Year in review: ASU's top stories for 2025
Grass is reflected in the ceiling of a band shell at Novus Place, an entertainment district within the Novus Innovation Corridor, a 10-million-square-foot mixed-use urban ecosystem adjacent to the northeast corner of ASU's Tempe campus. A number of restaurants opened this spring at Novus Place. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
It has been a year of big announcements and bold research discoveries, as Sun Devils worked to make lives better across Arizona and the country. From the two largest gifts in university history to intergenerational friendships to breakthroughs that will save lives, our year-end roundup spotlights the work being done online, on campus and across the globe.
Read our success stories below and watch our video recap.
January
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JAN. 1: ASU News reporter Scott Bordow — who covered the Valley sports scene for nearly 40 years — writes that this was arguably the most surprising season he'd ever seen.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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Sun Devils step up to help Los Angeles wildfire survivors
MID-JANUARY ONWARD: From lending expertise about extreme weather to delivering over a thousand air filters to guaranteeing pathways to admission for LA-area students to using immersive technology to give context to the fires, members of the ASU community lent a hand.
Photo courtesy of the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation
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JAN. 10: When Pencie Culiver sits down on a bench outside Coor Hall, the students are drawn to her and her big sign that says, “I’m All Ears.” It's part of an initiative called the Friendship Bench, just one way that ASU has been building connections across generations.
Photo by EJ Hernandez/ASU News
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JAN. 14: The new name — Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation — demonstrates the college's commitment to educators beyond teacher preparation.
Photo by Sabira Madady/Arizona State University
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JAN. 22: A recently launched nonprofit organization is transforming the desert landscape — but perhaps not the desert you’re picturing.
Photo by Robyn Jones/Special for Stocktonia
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JAN. 24: Impacts from ASU’s annual operating and construction expenditures alone are equivalent to the value of about eight Super Bowls each year.
Graphic by Alex Cabrera/Arizona State University
February
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FEB. 6: The disruption of cellular communication, caused by the formation of chronic stress granules in the brain, may play a pivotal role in the onset of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Graphic by Jason Drees/ASU
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FEB. 7: As part of ASU’s Project Cities initiative, chemical engineering students are working with Tempe city officials to explore ways to divert wastewater solids, also known as sludge, from landfills.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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FEB. 14: The country is facing complex challenges, but with that comes opportunities for innovation, according to ASU President Michael Crow in his presentation to the Arizona Board of Regents.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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FEB. 18: Through the program, current and retired players at the major and minor league levels can pursue online education at any stage through ASU and its partners, with educational costs covered.
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB
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FEB. 19: Construction projects scheduled to finish in 2025 total an estimated budget of $600 million, with an additional $300 million in projects starting this year.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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FEB. 21: The MMM tournament is styled after the NCAA College Basketball March Madness, weaving research and science in a storytelling format that engages players, learners and educators every year.
Painting by Wilhelm Kuhnert (1865–1926) via Wikimedia Commons
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FEB. 25: ASU is one of only 19 universities that are top producers for both scholar and student awards — and one of only seven public universities to receive that designation.
Courtesy photo
March
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New spotlight on research that makes a difference
MARCH: With the new month came the launch of ASU News' Research Matters page, showcasing research with real-world impact — from health to agriculture to the economy. At the same time, a statewide initiative began to speed the transfer of ASU research to the marketplace.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
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MARCH 5: For more than a decade, ASU has helped people around the world — and advanced interests in the United States at the same time — through its collaborative projects with USAID.
Photo by Maité Portillo/Arizona State University
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MARCH 10: The headquarters for ASU Health — whose location will be in downtown Phoenix — will be the hub of the university’s efforts to improve health outcomes for Arizona residents.
Rendering courtesy of CO Architects and DFDG Architecture
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MARCH 11: New research revealed that people often do not perceive the true meaning of their pets' emotions and can misread their dog.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
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MARCH 12: Some animals' natural biological defenses could inspire new approaches to cancer prevention and treatment in humans.
Graphic by Jason Drees/ASU
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MARCH 19: In just over two years, ASU and the city of Mesa’s MIX Center partnership has made downtown the place to live, work and play.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
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MARCH 24: Molly Miller went 117-38 at Grand Canyon University, and before that won 180 games in six seasons coaching at Drury University. Her winning percentage as a college coach is .845.
Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics
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MARCH 27: If you have a cat, there’s a good chance you’re benefiting from the work of an Arizona State University alumna.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Munk
April
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APRIL 6: The campaign saw two notable gifts right away: $5 million to provide scholarships for medical school students and an alum's seven-figure donation to renovate the softball stadium.
ASU photo
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APRIL 7: Students love the Dreamscape Learn VR biology experiences, and the intense engagement is leading to higher grades and more persistence for biology majors.
ASU photo
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APRIL 8: Six graduate programs at ASU are in the top 10 nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Programs 2025 rankings.
ASU photo
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APRIL 11: The new crop can thrive in short seasons and harsh climates, maturing three to four weeks faster than conventional varieties.
Courtesy photo
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APRIL 14: ASU Health Observatory’s valley fever project explores the root cause of a uniquely Southwestern illness.
Illustration by Andy Keena/ASU
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APRIL 18: ASU public health and disease researchers are studying the H5N1 avian flu virus and providing information to help people stay healthy.
Graphic by Jason Drees/ASU
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APRIL 28: In new Carnegie Foundation classifications, ASU is rated as both “high access” and “high earnings” for students.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU
May
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MAY 1: Twenty-eight students from across ASU designed motorized training wheelchairs for children that cost less than $500 — providing a more affordable option for families in need.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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MAY 2: As the risk of devastating falls grows with an aging U.S. population, ASU researchers are working with volunteers to design safer bathrooms.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
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MAY 7: Cannabis-related hospital visits in Arizona rose by 20% between 2016 and 2021. In an increasing share of those visits, the patient was diagnosed with a mental health condition, Madeline Meier found.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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MAY 8: The Wildfire Awareness and Risk Management, or WARM, system employs a sensor suite that can detect fires more quickly, efficiently and precisely in rural areas.
Photo by iStock
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MAY 9: National initiative embeds real-world projects and employer experiences in academic programs to better prepare grads for today's workforce.
Courtesy photo
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MAY 12: ASU's largest graduating class ever included a number of grads who got their second chance at college through the Earned Admission program.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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MAY 13: Cities worldwide have been going green, literally, to combat climate change. But is it really addressing all of the challenges? That’s what this ASU professor wants to find out.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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MAY 20: Sandul Gangodagamage, a double major in computer science and business law, won the grand prize for his startup Legion Platforms, a multiplayer gaming platform.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
June
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JUNE 3: An irrigation system that injects live, native microalgae into the soil is proving to be effective in creating healthier, more fruitful crops — while using less water.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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JUNE 3: Professor Sethuraman Panchanathan, the former director of the National Science Foundation, has been awarded the Padma Shri, a prestigious civilian honor in India.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Home Affairs
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JUNE 5: The new initiative at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication aims to restore trust in media and help local outlets develop resilient business models.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
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JUNE 11: A little-known microbe makes methane in your gut — and may help you get more calories from food. The findings could provide a foundation for personalized nutrition plans.
Image by Shutterstock
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JUNE 11: Partnering with Nestlé, ASU is working to reduce the amount of briny waste left over from water desalination.
Photo courtesy of the Global Center for Water Technology
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JUNE 12: A new study uncovered a brutal microbial strategy with big implications for climate, health and medicine.
Photo by EJ Hernandez/ASU News
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JUNE 17: At No. 6, ASU was the only American institution to make global top 50 in the latest Times Higher Education ranking.
ASU photo
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JUNE 20: Now in its fourth year, the Maricopa County Broadband Initiative has laid over 80 miles of fiber, distributed nearly 10,000 internet-enabled devices and provided 30,000 hours of digital support.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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JUNE 27: When all seven phases of the Novus Innovation Corridor are finished, it will include 10 million square feet of housing, offices, restaurants, hotels, shops and open spaces — creating an expected 34,000 jobs and $4.6 billion in economic output.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
July
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JULY 15: Health care billing can often be fraught with inaccuracies and oversight. An ASU study looked at how deep learning can be used to reduce billing errors, especially for high-need patients.
Illustration by iStock
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JULY 22: The open-source information collected by ASU's YouthMappers is especially useful for people with disabilities who may rely on sidewalks and crosswalks to safely get around.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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JULY 25: An ASU-led study highlights the emergence of four continental-scale “mega-drying” regions, all in the Northern Hemisphere, with staggering implications for freshwater availability.
Image by Sophia Franz
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JULY 25: ASU teamed up with Phoenix Children's to better understand inflammatory bowel diseases in children, looking at the gut to help doctors diagnose faster and develop better treatments.
Graphic by Richard Holland/ASU
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The impact of international students on ASU, and vice versa
JULY 31: As ASU supports international students from start to finish, those students have an annual impact of nearly $700 million in the state, and tuition and non-tuition spending also accounts for almost 6,000 Arizona jobs per year.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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JULY 31: It was a single lightning flash that streaked across the Great Plains for 515 miles, from eastern Texas nearly all the way to Kansas City, Missouri, setting a new world record.
Courtesy image
August
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AUG. 1: The School of Arts, Media and Engineering's new name, The GAME School, pulls in ASU's expertise across games, arts, media and engineering.
Photo by Laura Segall
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AUG. 4: The CDC recommends 60-plus minutes of daily activity for kids — it boosts fitness and classroom performance. But what happens when it's too hot to play outside? ASU research has answers.
Courtesy photo
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AUG. 7: With a looming deadline for the Colorado River Compact, ASU water experts share how states are crafting a new agreement — and what it could mean for Arizona’s water future.
Photo courtesy of Central Arizona Project
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AUG. 8: New Dreamscape Learn chemistry courses integrate VR tech with hands-on wet labs, empowering students to better understand foundational chemistry principles and see their real-world applications.
Image by Meghan Finnerty and John Stobbe
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AUG. 11: A record 42,900 new students were projected to enroll for fall, with the largest number of first-year Arizona students in ASU history. And a new arts-inspired residence hall was ready to welcome them.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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AUG. 12: The cost of living in Arizona now exceeds the national average, and housing costs have risen faster than earnings, causing home purchases to drop, according to a new ASU report.
Stock photo
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AUG. 12: A groundbreaking diagnostic test could dramatically improve the detection of illnesses such as COVID-19, Ebola, AIDS and Lyme disease. Requiring just a single drop of blood, the test costs only a few dollars and provides results in as little as 15 minutes.
Graphic by Jason Drees
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AUG. 13: ASU scientists helped discover a new Australopithecus species, with fossils showing it lived alongside the oldest Homo specimens in Africa 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago. The fossils found in northeastern Ethiopia shed new light on human evolution.
Photo by Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Amy Rector
September
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SEPT. 5: An MBA student redefines sustainable tourism with a zero-emissions electric rail vehicle that will ferry passengers across the Southwest on a repurposed railroad track.
Courtesy photo
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SEPT. 9: American universities must better explain how research promotes the well-being and security of the public, according to ASU President Michael Crow and Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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SEPT. 9: A new study found that using lights that mimic the day's natural rhythms significantly improved sleep time — by an average of 82 minutes — and alleviated depression symptoms in older adults with dementia.
Photo by EJ Hernandez/ASU News
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SEPT. 10: Scientists have developed a new test that can reveal when cancer began and how quickly it is progressing, helping doctors predict when treatment will be needed.
Image by Shutterstock
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SEPT. 22: The gift — the largest in ASU’s history — comes courtesy of Rob Walton, who has long supported a range of partnerships and practices to promote sustainability. In addition to degrees, the school will offer certificates and credentials tailored for industry groups.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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SEPT. 22: ASU’s peers have again ranked it No. 1 in innovation — for the 11th year in a row — in the 2026 “Best Colleges” rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the university ranked No. 3 among national public universities for first-year student experience.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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will.i.am to teach ASU class on agentic AI
SEPT. 24: will.i.am, who will design and teach an AI course called “The Agentic Self,” will be appointed a professor of practice in The GAME School at ASU, a school focused on increasing the digital fluency of the next generation of learners.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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SEPT. 26: Scientists have completed a series of commissioning experiments on a one-of-a-kind X-ray instrument that promises to improve the health and well-being of society.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
October
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OCT. 1: Fifty years ago, ASU football went 12-0, won the Fiesta Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 2 in two polls. Now that team is being inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame.
ASU photo
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OCT. 8: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry to former ASU Assistant Professor Omar Yaghi for his breakthrough discoveries that established a new field called reticular chemistry.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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OCT. 9: The grand opening of the Materials-to-Fab Center — a shared, world-class $270 million research, development and prototyping facility inside the university’s MacroTechnology Works — coincided with the SEMICON West microelectronics trade show.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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OCT. 9: The solar-powered library devices, which require no internet to reach learners in remote areas, have been deployed in 15 regions around the world. Earlier in the year, the initiative won “best in show” at the SXSW Innovation Awards.
Photo by Samantha Chow/ASU News
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OCT. 17: Desert Financial Arena is about to get a brand-new look with a multiyear, multiphase renovation that will encompass improved seating, a new court, better accessibility and upgraded concessions.
Artist rendering courtesy of Mortenson/Hussey Seating
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OCT. 21: Driven by a desire to help people and organizations better understand energy, Bob Zorich is funding the creation of the Global Institute for the Future of Energy, which will develop practical solutions that advance global energy systems while supporting human flourishing.
Photo by Chris Goulet/Arizona State University
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OCT. 22: John Shufeldt — emergency medicine physician, health entrepreneur and ASU alum — is investing in the future of health with a nine-figure gift, the second largest in university history, to operate ASU's new medical school, which will be known as the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/ASU
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OCT. 24: ASU's latest Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building is poised to make the university a leader in training students for the industries of tomorrow. ISTB12 will be the centerpiece of the Polytechnic Innovation Zone, one of nine such ASU zones.
Photo by Armand Saavedra/ASU
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OCT. 30: Holding strong, the university retains its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions — ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue — in the latest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
November
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NOV. 7: A new study demonstrates that DNA can function as a fully electronic, chip-integrated memory system, opening up possibilities in organic chemistry, drug discovery and beyond.
Graphic by Jason Drees/ASU
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NOV. 7: A new learning opportunity for Arizona state employees — offering free courses and certificates — reached full capacity just two weeks after launch, opening the door to new skills, credentials and career momentum in public service.
ASU photo
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Serving those who are built to serve
NOV. 6 and 10: While ASU Online gives military-affiliated students the flexibility to continue serving while pursuing a degree, the AZNext Business Readiness for Veterans program helps veterans transition from battlefield to boardroom.
Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
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NOV. 13: The historic donation from the National Association of State Procurement Officials creates the NASPO Department of Supply Chain Management at the W. P. Carey School of Business.
Photo by Emma Fitzgerald/Arizona State University
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NOV. 17: According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report, ASU has held the top spot eight of the past 10 years. In other rankings news, a few days later, ASU was named one of the world’s top universities for interdisciplinary science.
Photo by Armand Saavedra/Arizona State University
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NOV. 20: Building on the success of TEDI-London, ASU London incorporates the same project-based programs in engineering alongside new degree offerings. Students at the independent institution can earn two international degrees in as little as four years.
Illustration by Chad Musch and Alex Cabrera/ASU
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NOV. 20: It's not every day a biology lab is extolled as both effective and — according to students — "super sick." That was the word at the ribbon cutting for a Dreamscape Learn mobile classroom at the Pendergast Elementary School District.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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NOV. 25: An ASU-led study found that obesity-related health issues and low choline levels in young adults may set the stage for neurodegeneration later in life.
Image by Shutterstock
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NOV. 25: Arizona now has the second-largest outbreak of measles in the nation this year. The medical director of ASU’s Health Observatory answers questions about the illness and explains the new Disease Insights website, which has up-to-date information to help you stay safe.
Image by Shutterstock
December
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DEC. 2: When Shawn Bratton dropped out of college his freshman year, he never would have dreamed he would end up becoming a four-star general. But with some luck and hard work, the ASU alum now holds the second-highest role at the U.S. Space Force.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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DEC. 4: Their work crosses disciplinary boundaries, from cognitive and learning sciences to evolutionary anthropology, from computer science to technology policy, showcasing the breadth and ambition of ASU’s scholarly enterprise.
ASU photo
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DEC. 9: ASU's School of Technology for Public Health is a new kind of school, recognizing that public health will be deeply influenced by technology. The school is training its first cohort of students, who will leverage technology and data as central to transforming public health.
Photo by Keri Hensley/Arizona State University
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DEC. 10: Critical minerals are essential to U.S. economic, energy and national security applications, but they have vulnerable supply chains. Researchers at ASU are innovating in areas that will help secure sustainable domestic supplies of these vital materials.
Graphic by Andy Keena/Arizona State University
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DEC. 15: Newly minted ASU graduates were urged to help America strive toward a greater democracy as they celebrated at their degree ceremonies. More than 12,300 students graduated this fall, a record and 9% more than a year ago, including many with California ties.
Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University
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DEC. 16: ASU will provide financial, academic and personal support for returning students, including financial help for qualified students with past-due balances, per-credit tuition scholarships for students, and individualized advising from dedicated ASU reentry specialists.
ASU photo
The dean's list
A number of deans were named this year for schools and colleges across ASU:
- Jan. 22: Jyotishman Pathak, School of Technology for Public Health.
- Jan. 29: Holly Lisanby, John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering.
- March 5: Miki Kittilson, Rob Walton College of Global Futures.
- May 1: Daniel Cox, natural sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- May 14: Michael Yudell, College of Health Solutions.
- July 29: Manuel Avilés-Santiago, interim, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.
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