3 minute read
From the Dean
Man on a Mission
My adult life has revolved around science. As a youngster, I was fascinated with insects—whatever I could find in my backyard—with dinosaurs, and by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau’s work airing on television. When I was young, I imagined I would be a marine biologist rather than a chemistry professorturned-dean for the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences. But I’m so happy things turned out just the way they did.
I am excited to be where I am to witness the excellence and growth we are seeing in CBAS. The college enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduate students and 350-plus graduate students who are educated and supported by 400 faculty and staff. Students can choose from 11 departments that house dozens of programs and scores of cutting-edge research opportunities.
Enrollment is strong for our college, and I believe this is due in large part to our burgeoning research success and our attractive programs that prepare students for stable, lucrative, 21st century jobs. CBAS attracts a wide range of students from different backgrounds and with different kinds of preparation. We have a mission to serve every student who comes here by helping them reach their potential, and we do that very well.
OUR ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMS . . . PREPARE STUDENTS FOR STABLE, LUCRATIVE, 21ST CENTURY JOBS.
Our faculty use innovative teaching methods in their classrooms to involve students in learning. Over the past few years, we have invested heavily in a new generation of bright, energetic faculty who incorporate active learning and numerous examples of experiential learning to prepare our students. Experiential learning in our college includes research opportunities, laboratory courses in the sciences, internships at companies, and opportunities to work on the development of real-world computing tools.
The result? We supply the local workforce with well-prepared graduates, and we expose them to scholarship (learning at a high level), creative activity, and research.
The state has invested generously in our facilities through the years. We opened a new Concrete and Construction Management building in 2022. We have broken ground on the new Applied Engineering Building, and we have secured important commitments of private donations, both from individuals and from industry, to support the project. Finally, we are looking forward to the renovation of MTSU’s most iconic and historic building, Kirksey Old Main.
We are currently developing a new five-year strategic plan for the college that will be unveiled this fall. Under this plan we will continue to work to welcome all students, to instill academic excellence, and to help them reach their goals.As mentioned above, we are rapidly expanding our research productivity. MTSU’s designation in 2022 as a Carnegie R2 (high research activity) institution was a significant external recognition of that growth. While research funding growth remains an objective, the real “gold” is the generation of new knowledge and the impact research has on our students’ learning. We plan to use our success in research funding to help bolster our graduate programs.
When you read this latest edition of Innovations, I think you will see the evidence of the strengths I have mentioned above and will understand why I am so excited to be in the position I’m in.
Sincerely,
