During the spring semester, Gettysburg College faculty, alumni, staff, and students earned widespread media recognition for their expertise and achievements.
From groundbreaking scientific advances to national journalism honors and championship-caliber athletics, Gettysburg College faculty, alumni, and staff were featured in more than 90 media outlets between February and May 2025. Whether sharing expertise with national audiences, making history in their fields, or spotlighting the College’s distinctive impact, these stories underscore the powerful ways our community is shaping the world beyond the campus.
Read on to discover how Gettysburgians are making a difference every day:
The New York Times: Book about Yellowstone wins American History Prize
In March, The New York Times announced Environmental Studies Prof. Randall Wilson as the winner of the Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize in American History for his book “A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park.” Published in 2024 by Counterpoint, “A Place Called Yellowstone” highlights the historical significance of the park in United States history, while also pointing out the cultural and ideological divides that have led to conflict and tension since it was established as America’s first national park in 1872.
“It’s not just understanding natural science; it’s being able to communicate it and the difference that you can make in society,” said Wilson, who received his award in a ceremony hosted by The New York Historical in April. “Making the world a better place often is not just holding all that information in, but sharing it with the wider world.”
Good Morning America: Brain implant transforms teenage girl’s life
In February, Good Morning America interviewed Dr. Brin Freund ’06 as part of its coverage of a groundbreaking treatment for epilepsy. Freund, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, was part of the surgical team that placed a new FDA cleared brain implant called NeuroOne in a teenage girl’s brain. The treatment can diagnose and treat epilepsy and prevent the occurrence of traumatic seizures.
Said Freund of the treatment, “It gives us that immediate feedback. The electrodes are in place, and we can do the ablation and record the activity right away.” Freund majored in biology at Gettysburg and earned an M.D. at Temple University.
USA Lacrosse Magazine: D-III made: Jordan Basso turns Gettysburg experience into Florida dream
With the University of Florida headed toward the Division I lacrosse national semifinals, former Gettysburg All-American Jordan Basso ’24 took time to reflect on her journey from the Battlefield to the Swamp with USA Lacrosse Magazine. In the article, Basso recalled her first meeting with Hall of Fame lacrosse coach Carol Cantele ’83, P’15 and her commitment to a holistic approach to education as a Division III student-athlete.
“We wouldn't just go through the motion of anything,” said the former business, organizations, and management studies major. “We could be all-in committed to something, whatever we were doing. It shaped the person I am today.”
The Guardian: Wahnfried review – madness, monstrousness and a mischievous Wagner daemon
The Guardian, The Times (London), Seen and Heard International, and The Stage were among the international publications reviewing the United Kingdom premiere of Music Prof. Avner Dorman’s opera, “Wahnfried (The Birth of the Wagner Cult) at the Longborough Festival Opera in May. The high-energy performance focused on the death of German composer Richard Wagner and the inter-family power struggle that ensued to carry on his legacy. Amidst the drama and history are underlying themes tied to nationalism, fascism, antisemitism, homophobia, politics, and power.
While the figures depicted in the production fall short of being the heroes they sought to become, The Guardian’s Rian Evans noted the true star of the show came from behind the curtain. “It was Dorman, taking a bow at the curtain call, who was greeted as a hero,” Evans wrote.
More stories to explore:
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High North News (Norway): The art of Trump’s Greenland deal: A new chapter of an ancient saga
In an op-ed for the High North News, English Prof. Christopher Fee P’23 explored how renewed U.S. interest in Greenland echoes a long history of foreign ambitions. From Norse settlers to Cold War tensions and past U.S. purchase attempts, Greenland has often been viewed through a colonial lens. Today, as climate change exposes valuable resources, Greenlanders continue to assert their right to self-determination. -
Donald J. Reynolds Journalism Institute: POY 82 Impact 2024: U.S. Presidential 2024
Eric Lee ’15, a photojournalist for The New York Times, was recognized as a finalist for the Pictures of the Year category by the Donald W. Reynolds Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Lee’s picture depicts Secret Service members surrounding President Donald Trump after a shooter fired at him during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer. Lee, who created an individualized major in film studies at Gettysburg, has contributed to publications across the country, including The Atlantic, New York Magazine, NPR, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. -
Celebrate Gettysburg: A Gettysburg College student turns food scraps into soil and sets a community-wide circle into motion
A year-long project reached a new milestone for history and international affairs double major Brandon Fey ’27 when his Scraps to Soil initiative generated a partnership between Kennie’s Market in Gettysburg and the Green Gathering. Earlier this spring, Fey dropped off a pair of 55-gallon trashcans to collect the waste from Kennie’s, which will then be collected by volunteers and taken to participating farms to be turned into compost. -
World Atlas: 13 cutest small towns in Pennsylvania for 2025
With its rich history and vibrant community, Gettysburg was recently named one of the 13 cutest small towns in Pennsylvania by World Atlas. The article, which featured images of both Glatfelter Hall and Breidenbaugh Hall, noted historic venues such as the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic site and community gatherings like the Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival. -
Peace Corps: Peace Corps announces 2025 Top Volunteer-Producing Schools
Gettysburg College ranks among the top institutions in the country in producing Peace Corps volunteers. According to a May release by the Peace Corps, Gettysburg tied for fifth among schools with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates with seven alumni serving as volunteers across the globe as of fall 2024.
By Corey Jewart
Photos courtesy The New York Historical, Bella Rose/University of Florida, Avner Dorman
Posted: 06/30/25
