Welcome to the September edition of the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences newsletter. As we are entering the fifth week of the semester, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of activity from our first few weeks as OCHNS. Over the past five weeks our students have been settling into the routine of the semester; our faculty have been engaged in innovating courses, programs, and research; and our campus has been alive with opportunities to engage as a broader community.
This month, I have had the opportunity to meet – or reconnect – with many of you. In addition to our local partners and alumni, during August and early September I visited with proud alumni at events in Oklahoma City, Houston, and Seattle. This week I look forward to visiting with those of you in Chicago, and I hope to see you at the alumni event on Friday evening and/or the football pregame event Saturday morning at Northern Illinois University.
As we are quickly approaching October and November, we would love to see all of you back on campus for Homecoming Nov. 2-5. We will host events on Friday evening at the bonfire and have an OCHNS tailgate area prior to the game on Saturday so that you can reconnect with your classmates and meet current faculty and students. Additionally, we have special events planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the School of Nursing … so if you are a Nursing alumnus, I’m putting extra pressure on you to return!
I hope you enjoy this issue and the features that celebrate our students, faculty, alumni, and partners. From remarkable student achievements to inspiring tales of community partnership, and from cutting-edge research that push our boundaries of understanding to reports of alumni success and achievement, this newsletter will continue to encapsulate the essence of our collective and relentless dedication to our mission. These stories are a testament to the excellence that defines the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences at TU.
Reign Cane,
Ron Walker
Interim Dean
Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences