will mark a period of transition
for the Washington State University College of Sciences. On July 1, 2010, the School of Molecular Biosciences (SMB) will move administratively to the College of Veterinary Medicine. The move will create a larger group of biomedical research scientists and greater pool of resources, and will enhance WSU’s reputation as a top research institution by placing the College of Veterinary Medicine in the first tier of its peers nationwide. As many of you know, another transition will occur on July 1. Dr. Sue Clark, Professor of Chemistry, will become Interim Dean as Dr. Michael Griswold returns to full-time research and instruction; the search for Dean Griswold’s permanent replacement is well underway.
The College of Sciences is excited for the opportunity to refocus priorities on our many high quality departments and schools. We are very proud of our accomplishments. Our faculty members consistently rank highly in research productivity, and we are home to nationally - and internationally - recognized programs. The School of Biological Sciences has a cadre of young faculty members with excellence in plant molecular sciences and in animal evolution and development. The Radiochemistry program in the Department of Chemistry is one of only 12 in the U.S. and we graduate half of all new radiochemistry Ph.D.s each year; and our Institute for Shock Physics, a grant powerhouse, receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and Office of Naval Research, as well as other federal agencies. The College will continue to recruit the best and brightest faculty, and we look forward to providing a world-class education to more than 4,000 students each semester – a number that represents over 20% of all undergraduate and graduate/professional students enrolled at WSU.
The College of Sciences eagerly anticipates the hiring of a new Dean as we look to the future and the opportunities for change with which we have been presented. We also wish the School of Molecular Biosciences the best as it moves to its new home in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
