Winter 2022-2023 Department Head Message
As I am writing this message, the snow is falling fast outside. Maybe we have too much snow this winter. Do you agree? I am looking forward to spring. The good news is, I do not need to shovel this winter.
Thanks to the Executive Committee for developing the Strategic Faculty Hiring Plan. I presented it to the Advisory Council Board on January 26 and received positive feedback and valuable comments. The revised hiring plan will be presented to the CFANS leadership in early March. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Shri Ramaswamy and I have taken several board members/donors to lunch since last semester, and asked for their input on our undergraduate curriculum and recruitment, internship, capstone projects, and fundraising and support, etc. I called or met with several donors this month to thank them for their generosity and give some updates about the department.
In this issue of the BioBriEf, we feature three current students: two student-written articles on SSM student Autumn Saign and BBE student Jason Beck, and a feature piece on Madison Stoltzman. For faculty research, we share the plastic pyrolysis story about Professor Roger Ruan's innovation, and give some insight into a project looking at water issues around Lake Nokomis by Professor John Nieber and Research Professor Joe Magner. In addition, we tell you the stories of two student workers, SSM student Katie Nesheim, and BBE student Kyle Wist. Our alumni spotlight highlights BBE alum (2012) Jeff Chambers, who is currently a senior product developer at 3M. I want to thank Rachel Kraft Mattson for putting this informative and visually attractive newsletter together!
The call for the Scholarship Gala on April 13 is coming soon. I hope you will find time to join me for a lovely evening event at the Bell Museum. I wish you and your family to stay safe and warm!
Hua Zhao