Congratulations to our new Cooper Fellows

May 7, 2013

I am proud to announce that three outstanding faculty members have been named Cooper Fellows, a three-year appointment that recognizes and rewards faculty members for excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service. Professors June Teufel Dreyer, Greg Galloway and Neil Johnson have made significant contributions to their fields and to our college:

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Leading in STEM Education

April 16, 2013

Recently the public has become increasingly concerned with a growing need for improved education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, citing shortages of skilled workers. One recent study estimates that more than 3 million new jobs in STEM fields will require a bachelor's degree or higher by 2018. In Washington, in Tallahassee and here in Miami, politicians are hammering out incentives to attract and retain STEM workers. As policymakers and business leaders seek new ways to ramp up STEM education, the College of Arts and Sciences is driving efforts in key areas including fundamental science, technology, and math.

Our STEM initiatives center upon cutting-edge research. The college's faculty study critical topics in math, science, and technology, working to improve our world and solve problems in the environment, healthcare, and industry. They're building new predictive models, programming robots with artificial intelligence, mapping and measuring brain function, creating new materials for biomedical applications, among countless other pursuits. Hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students assist with this research, putting UM graduates on the front lines of discovery and innovation. Every student in a STEM field has an opportunity to launch a career with real-world applications of classroom concepts and experience working on emerging issues.

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Spring is the season for 'Taking Flight'

January 15, 2013

Welcome to a semester packed with enlightening opportunities in the College of Arts and Sciences. Taking Flight: The Year of the Humanities and the Arts at the University of Miami reaches its zenith this semester with interdisciplinary programs, performances, exhibits, and campus appearances from outstanding scholars across diverse fields. These special events provide a broad range of distinctive learning experiences that will deepen your appreciation for your work in the classroom and strengthen your insight on the world around you.

Our Stanford Distinguished Professors series resumes this month with a visit from animal scientist and autism advocate Temple Grandin, who will give a public talk on "Different Kinds of Minds" on January 31 at the Bank United Center. World-renowned evolutionary biologist and philosopher, Richard Dawkins, will visit us again this year, spending two weeks among students and faculty before delivering a public lecture March 7 at the Bank United Center. Art historian Mary Garrard, author Amitav Ghosh and historian Anthony Grafton also will appear as Stanford Distinguished Professors later this semester.
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A Semester in the Spotlight

December 13, 2012

As our students leave campus for a well-deserved winter break, I am pleased to report a productive semester in the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition to a continued record of achievement from students and faculty, two important initiatives put our college in the spotlight and capitalized on the vast potential created when our diverse academic and cultural missions serve our community.

The University welcomed both presidential candidates to speak on campus not once, but twice, during the height of the fall campaign. These visits gave our students incredible access to our electoral process and encouraged unprecedented voter turnout in South Florida. More than 200 students also took a political science course that provided real-time election insight from notable figures including former United Nations Ambassador Mark Wallace, presidential candidate Herman Cain, and national political pundits including Fox News' Bernie Goldberg and Slate's Sasha Isenberg. In addition, our political science professors provided valuable insight to news media and voters with research and analysis from a key vantage point in Miami. Student and faculty efforts to learn, teach, and drive political participation positioned our college and our university at the center of current events throughout the semester.
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Helping Sandy Recovery Efforts

November 15, 2012

The devastating news of super storm Sandy have touched all of us here at the College of Arts and Sciences. We are deeply concerned about our alumni, students, and their families who are affected by this event.

While we hope that those affected are safe, secure and well on the way to rebuilding from Sandy's impact, our faculty, staff, and students are sending more than their thoughts. Employees and students have been giving generously of their time and money to several funds and organizations that assist with recovery.
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Supporting Student Engagement

October 18, 2012

It's homecoming at the University of Miami, and we're excited to have our Canes family and friends visiting the College of Arts and Sciences. I have met many of our distinguished alumni through the years, and I am often struck by how frequently they trace their lifelong work and passion back to their undergraduate experience. Alumni often credit successful careers and remarkable accomplishments not only to the information gained in our classrooms, but also to how they applied their knowledge and skills while here at UM.
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Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences

August 13, 2012

Welcome students, faculty, parents, alumni, and staff to a new year at the College of Arts and Sciences.  To our incoming freshmen, congratulations, you are the most selective group of undergraduates ever admitted to the University of Miami. You will join undergraduate and graduate students who have achieved some of the highest honors bestowed upon young scholars, including Goldwater scholarships, Fulbright fellowships, and research awards from the National Science Foundation. Leading our outstanding students are impressive faculty who provide guidance in the classroom while performing groundbreaking research. To our new faculty members, we are proud that you will enhance those critical missions and bring new perspectives to our vibrant college.
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Celebrating Our Success

May 11, 2012

On May 11, we will confer more than 800 baccalaureate, 128 master's and 49 doctoral degrees to men and women who have completed rigorous academic journeys within the College of Arts and Sciences. I congratulate our graduates, and I offer my thanks to the families and friends who have supported these students throughout their educational endeavors. I also commend our faculty, who have inspired and nurtured these students while challenging them to reach new goals.
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Committed to Diversity

March 19, 2012

As the University of Miami continues its semester-long Unity in Diversity celebration, I am proud to reaffirm the College of Arts and Sciences’ commitment to nurturing a thriving multicultural community. As the largest and most academically varied unit within the university, the college plays an important role in ensuring that students, faculty, and staff embrace the principles of intellectual and cultural diversity, which encourage innovation and creativity.

UM is truly a vibrant mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. Our students hail from more than 110 countries and a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Our faculty is also among the most diverse of major private research universities. The Princeton Review has repeatedly ranked UM as one of the nation’s top universities for cultural diversity.
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Giving Thanks for a Successful Semester

December 19, 2011

As I reflect on the accomplishments of Arts & Sciences students, faculty and staff this fall, I am reminded that our college has many reasons to be thankful at the end of another successful semester.

We are thankful for our students, who have proven exceptional ambassadors for the University of Miami. We are proud of our entering students, who continued a decade-long trend of earning higher SAT scores, which reflects both their promise as scholars and the increasing prominence of the College of Arts and Sciences. We also congratulate our December graduates, who have fulfilled their own promise, garnering accolades from the classroom to the playing field and serving admirably on campus, throughout Miami, and around the world.
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Opportunities at the College of Arts and Sciences

September 22, 2011

With the fall semester in full swing, now is a good time for all of us to take stock of where we are as a college, and to plan to use the remarkable resources here on campus.

We are all aware that the University of Miami ranked 38 in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report survey, a rise of nine positions over last year and a continuation of a decade of progress. This commitment to academic excellence is what defines a great institution, and the College of Arts & Sciences is an important part of that endeavor.
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Congratulations to the 2010-11 Cooper Fellows

May 10, 2011

I am pleased to announce the appointment of three outstanding faculty members as new Cooper Fellow Recipients: Professors David Janos, Roger Leblanc, and Amie Thomasson.  The three-year appointment recognizes and rewards some of our most valuable faculty members who have shown excellence in contributing to our core missions of scholarship, teaching, and service.  The Cooper Fellow recipients are expected to continue using the title beyond the formal three-year appointment.
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Tragedy in Japan

March 16, 2011

The sad news from Japan makes us think how fragile is this earth we live on. I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to each of you, especially those who have family members and friends in Japan. As a College, we unite to help and bring comfort to those in need. If you know of a faculty member or a staff member affected by this tragedy, please do not hesitate to share with us.
Best regards,
Leonidas G. Bachas, Dean

Importance of a Liberal Arts Education

January 31, 2011

Today, a liberal arts education is more important than ever — enabling students to integrate principles from across the arts and humanities, social and natural sciences, and other disciplines. At the University of Miami, this approach to learning is central to our educational philosophy. By integrating classroom and laboratory learning experiences with curricular and co-curricular activities, we empower our students not only to excel in their chosen careers but also to become professionals ready to compete in this global market. 
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