CAS CONNECT 2022

PHOTO GARY LAWSON FROM THE DEAN’S OFFICE OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SC I ENCES 1 As some of you may know, I have recently been appointed as the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, so I thought it might be appropriate to give you a little bit of background on myself. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in the U.K. I came to Oklahoma State University in 2014 as the inaugural dean of the Honors College, having previously been both the Honors Dean and, prior to that, the chair of the biology department at West Virginia University. My background is in botany and my home department here at OSU is Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution. I have spent most of my career, since obtaining my Ph.D., at land-grant institutions in colleges of arts and sciences. So being asked to lead the college here at OSU, as the search is conducted for a permanent dean, is both an honor and an exciting opportunity. This is an exciting time here at OSU as the administration of President Kayse Shrum develops new strategic initiatives. We have the opportunity to review, reflect and act on what it means to be a college of arts and sciences in a great land-grant institution in the 21st century. It is, I think, not an understatement to say that arts and sciences is the heart of the institution; students in every discipline take courses in arts and sciences designed ultimately to develop them into well-educated, critically thinking, civically engaged citizens. However, the most important aspect of an arts and sciences education is summed up in this quote from our alumnus, Philip Erdoes, “They teach you how to learn not teach you how to think.” Since I am new to this office, I have been in the office less than a week as I write this, I find it difficult to choose any individual in our department to highlight in this letter. There is so much to celebrate. I would, however, like to bring to your attention six remarkable women who were selected as part of this year’s class of outstanding seniors. These women are: Shamara Arias, Tulsa – economics and Spanish; Ashlea Cole, Yukon, Oklahoma – communications sciences and disorders; Abigail Ferrell, Edmond, Oklahoma – psychology, philosophy and political science; Leslie Garza, Muskogee, Oklahoma – psychology; Elizabeth Toles, Stilwell, Kansas – music education and music performance; LeighWelch, Mannford, Oklahoma – political science and multidisciplinary studies. They exemplify the qualities that we hope all our graduates strive to possess as they are academically talented and they care passionately about others and the world. I look forward to following their successes as they move on to the next chapters of their lives. I want to thank you for your support to the College of Arts and Sciences, its students, faculty and staff. Over the next year, this support will help the college as it develops into the model of 21st century arts and sciences education at a great land- grant institution. GOPOKES Sincerely, Keith Garbutt, Ph.D. InterimDean, College of Arts and Sciences