From Dean Chris Makaroff

Dear Alumni and Friends:

As Oxford and the surrounding region lies thickly blanketed in snow, I am pleased to share some positive news for Miami and CAS. Data from our Office of Admission shows that Miami continues to attract high quality students from around the U.S., with CAS seeing a 4.9% increase over last year's applications. In addition, with the rollout of vaccines throughout the country there is rising hope that life will indeed return to some degree of normal over the coming months.

On the academic front, our students and faculty continue to achieve impressive milestones despite the extra challenges involved with remote learning. For example, we've recently announced 11 CAS students and recent grads as semi-finalists for Fulbright fellowships to teach English in various countries around the world, and late last year our Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs received a grant of $6 million from the state of Ohio to fund wellness programs for K-12 students and teachers. Construction has begun on our new Health Sciences Building, which along with a number of other programs will house our new Physician Associate Program, currently in development.

Later this month, Miami's Center for Career Exploration and Success is gearing up for its Spring Career Fair 2021, on February 25, which helps students network with employers and alumni. Thanks to all of you who are participating, and we encourage any of you who may have job openings at your organizations to reach out and register. 

Carolyn Craig, our new Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, has been hard at work putting together a number of diversity initiatives that will help to transform not only CAS but the university as a whole. CAS is set to become more inclusive than ever, as we expect to welcome our largest and most diverse incoming class yet. Stay tuned for more details in our next newsletter.

Let us know how you're faring as well. As our campus begins to gear up for more activity this spring, we hope to highlight many more of our alums from all around the world, both on our website and in this newsletter. We always love to hear from you!

Best wishes.

Chris
cas@MiamiOH.edu