Dean's Dispatch Issue 15
August 2025, Issue 15
Dear Alumni and Friends,
The beginning of a new academic year brings renewed hope, energy, and the anticipation of fresh possibilities. Despite national uncertainty and challenges to higher education, including reductions in student financial aid and federal support for research, our mission remains steadfast: to transform lives through the power of education.
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) serves as the intellectual heartbeat of our campus, offering diverse and essential learning experiences鈥攆rom history and music to biology and psychology鈥攖hat shape the minds of students across all disciplines. In CAS, we routinely update our curriculum, programs, and pedagogy to ensure relevance for today鈥檚 students and readiness for tomorrow鈥檚 careers.
We also celebrate alumni and donor Dr. Sandy Talbot, whose career bridges both the arts and sciences. In addition to holding degrees and working in both fields, Dr. Talbot founded a nonprofit dedicated to fostering collaboration between scientists and artists in Alaska鈥攁n inspiring example of interdisciplinary impact
This issue of our newsletter highlights four stories that reflect the enduring value and impact of the arts and sciences. You鈥檒l read about a dynamic partnership between a botanist and a geographer who created a course teaching students to collect and map data on invasive species鈥攁n initiative funded by the USDA Forest Service.
You鈥檒l also meet a psychology major whose experience as a camp counselor with the CAS summer camp reminded him of the power of hands-on learning: 鈥淚t was inspiring to see how exposure to real-world applications of anthropology and science could light a fire of curiosity in a student.
Universities have long been places where students, faculty, staff, and community members come together to question, explore, and imagine鈥攁nd that tradition thrives at 色情网站. Our CAS Community Lecture Series brings vital conversations into the public square. This year鈥檚 theme, The Art and Science of Our World, kicks off with a presentation by Bill Nye. Come hear from the Science Guy himself about why science is important, exhilarating, and fun. We鈥檙e also proud to announce a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts鈥� Big Read program. Read on to learn more about the Big Read and the artists, writers, and scientists who will be part of this exciting lecture series.
Finally, thank you for your continued support of 色情网站 and CAS. Whether you鈥檝e shared your experiences, participated in or attended events, encouraged others to attend, or contributed financially to our students and programs鈥攚e appreciate you. We鈥檇 love to hear from you: please consider dropping us a line (just reply to this email) to let us know how the arts and sciences prepared you for a successful career and life.
Best,
Dr. Jenny McNulty, Dean
We are grateful to be guests on the homeland of the Dena'ina Athabascan people.
Erdenetsogt Enkhtaivan
Faculty Spotlight:
Research Scientist Justin Fulkerson and Professor Dorn Van Dommelen
鈥淲hile students learned rigorous scientific methods for identifying invasive species and collecting geospatial data, they also engaged with the creative process of designing intuitive, functional digital data forms and presenting their findings through maps and reports.鈥�
Geography professor Dorn Van Dommelen and research scientist Justin Fulkerson sat
down with us to discuss their classroom collaboration and the unique opportunities
that it presented to students.
Philanthropy:
Dr. Sandy Talbot
Dr. Sandy Talbot exemplifies the relationship between the arts and sciences. One week
she might be preparing for a gallery opening to showcase her art, and the next she
might be collaborating with a team of scientists to prepare a manuscript for publication
on topics ranging from botany to genomics.
Dr. Talbot took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about the connections
between the arts and the sciences.
The CAS Community Lecture Series is set to kick off its third year. The series begins on August 21 at the Atwood Concert Hall with a conversation featuring Bill Nye, the 19-time Emmy Award winning host and creator of Bill Nye the Science Guy. We also highlight our Big Reads initiative and thank our partners and sponsors who鈥檝e helped make the Community Lecture Series happen.
