College of Arts, Sciences and Education

Dear friends and alumni,

This month, I had the opportunity to attend the second meeting of the newly formed Council of Liberal Arts Leaders at Technological Institutions (CoLLT), whose membership has already grown to more than 30 institutions. Leaders from many of these universities gathered at Georgia Tech to consider an increasingly important question: How should we reimagine the liberal arts in the age of artificial intelligence?

AI is not simply another technological advancement. Its increasing capacity to act with a degree of autonomy raises fundamental questions about accountability, oversight, and cognitive offloading, even as it opens new possibilities for scientific discovery and technological innovation. This rapidly evolving technology is also reshaping how we teach, learn, work, and make decisions in higher education. What constitutes sociotechnical literacy in the AI era? How do we cultivate critical thinking when information and analysis are readily generated by machines? Are students using AI to deepen their understanding -- or to sidestep the learning process?

These questions are not easily answered, which is precisely why they deserve sustained intellectual engagement. We have devoted this month’s “Worth Pondering” section to a dozen articles examining AI from different perspectives, highlighting both its considerable potential and the challenges and questions it presents.

Our faculty are also bringing these conversations into the classroom and their scholarly work. Next semester, philosophy professor Shane Epting will offer a new course, The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. In addition, CASE faculty Jossalyn Gale (English and technical communication), C.J. Lungstrum (mathematics), Vadym Mochalin (chemistry), Daniel Reardon (dean’s office), and David Wright (English and technical communication) received IGSET grants this month to pursue AI-focused projects.

Views of AI span a broad spectrum, from dystopian concerns about job displacement, economic disruption, and loss of human control to optimistic expectations of economic growth, scientific breakthroughs, and new possibilities for human flourishing. Our task in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education is not to begin with either extreme, but to approach these developments with curiosity, rigor, and an open mind -- to ask difficult questions, examine the evidence, and help our students thoughtfully navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI.

Sincerely,

Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean

Interested in discovering how life works at the molecular level -- and using that knowledge to advance medicine, biotechnology, and human health?

Missouri S&T’s bachelor of science in biochemistry offers a pathway to do just that.

A degree in biochemistry is an excellent fit for students who enjoy chemistry, biology, and solving complex problems. It can open doors to careers in medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and research, as well as opportunities in graduate and professional programs. Biochemistry explores the chemical processes that drive life -- from how enzymes catalyze reactions to how cells communicate, adapt, and respond to their environment. At S&T, students build a strong foundation in chemistry, biology, and mathematics while gaining hands-on research experience with faculty actively advancing scientific discovery.

Ready to learn more or apply?

Visit biochemistry program to explore the curriculum, career pathways and application information. Questions may also be directed to Dr. Pablo Sobrado, director of the biochemistry program, at psobrado@mst.edu or 573-341-4768.

Shirin Mohammad Saeed, a Ph.D. student in chemistry working under the supervision of Dr. Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, received a trainee travel award from the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Chemical Toxicology (TOXI) to attend the ACS Fall 2026 Meeting in Chicago in August. Her research project, “Synthesis of Self-Decontaminating Cotton Fabric for Organophosphate Detoxification,” focuses on developing functionalized cotton materials capable of detoxifying organophosphorus compounds.

Patrica-Ivy Agorsor, a Ph.D. student in chemistry in the Eze Group, along with Dr. Robin Verble and Dr. Michael Eze, published a research article in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T), a leading journal in environmental chemistry. Their study examined volatile and semivolatile chemical contamination on wildland firefighters’ protective gear and evaluated the effectiveness of laundering as a decontamination strategy. The researchers also identified practical approaches that could help firefighters reduce secondary chemical exposure and associated long-term health risks.

There is a new Message from the Dean on the CASE website. Also on the CASE site, updates to the CASE Course Availability for Next 3 Years.

The arts, languages, and philosophy department is now offering a new entertainment technology certificate. The music programs in ALP have had a website redesign.

While looking at S&T websites, be sure to check out the Maxwell Weiner Humanities Endowment page. 

Dr. Eun Heui Kim joined the college in August as the Gary W. Havener Endowed Chair of Mathematics and Statistics. Prior to joining S&T, Kim served as professor and head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at South Dakota State University and as a program director in the National Science Foundation’s Division of Mathematical Sciences.

Kim’s research combines rigorous analytical, numerical, and data-driven approaches to understand complex scientific and societal systems. Her extensive record of research and academic leadership will support the department’s efforts to advance mathematics education, strengthen research programs, and expand interdisciplinary collaboration across S&T.

This fall, the band program celebrates its 100th anniversary. To help mark this milestone, the band program will host the following events during the 2026-27 academic year:

* Wind Symphony Kickoff Concert -- Thursday, Oct. 1, in Leach Theatre – celebrate 100 years to-the-day of the first band performance. 

* Homecoming Alumni Tailgate and Halftime Performance -- Saturday, Oct. 17.

* Miner Alumni Band Performance -- Feb. 27-28, 2027.

* Spring Concert and Scholarship Gala -- Sunday, April 25, 2027.

For more information about the events or to register for the Alumni Band, visit music.mst.edu/band100 or call 573-341-6837.

During the summer, Dr. Martin Bohner, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, attended three conferences held in honor of his 60th birthday and his contributions to mathematics.

Dr. Eric Bryan, professor of English, was named a Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor by the University of Missouri Board of Curators on Sept. 3. The designation recognizes Bryan’s outstanding contributions to teaching and education.

Dr. Gerald Cohen, professor of German, published an article titled “Greek basileus ‘king’ as a Possible Borrowing from Semitic MŠL ‘to rule’” in Comments on Etymology, Vol. 55, No. 8 (May 2026). The origin of the Greek word basileus has long been a puzzle in Indo-European studies, and Cohen’s article explores a possible solution to this enduring etymological question.

