OU Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Community,

As the fall semester progresses, I hope this message finds you well. I am pleased to share some extraordinary developments within our college. The opportunities they present for our students and the broader community are truly exceptional and they mark an exciting and transformative phase for our college:

Historic Gift and Our Mission: The remarkable gift that our Dodge Family College is named in recognition of is genuinely transforming lives. This endowment aligns seamlessly with our college’s mission, which is to assist our students in mastering existing knowledge, creating new knowledge and understanding through research and scholarship, and utilizing that new knowledge to enhance both our communities and the human condition.

Support for Pathways to Excellence: The gift provides substantial support for our college’s Pathways to Excellence Strategic Plan. This strategic plan lies at the very core of our college’s mission and perfectly complements OU’s overarching “Lead On” Strategic Plan. I’m pleased to report that we’ve made substantial headway in achieving the goals of our college’s strategic plan. We’re currently finalizing our system for measuring performance and outcomes, and our department chairs and directors are diligently aligning the four core pillars of the Pathways plan with their respective unit-level plans.

New Initiatives: We’ve achieved several exciting milestones, including the establishment of the School of Biological Sciences, a significant revamp of our undergraduate programs in that field, and one that will foster research synergies among the faculty, post-docs, and graduate students in the School. Working closely with OU Online and with the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, we have also introduced several new online master’s programs that have attracted more than 500 new master’s students to our college.

Student Success and Advising Center: We are delighted to unveil renderings of our forthcoming Student Success and Advising Center, slated to open early next year. This state-of-the-art facility will be devoted to nurturing our students’ academic, professional and personal growth by providing tailored support through advising and access to transformative learning opportunities and career services.

School of Population Health and Human Performance (PHHP): We’re also in the planning stages of creating a new undergraduate school of health, uniting the Department of Health and Exercise Science, and our programs in Public Health and Population and Community Health under one umbrella to better serve the needs of our growing number of majors interested in the expanded landscape of health-related career opportunities.

ROTC Military Programs: In a significant move, OU’s ROTC military programs joined our college this summer. These renowned programs – Army, Air Force and Navy branches – prepare our cadets for a life of national service. I was also honored to attend the start of the Run to Dallas, the decades-old tradition of running the game ball from each school to the Cotton Bowl.

These developments mark an exciting and transformative phase for our college. The opportunities they present for our students and the broader community are truly exceptional. We are grateful for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing further updates with you.

Sincerely,

David Wrobel

Dean, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences

11 OUTSTANDING OU ALUMNI AND SUPPORTERS RECOGNIZED WITH REGENTS’ ALUMNI AWARD

The University of Oklahoma recognized the 2023 Regents’ Alumni Award recipients during a ceremony on Sept. 29 on the OU Norman campus. The Regents’ Alumni Award honorees were chosen for their extraordinary dedication and service to the university. Bruce Wilkinson was one of the 11 recipients of this award in recognition of his exemplary service. Wilkinson earned his bachelor of arts degree through the Arts and Sciences Planned Program in 1966 and a juris doctorate in 1969 from the OU College of Law. He went on to earn a master of laws degree from the University of London in 1970. During his career, Wilkinson has served as CEO of several New York Stock Exchange companies and has worked with numerous international trade companies. READ MORE

OU NAMED OKLAHOMA’S TOP UNIVERSITY BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

The University of Oklahoma has once again claimed the top position as the state’s premier university, as revealed by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges list. This year, OU ascended to the 124th position overall, securing the 64th spot among public universities nationwide. Notably, within the region, OU ranks among the top 5 public universities. A standout achievement in this year’s U.S. News rankings is OU’s top value ranking, which has risen by 11 places since last year. This rise underscores OU’s commitment to delivering an outstanding and accessible education. READ MORE

SAVE THE DATE - WINTER CONVOCATION

The college will honor the academic achievements of our students at the upcoming Winter Convocation, scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Lloyd Noble Center. We encourage you to invite your families, friends and community members to join in this momentous celebration. Additionally, please remind students to check their email for event details from the college.

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NEWS

Carol L. Silva, the Edith Kinney Gaylord Presidential Professor of Political Science in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences and senior associate vice president for research and partnerships at the University of Oklahoma, has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration for the year 2023.

The National Academy of Public Administration, established in 1967, is a Congressionally chartered, non-partisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It is dedicated to responding to requests for assistance from Congress, federal agencies, and state, local and international government entities. The academy provides expertise in public administration through the contributions of its elected Fellows and research staff. Silva’s selection places her among the distinguished group of 60 leaders in the field of public administration who have been chosen for the 2023 Class of Academy Fellows. The induction ceremony for these Fellows will take place in November 2023 in Washington, D.C. READ MORE

Congratulations to Daniel Becker, assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences, who has been elected to the Lancet Commission on the Prevention of Viral Spillover. The team is composed of 28 dedicated commissioners. The commissioners, with representation across gender and geography, have expertise in epidemiology, virology, ecology, One Health, human medicine, veterinary medicine, food systems management, anthropology, working with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous knowledge systems, law, wildlife trade, health systems, economics, policy and more. These commissioners are collaborating to create a comprehensive approach to viral spillover prevention. Together, they are shaping a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable future for all. READ MORE

Thirumalai “Venky” Venkatesan, a professor in the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been elected as a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy. The Fellowship will officially commence on Jan. 1, 2024. The Indian National Science Academy was founded in January 1935. Its mission is to serve as a knowledge resource; promote science in India; leverage scientific knowledge for national welfare, identify and nurture scientific talent within the country; and represent Indian science and scientists globally on behalf of the government of India.

SAMUEL PERRY RANKED No. 1 IN SCHOLAR-GPS GLOBAL RANKINGS OF SOCIOLOGISTS

University of Oklahoma Professor Samuel L. Perry has been named the top sociologist in the world by ScholarGPS. Perry’s work on religion and contemporary political divisions has helped thrust him to the forefront of the national conversation. ScholarGPS, an analytics site that tracks and ranks scholars and institutions worldwide, has recognized University of Oklahoma sociology professor Samuel L. Perry with its top ranking. The site weighs standard metrics of research productivity and impact, among other factors, to find the top scholars in their fields who are pushing their discipline to new heights. ScholarGPS “includes all relevant details of over 150 million archival publications including books, book chapters, journals, conference papers and patents with over 2 billion citations and references.” For this recognition, the ranking’s data was compiled over the past five years. During his career, Perry has authored 119 peer-reviewed journal articles and five books. According to Google Scholar, he has been cited 5,849 times, with over 5,000 of those citations coming within the five-year window. READ MORE

CLASSICS AND LETTERS DEPARTMENT DEDICATES J. RUFUS FEARS LIBRARY

The University of Oklahoma Department of Classics and Letters recently celebrated the lasting impact of Professor J. Rufus Fears, renowned for his captivating courses on “Freedom in Rome” and “Freedom of Greece.” In his honor, a dedicated library space was opened to the public, sharing his extensive collection of literature enriching our understanding of classics. Professor Fears, a respected figure in academia, made significant contributions during his time at OU, and this library now stands as a vital resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. Fears, who joined the classics faculty in 1990, left an indelible mark on the institution through his passion and charismatic teaching style. He also served as dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Recognized for his understanding of history and commitment to liberty, Fears was honored with the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty. In 2012, the academic community mourned his loss, but his dedication to the classics persisted. His extensive personal collection, comprising over 7,000 volumes, was bequeathed to the classics department. The Rufus Fears Library is a platform for scholars, students and the public to explore the worlds of ancient Rome and Greece. The dedication coincided with the 11th anniversary of Fears’ passing, a fitting occasion to commemorate his contributions. His legacy continues to shine through this library, a testament to the enduring power of education and the human quest for knowledge.

History Professor Anne Hyde’s latest book, Born of Lakes and Plains: Mixed Descent Peoples and the Making of the American West (W.W. Norton, 2022), has been honored with the 2023 American Book Award, presented by the Before Columbus Foundation. The American Book Awards were established to acknowledge outstanding literary achievements across America’s diverse literary community. Additionally, Born of Lakes and Plains also received the 2023 Bonney MacDonald Award for Outstanding Western Book, bestowed by the Center for the Study of the American West at West Texas A&M University. This juried prize recognizes a book that showcases exceptional scholarly or creative insights into the American West or any aspect of its history, culture, society or environment.

The college congratulates Sarah Hines, assistant professor of history, who was recently honored by the 2023 Erminie Wheeler-Voegelin Book Award committee of American Society for Ethnohistory. Her book, Water for All: Community, Property, and Revolution in Modern Bolivia, was an honorable mention selection in the 2023 competition. The honor will be formally announced at the society’s annual conference banquet, which will take place on Nov. 4 at Florida State University. Water for All chronicles how Bolivians democratized water access, focusing on the Cochabamba region, which is known for acute water scarcity and explosive water protests. Hines examines conflict and compromises over water from the 1870s to the 2010s, showing how communities of water users increased supply and extended distribution through collective labor and social struggle. Analyzing a wide variety of sources, from agrarian reform case records to oral history interviews, Hines investigates how water dispossession in the late 19th century and reclaimed water access in the 20^th and 21^st centuries prompted, shaped and strengthened popular and indigenous social movements. The struggle for democratic control over water culminated in the successful 2000 Water War, a decisive turning point for Bolivian politics. This story offers lessons for contemporary resource management and grassroots movements about how humans can build equitable, democratic and sustainable resource systems in the Andes, Latin America and beyond.

In 1913, George Sarton established the Isis Current Bibliography of the History of Science (IsisCB), which has been a cornerstone of scholarly research for over a century. Now accessible through the free online tool IsisCB Explore, this resource has been a vital reference for scholars and students.

"Bibliographic Essays on the History of Pandemics" is a special issue of IsisCB, released in September 2023. Co-edited by HSS Bibliographer Stephen P. Weldon and historian of biology Neeraja Sankaran, the issue presents 19 essays and associated bibliographies on infectious diseases. All content is freely available, and a podcast series offers in-depth discussions with contributors.

Conceived in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this issue was meant to be a valuable resource for historians of science and various professionals, emphasizing the importance of a historically informed view of disease.

The issue is grouped into thematic clusters, covering various geographic regions and pandemic diseases throughout history, including the "Spanish flu," AIDS and COVID-19. A notable aspect of this project is its open peer review system, promoting transparency in scholarly communication, the software for which was developed here at OU by John Stewart.

The release marks a significant contribution to the history of science and represents a milestone for IsisCB. Produced in-house at OU, the project was made possible by a Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts seed grant from OVPRP and funds from DFCAS, which supplemented the funding provided by the History of Science Society.

Isis, founded in 1912, has long been a platform for articles and commentary on the history of science, medicine and technology, while the History of Science Society, established in 1924, remains the world's largest society dedicated to these historical studies.

JUNE ABBAS AND KUN LU APPOINTED AS CO-DIRECTORS OF THE OU DATA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences recently appointed June Abbas and Kun Lu as co-directors of the OU Data Scholarship Program. Abbas will serve as the co-director of the Data Scholarship Program, Research and Strategic Initiatives and Lu will be the co-director of the Data Scholarship Program, Academic Programs. Abbas is the Edith Kinney Gaylord Presidential Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies and editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed research journal Library and Information Science Research, as well as the director for the School of Library and Information Studies. She is also a founding member of the OU Humanitarian Research Group. She earned her doctorate in information science from the University of North Texas in 2001. Her research interests include youth and the socio-cognitive factors associated with the use of information technology, the role of libraries as transformative organizations, and human-centered design and knowledge organization within various contexts. Her current research grants are focused on trauma-informed services for refugees in public libraries and maker programming for youth with disabilities. 

