers and students who share a passion for astrobiology, and the conference gave me valuable insight into the collaborative nature of the field. I especially
appreciated the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the kinds of research I hope to pursue in graduate school and beyond.”

“The visit to the Pepsi Inc. Buffalo Warehouse at the end of this semester allowed our Supply Chain students to better understand the concepts learned in the MGT 220: Operations and Supply Chain course,” said Dr. Naranjo. He added, “Executives from the company explained the use of forecasting, inventory management, capacity planning, and logistics management by providing multiple examples of the tools they use to address daily challenges. The walk around the site also illustrated the flow of different SKUs (beverages), cases and pallets, showing inbound and outbound operations, as well as the policies and procedures used for managing their inventory. Additionally, students learned the best practices the company uses to maintain a strong culture based on values, scorecards, and respect for people.”

The tour of the facility was led by Aaron Heltz, the site leader, and Niagara University alumna Jessica DeLuca. While the tour showcased the operations of the facility, many students were left impressed by the workplace culture and the people-first mindset at the facility.

Ben Doland said, “One of the key takeaways I had from this tour would have to be how important relationships can be in a business setting. Even before I came to college, I understood that relationships can go a long way in business. Going out and seeing firsthand from PepsiCo on how they value relationships and the importance of workers being on site made me really appreciate the Buffalo site and Pepsi as a whole.”

“Despite his busy schedule, Aaron’s passion for the industry was genuinely contagious,” said Hain Dinh, “he didn’t just walk us through the factory floor — he took the time to explain the nuances of every process, sharing technical knowledge and real-world insights that textbooks simply can’t replicate.”

Ebin Bush said, “Some things mentioned today I would not have even guessed, for example that they handle over 700 different types of products. That number was shocking to me, mainly because I did not grasp how many different brands Pepsi owns or has created. Of course, it was great to get behind-the-scenes access and to see them on a day-to-day basis using concepts we have learned in class.”

Niagara University’s Supply Chain Management Program prepares students for success on day one, into a well-paid and fast-growing profession. Courses cover warehousing, transportation, purchasing, lean operations, global supply chain, and “farm to table” food supply chains. Your student journey culminates with an emphasis on case studies and internships to gain real-world experience.