Words from the DeanMarch 2024 Dear College of Science Community, The past month has given us the opportunity to celebrate some very significant achievements of College of Science faculty and staff. Our awards event on February 29 showcased many remarkable individuals, who I know are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the…

Words from the DeanFebruary 2023 Dear College of Science Community, The new term is off to a great start. I’m enjoying the opportunity to meet more faculty, staff and students, and get immersed in many of the amazing things the College is doing. Our strategic planning town hall in January drew over 50 people eager…

Words from the DeanJanuary 2023 Dear College of Science Community, I’m excited to inform you about changes in leadership within the College of Science this term. As of January 1, three exceptional individuals assumed key roles in their respective departments – new leaders in Microbiology and Mathematics, as previously announced, and most recently, a new…

Words from the DeanDecember 2023 Dear colleagues, As we enter the winter break season and the second month of my deanship, I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome and the invigorating conversations I have had with many of you. I hope that all of you take the opportunity for downtime and relaxation…

Words from the DeanNovember 2023 Dear colleagues, I am thrilled to finally arrive on campus this week to join your Science community as incoming dean. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to work alongside you as we collaborate to extend the College’s reach and impact. My first order of business is to express my…

Dear colleagues, Welcome to the start of the new academic year! It’s wonderful to see our students back on campus and to engage with you again in person as we work together to ensure success for all. There is so much to celebrate. We kick off the new term with great momentum, with the College…

Dear colleagues, As we head into Summer 2023, I hope you are all able to rejuvenate and take a well-deserved break. I want to express my gratitude for all you have done this year to advance knowledge and transform lives to create a thriving Science community. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead…

Dear colleagues, I hope your Spring term is going well. This Thursday, we have the opportunity to hear a fascinating lecture by one of the world’s top 1,000 female scientists. I hope that you join me and the rest of the College at the annual Gilfillan Lecture (5/19) featuring eminent particle physicist Heidi Schellman.  In…

Dear colleagues,  Thank you for the support you have shared in the launches of our diversity action plan (DAP), “Embedding Equity, Access and Inclusion,” and our strategic plan, “Extending the Reach and Impact of Science.” These interconnected plans reflect the strategies we developed as a community to learn, explore and solve the most pressing issues…

Dear colleagues,  To live up to our mission of developing future leaders and providing solutions that improve life in Oregon and beyond, we rely on this incredible community to be visionary and bold. When we think big and step out of our comfort zones, we generate change — and we improve lives. In the College…

Dear colleagues, As we head into Summer 2023, I hope you are all able to rejuvenate and take a well-deserved break. I want to express my gratitude for all you have done this year to advance knowledge and transform lives to create a thriving Science community. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead…

Dear colleagues, First, I’d like to bring your attention to an important event happening this week: Dr. Jayathi Murthy, Oregon State University’s president, is attending a special meet-and-greet to talk about her priorities for the university as they relate to the College of Science. I hope you will join us. Please RSVP today. I am very pleased…

Dear colleagues, I am incredibly proud to be a part of the College of Science. Every day, I’m inspired by the remarkable, outward-looking people in our College who continually work for the greater good in their research, teaching and service. After a year of community-wide engagement, I am delighted to share the College of Science Strategic Plan…

Dear colleagues, I am honored to serve as interim dean of the College of Science this year as the search begins for a permanent dean. I hope you had a good summer and return to campus energized for the new academic term. I chose to serve in this role to further advance the work we’ve…

Dear colleagues, As my time here at OSU moves toward sunset, I want to express my gratitude to all of you and to OSU. You have been wonderful partners in science, and I step away optimistic about your ongoing success in solving the greatest challenges. I also have every confidence that Vrushali Bokil, associate dean…

Dear colleagues, All great universities do five things well: generate knowledge, disseminate knowledge, apply knowledge, preserve knowledge, and create opportunities for everyone with knowledge. The last of these is the reason that we are focused on equity, access and inclusion: We need to create more opportunities for those who, historically and in the present day,…

Dear colleagues, In the last two years, our community has engaged extensively in discussions and collective decision-making to ensure that new plans for the College’s future align with our shared values. Your input informed the community-created Diversity Action Plan that launched in fall. And this year, your feedback is guiding the priorities and goals in the College’s…

Dear colleagues, I would like to take this month’s newsletter to provide an update on the College finances. We have created a new webpage with college financial reports going back to 2019. At that webpage, you will find the financial report that I have just submitted to the Provost for this year. In this year’s report (PDF), you…

Dear colleagues, I am grateful to those of you who have contributed your ideas, thoughts and critiques to the College’s strategic planning process thus far. Thank you for investing in our future. The best way to effectively and sustainably implement the priorities of the College is by working together. In this regard, I am pleased…

Welcome back, College of Science colleagues. I hope you have enjoyed time to rejuvenate. I wish you all the best of health and happiness as we welcome 2022. As we shift our momentum to a new calendar year, I want to encourage each one of you to help chart the course for the College of…

Dear colleagues, I hope you all will join me at the College of Science Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Michael Waterman (Mathematics ’64, ’66) next week. One of the most brilliant thinkers in the field of computational biology and bioinformatics, he will present the lecture at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 10 (details below). Register here. Dr. Waterman…

Dear colleagues, Welcome – WELCOME – to the 2021-22 academic year! More than any year that I can remember, I am so pleased to see students back on campus. In the hall during the first week of classes, I spoke with a smiling student on their way to MTH 251, and they said that they had…

Dear colleagues, As most of you know, Oregon State University is moving toward a fully in-person experience this fall term. Many of us are gratefully anticipating the return of students, faculty and staff to campus and the opportunity to gather again for learning, teaching, on-site research, meetings and other experiences – even as we follow required…

Dear colleagues, Each summer, I set priorities for the coming year, and as I have done a number of times in the past, I would like to share my priorities for the College for 2021-22 with you. First, I would like the College to begin to implement our new Diversity Action Plan. The plan has five goals:…

Dear colleagues, Commencement on June 12 will mark the end of one the longest academic years in memory. As we move forward to a more normal fall term, I want to thank you again for all you have done under very challenging circumstances to teach and support our students. We will soon say goodbye to…

Dear colleagues, Like many of you, I am pleased  that Oregon State is anticipating a return to primarily in-person teaching on our campuses and on-site research, engagement, extracurricular programs and activities next fall. These plans are tentative depending on public health conditions, naturally, but there is cause for optimism. With the prospect of a more…

Dear colleagues, I am proud of the College of Science community. In a year of great difficulty, our incredible faculty, administrators and staff rose to the challenge and brought a virtual Science education to life and made new breakthroughs in critically important areas of science. This month, we have several opportunities to gather as a…

Dear colleagues, I would like to update you on our investments in research and some of the returns on those investments, as well as discuss further investments next year. Beginning with the FY19 budget, I committed to investing $800K per year of our education and general funds in the research mission – setting it aside…

Dear colleagues, This last year has been like no other. The sudden need to confront unprecedented challenges thrust many in our College into heroes’ journeys – requiring rapid and wide-reaching action to protect and educate our students. As we faced obstacles created by the pandemic, most had little choice but to venture into strange new…

Dear colleagues, This week is an important milestone for the College. We finally have made it to the last week of the term, and I hope you take heart in all we’ve accomplished together. I deeply appreciate the work you’ve put in to sustain the College and each other during this challenging time. Thank you…

Dear colleagues, One of the steps our College is taking to fulfill our commitment to becoming an antiracist community is growing our understanding. We have been actively listening to Black students, faculty and staff in our College and the OSU community and gaining knowledge from the nation’s leading scholars on racism. Boston University Professor Ibram X. Kendi, author…

Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the 2020-21 academic year. Despite the challenges we face, it is good to begin a new year of advancing teaching, learning and research outcomes. Our Science students bring a new surge of energy, curiosity and drive into our College. I am proud that they are choosing to pursue a career path…

Dear Colleagues, Careful readers may notice that we’ve changed date of the monthly Dean’s newsletter to reflect the upcoming month rather than the previous month, a practice that is more in line with other publications. Consequently, you are receiving the “September” newsletter at the beginning of the month rather than at the end. This month, I…

Dear Colleagues, The hard work of our task groups over the last few months has led us to a resumption plan that allows Science students to return to campus in the upcoming academic year. While the College experience will certainly be different, students will again be able to experience at least a measure of face-to-face interaction and…

Dear Colleagues, As most of you know, Oregon State recently announced planning for the gradual and phased resumption of on-site education, research and Extension programming in late summer and fall. These plans are welcome information while we await guidelines for higher education institutions from the Governor’s Office and state health authorities. Like many of you,…

Dear Colleagues, To say the least, this has been a turbulent period for our College, Oregon State and the world. The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have shifted life as we know it, severely disrupting our university’s operating model and our personal lives. Whatever challenges you face, this unfolding crisis is no doubt taking…

Dear Colleagues, We all know that our work as scientists to create new knowledge is intrinsically important, and the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes this point. Science is essential for providing solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. We know this – it’s the core conviction that drives many of us in the College of Science. But now,…

Dear Colleagues, I have often shared my conviction that science is the single greatest force for good in human history. As I have watched the news about COVID-19 unfold over the past few weeks, my appreciation for the capacity of scientists to benefit society is reaffirmed. Not surprisingly, the news I have been paying closest…

Dear Colleagues, One of our highest priorities in the College of Science is creating and supporting a culture of inclusive excellence. This means putting the tools, people and resources in place to empower science students to set and reach their own academic and life goals. Our latest strategic plan asserts that “inclusive academic excellence is our north…

Dear colleagues, I often say that universities are the best thing that human beings have ever invented for improving human wellbeing, and that universities are founded on four pillars — the discovery of knowledge (research); the dissemination of knowledge (education); moving knowledge into people’s lives (innovation); and building a more inclusive and just society because…

Dear colleagues, I am the first generation in my family to go to college—my parents didn’t graduate from high school—and though I was interested in science as a kid, I didn’t think much of my intellectual capability. I had no college aspirations. I planned to continue farming, like my parents. From roughly 5th through 8th…

Dear colleagues, This fall, we welcomed 748 new first-year science students to the class of 2023, 27% of whom are first-generation college students which is a 25% increase from fall 2018. About 18% are underrepresented minorities. These numbers are based on the beginning of fall term; OSU will issue official enrollment numbers after week four. I…

ear Colleagues, These are the final days of summer, and many of you are enjoying a few days of relaxation or working hard to get a paper out before the excitement of students and classes start. Consequently, I’m going to write about a lighter topic this month. Earlier this year, on LinkedIn, I published a post about…

Dear colleagues, Now that the academic and fiscal years are over, I would like to update you on how we are doing in a few areas. Although we were hit with an unexpected mid-year budget cut on top of soft enrollment and cost increases, we finished the fiscal year in the black in every department…

Dear colleagues, As we move toward the conclusion of a great year filled with scientific discoveries, engaged and successful students, and all of the interesting and important challenges of research and education, I want to update you as much as possible on the College budget and related elements. Although I had hoped to receive the…

Dear colleagues, Today is our inaugural Dam Proud Day, a day where we come together as a community to make donations to support what matters most to us at OSU. Philanthropy plays an essential role in advancing science for all at OSU and at public universities across the country. In September, I outlined my five top…

Dear colleagues, While I hope that you are reading this newsletter, I know that many of you are off enjoying spring break. I hope you all had time for some relaxation to recharge before a busy spring term. As I emphasized last month, it is important for all of us to do everything we can…

Dear colleagues, This is always an important time of year for student recruitment, but it is particularly significant this year. As you all know, student enrollment supports and enables much of what we do in the classroom and in the lab through revenue generation for our College. The provost has charged all deans with increasing…

Dear colleagues, In my letter to you two months ago, I informed you about the expected FY19 budget cut. You also received a message from the Provost on January 16 about the cut, including the fact that it would be shared between central administration and the academic units. We now know that the cut to…

Dear colleagues, Most of you have heard that OSU’s fall enrollment on the Corvallis campus is down by more than projected, generating a shortfall of more than $7 million. The decision has been made to propagate that shortfall to the colleges and other units in FY19, the current budget year. While we do not yet…

