I am honored to be able to say “hello” and relate how excited I am to be on campus as the new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. It has been a whirlwind first few weeks, but each day has impressed upon me the dedication of students and faculty to the Wright State mission, and reiterated how fortunate I am to be here.
Although I will be rolling out a vision for the college in the near future, I am willing to spill a few secrets here. I am a strong advocate of student experiential learning, whether in a research laboratory, a computer cluster, in private industry (via externships or co-ops), or via shadowing opportunities designed to provide first-hand exposure to potential career opportunities such as those in health care or other fields. As a college, it is my hope that we will continue to work hard to ensure that students have adequate opportunities to enhance their odds of success in whatever career they choose – just as we have done under the previous college leadership.
Speaking of which, I want to take the opportunity to personally thank Kathy Engisch for the amazing job she did as interim dean, and as associate dean prior to that. To be clear, I will continue to work hard to ensure that her student-focused initiatives are implemented and advanced. In her “Dean’s Letter” in the Spring 2016 newsletter, Kathy asked what it would be like if every student at Wright State had the opportunity to engage in some form of undergraduate research. This is a fantastic question. I will do what I can to help guide us to a place where we are prepared to answer that question within COSM.
Beyond student success and experiential opportunities, I am keenly aware of the need to continue to support and grow our research presence regionally, nationally and internationally. The quality of the research conducted in each of the COSM departments is world-class, and the dedication of our faculty and to their scholarship, their teaching and, most importantly, to our students is inspiring. The interplay of hands-on learning in the laboratory, the advanced pedagogy practiced in many of our classrooms, and the support system for students in all stages of their programs is a recipe for success that I am eager to advance however I can.
This issue of the COSM newsletter provides some wonderful examples of the types of activities to which I am referring. You can read about the exceptional work being performed by alumnus Dr. Katlin Bowman, get updated on some changes within the Clinical Laboratory Science (now Medical Laboratory Science) program in the Department of Biological Sciences, and learn about a variety of truly incredible things being done on a daily basis by COSM faculty, staff and students here at Wright State University.
Once again, allow me to reiterate how thrilled I am to be here and how dedicated I am to seeing this college continue to succeed and grow as the engine of discovery at Wright State University. It is my goal to be an advocate for the college and university, and to spread the word of the great things that are happening in COSM. I look forward to meeting you.
All the best,
Douglas W. Leaman, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Science and Mathematics
