News from A to z Art Head Sallie McCorkle, M.F.A. Beginnings Art was part of the school of domestic science and arts until the 1913–1914 school catalog showed a new department called drawing and artwork. In 1917, the art department named its first head, who was also the first female department head in science and literature. News The department recently opened the Doel Reed Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, N.M. The center will provide an artist and scholar residency program, a student internship program and a competitive faculty residency program. Four new faculty members, who bring experience from such universities as Cambridge and Stanford, joined the department in 2007. The department offers more than six scholarships that range from $450 to $1,500. In 2007, the department awarded more than $19,000 in scholarships and several apprenticeships. Website: http://art.okstate.edu Botany Head William Henley, Ph.D. Beginnings OSU offered botany as early as 1899. During its history, the department has combined with such areas as entomology, plant pathology and microbiology. In 1990, botany separated from microbiology to become a stand-alone department for the first time. News The department recently hired two faculty members and expects to replace a retiring member in 2009 as it moves toward a five-year target of 12 permanent faculty members. The department’s faculty research spans from plant ecology, evolution, taxonomy, physiology and developmental genetics to cellular biology. Its recent funding sources include the National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, The Sam Roberts Noble Foundation, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. The department advises 250 biological science students each school year. Website: http://botany.okstate.edu College of Arts and Sciences A Rich Tradition The College of Arts and Sciences is deeply rooted in OSU’s history as one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities. Three of the first five teachers at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College were scientists, according to OSU’s Centennial Histories Series. One book in the series details the evolution of arts and sciences from its beginnings as the School of Science and Literature to its position as OSU’s largest academic unit. The following pages recap the history of the college’s 24 departments, summarize the latest news and introduce the department heads, more than half of whom joined OSU in the past three years. Leading the college today is Peter M.A. Sherwood, dean and Regents professor. The college boasts more than 400 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 170 temporary faculty and 150 staff members. More than 55 percent of OSU students pass through its doors. Chemistry Chair Neil Purdie, Ph.D. Beginnings The department organized in 1918 and formalized its structure in 1923. News The department has made advances in the creation of new materials, the synthesis of biological agents to treat a variety of disorders and the development of catalysts to aid in the production of useful compounds. Funding has come from several sources including the National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, The Coca-Cola Company, ConocoPhillips Company, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company Inc., American Chemical Society and International Flavors & Fragrances. The department is in the process of filling a faculty position and hopes to fill up to three more positions. One faculty member received the 2007 Sigma XI Award in Research; another received the 2007 Oklahoma Chemist Award, the 10th time OSU chemists have won the award. Nine faculty members have won the Oklahoma Scientist of the Year Award, and four have won the Oklahoma Medal of Excellence, the highest teaching honor given to an instructor at the college or university level. No other department in the state has been so honored. On a weekly basis, more than 1,500 to 2,000 OSU students use the chemistry labs. Website: www.chem.okstate.edu Communication Sciences & Disorders Head Randolph E. Deal, Ph.D. Beginnings Since 1910, the department fell under many domains including English and journalism. In 1970, the speech department began to change direction as a professional discipline, and speech communication theory and consultancy replaced the emphasis on rhetoric and dramatic expression. In 2002, the department’s official name became communication sciences and disorders. News The OSU-Tulsa Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic opened in 2007. The clinic specializes in pediatric speech-language pathology with a full range of services that include diagnostic evaluations, speech-language therapy, pre-school screenings, consultations and telepractice. Affiliated with the clinic, a new program at OSU-Tulsa allows undergraduate and graduate students to get hands-on experience while earning degrees with a focus on speech-language pathology. Website: http://cdis.okstate.edu College of Arts and Sciences 22
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