THE DEAN’S CORNER

Welcome to the fifth edition of the CAS Spotlight. The College is flourishing and has much to share with you. In the first edition of the Spotlight, published in spring 2021, I talked about the College’s plan to develop strategic themes. Fast-forward, and four exciting themes are being integrated across all Divisions in CAS: Undergraduate scholarship, inclusive learning, community-based learning, and interdisciplinary learning.

We showcase each theme in the following pages and share stories about students’ research projects, field experiences, and conference travel, along with the involvement of our faculty and staff in mentored research, professional development training, and special CAS events. But first, we spotlight our people - students, alumni, faculty, and staff - because they are the ones who make this College the exceptional place it is.

Jennifer Dugan, Ph.D. Dean of CAS

We think you’ll find this edition exciting - not only for the progress made in recent years and - more importantly - because of the returns our students get on their investments in a UPIKE education. A final word: Despite the pace of innovation in CAS, some things do not change. I wrote in the spring 2021 edition, and I will say it again here: “CAS is committed to the vision of liberal arts and sciences education. We take strength from the College’s rich history, while we look to the future with great excitement.”

Ella Smith-Justice, Ph.D.

As the current semester moves toward a close, I cannot help but reflect on the vibrant academic year that we have enjoyed at UPIKE. It has been so heartening to watch our CAS community come together once more for classes, activities, meetings, and other learning opportunities. There has been a palpable sense of energy in our midst, and I believe that it is because we can be together once more on our campus and engage in learning together. I recently learned the term philomath, which means “a person who loves learning” - without doubt, CAS is comprised of philomaths. It is evident in the ways in which our faculty and instructional staff pursue knowledge in their “home” disciplines and across disciplines and seek out the best practices for supporting and educating UPIKE students. We see the concept of philomathy in our students when they seek out new ways to engage in the world - whether they’re learning new skills to participate in the spring theatrical production, they’re learning how to sing or play an instrument, they’re learning scientific methods and techniques for lab experiments, or they’re conducting research inquiries or producing creative works. Our faculty, staff, and students in the College of Arts & Sciences truly embrace learning and understanding more about our world. As always, I continue to be grateful for and proud of the vibrant community of scholarship that we are building together.