MEET DANNI McCUTCHEN

Norman native Danni McCutchen brings an impressive 18 years of unwavering dedication to the university. In her current role, she adeptly manages the financial aspects of the history department, overseeing grants, research funds, faculty awards, scholarships and salaries. McCutchen’s association with the University of Oklahoma runs deep; she represents the third generation of women in her family to work here. McCutchen’s career journey mirrors that of her mother, Darla Madden, who is currently employed at OU, and her grandmother, Carolyn Madden, who retired after three decades of service. READ FULL STORY

RESEARCHERS CONTRIBUTE TO FEDERAL INITIATIVE TACKLING ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

OU faculty Helen I. Zgurskaya and Valentin V. Rybenkov are contributing to a $104 million federal initiative to study antibiotic resistance. Harvard Medical School Professor Johan Paulsson leads the multi-institutional research team. The initiative, “DARTS: Defeating Antibiotic Resistance through Transformative Solutions,” is funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The project aims to address the critical health care challenge of increasingly resilient bacteria by “advancing an ultra-high throughput imaging and culturing platform that can continuously track and test billions of bacteria one by one.” As one of 25 collaborating groups from industry, academy and clinics working on the project, the OU team will contribute their expertise in drug efflux and permeation mechanisms. READ MORE

DYING WITH DIGNITY IN MEXICO

Elyse Ona Singer, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma assistant professor and medical anthropologist, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to better understand the cultural and bioethical dimensions of death and dying. The project grew out of a curiosity that is at once academic and personal. “Someone very close to me has had chronic health issues for several years now, and the end of life, death, dying and the caregiving responsibilities that entails have been on my mind in a personal way for a long time,” Singer said. Singer and postdoctoral researcher Alicia Ordóñez Vázquez are conducting an ethnographic study across two major public hospitals’ palliative care wards in Mexico City. The two-year project is jointly funded by a $238,583 grant from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and Cultural Anthropology programs of the National Science Foundation. READ MORE

OU professors Erin Maher and Julie Gerlinger, in collaboration with Susan Stoner from the University of Washington, have been granted $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation for their project titled “Promoting Parent and Child Well-Being and Reducing the Need for Foster Care: An Evaluation of a One-Year Home-Visiting and Case Management Program for Individuals Using Substances During Pregnancy.” This quasi-experimental study is an extension of their current randomized controlled trial, which assesses a three-year home-visiting and case management program for pregnant and parenting individuals with problematic substance use during pregnancy known as the Parent-Child Assistance Program. The new study is designed to evaluate a one-year version of PCAP, referred to as PCAP-1, and will be conducted in Enid, Oklahoma. The primary objectives of PCAP-1 include reducing the placement of children in foster care, supporting parents in achieving and maintaining their recovery while ensuring access to essential comprehensive services, preventing prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol in subsequent pregnancies, and demonstrating a positive return on investment for the state. READ MORE

XINYU DAI – HOMER L. DODGE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

$356,355 - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION



A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF AGN OPTICAL VARIABILITY FROM MINUTE TO DECADE TIME SCALES

This project aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the variations in radiation emitted by supermassive black holes actively accreting matter, spanning time scales ranging from minutes to decades, specifically in the optical band. Nearly all galaxies contain supermassive black holes at their centers, and the active ones emit vast amounts of energy that can exceed the combined output of stars within the host galaxy. These active galactic nuclei play a crucial role in the universe, yet the intricate mechanisms governing their energy emission remain elusive. The emitted energy from AGN is widely believed to originate from the conversion of gravitational energy as material falls into the central black hole. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms driving this process are still not fully understood. AGN radiation exhibits fluctuations over time, characterized by random or stochastic variability, which encodes vital information about AGN accretion physics. Professor Dai’s team will analyze datasets gathered from two surveys: the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. By combining these datasets, the team gains the ability to study AGN variability in the optical band over time scales ranging from minutes to decades. This wide time frame spans five orders of magnitude in the frequency space. The AGN sample for this project consists of nearly 10,000 objects, a significantly larger dataset compared to previous studies on similar topics. Additionally, by integrating data from surveys in the X-ray band, the team will investigate the correlated variability patterns between optical and X-ray emissions. This research endeavor will unlock the intricate details surrounding how matter accretes into supermassive black holes, providing a lasting contribution in the form of 10,000 AGN light curves for the broader astronomy community.

