News from the College of Arts and Science and the Department of Philosophy
News from the College of Arts and Science and the Department of Philosophy
News from the College of Arts and Science and the
Department of Philosophy
Summer 2021
In this Issue
• Message from the Deans
• Message from Chair Weirich
• Commencement ceremonies celebrate student achievement
• A&S 4 Success program prepares students for career readiness
• NextGen Precision Health Spotlight: Carolyn Anderson
• Marching Mizzou headed to NYC
• Chancellor's Arts Showcase
• Alumni spotlight
• A&S mergers, additions build academic strength, foster new opportunities
• Awards and recognition
• In Memoriam: Donald Sievert
It is hard to believe this is my last message to you, our A&S alumni. As excited as I am to be serving as the president of New College of Florida, I am also sad to leave Mizzou, which was my academic home for more than thirty years. But I take with me decades of wonderful memories, and I am especially grateful to all of you for your support of Mizzou and A&S and your friendship. Please know that I am cheering you all on from sunny Florida.
M-I-Z,
Pat Okker
Departing Dean
College of Arts and Science
I’m honored and excited as I begin my role as interim dean for the College of Arts and Science. Mizzou, and specifically the College of Arts and Science, has been my professional home for nearly 20 years. I started here as an assistant professor in political science in 2002, served as department chair in 2013, and for the past five years as the college’s Senior Associate Dean.
A&S is an incredibly special college—we study everything from the earliest forms of life on Earth, to what it means to be human, to the fundamentals of the universe. We are truly filled with diverse people and disciplines. I’m dedicated to leading A&S to excel in helping students design their own futures, building an inclusive environment for excellence, supporting research and creative work, and serving Missouri and beyond.
You, our alumni family, are important contributors to our success. I’m grateful for your support and look forward to connecting with you.
Cheers!
Cooper Drury
Interim Dean
College of Arts and Science
Dear alumni,
Despite the pandemic, the Philosophy Department has much to celebrate. In fall 2020, the department proudly launched a certificate program in Ethical Theory and Practice. Undergraduate students can use it to establish their credentials in ethics.
The list of kudos to faculty and students is long. Dr. Alex Radulescu received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor in August 2020, and Dr. Troy Hall received the administration’s approval to assume, starting fall 2021, a renewable position as an instructor. In 2019, Dr. Andrew Melnyk won the blue chalk award for advising, Dr. Troy Hall won the purple chalk award for teaching, and Dr. Peter Vallentyne won a Faculty/Alumni award for all-around excellence as a faculty member. Drs. Andre Ariew, Marta Heckel, Claire Horisk, M. Folescu and Alex Radulescu won research awards since the last newsletter in 2019.
In 2020, graduate student Al Willsey was awarded the John Kultgen Dissertation Fellowship. He was the first recipient of this fellowship, which is funded by the John Kultgen Endowment, and he completed his Ph.D. in spring 2021. Also, in 2020, philosophy major Evan Frook won admission into the outstanding graduate program at the University of Colorado.
The department website has more extensive information about department awards to students and accomplishments of the faculty and students. Please see: https://philosophy.missouri.edu
On behalf of the department, I thank the many supporters of its educational, research, and service missions. Your support helps the department maintain its strength.
Paul Weirich
Chair
A&S Commencement Ceremonies Celebrate
Student Achievement
After a year filled with challenges, we were delighted to celebrate the achievements of our A&S graduates during in-person commencement ceremonies this spring. Degrees were conferred on May and August 2021 graduates on May 14, 2021. Additionally, our 2020 graduates were invited to an in-person commencement celebration this past April. All of the ceremonies were live streamed for family and friends who could not attend.
During the spring semester we found inventive ways to capitalize on the Zoom trend. One way we did this was through creating alumni panels. Recent graduates of several departments met with current students to share their career paths, successes, and post-graduation advice. They also gave insight into the many career choices available and answered students’ questions. Take some time to watch these alumni panel discussions from the Departments of Biological Sciences and Communication. If you are interested in connecting with our current students, email us at umcasadvancementgroup@missouri.edu.
Watch the Biological Sciences video here: https://youtu.be/7HAIS_oC4L0.
Watch the Communication video here: https://youtu.be/fTmLYJQncz0.
NextGen Precision Health Spotlight: Carolyn Anderson
The University of Missouri featured our own Carolyn Anderson, the Simón-Ellebracht Professor in Medicinal Chemistry and professor of radiology, in a NextGen spotlight. Watch this brief video about how her work as the director of the Molecular Imaging and
Theranostics Center (MITC) is paving the way to discover new cancer cures: https://youtu.be/BHaaqPnRgbw.
Marching Mizzou Headed to
2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
We are exceptionally proud to share that Marching Mizzou is headed to the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! This is the band's first appearance in the legendary parade that has traditionally marked the beginning of the holiday season.
More than 300 members of Marching Mizzou will spend the next 18 months preparing for their parade debut, and you can help them get ready. This is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it will be costly. Necessary expenses like uniforms, instruments, travel, and food add up quickly. Beyond core funding from the University, thoughtful gifts from alumni like you are critical to reducing the financial commitment for each student, so that all may participate.
We are over halfway to our goal of $70,000. Will you help us march across that goal line?
Please consider making your gift today to be part of this moment in Marching Mizzou history, and to give current band members a chance to make memories that will be part of their stories for years to come: https://mizzougivedirect.missouri.edu/fund.aspx?item_id=770.
Chancellor's Arts Showcase
The Department of Theatre, School of Music, and School of Visual Studies collaborated to host the 2021 Chancellor's Arts Showcase Drive-In with support from MU's Artist in Residence program. Viewers were able to enjoy the performances safely from their vehicles while watching projected performances on the Sinquefield Music Center. For a limited time, you can watch the full stream here: https://fal.cn/3ehar. Get a quick view of the showcase here: https://fb.watch/4B25bgcw4U/.
Please join us in congratulating our 2021 A&S Distinguished Alumni Award winners. These winners were nominated by fellow alumni, faculty, staff, and A&S supporters. The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the most prestigious alumni awards given by the college. We will start accepting 2022 nominations this fall.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Azeema Akram, BA '08
Jay Nouss, BA '76
Jim Simón, BS '78, Ph.D. '80
Recent Alumni Award
Distinguished Service Award
Mary Fama, BFA '12
Bill Moyes, BS '75, M.Ed. '79, Ed.S. '83, Ed.D. '92
Religious Studies Alum Wins Pulitzer Prize
Photo by Shane Epping
Religious Studies alum Marcia Chatelain recently won a Pulitzer Prize in the historical category for her book, "Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America."
In her critically acclaimed book, Chatelain explores the role that the fast-food industry plays in African-American communities, and reveals the relationship between the fight for civils rights and the fate of Black businesses.
Chatelain's work was also named a Times Critics Top book of 2020. She is a professor of history and African American studies at Georgetown University.
School of Music Alum Scores Popular Documentary
Grant Fonda, a School of Music alum, is making headlines for his compositions in Hollywood films such as "Finding Dory" and "Minions," as well as documentaries, including his most recent work for "Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton." Learn more about the composer behind the song "A Million In-N-Out Burgers," a composition that's been streamed more than 3.5 million times.
MIZ Talks
Remarkable Tigers, including several A&S alumni, are sharing their experiences and knowledge with a worldwide audience during MIZ Talks, webinars produced by the Mizzou Alumni Association and other campus partners.
Check out these fascinating MIZ Talks featuring A&S alumni:
J'Den Cox, BA '17, Wrestler and Olympic Bronze medalist
https://alumlc.org/missouri/5684
Tom Hart, BA '98, Play-by-play commentator for SEC Network
https://alumlc.org/missouri/5682
Mark Wilkins, BA '90, Private Wealth Advisor and Mountain Climber
https://alumlc.org/missouri/6984
Daniel Willis, BA '08, Hollywood Writer/Director
https://alumlc.org/missouri/4328
This past spring, the Department of Political Science merged with the Truman School of Public Affairs to create the new Harry S Truman School of Government and Public Affairs. Dr. Lael Keiser is serving as the director. On top of the existing MPA and Ph.D. degrees in Public Affairs and the existing B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science, the addition of staff experienced in undergraduate programs will help usher in the planned B.A. in Public Administration and Public Policy.
The Departments of Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Religious Studies also merged, creating the new Department of Classics, Archaeology, and Religion, with Dr. Dennis Trout serving as the chair. In addition to continuing existing B.A. degrees in Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Religious Studies, as well as the M.A. and Ph.D. in Ancient Mediterranean Studies, combining programs means the department can build on its foundation in the critical study of ancient, medieval, and modern cultures.
A&S Welcomes Departments of Architectural Studies, Textile and Apparel Management
The Departments of Architectural Studies and Textile and Apparel Management made the College of Arts and Science their new home on July 1, 2021. This transition took place because of the University of Missouri's decision to restructure the College of Human
Environmental Sciences.
Congratulations to Dr. Peter Markie who retired from the philosophy department in 2019. He was a professor in the department for 43 years and is now a Chancellor’s Professor and a Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Donald Sievert passed away on August 24, 2020. He was a member of the philosophy department for 47 years and will be missed by his colleagues and students.
Friends and colleagues of Dean Pat Okker are proud to help establish an endowed fund in her honor, paying tribute to her dedication to liberal arts in public higher education. In her 31 years with the University in both faculty and administrative roles, Dean Okker advanced the cause of a broad-based liberal arts education. A first-generation college student herself, she expanded access and provided support to grow graduation and retention rates. As a faculty member, she was recognized with the William T. Kemper Fellowship, among the highest honors for teaching at MU.
If you would like to contribute to the newly endowed scholarship for A&S students in
honor of her legacy and in celebration of her future, follow this link:
https://mizzougivedirect.missouri.edu/support-Dean-Okker.
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Department of Philosophy
College of Arts and Science
Arts and Science
317 Lowry Mall
Columbia, MO 65211