Dear colleagues, At one time or another many of us may have experienced sexual harassment, other sexual misconduct, or even more pervasive gender harassment. In our cultural conversation, we hear examples of these every day, some in academia. A recent report by the National Academies, Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Science, Engineering, and Medicine,offers…

Dear colleagues, Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful and productive summer and are ready to use your intellect and curiosity to make new scientific discoveries and give our students a transformative education this academic year. I am eager to share my priorities for the upcoming year and more details about the research…

Dear colleagues, I hope that you all are enjoying your summer in our lovely community and taking time to rejuvenate, relax and refresh. I want to take a moment to share some good news. We have had a strong surge in research funding in the last couple of months with $6.66 million in grants from…

Dear colleagues, It’s hard to believe that another academic year is drawing to a close and we are preparing to send a new class of scientists out into the world in a few weeks. In what is arguably the busiest time of year, I want to share with you some news and updates along with…

Dear colleagues, I am amazed at how fast the year is going. It is already week three of spring term and I hope things are going well for all of you. The term looks to be a busy and productive one. I am excited to share the campaign planning we are doing to prepare for…

Dear colleagues, Given the events that have been happening across the nation, in our communities and on our campus, I have found myself reflecting on words from Karl Popper, the philosopher of science. I have found new meaning in his words and I want to share them with you so that they may prompt you…

I hope your winter term is off to a good and productive start. We are making good progress working through our budget issues with strong financial support from the Provost’s Office. We will continue to make improvements by working together to improve student success and generate revenue that will not only strengthen the College of…

As we wrap up final exams and head off for a much-deserved break, I wanted to send you a note of thanks for all of your hard work and share some updates before the holidays. As many of you know, Staci Simonich will be moving from her position as our Associate Dean for Academic and Student…

With fall term more than half over, I want to give you an update. As you may recall from my August newsletter, my priorities this year are centered around solving our fiscal challenges through improving student success, growing Extended Campus revenue, operating within our budgets, balancing our workloads, and increasing central funding for the College by…

Welcome to Fall Term! I hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for a new academic year. As we prepare to educate a new cohort of students, I am delighted to announce that the College of Science has launched the Science Success Center where students and faculty can make connections and enhance learning experiences that…

Science is at the heart of the modern university. For OSU to do our best to promote economic, social, health, cultural and environmental progress for the people of Oregon, the nation and the world, it is essential that the College of Science be strong in all respects. We (you!) have done an excellent job in…

Happy midsummer! As we get ready for the next academic year, I am excited to share the investments we are making to benefit our student success, faculty success and innovative programs. These three areas ensure that our College continues to thrive. This year we are investing in Student Success by enhancing student recruitment, retention rates and graduation…

After a productive academic year and a record-breaking number of graduating seniors in our College and at the University too, the summer begins with a giant exhale. The quieter campus is a chance for us all to reflect and rejuvenate before the new academic year begins in full force. May you enjoy the summer, whether…

Spring term is quickly winding down and we are preparing to graduate a new class of scientists in just a few weeks. It is an exciting time of year, full of milestones, successes, changes and challenges. Before many of you finish your teaching and grading, and head off into different directions—whether traveling to far-off adventures,…

Time is flying by and the new year is already well underway with midterms just around the corner. It hardly seems possible. I have some key updates and news to share with you as we kick off another productive and successful new year. In particular, the Budget & Fundraising section has some interesting nuggets of information so…

Now that fall term has come to a close, I wanted to send you a note of thanks for an outstanding and productive term. Below are just some of the incredible accomplishments of our faculty and students. This holiday season I am thankful for the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and…

We are excited to welcome in a new academic year with new students, new faculty, new staff and new alumni joining our OneScience community. It is exciting and inspiring to read all of the many things you accomplished this past year. It shows in your teaching excellence, in your discoveries and publications, in your funded…

Before we all head off in different directions this summer, I want to share some of our successes from spring term as well as important updates with you. This time of year is full of goodbyes and hellos. We said goodbye to nearly 600 new graduates, the latest group of young scientists going out to…