CAS News

Kathryn Biehl experienced so many emotions as she walked into the College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 15, 2018. Like her peers, she was proud of her accomplishments, excited to start a new chapter in her life and sad about the end of her undergraduate experience. She was also in the unique position of being terrified of tripping while carrying a banner she described as “a giant sail and the air conditioning was on full blast.”

Biehl was chosen as the CAS Orange Gown Graduate. She led the students into Gallagher-Iba Arena while wearing an orange cap and gown and carrying the ceremonial banner representing the college.

Oklahoma State University is offering two community courses on deaf culture and American Sign Language next month.

“The classes are intended for the public,” said instructor Logan Evans. “There is something in them for everyone: whether you are fluent in ASL, maybe you know some sign, or maybe even no sign at all. Each class will include vocabulary, stories and information about deaf culture.”

The Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra and OSU Opera will present a gala-style performance at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts concert hall on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Co-directors April Golliver-Mohiuddin and Steve Sanders, along with conductor Thomas Dickey and music director Megan Barth Argo, have been working with students to prepare for this event for more than three months.

Linda Young knew she was good at math, but it wasn’t until she joined Oklahoma State University’s Department of Statistics that she found her passion. By the time she completed her 1981 doctorate in statistics at OSU, she had built the foundation for a career in research at the intersection of statistics and the sciences.

For more than 25 years, Young served on the faculty of land-grant universities: OSU, the University of Nebraska and the University of Florida.

Dance has been Leslie J. Miller’s passion from a very young age.

“I got really serious about dance when I was about 7 years old,” she said. Originally from south central Pennsylvania, she began her training at the Hanover School of Ballet and has had opportunities to perform throughout Europe, China and several venues in the U.S.

Before joining the faculty at OSU, Miller lived in Manhattan as the Education Programs and Dance China NY Manager; an adjunct instructor of dance at Nassau Community College; and a dance teacher throughout the Tri-State area.

Madeline McClaran is a political science senior minoring in religion and sociology – but she’s doing much more than that.

McClaran represents both the university and specifically the College of Arts and Sciences as this year’s Oklahoma State University Spirit Rider.

After getting involved with OSU Rodeo early on, she was selected for this honor following last year’s rider, Elise Wade.

Former Oklahoma State University voice professor Julie McCoy is returning to Stillwater for a free guest recital this week. McCoy, a soprano, and pianist Cynthia Cortright will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Seretean Center Concert Hall.

McCoy, a professor of music at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, taught at OSU from 1985-2000. She also founded and conducted the OSU Women’s Choir and served as choir director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Stillwater for three years. In 2000, McCoy was the first recipient of the annual First Lady of OSU Distinguished Music Faculty Award. She and her husband, Jerry, co-founded the Stillwater Chamber Singers in 1985. Jerry McCoy served as director of choral activities at OSU during the same time period.

Zachary Kensinger of Enid, Oklahoma, really pushed himself to get involved on campus from day one. He started with the Arts and Sciences Freshman Forum, which is now called Freshman Student Council, before joining a plethora of other organizations.

“I have actually learned that I do better academically being busy,” Kensinger said. “I think a lot of people actually learn that because if you have a lot of free time, you probably aren't doing anything productive.”

The Greenwood School of Music will present A Forgotten Composer of Terezin: Songs of James Simon, featuring April Golliver-Mohiuddin, mezzo-soprano; Richard Novak, tenor, Texas State University, and Pi-Ju Chiang, piano. The free event be January 18 at 7 p.m. in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.