VASEM Fall/Winter 2025 Newsletter

VASEM held its 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit and Annual Meeting on September 30 and October 1 at the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, Virginia. The two-day event brought together an extraordinary group of AI experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and students to explore the future of artificial intelligence and its impact across science, engineering, and medicine. More than 285 participants attended the summit, representing 12 Virginia universities and 17 industry partners. The program featured keynote presentations, expert panels, a student poster session, and the induction of new VASEM members, all fostering collaboration and dialogue around AI innovation in the Commonwealth.

The event began with a keynote address from Dr. Arvind Narayanan, who offered a thought-provoking overview of the current state of AI in the United States and where future development should lead. Following the morning sessions, VASEM celebrated the induction of 22 newmembers into the Academy during its annual meeting.

After lunch, 21 university students from eight Virginia institutions presented their AI research during a vibrant poster session, showcasing the next generation of innovators advancing the field. The day concluded with Session Four: “Making Virginia a National Leader in the AI Industry,” featuring Dr. Charles Clancy (MITRE), Dr. Mark Maybury (Lockheed Martin), and Mehul Sanghani (Octo), who discussed Virginia’s unique opportunity to lead in AI development and application.

Day Two focused on AI and medicine, highlighted by keynote speaker Dr. Mark Sendak, who shared valuable insights on how AI is transforming healthcare and improving patient outcomes. His presentation inspired meaningful discussion about the promise and responsibility of AI in the medical field.

VASEM extends sincere thanks to all 285 participants, our academic and industry partners, and Virginia Tech for hosting this year’s event. The 2025 AI Summit and Annual Meeting was a tremendous success—advancing dialogue, collaboration, and innovation to help make Virginia a national leader in artificial intelligence.

VASEM is proud to announce that it has partnered with a new association management company as of October 2025—Eisenman & Associates, Inc. (E&A). E&A is a Richmond-based firm with a proven track record in the association industry. With more than 30 years of experience, they work with a variety of state and national trade associations and professional societies.

The board began the search for a new management company after being notified that McGuireWoods Consulting would be winding down the association management portion of its business. McGuireWoods Consulting will continue to serve VASEM in its government affairs role.

Executive Director Nat Draper and the entire VASEM Board are excited to work with E&A toward the continued success of the organization. While many E&A staff members will be involved in supporting VASEM, Zach Eisenman (who some of you may have met at the AI Summit) will serve as the primary liaison. Zach and his team look forward to getting to know the organization and its members!

VASEM is collaborating with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) through their Climate Crossroads initiative to host a workshop on Flood Resilience in Virginia. The one-day workshop scheduled for March 27, 2026, in Charlottesville will provide an opportunity for attendees to understand the state of flood resilience across urban and rural regions of the commonwealth. A primary goal of the workshop will be to build connections among practitioners, decision-makers, researchers, and industry to increase flood resilience. The event will include talks, panels, and a poster session demonstrating research at universities from across Virginia addressing important topics in flood resilience.

Flooding is an increasing risk across the commonwealth due to changing weather patterns and increased urbanization. The coastal region of Virginia is a national leader in flood resilience, but flooding risk is not limited to the coastal region. Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, and many other cities and rural communities across Virginia are seeking ways to improve their flood resilience. From innovative policies to new and emerging technology, the workshop is aimed at sharing knowledge across the various local and state governmental agencies, universities, and other stakeholders in Virginia, working toward advancing flood resilience.

The workshop is being organized by a steering committee chaired by Jon Goodall, VASEM member, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Director of the University of Virginia Engineering School’s Link Lab. Other Steering Committee members include Celso Ferreira (GMU), Jen Irish (Virginia Tech), Majid Shafiee-Jood (UVA), Marcus Aguilar (City of Roanoke), Matt Dalon (VA Resilience Planning), Jessica Whitehead (ODU), Ann Phillips (ret. US Navy), and Julia Davis (COVES Fellow).

