As the spring 2024 semester begins, our college remains a beacon of knowledge – dedicated to mastering existing understandings and creating new insights into the physical world and the human condition. Reflecting on the accomplishments of the first half of this academic year, I am proud of the strides we've made and look forward to the exciting prospects ahead.

As the cornerstone college of our distinguished public flagship research university, fostering a vibrant and engaging community is crucial for recruitment, retention and the timely graduation of our students. I encourage each of you to embrace the numerous opportunities for intellectual growth, collaborative learning, and scholarly engagement this semester. Our esteemed faculty members have developed engaging courses designed to inspire and challenge. Forge connections with professors, staff, and students to make the most of this academic journey.

This semester brings an eagerly anticipated addition to our academic landscape – the opening of the Student Success and Advising Center. This state-of-the-art facility, set to open in March on the second floor of the Physical Sciences Center, is dedicated to our students' academic, professional, and personal growth. It embodies our commitment to providing an environment that allows students to thrive personally and academically, serving as a hub for excellence and a catalyst for a holistic approach to education and career advancement.

I am honored to be part of a college community dedicated to engaging, mentoring, and supporting students. Mark your calendars for April 25, a date when we will celebrate the achievements of our college. Additional details will be communicated in the coming weeks.

As we progress through this semester, I eagerly anticipate our collective efforts to ensure student success and advance our research, creative activity, teaching, and learning missions of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences.

David Wrobel

Dean, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences

Merrick Chair in Western American History & David L. Boren Professor

OU'S LARGEST COLLEGE TO HONOR AWARD WINNERS

For their contributions on the local, state, national and international levels, Mehdi Azimi, Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie and David Proctor will be recognized as the 2024 Distinguished Alumni of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma.

The college also will recognize the Withrow Scholars, with special distinction for Cathryn and Jon Withrow, who will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award for their leadership and generosity in support of areas that reflect the values of the college, and Mareyba Fawad as the 2024 Young Alumni Award recipient for her exemplary leadership, service and character.

Award recipients will be honored at the the college celebration on April 25. Each year, the event is designed to celebrate the college and honor its distinguished alumni. Information about the 2024 celebration will be announced at a later date.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Mehdi Azimi

B.S in Laboratory Technology/Microbiology (1976);

M.S. in Environmental Science/Engineering (1977); 

Ph.D. in Public/Environmental Health (1981)

Dr. Azimi has enjoyed a distinguished career in public and environmental health, safety and risk management spanning over four decades, holding positions in private companies, government agencies, health care facilities and prison systems worldwide. He has served as a special consultant to such prestigious organizations as the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, United Nations and World Health Organization. His work includes developing and implementing health and safety programs, facility audits and training initiatives in the United States, Mexico and the Middle East. Notably, he played a pivotal role in resolving a class-action lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Corrections that addressed public and environmental health, safety, and sanitation concerns within correctional facilities. Moreover, he made significant contributions to education and the betterment of the community by establishing the Azimi Family Endowed Scholarship in Public Health program supporting graduate education in public health. He also created the Azimi-Young Endowed Scholarship in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, fostering undergraduate education. His commitment to education and philanthropy reflects a holistic approach to improving public health and safety. Additionally, he has held leadership positions in nonprofit organizations including the Oklahoma Children Cancer Association and Children Center for Families Inc., further exemplifying his dedication to community well-being.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie

Ph.D. in History of Science (1973);

M.A. in Science (1983)

Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie's illustrious career has embraced an array of roles, encompassing those of scientist, educator, archivist, historian and mentor, demonstrating her multifaceted expertise and far-reaching impact. For nearly four decades, she stood as a pioneering scholar in the field of women’s contributions to science, shining a light on the often-overlooked achievements of women in this domain. From 1991 until her retirement in December 2008, Ogilvie served as the curator of the OU History of Sciences Collections and as a professor in the department, earning recognition through prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Teaching Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award. During her tenure as the second curator of the OU History of Science Collections, Ogilvie left an indelible mark by significantly expanding and enhancing the holdings, amassing over 15,000 acquisitions and adding numerous invaluable rare books in emerging research areas, such as women in science, popular science, science education, alchemy, astrology and medicine. Her influential contributions extended to her partnership in the $350,000 Mellon Travel Fellowship Program, which continues to bring international scholars to the university to utilize the resources in the History of Science Collections. Moreover, she tirelessly promoted the OU History of Science program in central Oklahoma through engaging public talks, insightful tours and special events within the collections.