YITONG DONG - CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

$249,605 - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

LEAPS-MPS: ACHIEVING SINGLE LEAD HALIDE PEROVSKITE NANOCRYSTAL GROWTH ON A SOFT LIQUID/LIQUID INTERFACE

This project, led by the Chemistry Division and supported by the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Professor Yitong Dong and his students will investigate the growth of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals at the individual particle level. The goal is to advance the development of cost-effective single photon emitters, crucial for building secure quantum photonic networks that facilitate on-demand photon emissions. This research will enable precise spectroscopy measurements of individual perovskite nanocrystals, eliminating interference caused by post-synthesis nanocrystal degradation. Furthermore, it will contribute to our understanding of the growth mechanisms of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals. The project will integrate novel material synthesis techniques into various research programs and centers at OU. Professor Dong will also provide opportunities for undergraduate student involvement and encourage prospective students to participate through outreach programs. Dong and his students will create a nano-sized liquid/liquid (L/L) interface, confined to the tip of a nanopipette, to facilitate nanocrystal growth. The diffusion and delivery of crystal precursors will be controlled by adjusting their electrochemical potentials. By regulating the dimensions of the nanopipette tip and the electrochemical biases applied across the L/L interface, they expect to fine-tune nanocrystal nucleation and growth kinetics. They will use a confocal fluorescence microscope to monitor the photoluminescence spectra of nanocrystals during their growth and employ photon correlation measurements to assess the number of nanocrystals generated on the L/L interface. These efforts aim to achieve the growth of single lead halide perovskite nanocrystals.

LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, AND ARCHIVES IN ITALY

The OU School of Library and Information Studies offers an exciting opportunity for students to participate in summer study abroad programs. Led by Buffy Edwards, Ph.D., this program allows students to explore the shared cultural heritage, common history, mission and structure of libraries, archives and museums across Italy. Situated in and around Arezzo, Italy, students gain firsthand insight into the history, theory and organization of these institutions. This past summer, the school offered its first trip, and the program is scheduled to take place from June 9 to 28, 2024. For more information, read more on this opportunity.  

MP REHMAN CHISHTI ENRICHES UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA'S ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

In late September and early October, the University of Oklahoma welcomed MP Rehman Chishti for a two-week visit as the UK Parliamentary Visiting Fellow. During his residency, Chishti visited several classes in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences’ departments and delivered public presentations followed by Q&A sessions. In addition to attending lectures held on campus, Chishti participated in the Society of Fellows dinner and the Carl Albert Center’s prominent lecture series. Throughout his stay, Chishti had the opportunity to acquaint himself with OU’s faculty, students and administrators, and became an integral part of our learning community. Assistant Professor of Economics Daniel Nedelscu shared his thoughts on Chishti’s visit: “MP Rehman Chishti graciously dedicated his time to engage with members of the economics department, including the Econ Club. He actively participated in academic sessions, allowing students to ask questions relevant to the course material. Furthermore, he met with a significant portion of the economics department’s faculty and graduate students. Notably, Mr. Chishti delivered a keynote address during the weekly Econ Club gathering, attracting an impressive audience of over 50 students. His presentation covered insights into career prospects and his unique economic perspectives in his role as a member of the British Parliament. He also discussed critical issues such as the implications of Brexit on the UK economy.”

Nov. 10

Deadline for academic units to submit to the Dean’s office recommendations for reappointment or non-reappointment to a third year for tenure-track and ranked-renewable term faculty.

Nov. 13

Deadline to submit Presidential Dream Course proposals to the Dean’s office.

Nov. 20

Deadline to enter graduate courses and undergraduate courses with G designation not associated with program modifications into Courseleaf.

Nov. 28

Chairs and Directors meeting, Noon

Nov. 29

CASFAM Staff meeting, 9 a.m.

Nov. 30

Deadline for academic units to email winter intersession course information to Renee Williams at reneewilliams@ou.edu. Sections added after Nov. 30 must be taught regardless of enrollment. Please visit the Intersession website for more information.

Dec. 15

The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences December convocation ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at Lloyd Noble Center.