The committee is being supported by Nat Draper and Jim Aylor from VASEM, along with Amanda Purcell, Ryan Gallasch, and Steven Stichter from NASEM. If you are interested in learning more about the workshop, please contact Nat Draper, Executive Director, VASEM at ndraper@vasem.org.

The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) will host its second Legislative Breakfast during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session on Wednesday, February 4, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served.

This event provides an important opportunity to increase awareness of VASEM’s work among legislators and staff while strengthening connections between Virginia’s policymakers and the state’s science, engineering, and medical communities.

During breakfast, VASEM will highlight four key initiatives that demonstrate how science informs public policy across the Commonwealth:

• COVES Fellowship Program, placing graduate students in science policy roles.
• White Paper Initiative, addressing critical energy policy challenges.
• Undergraduate Policy Program (UPP) introduces undergraduates to science-policy connections.
• Report on the VASEM Artificial Intelligence Summit, sharing insights on responsible AI use in Virginia.

We invite you to join us for this important event as we continue to build bridges between science and state policy in Virginia.

The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) proudly recognizes Dr. Jim Aylor for his six years of outstanding leadership and dedicated service as President. A founding member of the Academy, Dr. Aylor has been instrumental in shaping VASEM’s growth, influence, and reputation across the Commonwealth. Under his visionary guidance, the Academy launched and expanded the highly successful COVES Fellowship Program, providing invaluable opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to contribute their scientific expertise to state policy and decision-making.

During his presidency, Dr. Aylor led the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that now serves as a roadmap for VASEM’s continued progress and long-term sustainability. His tenure was also marked by the publication of several influential reports, including the most recent reports, Five Key Strategies and Strategic Roadmaps for the Commonwealth and An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, which have informed policymakers and advanced public understanding of critical scientific and technological issues. Dr. Aylor also presided over a series of annual VASEM Summits that convened experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to address Virginia’s most pressing challenges.

As he concludes his term as President, VASEM is deeply grateful that Dr. Aylor will continue to share his wisdom and leadership as a member of the Board of Directors. His enduring commitment to the Academy ensures that his guidance and influence will remain integral to VASEM’s journey into the future.

The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine is honored to welcome Alfred (Al) Grasso as its new President. Mr. Grasso brings more than three decades of distinguished leadership experience, strategic insight, and a steadfast commitment to advancing science and technology for public benefit. A VASEM Board member for the past six years, he has played a vital role in advancing the Academy’s mission to inform state policy through science and engineering excellence.

Nationally, Mr. Grasso has just completed six impactful years as Chair of the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR), where he championed cross-sector collaboration to address emerging challenges in research, innovation, and technology policy. His 35-year career at The MITRE Corporation, including 11 years as President and CEO, was defined by his leadership in systems engineering, cybersecurity, and national security innovation. He continues to contribute his expertise as a Board Director for NETSCOUT Systems and Riverside Research, guiding strategy, finance, and governance at both institutions.

A servant-leader at heart, Mr. Grasso’s philosophy emphasizes collaboration, integrity, and lifelong learning. The son of Italian immigrants, he credits his parents with instilling in him the values of education, perseverance, and service to others—principles that have guided his remarkable career. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s in computer science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and completed Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development.

With his blend of technical acumen, visionary leadership, and deep public service ethos, Mr. Grasso is poised to lead VASEM into a new era of growth, collaboration, and statewide impact.

The search committee for Virginia Tech’s next executive vice president and provost has recommended Julia Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering, to President Tim Sands as the finalist for the position. Sands has accepted the committee’s recommendation.

The position of executive vice president and provost is the chief academic officer of the university and reports to the president. The provost serves as the second-highest university official, responsible for the university’s instructional, research, and outreach programs; the Graduate School; Research and Innovation; libraries; Student Affairs; and has senior management and leadership responsibilities for the colleges and academic administrative units, including Faculty Affairs, Academic Resource Management, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management. See the full position description for additional information.