Distinguished Alumni Award

David Proctor

B.S. in Mathematics (1962)

David Proctor, originally from Seminole, Oklahoma, embarked on a remarkable career that took him from his modest beginnings to the pinnacle of the aerospace and computer industries. Following the completion of his bachelor's degree in mathematics at OU and graduate studies at Stanford University, he ventured into the world of technology. His contributions to human space exploration are particularly notable, as he was part of the team that played a pivotal role in coding the lunar descent maneuvers for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 missions. It was their collective expertise and dedication that ensured the safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts, an achievement that led the entire team to be awarded the prestigious President's Medal of Freedom. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he and his wife, Judi, demonstrated their commitment to education and philanthropy with an extraordinary estate gift to the University of Oklahoma that includes a substantial $7 million irrevocable contribution to the Department of Mathematics. In recognition of their transformative gift and its potential to enhance STEM education across the university, the OU Board of Regents officially named the department the David and Judi Proctor Department of Mathematics. This gesture cements their enduring legacy, not only in mathematics but also in the broader field of STEM education.

Young Alumni Award

Mareyba Fawad

B.S. in Psychology (2020);

B.A. in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (2020)

Mareyba Fawad, a dedicated advocate for positive change in public health, healthcare policy, and management, has demonstrated her commitment throughout her academic and professional journey. As an undergraduate, she engaged in diverse service and volunteering roles, including serving as Mentorship Chair, interning for the Diversity Enrichment Program Office, and contributing as a public health intern at the OU-TU School of Community Medicine. Fawad's leadership roles encompassed being Creative Director and Outreach Director of the Union Programming Board, Advisor for Sooner Society, and President of the American Pre-Medical Women’s Society. During her final year at OU, Fawad founded the Minority Health Sciences Conference, a groundbreaking program in its 4th year, empowering marginalized high school students interested in health sciences. Her impactful contributions earned her the Big Woman on Campus Award, inclusion in the PE-ET Honors Society, and a place on the Letzeiser Honor List. Fawad went on to pursue a Master’s in Public Health at the prestigious Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) at Columbia University. There, she served as President of Women for Women, directed the daily Columbia Health Dispatch Newsletter, and held various leadership positions, including being a Research Fellow for Chelsea Clinton. Fawad's achievements include serving as a Consultant for the United Nations Women, a Public Health Law Intern at the CDC, publishing research in the Journal of Nature Human Behavior, and a Lead Intern for Oklahoma House Representative Mauree Turner. She was elected as the sole Columbia University Senator representing the 1,200 MSPH student body and received the 2022 Bernard Challenor Prize for her community-building efforts. More recently, Fawad was a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton in DC, demonstrating expertise in healthcare management and strategy. Moreover, she directed Oklahoma’s Annual Public Health Conference, receiving recognition with the Young Health Professional Under 40 Award and the Oklahoma NextGen Under 30 Award. Fawad is the youngest Conference Chair to serve on the OPHA Executive Board's 84-year history. Fawad has since joined Acumen LLC in the San Francisco Bay Area as a Federal Healthcare Data and Policy Consultant, contributing to policy research for healthcare and social programs at various government levels.

Distinguished Service Award 

Withrow Scholars with special distinction for Cathryn and Jon Withrow

On the 10th anniversary of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Scholars program's endowment, we proudly recognize all students who have been a member of this group, with special distinction for Cathryn and Jon Withrow for their profound impact on leadership education at the University of Oklahoma. Established in 1996, this program has been instrumental in fostering leadership qualities, ethics, volunteerism and personal responsibility among the brightest and most engaged students in our college. The Withrows' visionary endowment enhanced the program and provided students with life-changing opportunities for international study abroad experiences during their time at OU. The Withrows’ generosity and their ongoing support for student scholarships have had a profound impact on our students' lives, and we celebrate their vision, philanthropy and unwavering commitment to the college’s educational vision. We also honor the current and former students who have been a part of this group. Through the years, these students have provided mentorship to others and have gone on to make substantial impacts in their communities.  

The University of Oklahoma proudly honors Black History Month as a time of celebrating accomplishment, history, heritage and community. A number of faculty, staff, students, departments and organizations across campus are hosting events in February. Take a look at events happening at OU this month.

OU GIVING DAY SET FOR APRIL 2

Save the date for the annual University of Oklahoma Giving Day, which will be happening on April 2! The purpose of this event is to raise funds for university programs while also inspiring and education OU students and the OU community on the importance of philanthropy in the education al experience. READ MORE

SAVE THE DATE TO CELEBRATE AT CONVOCATION

This year, the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the achievements of our graduating students on Saturday, May 11, at the Lloyd Noble Center. We will have two ceremonies, which will begin at 9 a.m. with the Humanities and Natural Sciences Convocation. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Convocation for Professional Programs and Social Sciences will begin at 12:30 p.m. For more information and a list of majors that fall within each group click here.

