casnewsletterspring19

THE NEW Harvey C. Jewett IV Regional Science Education Center is on track to welcome students for the 2019 fall semester; construction continues to progress as planned. We have new educational programs in the works in creative writing, German, social studies education and math education, and faculty are working toward additional innovative curricular programs. We are also moving forward with creating an effective, actionable strategic plan. We have formed a committee tasked to design that plan centered around the needs of students, faculty, staff, the university and the community. The revision of general education has also brought new assessment priorities and responsibilities, and faculty in the college have done a great job fulfilling these duties, serving as a model for other schools. This is a snapshot of what is happening in the College of Arts and Sciences, which makes it an exciting time to be at Northern and be a part of the Northern community. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish working together! Go Wolves! ASSOCIATE DEAN ALYSSA KIESOW Dear Friends of NSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, There is so much happening at Northern, and I am “crazy excited” to tackle my new responsibilities as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, while serving as the chair of the Department of Science and Mathematics. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Presenting Research at Academic Conferences NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2019 WHEN SURVEYED, college graduates from American universities consistently report that direct interaction with faculty, especially on research projects, is one of the most impactful experiences of their undergraduate years. Along with internships (highlighted in “True North” fall 2017), opportunities to engage in undergraduate research (highlighted in “True North” spring 2018) prepare students to become professionals and community leaders, whether the students go directly into the job market or indirectly through graduate school (highlighted in “True North” fall 2018). The opportunity for undergraduate students to travel to present their research at academic conferences is a key factor in preparing them for success in whatever comes next. The following examples highlight some of the CAS students who have recently presented their research at academic conferences. Aberdeen and the broader Northern community have been amazing partners supporting scholarships and providing opportunities for internships. Support for undergraduate research and travel to present at academic conferences will build on that strong foundation and position our students for even greater success. GREG FRED, a Northern alum who majored in history, presented a paper titled “Father Pierre-Jean De Smet: Black Robe Mediator” at the 2017 USD Student History Conference in Vermillion. The paper was originally written for Dr. Grettler’s HIST 480 class. BRIANNA GEIGLE , a junior majoring in medical lab science with a minor in chemistry and a pre-med focus, gave a presentation titled “Analysis of the Induction of DNA Double Strand Breaks by Genetically-Related Strains of Pseudomonas syringae” at the National Collegiate Honors Council conference in Atlanta in November. JOSH HAAN, a senior majoring in history, presented a paper titled “The Odd Couple: The Reconciliation of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams” at the 2017 USD Student History Conference in Vermillion. The paper was originally written for Dr. Grettler’s HIST 480 class. DAVID HALES, a senior majoring in history, delivered a paper titled “Cold War as Imperial Inheritance: The U.S., Britain, and the 1953 Iranian Coup” at the 2018 USD Student History Conference in Vermillion. The paper won an award for Best Cold War Paper and was based on a paper Hales wrote