Virginia Tech launched the internal search in August, following the announcement that Cyril R. Clarke will step down from the position and return to the faculty after eight years of significant accomplishments and advancement of the university as a 21st-century global land-grant institution.

The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) hosted the 6th cohort of the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellows from May 27 to August 15, 2025. During the fellowship, graduate students in STEM-H fields served as science advisors in host offices across the Commonwealth, gaining valuable experience at the intersection of science, public service, and policymaking.

The program launched with a two-day Science Policy Bootcamp and Orientation in Richmond on May 22–23, featuring speakers from state, federal, and international policy arenas. Sessions included:

Science policy fundamentals with Dr. Rider Foley (UVA)

Emerging issues in Virginia led by Jodi Kuhn (JCOTS)

Legislative process with Amigo Wade (DLS)

State budget process with Ryan Ramirez (DPB)

International science policy insights from Andy Reynolds

The first day concluded with a Science Communication and Advocacy Workshop by Jackie Goodrum, followed by a lively alumni panel featuring past Fellows—Laura Akesson, Kiara Brown, Kylor Kerns, Gates Palissery, and Zach Dawson—who shared reflections on their fellowship experiences.

On the second day, Dr. Deborah Stine (S&T Policy Academy) led an interactive workshop guiding fellows through a ten-step framework for science and technology policy analysis. Throughout the summer, Fellows continued professional development through weekly sessions with guest speakers from across the policy landscape.

A highlight of the summer was the COVES and UPP Celebration Dinner on July 30, sponsored by Dominion Energy and Simple Thread. The event celebrated the 20 COVES Fellows and 12 UPP students, featuring remarks from Fellows Navya Annapareddy, Nichole Leach, and Oziomachukwu Chinaka, and UPP student Alex McCullough.

The fellowship concluded with the COVES Forum on August 29, 2025, where Fellows presented their policy projects. The event featured keynote remarks from Zach Jacobs (Deputy Secretary of Education), opening remarks from David Roop, and closing reflections from Kim McKay (Budget Analyst, House Appropriations Committee).

As we close another successful year, VASEM is excited to announce that the 2026 COVES Fellowship application cycle is now open. Carreen de Cárdenas, who co-coordinated the 2025 program with Sarah Hall, has stepped into the role of Program Coordinator.

This year, ten universities are participating in the fellowship, including Radford University in its first year of involvement. With their support, VASEM anticipates a 2026 cohort of 17–20 Fellows.

To assist with recruitment, the Program Coordinator will assemble the Selection Committee and coordinate host office placements for the upcoming cohort in the coming months.

If you are interested in serving on the COVES Selection Committee, please contact Carreen de Cárdenas at cad3ev@virginia.edu.

The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) proudly launched the first Undergraduate Policy Program (UPP) this summer — a pioneering initiative designed to empower STEM-H students to connect scientific understanding with real-world policymaking.

From July 28 to August 1, twelve students from seven universities across Virginia came together to explore how science, engineering, and medicine intersect with public policy. These undergraduates — majoring in fields such as biology, engineering, and health sciences — engaged in an intensive week of hands-on learning, mentorship, and policy exploration.

The UPP program’s objectives centered on helping students:

• Learn key policymaking concepts, including public values, ethics, and decision-making in complex settings.
• Understand how science and technology inform public policy and open new career pathways.
• Engage directly with policymakers — including members of the Virginia General Assembly, executive branch officials, and JCOTS leadership.
• Shadow COVES graduate policy fellows working in state agencies, legislative offices, and nonprofit organizations.

A highlight of the week came on July 30, when students from both the UPP and COVES Fellowship programs gathered for a joint celebratory dinner. Participants shared their perspectives on how the programs have influenced their understanding of the relationship between science and policy. Earlier that day, UPP students had the unique opportunity to shadow COVES fellows, learning firsthand about the research and policy analysis being conducted for their state host offices.

