CAS News

Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Sciences honored 25 of its most successful alumni Sept. 27 during the 2019 CAS Distinguished Alumni & Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade & Development. Ardoth Hassler and Dr. George Thompson were both inducted into the Hall of Fame, while Brent Butcher and Maddy Cunningham were named Rising Stars. There were also 21 Distinguished Alumni recipients.

“This is an exciting evening, when we celebrate the success of some of our most accomplished alumni,” said Glen Krutz, dean of CAS. “We have the opportunity to learn of the rich and fulfilling careers and lives that have stemmed from their Arts and Sciences degrees here at OSU.”

Val Castor, a 1985 Department of Geography alumnus, shares stories from his life as a senior stormtracker for News 9. We also discuss how his CAS education helped prepare him for a successful career, and how the job has changed over the past 25 years.

Bryce Donaghue is pursuing a double major in environmental biology and wildlife ecology and management with the goal of becoming a wildlife filmmaker. His journey began with a life-changing diagnosis.

“I have something called May-Thurner syndrome,” he said. “It basically makes one of my veins in my left leg compressed, so it blocks off the blood flow. After a while, it gets backed up and leads to a huge amount of pain and a giant blood clot in my leg.”

The Department of Psychology and the OSU Center for Pediatric Psychology will host guest speaker and OSU alumnus Dr. Bernard Fuemmeler for the Goldman Colloquium next Friday, Sept. 27. Fuemmeler will deliver his presentation, “Childhood Self-Regulation and Health: An Intersection for Multidisciplinary Collaboration” at 1:30 p.m. in Human Sciences 236.

“Dr. Fuemmeler is a nationally recognized expert in clinical health psychology and population science with over 20 years of experience in cancer prevention and control research,” said Dr. Larry Mullins, psychology professor and director of the Center for Pediatric Psychology. “His research focuses on understanding the biological, behavioral, social and environmental factors that contribute to lifestyle behaviors linked to cancer. We are delighted that he is returning to his alma mater to be a part of the Sol Goldman Colloquia series.”

Numerous College of Arts and Sciences personnel actions were approved during the OSU/A&M Board of Regents meeting Sept. 13 in Stillwater.

NEW APPOINTMENTS: Robin Baker, teaching assistant professor, Art, Graphic Design and Art History; Frances McNeal, teaching assistant professor, English; Sabrina Beckmann, assistant professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Ashley Cole, assistant professor, Psychology.

Andrew Doust, the head of the Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, discusses how people tend to misunderstand plants and overlook their importance. He also highlights some of their most interesting characteristics, and might change the way you view them.

Claire Ringer, of Perry, Oklahoma, has always loved history but since coming to OSU, she has fully embraced her love of history through a variety of research projects. 

“I am a Wentz Research Scholar currently compiling research on women in the Dust Bowl. I got another Wentz grant for next year about Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service here at OSU, or the WAVES Project,” Ringer said. 

The Greenwood School of Music hosted the second annual Tuba Academy at Oklahoma State University last month with an artist recital at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts capping the week. 

Dr. Ryan Robinson, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium, partnered with Buffet Crampon, a well-known French instrument manufacturer, to offer an outstanding summer educational seminar for talented students by bringing in internationally acclaimed artists.

Caitlin Barnes, the College of Arts and Sciences' instructional designer for online courses, discusses online classes, including how to succeed. She also shares tips for Canvas, OSU's new learning management system.