Dear LAS alumni and friends,
You could say that in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, it is our job to connect students, faculty and the community to the world. And we take that job seriously. We provide the majority of the diversity curriculum on campus, lead research across the globe to address world challenges and teach students how to speak foreign languages, understand diverse cultures, lead and succeed in a multicultural world.
Naturally, we have a tremendous representation of world experts in the college - scientists, communicators, artists and distinguished scholars whose expertise, accomplishments and discoveries have allowed them to emerge as global leaders in their field. Our faculty are sought out all over the world to collaborate on finding the Higgs boson, establishing new mental health diagnoses or developing better theoretical models in quantum chemistry. Our students engage in experiential learning opportunities with industrial and global leaders like NASA and Google. Our alumni invent life-saving medicine such as Lipitor, become breakthrough world leaders or bureau chiefs for the Associated Press.
"We have a tremendous representation of world experts in the college - scientists, communicators, artists and distinguished scholars whose expertise, accomplishments and discoveries have allowed them to emerge as global leaders in their field."
In this issue you can read the stories behind a few LAS world experts and leaders – from Bill Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences and recipient of a Nobel prize, to alumna Nora Tobin, who is developing best practices to help nations throughout the world feed their own people and gain access to clean water.
Over the past year, I’ve worked with my leadership team on one of the most rewarding opportunities of my career – developing a transformative gift to the college into programs that will support our students as they embark on their leadership journeys. Last year’s $159 million gift created the Transforming LAS endowment fund, and as you will learn in this issue, we have quickly created programs that help more students pay tuition, recognize and encourage faculty and research excellence, promote entrepreneurship and career planning, and jumpstart innovation.
I hope you enjoy these stories, and I encourage you to share your favorites.
Beate Schmittmann
Dean
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences