As Missouri S&T's College of Arts, Sciences, and Business enters its fifth year of existence, we are enjoying exciting developments that reflect our commitment to growing and diversifying our academic and research programs, transforming the student learning experience, and elevating the impact of faculty engagement in teaching, scholarship, and outreach. This fall Missouri S&T will again welcome a large cohort of incoming freshman and transfer students with the highest academic credentials among Missouri's public universities.

Our recruiting strategy and reputation draw students from a wide range of backgrounds, providing the perfect setting for students to develop the skill of working well with peers and teammates with widely varying perspectives and experiences. Virtually every employer that recruits from S&T tells us such skills are critical for maintaining a productive and creative workforce, and the college is proud to host many programs that emphasize student collaborations.

Despite budget challenges for public universities in Missouri (and almost everywhere else), the college continues to enhance learning and research by supporting and growing its world-class faculty.

This fall we will welcome new faculty in biology, chemistry, physics, history and political science, English and technical communication, economics, and arts, languages, and philosophy. Among them are two new academic leaders: Dr. Rainer Glaser, professor and chair of chemistry, and Dr. Robin Verble, associate professor of biology and founding director of the Missouri S&T Field Station. We will also host a renowned guest scholar, Dr. Simon Bronner, who will serve as the 2017-18 Maxwell C. Weiner Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Humanities.

This year, history and political science faculty published the following books: Dr. Kathleen Sheppard's, My dear Miss Ransom: Letters between Caroline Ransom Williams and James Henry Breasted , 1898 – 1935; and Dr. Patrick Huber's, A&R Pioneers: Architects of American Roots Music on Record.

Dr. Gary Long, chemistry professor, co-authored a paper in the journal Nature Materials titled “Electron delocalization and charge mobility as a function of reduction in a metal-organic framework.” This paper was a family affair, as its lead author is Dr. Jeffery R. Long, Gary's son and a chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Book cover : A&R Pioneers: Architects of American Roots Music on Record

Patrick Huber's A&R Pioneers is the first full-length account of the men and women who shaped the creation of American roots music.

Likewise, students in the college are taking every advantage to change the world with their research and outreach. Here are only a few:

Owen Smith, a 2017 physics graduate with a minor in Russian, received a J. William Fulbright Scholarship to teach in Russia for the upcoming academic year.
Erin Nischwitz, a senior in chemistry and pre-medicine, mentored by Dr. David Westenberg, presented her research at the University of Missouri System Undergraduate Research Day in Jefferson City.
Bradley Welch, a Ph.D. student in chemistry, supervised by Dr. Richard Dawes, earned a competitive fellowship from the Department of Energy to pursue his research this summer at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago.
Joey Franz, a junior in physics with an emphasis in secondary education, mentored the Rolla High School robotics team, which advanced to the world championship in Houston.
Marisa Tompkins, a senior in multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis in secondary education, was selected to attend the Space Foundation's 2018 Teacher Liaison Program in Colorado Springs.

This summer we are saying goodbye to Dr. Yinfa Ma, Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professor of chemistry, who is retiring from S&T. Dr. Ma also served as associate dean of research and external relations and as director of the Center for Biomedical Research.

He joined S&T in 2000 and quickly established himself as a top-level teacher, mentor, and researcher. While here, he won over a dozen teaching awards, published over 100 journal articles, mentored 20 graduate students, presented 50 invited talks, received over $5 million in research grants, and was named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. The entire S&T community will deeply miss him as a friend and colleague. Dr. Melanie Mormile, professor of biology, has been appointed as interim associate dean of research and external relations for the college.

I'm extremely honored and humbled to be part of the dedicated community of students, scholars, alumni, and other supporters who have advanced the college through their effort and generosity. No words can adequately express my profound appreciation for these wonderful partners.

Sincerely,