Dean's Dispatch Issue 10

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July 2024, Issue 10

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Each issue of the 2024 Dean鈥檚 Dispatch is each focused on an academic area of the College. This issue is dedicated to the sciences: biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics/astronomy. Our science faculty conduct high quality research ranging from investigating climate change in the arctic to carbon sequestration to deepwater mapping in unexplored regions off 熊猫在线视频, with funding through state and federal grants.  熊猫在线视频-born Professor Pat Tomco is one of these scientists with multiple active grants funded from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture. His research area is environmental chemistry, but the problems he likes to tackle are interdisciplinary in nature. Like Dr. Tomco, many CAS students enjoy combining different areas of study and the college is striving to better engage students with new advising pathways in our Interdisciplinary degree, such as the Interdisciplinary BA in Civics and Leadership Advising Pathway. Read further to learn more about other new programs, such as the Associate of Science degree and the Certificate in Fermentation Science.

Pat Tomco at Conference
CoS Photo

We have amazing students at UAA and each spring we celebrate their accomplishments by selecting one from each department for recognition and to receive a $1000 excellence scholarship. We are grateful for the many philanthropic contributors to Department and College Excellence funds that allow us to provide these scholarships to these exceptional students. We chose Biology recipient Maggie Gibson to highlight here as, like many of our students, she combines coursework with external research experiences, a full time job, and volunteer experiences. Read on to learn more about Maggie鈥檚 research with the USGS, her dental experience, and how the two are related. We also highlight alumni, Nick Armstrong-Crews, who was a computer science, mathematics and natural sciences major at UAA. Nick too had research experiences, which he says prepared him for graduate school, and internships which gave him good work experience. Nick is one of the lead designers of self-driving cars for a company you might have heard of, Google. Nick spoke to us from his home in California; we didn鈥檛 suggest a trip up the Alcan in one of his cars. Nick, like many of our alumni, are using the foundational knowledge obtained at UAA to do great things.

Lastly, I am excited to announce the 24-25 CAS Community Lecture Series. We designed this series to provide 熊猫在线视频ns with events and speakers that challenge, teach, and promote dialogue.  We are bringing in nationally known speakers such as Liz Cheney and Melissa Block as well as showcasing 熊猫在线视频ns such as Seth Kantner and Mr. Whitekeys. Several events will also include CAS faculty. The CAS Community Lecture Series brings the world to 熊猫在线视频 and 熊猫在线视频 to the world. Please join us as we celebrate knowledge, inspire curiosity, and strengthen the bonds that make our community unique. Save the date for these lectures, and stay tuned for the announcement of ticket sales coming soon. 

Community lecture Series

Best, 

Dr. Jenny McNulty, Dean


Maggie Gibson photo

Student Spotlight: 
Maggie Gibson
Biological Sciences

 
鈥淢y first recommendation would be to investigate the undergraduate research and scholarship (URS) courses available through UAA....UAA has a vast number of opportunities available for students. I have made it this far in my academic career while working full-time because of the number of resources available. You do not know what opportunities are available unless you contact people." Maggie Gibson reflects on her time at UAA and with CAS. 
 

Pat Tomco photo

Faculty Spotlight: 
Patrick Tomco
Chemistry

 
鈥淟ike my research interests, the students I work with come from a variety of areas, including biological sciences, anthropology, geological sciences, engineering, and of course, my home department of chemistry....When I am working with a student, I always make sure to get a feel for what their interests are, and what goals they have for the research experience." Professor Patrick Tomco discusses his research, his work with students, and in the ASET Lab.
 

Biology Student

CAS Spotlight: 
New Programs in Mathematics & Natural Sciences
 

It is an exciting time for the College of Arts and Sciences, especially for curriculum. As career fields and industry changes, the curriculum and education provided should similarly adapt and change. We have made efforts to refresh and invigorate the degrees, courses, and certificates we offer to our students, which includes a Certificate in Fermentation Science and an Associate of Science degree.

Nick Armstrong-Crews photo

Alumni Spotlight: 
Nick Armstrong-Crews
 

鈥淢y education from UAA was the foundation for everything that I did after graduation....I believe that the education that I received from UAA was, and is, extremely valuable. I would put it up against any larger name school undergraduate program, and I would still go with UAA. At UAA, I received personal attention from the faculty. This is something that I don鈥檛 feel like I could have gotten at a larger institution." 


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