As a young man, William “Bill” Dietrich didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew he wanted to be successful. Decades later, his career achievements exceeded even his own lofty expectations and enabled him to give to Carnegie Mellon a unique and historic gift.

Since March 11, 2011, the day of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the world has taken another look at the perils of nuclear power. Carnegie Mellon alumnus William D. Magwood is no different. And because he is one of the United States’ five Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners, his leadership impacts the nation.

There are anonymous heroes in everyday life. Perhaps none more so than Carnegie Mellon’s Kathleen Carley. To her students, she is a computer science professor. To her colleagues, she is the director of a center that analyzes social and organizational systems. To terrorists worldwide, she may be their worst nightmare.

At first glance, Amy Kao blends in beautifully with the Wall Street crowd. That’s a good thing because
once the Tepper undergraduate earns her degree, she may very well start her career there. But there is another side to Kao, an award-winning side, which is driven by a different currency.