Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Head Robert V. Miller, Ph.D. Regents professor Beginnings The department’s roots are in bacteriology and veterinary medicine, which split in 1949 leaving bacteriology under the arts and science’ umbrella. In 1962, the department adapted its current name to be in accordance with the name change of the national professional society. In 1992, the department changed its name to microbiology and molecular genetics. News Faculty members have been invited lecturers in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. The department is involved in the American Society for Microbiology, the oldest and largest single life science organization in the world. The department head serves on its board, and the society recently presented one of its three international awards to an OSU microbiology student. The department has undergraduate research scholars and maintains 13 laboratories headed by faculty with a goal that each microbiology major gain research lab experience. In 2007, two new faculty members joined the department. Three research priorities focus on microorganisms and the interaction with the environment, microorganisms and the adaptations to hosts and the analysis of genetic research using computer technology, which is a new collaborative project with the statistics department and the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The department’s funding sources include the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Website: http://microbiology.okstate.edu/ Music Head Julie Combs, D.Mus. Arts Beginnings OSU appointed its first full-time music director in 1908. The department existed in a category of its own outside the science and literature course of study until 1922. News The department recently placed students in the graduate programs at The Juilliard School. OSU graduates are employed as performers and university and public school teachers as well as in the music industry and musical theatre. The OSU Wind Ensemble recently was the featured wind band at the 37th Japan Band Clinic in Hamamatsu City, Japan. The OSU Chamber Singers and Concert Chorale toured Italy this spring and will perform at Carnegie Hall in February 2009. Faculty members are internationally known performers and scholars with recent engagements in Romania, Poland, British Columbia, Belgium and Italy. The department has added several named scholarships and planned estate gifts. Website: http://music.okstate.edu Philosophy Head Doren Recker, Ph.D. Beginnings OSU introduced classes in philosophy in the school of education in 1938. Philosophy became a full member of arts and sciences in 1967. News The department is working closely with the teaching hospital at the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa to introduce ethical training across their curricula. The department also is working on a grant to facilitate ethical training for science graduate students and faculty seeking government grants. Website: http://philosophy.okstate.edu Physics Head James P. Wicksted, Ph.D. Beginnings Physics was a part of the electrical engineering department in 1896 and became an independent department in science and literature in 1915. News The department’s research interests include both experimental and theoretical programs in biophysics, condensed matter, complex fluids, surface sciences, radiation dosimetry, nanomaterials, optics and photonics as well as theoretical and experimental high-energy physics and astronomy. Six of the department’s 25 faculty members are American Physical Society Fellows and five are OSU Regents professors. Three have received Regents Distinguished Research Awards. The department has collaboration throughout the world resulting in many distinguished scholars visiting OSU, including two Nobel Laureates who recently visited. Website: http://physics.okstate.edu Political Science Head James Scott, Ph.D. Beginnings Political science achieved department status by separating from the history department in 1944. News The department is expanding on both the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses due to increasing student enrollment and recruitment of new faculty members (five since 2004). The department also has increased both the number and amount of student scholarships and plans to add more over the next 10 years. The department is restructuring its academic programs to better serve students and is aggressively expanding experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. In 2008, the department will add a state-of-the-art mobile computer laboratory to support students and classes. Faculty research productivity continues to increase, as does its success in acquiring external funding from such prestigious agencies as the National Science Foundation. Website: http://polsci.okstate.edu Psychology Head Maureen A. Sullivan, Ph.D. Beginnings The school of education created a department of psychology in 1938. The department became a full member of arts and sciences in 1982. News Psychology recently hired several new faculty members and will hire faculty next year, making the unit fully staffed with 22 members. The department plans to increase scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate research and to continue its emphasis on diversity through the Psychology Diversified Students Program and the American Indians Into Psychology Program. Faculty and student research continues to grow with funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service and the American Psychological Association as well as several state agencies. In 2006 the department helped establish the Oklahoma Network for the Teaching of Psychology and co-hosted the first annual conference. Website: http://psychology.okstate.edu continues next page cas.okstate.edu Oklahoma State University 25
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