WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? From the Dean

Iam thrilled to join the Cowboy family as the inaugural dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends to ensure our college is the preeminent academic destination for those pursuing careers in education, health, human development, design, aviation and more.

A common theme I hope becomes apparent as you read through the stories included in this year’s issue of Aspire magazine is that people are at the core of all we do. Whether through teaching, research, creative activities, service, outreach or Extension, our passion and our purpose is to enhance and improve the lives of diverse people across their lifespans. You will learn more about this transformational vision and my hopes for the future in the Q&A on the next page.

In what has been a challenging time for education due to the ongoing pandemic, supporters across the state and beyond have come together to raise nearly $3.5 million to fund student scholarships for future teachers as part of the Educating Forward initiative. The stories behind the dollars raised are inspirational and remind us all what it means to give from the heart.

Our science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs are expanding to better serve Native American students thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation and a $3.3 million cooperative agreement with NASA. Establishing and sustaining educational support systems for our underserved and underrepresented populations is a top priority.

Over the summer, we announced Opportunity Orange Scholars, a postsecondary program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program builds on work done by faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the Institute for Developmental Disabilities and aims to enhance lives and enrich the OSU community.

We are also proud to spotlight several current and former graduate students. Their purposeful work is making a positive impact within their respective academic and professional fields and beyond, and their contributions to research, teaching and service reflect our commitment to the land-grant mission.

This year, we celebrated the lifetime achievements of our own Lou Watkins, who was inducted into the 2021 College of Education and Human Sciences Hall of Fame. In addition to an inspiring teaching career, Watkins served 23 years on the Board of Regents for the OSU A&M system. Her contributions to Oklahoma State and the greater community are remarkable. Enjoy reading about the collective accomplishments within the College of Education and Human Sciences, which are a true reflection of our people, our passion and our purpose.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jon E. Pedersen Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences