Watts Briefly

-- HAIC program adds student mentors
-- Gates named to state AI policy panel
-- Students research real-world problems
-- Association hears class presentations

Student mentors have joined “U-FIRST: Nature and the Human Spirit,” the outdoor orientation and engagement course for first-year students at the Hainan University-Arizona State University International College (HAIC) in Haikou in the Hainan province of China. Faculty members say the addition will make students’ journey “warmer through peer companionship.”

From its initial offering in 2023 with 32 HAIC students, enrollment in the course has nearly doubled, to 62, said Nate Bricker, HAIC program manager.

Bricker said that while the course continues its original intent — to help students adjust to college

 through nature-based experiences — the addition of 10 volunteer mentors who were senior alumni of the course last year provides even more support to the HAIC freshmen.

“We were thrilled at the opportunity to join U-FIRST again and excited to pass on our experience to our junior colleagues” mentor Xu Ziqing recalled. “At first, everyone was quiet — just like we were last year, but once we got on the sailboats, shouting commands and getting soaked by waves, everything came alive. This course always has a kind of magic — it pushes you toward growth.”

ASU News posted a January 2024 story on U-FIRST’s debut last year.

Edited from an original blog post by Yu-Hua Xu, assistant teaching professor in the School of Community Resources and Development, Hainan University-Arizona State University International College. 

Professor of Practice Bill Gates (right) of the School of Public Affairs will serve on a committee that will develop Artificial Intelligence guidelines for the state government. Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Gates and 18 other Arizonans representing many areas, including law enforcement, education, business and government, to the panel, KJZZ reported May 21.

“Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how we live, work and govern. Arizona has a responsibility to lead with integrity while spurring innovation in this growing high-tech sector,” Hobbs said in an announcement the same day. “This committee will insure that AI is implemented in a way that expands opportunity, strengthens public trust and delivers better outcomes for every Arizonan.”

Gates, director of the school’s Mechanics of Democracy Lab, is a former Maricopa County supervisor. –  Mark J. Scarp

More than three dozen Watts College students recently showcased their research from the 2024-

2025 academic year at the college’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the A.E. England Building. Each student produced a project involving research with a faculty member.

Hope Berry, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in public service and public policy from the School of Public Affairs with an emphasis on law and policy, worked with Clinical Associate Professor Margaretha Bentley on the effects and impact of celebrity political endorsements. Such endorsements have a positive effect if they have social relevance, credibility and appeal, Berry said.

“Possible effects from using celebrity political endorsements include a change in political preference, an increase of engagement in voting and a change to the outcome of elections,” Berry said.

Savannah Kunas, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy from the School of Community Resources and Development, researched the challenges faced by individuals experiencing hearing difficulties and deafness in Nepal and the broader Global South.

Kunas, who worked with Associate Professor Eric Legg, said such individuals often experience systemic barriers to healthcare, education and social inclusion, especially those with low or middle incomes in countries where resources are often limited.

“One of the most impactful aspects of my research has been exploring the role of adaptive sports and recreational programs in fostering social inclusion. By evaluating how sports can build physical health, confidence and community connections, I aim to highlight their potential to empower youth experiencing hearing difficulties or deafness,” Kunas said. “The findings from this project could inform future policy changes, advocating for more accessible community programs and inclusive practices both in Nepal and globally. Through this research, I hope to contribute to the ongoing dialogue around disability rights and adaptive recreation, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities for all.”   –  Mark J. Scarp

Graduate students in public affairs Associate Professor Yushim Kim’s PAF 540 class used government pension data to complete their final projects and to present their findings to County Supervisors Association of Arizona representatives — who initially worked with the students to create the assignment — at the end of the spring 2025 semester.

“Data and technology are rapidly changing the way organizations like government do business. This course is designed to expose students to data science techniques and have a hands-on experience,” Kim said. Two of Kim’s students described how they valued their experience working with the data:

Yosta Rambu Lika Enga, an international student from Indonesia, is pursuing a Master of Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs and expects to graduate in December 2025. Enga said students addressed employee transfers and retention challenges in county correctional agencies.

“Our project used real workforce data from CSA to understand how correctional officers are moving between facilities, whether they’re transferring to another agency, moving into different public safety systems or leaving the public system altogether,” Enga said. “In this project, we have done a lot of work, one of them was an interactive ‘spider map’ that visually shows how employees move from one county correctional facility to another, or into public safety agencies with different pension systems like sheriff and police departments.”

The map helps local leaders learn where their staffers are going, the distance they’re willing to move and which nearby workplaces may gain from such moves. “We hope the visualization will support the organization in setting up smarter hiring, retention and resource planning at the local level,” Enga said.

Alex Musar-Rockway is pursuing two degrees, expecting to earn both in May 2026: a Master of Public Policy from the School of Public Affairs and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning.

“We found out at our presentation that the pipeline of workers between county prisons to county sheriffs (57% of transfers) is primarily by design as both facilities are under the guidance of the elected county sheriff,” Musar-Rockway said.

“While such a pipeline is logical for operations of the entire system of law enforcement, it appears the current exodus from county prison facilities are resulting in significant understaffing, which increases demands on the current staff resulting in an increased pressure to find greener pastures.” –  Mark J. Scarp