Dr. Shane Epting, associate professor of philosophy, published an article titled “How E-Bicycle Policy and Infrastructure Challenge Sustainable Transportation: An Ethical Assessment” in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. This summer, Epting also served as a visiting professor at La Salle University in Bogotá, Colombia, where he taught a course titled “The Person in the Smart City: Critical Thinking about AI and the Good Life.”

Dr. Michael Eze, assistant professor of chemistry, organized and chaired a two-day symposium at the ACS Fall 2026 Meeting, held Aug. 23-27 in Chicago. Titled “Bridging PFAS Exposure Science and Remediation Innovation: From Analytical Frontiers to Scalable Solutions,” the symposium featured 37 presentations and posters focused on PFAS exposure and remediation. In addition, members of the Eze Group delivered three presentations in other sessions during the conference.

Dr. Shannon Fogg, chair and professor of history and political science, published an article in The Conversation for the 100th anniversary of the Paris Grand Mosque. It examines the mosque's origins as a monument to Muslim soldiers killed in the First World War and its relationship to colonialism.  

Dr. Margret Grebowicz, Maxwell C. Weiner Distinguished Professor of Humanities, published two articles: “The Border Sublime” in The Montreal Review and “Big Bend Wall Threatens Local Way of Life” in Sierra.

Dr. Ulrich Jentschura, professor of physics, visited the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in July, where he discussed quantum electrodynamics, atom traps, and gravitational interactions with NIST scientists. He also delivered an invited talk, “News from Quantum Electrodynamics,” highlighting recent work on the proton radius puzzle and entangled atoms. Discussions during the visit led to a new proposal for measuring Newton’s gravitational constant using a novel experimental setup and statistical techniques. The resulting work is reported in preprint here.

Dr. Beth Kania-Gosche, professor and chair of education department, published an article in The Conversation titled “The SAT Has Changed Since It Debuted 100 Years Ago – but Questions Remain About Its Relevance.” She also received a $141,450 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the project “Missouri Quality Prekindergarten for Child Care (MOQPK-CC) Grant.”

Dr. Hyunsoo Kim, assistant professor of physics, was featured in the St. Louis Science Center’s NewScience for his contributions to STEM outreach. In collaboration with Matthew Dalton of S&T’s Makers Studio, Kim designed and built a Missouri S&T-branded magnetic track that demonstrates superconducting levitation, a macroscopic quantum phenomenon. The track was donated to the Science Center, where visitors can now experience superconductivity firsthand. The project was sponsored by Missouri S&T’s physics department.

Dr. Shelley Minteer, Ken Robertson Memorial Professor of Chemistry and director of the Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability, received a $658,433 grant from Arzeda Corporation for the research project “Ideas Lab: CFIRE: Electricity-Driven Cell-Free Cascades.”

Dr. Melanie Mormile, professor of biological sciences, received the American Society for Microbiology’s Alice C. Evans Award for Advancement of Women, which recognizes contributions to the advancement of women in microbiology. She also received a $13,904 grant from Brookside Capital LLC for the project “Development and Validation of a Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of the Extremophilic Bacterium Halomonas Isolate #7.”

Dr. Susan Murray, associate provost for Teaching and Curriculum Excellence and professor of psychological sciences, published a new Object Lessons essay, “Name,” in the Pittsburgh Review of Books. Murray, a member of the Weiner Endowment-supported Public Scholars Network, explores how names shape identity, memory, and human connection, bringing psychological insights to a broader public audience.

Dr. Kathleen Sheppard, professor of history, edited a 4-volume set of nineteenth century British Egyptology primary sources. They were published with Routledge this month. At the end of September, she traveled to the Dolomites to give the keynote talk about Amelia Edwards' work in Egyptology at a cultural festival in the Italian city of Belluno.

Dr. Pablo Sobrado, the Richard K. Vitek/FCR Endowed Chair of Biochemistry, and Dr. Hunter Schroer, assistant professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, received a $309,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior for the project “Defluor-Explore: Discovery and Mechanistic Characterization of Defluorinating Enzymes to Track Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Biotransformation Across Source-to-Receptor Pathways.”

Dr. Kris Swenson, professor of English, published an article titled "Eugenic Reincarnation: Arabella Kenealy and the Romance of the Soul" in the journal Philological Quarterly. The article explores how the early 20th century physician and novelist, Arabella Kenealy, combined eugenics with the occult to allow women to transcend the limitations of unfair social structures and positivist evolution.

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors for their generous support of CASE:

· Marilyn Rambow donated $25,000 to establish the Frederick Rambow Memorial Scholarship fund in honor of her late husband, Frederick H.K. (Fritz) Rambow who earned a master’s degree (1973) and a Ph.D. (1976) in Physics.

· Mike and Debbie Haynes provided an outright gift of $100,000 for much-needed Chemistry lab equipment. Their generous donation enabled the purchase of a helium recycling system for NMR equipment.

The generosity of our donors is essential to the continued success and growth of our college. Your support enables us to address a wide range of needs—from providing assistance to students facing financial or personal challenges to investing in faculty development, innovative programs, and research opportunities. Every gift, regardless of its size, has a meaningful impact on the educational experience we provide and helps strengthen our mission of excellence.

If you are interested in supporting the college, please contact Lee Ann Mentink, principal philanthropic advisor for CASE, at leeannm@mst.edu or 573-341-6050.

Disclaimer: CASE does not endorse the arguments presented in any of the essays listed in this section of the newsletter. We share them solely as "food for thought" and encourage our enlightened audience to form their own opinions on the subjects discussed.

College of Arts, Sciences and Education

Missouri University of Science and Technology

118 Fulton Hall
301 W. 14th St., Rolla, MO 65409
573-341-4687
case@mst.edu