Technology

Transparency Coalition Announces New Board Appointments to Advance Responsible AI Policy and AI Education

Published

12 months ago

May 21, 2025

The Transparency Coalition, a leading organization advocating for clear, responsible governance of artificial intelligence at the state level, today announced the appointment of four new members to the Boards of Directors for its 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 entities. These appointments expand the Coalition’s leadership across both its educational and policy arms, underscoring its commitment to AI education and regulations supporting responsible AI development.

SEATTLE, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Transparency Coalition, a leading organization advocating for clear, responsible governance of artificial intelligence at the state level, today announced the appointment of four new members to the Boards of Directors for its 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 entities. These appointments expand the Coalition’s leadership across both its educational and policy arms, underscoring its commitment to AI education and regulations supporting responsible AI development.

Three of the appointees will join the board of the Transparency Coalition’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which supports expert research, education, and civic awareness around AI’s societal impacts. One appointee will join the board of the Transparency Coalition Action Fund, the organization’s 501(c)(4) advocacy entity that engages in legislative and regulatory action.

“These new board members bring deep expertise across technology, policy, and law—experience that’s essential to the responsible development and oversight of AI,” said Transparency Coalition CEO Rob Eleveld. “Their leadership will help guide our growing efforts to ensure that AI is developed and deployed with transparency, accountability, and the public good in mind.”

Appointments to the Transparency Coalition include:

Christy Johnson: CEO, Artemis Connection. Christy Johnson is an executive leader and innovator with over two decades of expertise building and turning around teams focused on innovation, strategy, sales and marketing on a global scale. Her career spans leadership roles at multibillion-dollar companies such as McKinsey & Company, Flextronics, and Group Health (acquired by Kaiser Permanente), as well as private equity-backed ventures, with a focus on strategy, sales, and governance. A passionate advocate for ethical AI, Christy champions transparency in algorithmic decision-making and the integration of trust and fairness into emerging technologies. Most recently, as CEO of Artemis Connection, she scaled the company, led board-level strategy, and attracted multiple acquisition offers. Her board and executive leadership experience includes: global expansion, GTM strategy, audits, compensation, and advancing ESG initiatives.Leigh McMillan, CEO, Whitepages. Leigh McMillan joined Whitepages in 2017 to lead the consumer division and became CEO in 2019. Before that, she headed up marketing and growth at ReachNow, BMW Group’s U.S. mobility service, and was CMO at legal marketplace Avvo, which was acquired by Internet Brands. Prior to moving into tech, she ran communications for the Seattle Mariners during their successful drive for a new ballpark and served as National Finance Director for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. Leigh is a University of Washington graduate and an investor in Seattle-area VC funds, including AI2, the Allen Institute’s start-up incubator.Yoko Miyashita: CEO, Leafly. Yoko Miyashita is a legal strategist and technology policy leader with over two decades of experience at the intersection of law, innovation, and governance. As CEO of Leafly, a leading online cannabis discovery platform, she is guiding the company through public markets and complex regulatory landscapes while promoting ethical growth in emerging industries. Previously, she served as General Counsel at Getty Images, where she led global legal and policy teams and spearheaded a major antitrust campaign against Google to protect creators’ rights and promote data transparency. She brings extensive board experience and continues to champion responsible AI development, platform accountability, and the protection of individual rights.

These new directors will join Transparency Coalition CEO Rob Eleveld on the organization’s board of directors.

Appointed to the Transparency Coalition Action Fund:

Casey Mock: Senior Policy Advisor. Casey Mock is a policy expert focused on the politics and ethics of emerging technology. He has served in key government roles under two governors—leading the Vermont Economic Progress Council under Governor Phil Scott and directing budget policy for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Casey also spent four years at Amazon, where he led state and local tax policy nationwide, and most recently served as Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the Center for Humane Technology. He is now a senior policy advisor to NYU Professor Jonathan Haidt, author of the bestselling book, The Anxious Generation. He is an adjunct lecturer at Duke University, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Moldova), a member of the District of Columbia bar, and a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and the University of Tennessee.

Mock joins Transparency Coalition Action Fund Co-Founders Rob Eleveld and Jai Jaisimha on the TCAF Board of Directors.

The Transparency Coalition and the Transparency Coalition Action Fund work together to advance policies that protect democratic institutions, empower the public, and ensure AI systems are subject to the same standards of accountability as other high-impact technologies. For more information, visit https://transparencycoalition.ai.

About The Transparency Coalition

The Transparency Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing transparency, accountability, and public understanding of artificial intelligence. Through rigorous research, public education, and policy engagement, the TCAI works to ensure AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that are safe, transparent, and aligned with the values of democracy. The Coalition operates through two entities: a 501(c)(3) organization focused on research and education, and the Transparency Coalition Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) focused on policy and advocacy. Learn more at transparencycoalition.ai.

Media Contact:

Laura Morarity

laura@transparencycoalition.ai

Media Contact

Laura Morarity, Transparency Coalition, 1 2064898427, laura@transparencycoalition.ai, transparencycoalition.ai

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Technology

VERNAL CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF $100 MILLION INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

NEW YORK, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vernal Capital Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: VECA) (“Vernal”) announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under “VECAU” beginning May 6, 2026. Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-fourth of one ordinary share upon consummation of an initial business combination. Upon separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on NYSE under “VECA” and “VECAR,” respectively.

D. Boral Capital LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering. The underwriters have a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional units to cover any over-allotments. The offering is expected to close on May 7, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

A registration statement for these securities was declared effective by the SEC on May 5, 2026. The offering is made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, from D. Boral Capital LLC, 590 Madison Ave., 39th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by telephone at (212) 970-5150 or by email at dbccapitalmarkets@dboralcapital.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or to buy, nor shall there be any sale where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the applicable securities laws.

About Vernal

Vernal is a blank check company formed to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Vernal’s target search will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including statements regarding Vernal’s IPO. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. No assurance can be given that the offering will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, beyond Vernal’s control, including those in the Risk Factors section of Vernal’s registration statement filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Vernal disclaims any obligation to release publicly updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Vernal’s expectations, except as required by law.

Contact

Binghan Yi, CFO
binghan@vernal.com
www.vernalspac.com

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SOURCE Vernal Capital Acquisition Corp.

Technology

RIVANNA nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year at MedTech World Awards 2026 | North America

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Nomination places the Charlottesville-based company among growth-stage medtech leaders recognized for commercial momentum in AI-powered clinical decision support; public voting is open through May 8

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RIVANNA®, developer of AI-powered clinical decision-support solutions, today announced that it has been nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year at the MedTech World Awards 2026 | North America. Public voting is open through Friday, May 8, 2026, with category winners to be announced at the inaugural North American Awards Gala on May 11, 2026, at the Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida.

The MedTech Scale-Up of the Year category honors a growth-stage company successfully scaling revenues, partnerships, and adoption across the global medical technology ecosystem. Nominees across the program’s 22 categories were selected through a structured process led by the MedTech World Steering Committee, with category winners determined by a combination of expert evaluation and public voting from the global MedTech community.

“We have built RIVANNA on validation earned from the most rigorous technical buyers in healthcare: competitive federal awards translated into FDA-cleared products, each paired with a commercial program that meets clinicians where they work,” said Will Mauldin, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of RIVANNA. “Being nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year is a meaningful affirmation of that approach and the team executing it.”

Public voting closes Friday, May 8, 2026. Members of the MedTech community are invited to support RIVANNA’s nomination at the official voting page: vote here.

The award nomination follows a year of measurable scaling for RIVANNA:

In October 2025, RIVANNA reported on being named a finalist in MedTech Innovator’s 2025 Early-Stage Grand Prize competition, selected from nearly 1,500 global applicants to represent the top 4% of medtech innovations worldwide.In December 2025, RIVANNA reported on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) clearance of its Accuro® 3S Needle Guide Kit consumables, building on existing Accuro 3S device clearance.In April 2026, RIVANNA reported on peer-reviewed findings, published in 2025 in the Journal of Emergency Medicine (DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.11.011), showing that the Accuro® XV musculoskeletal imaging system enables non-physician operators to acquire diagnostic-quality scans after just one hour of hands-on training.In May 2026, RIVANNA reported on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) clearance of the Accuro® XV Diagnostic Ultrasound System for musculoskeletal imaging, authorizing commercial use across hospital and clinic settings.The company’s clinical program now spans eight sites nationwide with more than 1,500 patients enrolled.

