Message from Dean Chris Makaroff

Dear Alumni and Friends:

Like many of you, I have been in a reflective state of mind as we consider the many ups and downs that 2020 has brought thus far. As we continue to deal with the COVID pandemic and the social and political tensions facing the country  I wanted to share with you some uplifting stories from the College of Arts and Science and Miami University.  

Since September, when many students returned to campus, we have been following a rigorous plan, called Healthy Together, to keep our students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible while still providing a "Miami education" in a socially distanced and somewhat isolated world. The faculty have worked extremely hard to provide high quality personalized educational experiences to our students scattered across campus, the country, and the world. The university has devoted countless hours developing and implementing testing protocols to identify and contain the spread of COVID-19 on campus and support those students that have been affected.

While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the economy, our health and wellbeing, and our ability to interact with one another, I have seen many instances of strength and creativity and compassion that give me an unwavering sense of pride and hope in what we as Miamians can achieve.

As this newsletter shows, our faculty, students, and alumni continue to inspire us with their academic and professional endeavors and accomplishments that demonstrate the hallmarks of our liberal arts education at Miami. Miami's public health program, joining with Butler County, has hired and trained students as contact tracers to track the virus's rampant spread throughout the local community.

In addition, with the help of Miami's Office of Admission, we have been working on major online recruitment efforts for prospective students, such as our annual Discover the Sciences and an ambitious series of Virtual Open Houses. These events include live webinars with faculty and students and also a number of department videos that showcase our research facilities and student opportunities.

All in all, although we're hardly out of the woods, many of us are continuing to thrive and do our best to showcase the positive spirit of Miami. Please let us know how you're holding up during these times of uncertainty, and remember that as corny as it may sound, Miami is a global family. We're always happy to help and learn from each other.

Until next time, stay safe.

Chris
cas@MiamiOH.edu