VASEM extends its sincere appreciation to Luck Companies for their generous support and shared commitment to developing the next generation of Values-Based Leaders who will drive long-term, positive change in our communities.

The success of UPP’s inaugural year was made possible through the leadership and collaboration of Dr. KL Akerlof (George Mason University), Dr. Todd Schenk (Virginia Tech), and Nat Draper (Executive Director, VASEM).

As VASEM continues to cultivate Virginia’s future leaders at the intersection of science and policy, the Undergraduate Policy Program stands as a powerful example of how informed, engaged scientists can shape a better future for all.

The Energy Working Group currently has 11 members: Sean R. Agnew, Robert M. Carritte, R. Matthew Gardner, Michael Lamb, Chen-Ching Liu (Chair), Mike Loose, Mark McVey, David Roop, John R. Scully, Haydn N. G. Wadley, and Richard Zhang, representing a wide range of in-depth expertise from academia, industry, and government. The EWG kickoff meeting was held on June 3, 2025, with leaders from the Virginia Department of Energy: Larry Corky, Manager of Policy and Planning, and Brandi Frazier Bestpitch, Director of Reliability. The theme of the discussion was Virginia’s energy landscape and transitioning from a renewable-only to an all-of-the-above approach. An important point was that energy diversity creates a robust grid that is more adaptive and resilient against weather, cyber, and other types of threats.

The second meeting of the EWG was an in-person meeting on Sept 29, in conjunction with the VASEM Summit on AI at Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, VA. The invited leader, Carrie Hearne, Executive Director of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulations (CEUR) provided an overview of the role and work of CEUR in Virginia’s Energy Ecosystem. Following the presentation, there were great discussions on technologies and techniques to unlock the capacities in Virginia, including reconductoring, dynamic line rating, power flow controllers, surplus interconnection, and electricity market pricing. The other subject was how local screening analysis can inform subregions for integrating grid-enhancing technologies.

The EWG activities provide an excellent forum for VASEM EWG and Board members to interact with energy leaders from the government branches of the Commonwealth.

Nominations for future members of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) will open on March 1, 2026. We encourage members to begin considering distinguished colleagues who should be nominated for membership in the coming weeks.

VASEM continues to benefit from strong support across Virginia’s leading universities—reflected in the significant number of members who also belong to the National Academies of Engineering, Medicine, and Sciences. This academic foundation remains a cornerstone of the Academy’s strength and credibility.

In addition, industry engagement within VASEM is growing, and we aim to expand this representation in the years ahead. Increasing participation from industry leaders will help ensure a balanced perspective across our white papers, summits, and studies, while maintaining our tradition of showcasing cutting-edge university research.

VASEM’s mission is to provide unbiased, evidence-based insight on critical issues facing the Commonwealth and the nation. To learn more about our work and explore previous reports and studies, please visit our website, vasem.org.

VASEM is proud to welcome James Madison and Radford Universities as its newest institutional members. Since its founding in 2013, VASEM has brought together leading academic institutions to advance science, engineering, and medicine in the Commonwealth.

With JMU and Radford University’s addition, VASEM now includes eleven institutional members:

• George Mason University
• Hampton University
• James Madison University
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Radford University
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia State University
• Virginia Tech
• William & Mary

We look forward to collaborating with JMU and Radford Universities to further our mission of fostering interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, and innovation across Virginia. Welcome to the VASEM community!

Our community is strongest when we celebrate one another’s achievements, and we want to highlight the great work happening across the VASEM membership. If you’ve had a recent promotion, taken on a new role, published research, received an award, or reached a personal or professional milestone, we’d love to hear about it.

Whether you’ve launched a new project, joined a collaboration, or contributed to your field in a meaningful way, your updates help tell the story of science, engineering, and medical excellence in Virginia.

Please send your news to Nat Draper, Executive Director, at ndraper@vasem.org. Your update may appear in an upcoming VASEM newsletter and could also be featured on our website or social media channels.