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Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology  ›  News Archive  ›  news  ›  2026
Tuesday, June 02, 2026

From the Rearview Mirror: A Recent Graduate’s Perspective

CMIST student writer Aleksaundra Handrinos, a recent graduate, reflects back on her four years at Â鶹¹ÙÍø and shares the benefits of getting involved early and saying yes to a range of opportunities, how her college experience enriched her definition of a successful education, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Progress and Perspective: 2025-2026 Academic Year in Review

The 2025–2026 academic year at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) has been defined by a mix of new experiences and returning favorites. From celebrating long-standing traditions like "Politics & Pie" to inaugurating a new speaker series, CMIST continues to serve as a nexus for the study of political science, emerging technology, and global power and governance at Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø).
Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Â鶹¹ÙÍø Students Help Shape Energy Systems, Foreign Policy and Science Communication with National Fellowships

Three Â鶹¹ÙÍø students have been awarded prestigious fellowships, highlighting the value of early career research in areas such as civil engineering, public policy and political science. Senior Ethics, History & Public Policy and International Relations & Political Science major Aleksaundra Handrinos has been selected for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows program.
Bridging the Classroom and the Real World
Wednesday, May 06, 2026

Bridging the Classroom and the Real World

From great power competition to current debates in American politics, to the impact that new technologies are having on diplomacy, military strategy, and international affairs, students at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) study complex political issues. To help students build bridges between their coursework and the real world, CMIST faculty regularly incorporate hands-on learning activities, such as debates and simulations.
More than a Milestone: Twenty-five Years of the Friedman Fellowships
Tuesday, April 28, 2026

More than a Milestone: Twenty-five Years of the Friedman Fellowships

Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s Spring Carnival weekend is a longstanding tradition full of creative craftsmanship and competition, along with rides and reunions. Amid this year’s celebration, the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) took the time to commemorate a different kind of construction—the building of a bridge between scholarly pursuits in Pittsburgh and professional practice in Washington, DC, a connection established by Cynthia Friedman twenty-five years ago.
Faculty Spotlight: Connor Halloran Phillips
Thursday, April 23, 2026

Faculty Spotlight: Connor Halloran Phillips

Connor Halloran Phillips is an assistant teaching professor in the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST). His research examines interest groups, parties, legislatures and elections in the United States, and he teaches classes on American political institutions.
Agentic AI Analysis from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Major Gabrielle Nesburg
Monday, April 20, 2026

Agentic AI Analysis from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Major Gabrielle Nesburg

Cyber operations are increasing in speed and complexity, placing new demands on cybersecurity analysts to translate intelligence into actionable plans capable of keeping pace with automated adversaries. Major Gabrielle M. Nesburg participated in the National Security Fellowship Program at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST), and used the fellowship as an opportunity to develop a working AI prototype that addresses an operational problem she encountered in the field.
From Academics to Athletics: Student-Athletes in CMIST
Wednesday, April 15, 2026

From Academics to Athletics: Student-Athletes in CMIST

From competing on the field, court, course, and pool to engaging with intellectual pursuits in the classroom, student-athletes bring unique perspectives to the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST). Interviews with a cross-section of CMIST athletes reveal a pattern: The same skills that drive performance in competition also shape how students engage with complex, interdisciplinary coursework.
Identifying Autocratizers with Ignacio Arana Araya
Wednesday, April 08, 2026

Identifying Autocratizers with Ignacio Arana Araya

Reports that democracy around the world is decreasing to levels last seen nearly fifty years ago bring renewed urgency to better understand the causes of democratic backsliding. Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) assistant professor Ignacio Arana Araya has found that personality traits can explain authoritarian behavior, and his research into Latin American presidents offers timely insights on political leadership and democracy around the world.
Accountability Within the Double Black Box: Lawfully Speaking with Professor Ashley Deeks
Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Accountability Within the Double Black Box: Lawfully Speaking with Professor Ashley Deeks

With national security operations in the United States increasingly adopting advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, there is growing concern about the capacity of existing regulations to ensure government accountability. To unpack what she labels “the Double Black Box,” Ashley Deeks, vice dean and Class of 1948 Scholarly Research Professor at the University of Virginia Law School, virtually joined the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) for the most recent installment of CMIST’s Lawfully Speaking series.
Problem-Solving for Tomorrow: MITS Alumni at the Forefront of Technological Innovation
Thursday, March 19, 2026

Problem-Solving for Tomorrow: MITS Alumni at the Forefront of Technological Innovation

In their coursework, students in the Master in Information Technology Strategy (MITS) program at Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) learn about not only the latest technologies but also how these technologies influence people and institutions. Highlighting this holistic approach and the opportunity to develop technical judgment through a capstone project, three MITS alumni share how their experiences at Â鶹¹ÙÍø are helping them navigate today’s dynamic technological landscape.
Chips and Chokepoints: Chris Miller on the Geopolitics of the AI Supply Chain
Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Chips and Chokepoints: Chris Miller on the Geopolitics of the AI Supply Chain

As the world adapts to the expanding use of artificial intelligence, existing vulnerabilities in global supply chains have become chokepoints stunting advancement. Chris Miller—a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute—recently joined the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology’s Scientists & Strategists Speakers Series at Â鶹¹ÙÍø to discuss these developments.
Autonomous Drone Strategy from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Lieutenant Colonel Glen Nettrour
Thursday, March 05, 2026

Autonomous Drone Strategy from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Lieutenant Colonel Glen Nettrour

Through the National Security Fellows Program at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), senior military leaders spend an academic year conducting research, collaborating with faculty, and engaging with students. This year, Lieutenant Colonel Glen Nettrour, CMIST’s US Army War College fellow, is focused on bridging the gap between innovation and operations—examining the strategic implications of advanced military technologies.
From the Classroom to the Capitol: A Conversation with the Â鶹¹ÙÍø/WSP Ambassadors
Friday, January 30, 2026

From the Classroom to the Capitol: A Conversation with the Â鶹¹ÙÍø/WSP Ambassadors

The Â鶹¹ÙÍø Washington Semester Program (Â鶹¹ÙÍø/WSP) offers students the chance to build both professional experience and community, all while exploring a new city. To offer an inside look at the program and the impact it has on students beyond the one semester, Â鶹¹ÙÍø/WSP ambassadors Elijah Dourado and Anthony Cacciato shared their reflections.
Testing the Hypothesis: An Advisor’s Guide to Declaring Your Major
Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Testing the Hypothesis: An Advisor’s Guide to Declaring Your Major

Whatever their academic and career goals, declaring a major helps students integrate their interests, structure their college experience, and gain access to personalized advising as they plan their career trajectories. Drawing on her twenty-five years of experience as an academic advisor, Emily Half, CMIST deputy director for academic affairs, offers insight into navigating this key undergraduate milestone, including information on the process and timeline, the benefits students can expect after declaring, and advice for approaching this consequential decision.
New Faculty and Fellows Expand CMIST Offerings
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

New Faculty and Fellows Expand CMIST Offerings

As the spring semester begins, the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST) is excited to welcome four new faculty members and non-resident fellows. Drawing on their diverse backgrounds and expertise, these new members of the CMIST community are expanding our course offerings in law and national security and enhancing our response to the strategic and policy challenges posed by emerging technologies.
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