TRANSLATING NUCLEAR WASTE SITE DATA INTO MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEM INSIGHTS

A flagship seven-year study led by the University of Oklahoma that explores how environmental stresses influence different ecological processes shaping the composition and structure of microbial communities in groundwater has been published in the journal Nature Microbiology. Led by Jizhong Zhou, professor of microbiology, this research focused on community assembly, which is about dynamic and complex processes that shape the composition and structure of microbial communities. Researchers use this concept to understand how different microbial species come to inhabit an environment, how they interact with each other and the environment, and how these interactions influence the overall functioning of the ecosystem. The team collected groundwater samples from approximately 100 wells at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Field Research Center, a former nuclear waste disposal site, and conducted comprehensive physical and chemical analyses, along with microbiome analyses. READ MORE

Kalenda Eaton, Associate Professor in The Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, is a guest editor for a groundbreaking special issue in the Great Plains Quarterly journal. This edition stands out as the first in the history of the journal to center African American history in Oklahoma, shedding light on undertold stories. The issue illuminates the resilience and determination of individuals deeply connected to the state and its history. Contributions range from discussions of historical Freedmen settlements to how Digital Humanities projects can preserve and highlight the contributions of women entrepreneurs.  Great Plains Quarterly, a scholarly journal catering to both academics and enthusiasts, explores themes of history, literature, culture, and social issues relevant to the Great Plains region.

QUANTUM RESEARCHERS SIMULATE UNSEEN SUPERCONDUCTOR BEHAVIOR

Scientists at the University of Oklahoma and JILA at the University of Colorado Boulder have published collaborative research findings in the journal Nature that provide new insights into the behavior of superconducting materials and offer potential novel applications in the field of quantum technologies. “Our paper reports a breakthrough in the development of quantum simulators, a type of specialized quantum computer that mimics complex physical systems that would be impossible to study or understand otherwise,” said Robert Lewis-Swan, co-author and an assistant professor of atomic, molecular and optical physics in OU’s Center for Quantum Research and Technology. “This work was heavily inspired by research I published in 2021 showing that this type of simulator, based on an atom-cavity system, could be adapted to observe phenomena that would be very difficult to investigate in other settings.” READ MORE

MICROBIAL RESEARCH UNRAVELS A GLOBAL NITROGEN MYSTERY

Novel research led by Wei Qin, an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Oklahoma, that significantly changes the understanding of ammonia oxidation, a critical component of the global nitrogen cycle, has been published in the journal Nature Microbiology. Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms, commonly called AOM, use ammonia for energy and account for the annual oxidation of approximately 2.3 trillion kilograms of nitrogen in soil, freshwater, the subsurface, and man-made ecosystems. One major question that has remained unanswered for decades is how different lineages of AOM species coexist in the same environment: do they compete for ammonia or instead use other alternative compounds for their energy needs? READ MORE

NEW CLIMATE RECORD FOR ITALY DURING ROMAN PERIOD REVEALS ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOCIAL CRISIS, PANDEMIC DISEASE

A newly published study of the paleoclimatic record presents a reconstruction of temperature and precipitation from approximately 200 BC to 600 AD, based on marine sedimentary archives from southern Italy. This is the first high-resolution (~3 years) climatic record from the heart of the Roman Empire, spanning from the so-called Roman Climatic Optimum (ca. ~200 BCE to ~150 CE) to the Little Ice Age of Late Antiquity (from ~536 CE). Over these centuries, the Romans built one of the largest territorial empires in human history, encompassing the entire Mediterranean and surrounding regions. Published in Science Advances, the study was led by paleoceanographer Karin Zonneveld of the Universität Bremen and Roman historian Kyle Harper of the University of Oklahoma. READ MORE

COLLABORATIVE INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH TAKES AIM AT BYSTANDER CELLS

Researchers examining disease infection in bystander cells, which are next to infected cells but are not infected themselves, following antimicrobial treatment, were granted nearly $500,000 from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to advance their work. Zhibo Yang, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma, and Laura-Isobel McCall, an associate professor of bioanalytical chemistry at San Diego State University, are reuniting for their second major collaborative effort after securing an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, which looked at the mechanisms causing drug failure in cells infected with parasites, bacteria and viruses.“Our new research originated from our previous collaboration. In our original work, we only focused on infected cells. But as we looked at the nearby cells, we noticed that their metabolism was getting closer to the infected cells,” Yang said. “Cells that are farther from the infected cells didn’t demonstrate this change in metabolism. This study will allow us to examine the spatial aspect of possible disease progression.” READ MORE

The college congratulates David McLeod and Anthony Natale, who along with their colleague Kristin Mapson of UNC Wilmington, have released "The Handbook of Forensic Social Work: Theory, Policy, and Fields of Practice” through Oxford Press. They led a multi-year effort to develop the most up-to-date forensic social work 

textbook available, to be used in academic and field settings. In addition, we celebrate the host of OU affiliated scholars (primarily in social work, sociology and criminology) who made substantive contributions through chapter authorship in the book. These include Angela Pharris, Steven Pharris, Burcu Ozturk, Zachary D.O. Dunnells, Paula Schonauer, Connie Chapple, Erin Maher, John Carl, Trina Hope, Heather M. Pepper-Pappan, Matthew S. Lofflin, Leah Gatlin, Kirsten Havig, and Bonni Goodwin among others. The text spans 33 chapters and over 600 pages and will provide a much-needed international resource to the growing field of forensic social work. 

MEET MICHAEL HILLERBY 

Meet Michael Hillerby, the seasoned administrative assistant for first year mathematics at OU, with nearly 25 years of dedicated service. As the inaugural holder of this position, Hillerby has forged an innovative path, showcasing his skills through various responsibilities, from orchestrating the Awards Banquet each spring and coordinating the department's After Dark and Review sessions to managing on-site TV monitors and overseeing the Math Center website. 

A resident of Norman since 1982, Hillerby's journey began at Copelin’s Office Center before making contributions to the sports entertainment industry, including operating the jumbotron for the Oklahoma RedHawks and currently serving as the LED operator for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite his engagement in the dynamic world of sports, Hillerby envisions a long-term commitment to the University of Oklahoma, expressing his desire to be a vital member of the team, emphasizing collaboration with highly competent individuals. 

Reflecting on his achievements, Hillerby takes pride in the transformation of the Awards Banquet into a prominent event in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. However, he considers his greatest impact to be the joy he brings to others. Hillerby has also rooted himself in the local community outside of academic endeavors. From running on campus to his kids having attended the university, he has developed deep connections to the university. 

Amidst the academic environment, Hillerby finds fulfillment in meeting a diverse array of people each semester, fostering friendships with individuals from around the world due to the department's international population. 

Outside of work, Hillerby indulges in captivating interests, such as his recently acquired flight simulator, which seamlessly transforms into a race car simulator. Whether immersed in Forza Motorsport and Microsoft Flight Simulator or enjoying outdoor activities like jogging and kayaking during the summer, he finds solace in his diverse hobbies. 

For new staff members, Hillerby offers valuable advice: “Explore the opportunities available at the university. Should you ever seek new challenges or avenues for growth, the university provides a lot of possibilities.” To staff, alumni and students alike, he imparts timeless wisdom: "Resentment and complaint are not conducive to personal or collective success," drawing inspiration from the ancient Japanese text titled Dokkodo, known for its concise yet profound advice.

Meet Elizaveta “Lisa” Maslovskaya, who was recently named to the George J. Mitchell Scholars Class of 2025 by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance. An OU senior majoring in creative media production and French, Maslovskaya has used her time at OU to flourish in multiple creative spaces and cultivate her skillset for her future. She is the second Mitchell Scholar from OU since the program's inception in 1998 and is one of only 12 students chosen to receive the prestigious scholarship, which sends future American leaders to Ireland for a year of graduate study.

The University of Oklahoma announced the students named to its fall 2023 honor roll, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards. A total of 9,859 students were named to the fall 2023 honor roll. Of these students, 4,290 were named to the President’s Honor Roll for earning an “A” grade in all their courses. The honor roll recognizes undergraduate students in the academic programs based at OU’s Norman campus and at OU Health Sciences. For students in Norman campus programs, the fall honor roll also includes grades that may have been earned during the winter intersession, which count toward students’ overall grade-point averages for the preceding semester. In our college, full-time undergraduate students who completed 12 or more letter graded hours with a grade-point average of 4.0 were named to the President’s Honor Roll. Students on the Norman campus with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher were included in the Dean’s Honor Roll. A searchable honor roll list for fall 2023 is available for download online. Students who are on both the President’s Honor Roll and the Dean’s Honor Roll are denoted by an asterisk. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences congratulates all students on their academic achievement. READ MORE

Feb. 27

Chairs and Directors meeting, 12 p.m.

Feb. 28

CASFAM Staff meeting, 9 a.m.

March 1 and 15

DFCAS Graduate Recruitment Fellowships are due to the Dean's office.

March 15

Deadline for faculty to submit Junior, Senior Faculty and Collaborative Fellowship proposals to the Dean's office.

March 15

Deadline for academic units to submit staff performance evaluations to Darla Madden. 

March 22

Deadline for academic units to submit to the Dean's office recommendations for contract renewal or non-contract renewal for renewable term faculty.