Skip to content
Exterior of an Equator Coffees building.
September 28, 2023

Northeastern graduate is bringing ethically sourced, high-quality coffee to Oakland campus

From two espresso carts to 200 employees, Helen Russell is a trailblazer. The co-founder of Equator Coffees & Teas shares how Northeastern’s experiential learning put her on the entrepreneurial road.

Latest Reads

Despite herniated disc, Northeastern taekwondo star Brian Meagher takes fifth at World University Games in China

Four weeks before the World University Games in China, the Northeastern junior suffered a painful herniated disc in his back. He competed with two teammates anyway — with a surprising result.

Defensive-minded Huskies chase elusive NCAA title with Gwyneth Philips, the best goalie in women’s college hockey

Twelve months ago Philips was the subject of uncertainty after three years as a backup. Now she’s the anchor of a Northeastern team that enters the season picked to win Hockey East and ranked No. 5 in the nation.

A force in indie films for decades, Sundance Institute founding director Michelle Satter reflects on building next generation of filmmakers

Ahead of receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, Michelle Satter, a Northeastern graduate, talks the future of indie film and watching Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler kickstart their careers in her labs.

Old architecture, new democracy? In Tbilisi, they go together.

Two married art and architecture professors and their Northeastern students explored an ancient city in the throes of transformation — by a young government, urban renewal and Russian expats fleeing the effects of war.

Various architecture in Tbilisi, Georgia.

What I wish I’d known: Northeastern students offer advice to incoming freshmen

These lessons, based on the experiences of upperclassmen, may help new Northeastern students get off to a faster start.

collage of student headshots

Hidden effects: Ashley Knehans makes movie magic

The 2021 alum powered the middle seats on the university’s Division I rowing team. Like her efforts on the water, the visual effects Knehans designs for major movies are subtle, but they’re vital.

headshot Ashley Knehans on a green background with light display on her face

Human cost of large-scale acquisitions. How a professor turned decades of research into US antitrust policy

John Kwoka has long argued that American competitiveness and U.S. workers were suffering as power was consolidated among a smaller number of companies.

Federal Trade Commission building

Biochemist, author, art collector, Soviet émigré. How Vladimir Torchilin became a renowned scientist on both sides of the Iron Curtain

Vladimir Torchilin has lived many lives and has a story to tell from every one of them. The Northeastern University professor reflects on growing up in the Soviet Union, his revolutionary work in biochemistry and his complicated journey to the U.S.

Vladimir Torchilin in his home in Charlestown

‘They are balancing two full-time jobs.’ How Northeastern student-athletes become champions on the field and in the classroom

They averaged a 3.411 GPA while also boosting the university to a No. 11 national ranking for athletic success.

Hockey player Alina Mueller holds a trophy

Will Puerto Rico become a state? For one political science professor, it’s a personal question

Amílcar Antonio Barreto’s political education began in his grandfather’s ice cream parlor in Puerto Rico. Now, he brings his passion for his home country’s complicated politics to studying global nationalism.

Head shot of Amílcar Antonio Barreto in front of the flag of Puerto Rico

Humor is key to business success, says PR firm CEO who spent years on the stand-up comedy circuit

Steve Cody is always looking for a laugh, whether it’s on the stand-up stage or in the offices of his PR firm, Peppercomm. Cody sheds some light on his journey to success and why more businesses and CEOs should embrace laughter.

Steve Cody performing a stand up comedy routine on stage

A new book shatters stereotypes about autism and technology

For “Kids Across the Spectrums,” the Northeastern University communications professor spent nearly a decade studying the tech and media use of over 60 autistic kids with a range of abilities, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds.

person holding Meryl Alper's new book Kids Across The Spectrums

After 20 years behind a desk, adventure seeker starts business leading hikes in the mountains

David Fatula always knew he wanted to start his own business. After a 20-year career in real estate finance, Fatula, Northeastern class of 2001, gave it all up to start Guineafowl Adventure Co., offering guided hikes through New Hampshire’s rugged White Mountains. Now, he does what he loves and he loves what he does.

Collage of 3 polaroid-style photos superimposed over a topographical map. Left-to-right: "A group of adventurers hiking a mountain with Guinefowl", "Leading a hike through a snow-covered trail", and "Preparing for an adventure with his loyal companion" (Fatula and his dog).

He represented Muhammad Ali. He argued a case before the Supreme Court at just 26. Now he’s retiring from Northeastern

Michael Meltsner, the George J. and Kathleen Waters Matthews Distinguished University Professor of Law, is retiring after 44 fruitful years.

headshot of Michael Meltsner

This professor says constitutional law is hurting Americans’ health

“Constitutional Contagion,” a new book by Northeastern law professor Wendy Parmet, argues that constitutional law has endangered our health.

Older adult tutors help kindergartners develop reading skills in Northeastern program inspired by early literacy losses

A new online intergenerational tutoring program for early literacy development helps kindergartners and retired elders build meaningful relationships.

Erstklaessler doing homework at a table

It’s all fun and games. This class takes play seriously

Social skills. Problem solving. Therapy. In Emily Mann’s Science of Play class, Northeastern students learn how critical play is for children—and themselves.

student playing with children wearing yellow vests

Punk rock and tacos: How a punk rock drummer turned real estate agent found restaurant success

NEWPORT, R.I.—A punk rock drummer turned real estate agent turned restaurateur, Scott Kirmil, also a Northeastern alum, owns half a dozen eateries in Rhode Island and is always on the lookout for the next great flavor or idea.

Scott Kirmil shaking a cocktail shaker

Refusing to be marginalized, Elyse Cherry became an LGBTQ+ trailblazer

Northeastern law school grad Elyse Cherry talks about her path: “In my adult lifetime we’ve gone from living under threat of being fired, being a criminal because of being an LGBTQ+ person to having same-sex marriage and a public life and a focus on bringing our authentic selves everywhere we go. It’s a gigantic shift.”

headshot of Elyse Cherry

Golden anniversary: Northeastern champion rowers return to England 50 years after their triumph

The Huskies’ men’s heavyweight eight crew reunited at Henley-on-Thames to celebrate the golden anniversary of one of Northeastern’s greatest teams.

1973 Northeastern men’s heavyweight eight crew team rowing at Henley-on-Thames

After Trayvon Martin case, this attorney wanted ‘to make the world better’

Northeastern graduate Kellie Ware has dedicated her career to making the legal profession more diverse. Black Americans make up 12.4% of the population, but just 4.7% of lawyers.

headshot of Kellie Ware with graphic design elements

Co-ops drive positive change in the neighborhoods—and create a pipeline for future nonprofit employees

Since 2021 Northeastern has funded Co-ops In Service to our Neighbors, which provides a paid, full-time co-op to six nonprofit partners.

Meghan Reardon standing next to a tree in Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park

Trauma cards, board games, remaking courthouses: NuLawLab gets creative in social-justice mission

Northeastern’s groundbreaking law lab connects artists, designers and law students to open up the law to more people.

person holding NU LawLab trauma cards with pictures drawn on them

Alan McKim founded Clean Harbors. As technology chief, he’ll guide it into the future

The entrepreneurial, blue-collar guy from the South Shore of Massachusetts turned one truck into a global, multi-billion-dollar company. 

Forget charts and bar graphs. Turn data into a play, ‘make them more human’

Northeastern faculty and students created a performance based on statistics about green spaces and gentrification.

Students acting on stage in a theatre performance

Inside look at the lives of two transgender icons in a new Northeastern digital collection

The Digital Transgender Archive, supported by Northeastern, has made public a new collection of materials on Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

Sylvia Rivera posing on a street next to New York's Union Square Park