The 2026 MedTech World Awards | North America, powered by Blue Goat Cyber, will be presented Monday, May 11, 2026, at the inaugural North American Awards Gala at the Hilton West Palm Beach, marking the first time the MedTech World Awards have been hosted in the United States.

About the MedTech Scale-Up of the Year Award
Presented by MedTech World, the MedTech Scale-Up of the Year category recognizes growth-stage medical technology companies demonstrating strong commercial momentum, expanding partnerships, and accelerating real-world adoption. The award is one of 22 categories spanning innovation, clinical excellence, regulatory strategy, investment, and leadership across the global MedTech ecosystem.

About RIVANNA
RIVANNA® is a medical technology company developing clinical decision-support solutions powered by proprietary clinical datasets, AI models, and purpose-built imaging hardware. The company’s platform automates complex anatomical analysis at the point of care, enabling faster, more confident clinical decisions while reducing variability and expanding access to advanced capabilities. The first applications target significant market opportunities in regional anesthesia and fracture care. RIVANNA has built a proven FDA regulatory track record across its Accuro® platform, with device clearances for Accuro® 3S (spinal needle guidance) and Accuro® XV (musculoskeletal imaging), a portfolio of supporting cleared consumables, and AI software modules advancing through regulatory review. The company is backed by 100+ patents and validated through clinical partnerships with leading academic medical centers. RIVANNA is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, and operates an FDA-registered, ISO 13485:2016-certified manufacturing facility. Learn more at rivannamedical.com.

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Technology

D2L Launch Week Highlights Latest Product Releases

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Latest innovations are designed to save time, simplify workflows, and help drive better learning outcomes

TORONTO, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – D2L, a global leader in learning innovation, hosted its first-ever D2L Launch Week, a four-day virtual webinar series spotlighting the company’s latest product innovations across D2L Brightspace in 2026.

Throughout the week, D2L showcased a range of product releases through live demos and practical customer use cases, highlighting how institutions, school districts and organizations can help to drive engagement and improve learning outcomes. The featured updates include enhancements to D2L Lumi for idea generation, intervention suggestions, quiz creation and summarization; tools to strengthen parent and guardian outreach; and administrative capabilities designed to help large organizations delegate course and configuration management more effectively.

“We’re proud to showcase the ways D2L continues to innovate to help make learning more personalized, efficient, and scalable,” said Christian Pantel, Chief Product Officer at D2L. “From new D2L Lumi features to enhanced communication tools and more flexible distributed administration capabilities, these updates are designed to help our customers save time, improve usability, and deliver better learning experiences at scale.”

Enhancements to D2L Lumi

Among the new capabilities were several updates to D2L’s AI-native tool, D2L Lumi, designed to improve usability, transparency, and alignment across workflows, including:

D2L Lumi Ideas: Generates assignment and discussion ideas directly within Brightspace, making it easier to generate high quality content aligned to learning outcomes.D2L Lumi Insights: Gives educators access to learning intervention suggestions, designed to provide recommended next steps based on learner data.D2L Lumi Quiz: Helps educators generate questions from multiple course content topics and includes a more streamlined question-generation workflow.D2L Lumi Summary: Supports summarization from more content sources, including nested submodules, and can give educators the ability to preview and adjust source text before summarization.

Updates to Parent and Guardian Communications

D2L also introduced new parent and guardian communication enhancements to help K-12 educators strengthen engagement beyond the classroom. Teachers can now send bulk emails to all parents and guardians associated with students in their class. For individual student outreach, teachers can also email parents and guardians of a specific learner, making it easier to share timely updates on student progress and classroom activity.

Manage Distributed Administration at Scale

Distributed Administration gives organizations more flexibility to delegate administrative responsibilities across organization levels. With Distributed Administration, administrators can manage specific areas, enabling them to oversee courses while helping to reduce bottlenecks and free up time.

Learn more about the latest product releases showcased at D2L Launch Week.

About D2L
D2L is transforming the way the world learns, helping learners achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is on a mission to make learning more inspiring, engaging and human. Find out how D2L helps transform lives and delivers outstanding learning outcomes in K-12, higher education and businesses.

The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, D2L India Pvt Ltd, D2L Brasil Soluções de Tecnologia para Educação Ltda and D2L Sistemas de Aprendizaje Innovadores, S. D2 R.L de C.V., and H5P Group AS.

All D2L and H5P marks are owned by the D2L group of companies. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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