In a message to the college community after his State of the College Address, Dean Goldbart shares the college's Strategic Framework and some related developments. To view the State of the College address, click here.
It was a delight to start the new academic year with so many of you, either in attendance or online, for our State of the College address. The day offered an opportunity to highlight shared and individual accomplishments by all of you; to engage with your thoughtful questions; and to introduce our new guiding Strategic Framework, which is now available on our website.
I invite you to join me in dedicating new energy to our framework's four areas for action. Current and long-term plans in each area are explained on the website. Below are timely updates related to each of the four themes.
I. Advancing discovery through our human capital
We are proud to have hired 20 new tenure-stream faculty in departments across the college. Please make a point to welcome these and dozens of other new faces amid the staff and faculty of practice and instruction this fall. I am grateful to our newcomers and to you all for your contributions to this college's vital work.
II. Equipping our students for lifelong success and fulfillment
As we aim to improve our understanding of our students' needs, I invite you to join me in a CNS "Big Read" experience. A new book, The Years that Matter Most, was just released and features reporting from our campus with faculty members David Laude of the Department of Chemistry and Uri Treisman from our Department of Mathematics and the Charles A. Dana Center.
For faculty specifically, I ask that you take time to utilize the many resources offered in TIDES, including our upcoming event for classroom observations and networking: Registration closes Thursday for our Sept. 25 Teaching Discovery Day.
III. Breaking boundaries with our research
As we engage in strategies that help move us beyond traditional disciplinary silos, we also learn to communicate with those whose backgrounds differ from our own. Thus, I am thrilled to announce our Nov. 13 Cross-Cutting Conversation will be a special event with the Moody College of Communications about science communication, featuring New York Times science reporter Kenneth Chang. More details will be coming soon.
Later this fall, the College will announce a remarkable new opportunity to break boundaries in our research and education on the diversity of life and organisms in their natural environments, with support from the new Stengl-Wyer Endowment. Stay tuned for more.
IV. Anchoring our education and research efforts to the public we serve
Finally, as we think about our vital work in promoting a vibrant Texas and beyond, let us also extend a sense of welcome to members of this diverse community with whom we interact each day. Our college Diversity & Inclusion Committee has compiled this list of month-by-month ideas for action, filled to the brim with resources, readings and tips to make your own.
I wish you every success this fall semester, and I look forward to working alongside you as you continue to create powerful, lasting impact in Natural Sciences and in the world.
