Education•
Texas A&M President Resigns After Gender Lecture Uproar
Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III has resigned following intense political backlash over a professor's lecture on gender identity.
Michael O'Brien
Michael O'Brien is a national correspondent covering higher education policy, university governance, and the intersection of academia and politics across the United States.
16 Articles
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Joined September 2025
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Higher Education PolicyUniversity GovernanceUS NewsEducation Reform
Latest Articles by Michael O'Brien
Education•
Emory University Expands Financial Aid Program
Emory University will offer free tuition to undergraduates from families with annual incomes under $200,000, starting in Fall 2026 with its new program.
Education•
UC Unions Sue Administration Over Funding Freeze
A coalition of University of California unions and academic groups has sued the Trump administration, alleging an unlawful campaign to control universities using federal funding freezes.
Tech•
Boise State Secures Record $7.4M for Semiconductor Center
Boise State University has secured a record $7.4 million NSF grant to create a new semiconductor research and workforce development center.
Education•
Wake Forest Offers Free Tuition for NC Students
Wake Forest University will offer free tuition to North Carolina students from families with incomes under $200,000, starting with the Fall 2026 class.
Education•
US Faces 5.25 Million Skilled Worker Shortage by 2032
A new report from Georgetown University projects the U.S. will face a shortage of 5.25 million skilled workers by 2032 as educated workers retire.
Education•
Ohio State Unveils Free Tuition Programs for Ohioans
Ohio State University announced new programs offering free tuition to qualifying in-state students, including full rides for those with perfect test scores.
Politics•
False Report of Charlie Kirk Statue at New College Circulates
A false report is circulating online claiming New College of Florida plans a statue for Charlie Kirk after his 'assassination.' Kirk is alive and the story is fabricated.
Education•
MA Teachers Union Defends Staff Amid Threats
The Massachusetts Teachers Association is defending educators who are facing death threats after allegedly making negative comments about a deceased activist.
Politics•
Harvard Research Funding Remains Frozen Despite Court Order
Harvard University researchers are still without millions in federal funding despite a court ruling that deemed a government freeze on grants unconstitutional.
Education•
College Instructor Fired After Inflammatory Classroom Remarks
College of the Sequoias terminated a part-time biology instructor after a student recorded him making inflammatory remarks in class wishing death upon a family.
Education•
Universities Confront Neutrality Policies After Activist's Killing
University presidents are making exceptions to new institutional neutrality policies to condemn the killing of activist Charlie Kirk, sparking a campus free speech debate.
Politics•
UC Groups Sue Trump Administration Over UCLA Fine
A coalition of University of California groups has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over a $1.2B fine and a research funding freeze at UCLA.
Politics•
UC Unions Sue Trump Administration Over Funding Threats
A coalition of UC employee unions filed a federal lawsuit to block the Trump administration from suspending grants and imposing a $1.2 billion fine on UCLA.
Politics•
Texas Students Depart Universities After Kirk Death Remarks
Two students at Texas State and Texas Tech are no longer enrolled after videos showed them mocking the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Politics•
New College of Florida to Erect Statue of Charlie Kirk
New College of Florida announced it will commission a privately funded statue of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk to be placed on its Sarasota campus.