Kansas State University

Civil Rights Teach-In

Wed., Jan. 29, 2025 | 2:30-5 p.m.
Leadership Studies Building, McVay Family Town Hall
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee

Join the conversation on social justice issues during K-State’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Observance Week!

Teach-ins are held for learning, discussion and movement towards action, usually around a challenging sociopolitical issue. They often include expert presentations and audience participation and are not limited to a strict timeframe.

Join us for K-State’s 11th Annual Civil Rights Teach-In and hear K-State experts present about this year’s theme: wellness of the body, mind and world. Then, join the conversation during a panel discussion with the presenters.

For questions, contact Dr. Kimathi Choma, kchoma@k-state.edu, 785-532-6904.

2:30-2:40 – Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

2:40-3:20 – Land, Embodiment, and Wellbeing
Dr. Melissa Poll, Social Transformation Studies and English

3:30-4:20 – Neuroscience, the Human Brain, and Wellbeing
Dr. Julio Hernandez Pavon, Psychological Sciences

4:30-5:00 – Panel Discussion: How Can the Sciences and Humanities Intersect to Support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Well-Being?
Dr. Keisha Clark, Social Transformation Studies; Dr. Melissa Poll; Dr. Julio Hernandez Pavon

Faculty Meetings – Spring 2025

Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1
4 p.m. | 114 Willard Hall

All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Faculty may vote.

ArtSci Drop-By

Feb. 6 | 5 p.m. | Union Fireside Lounge outside JP’s

Join us at this fun, informal social for all Arts and Sciences faculty and staff! An appetizer buffet will be provided!

Coffee Collabs

Improving your writing practice

Thu., Feb. 13 | 9:30-11 a.m.
113 Leadership Studies Building
RSVP encouraged

Led by Theresa Merrick, assistant director of K-State’s Writing Center, this session will focus on strategies, habits and tools to improve writing productivity and help writers feel more confident tackling research and workplace writing tasks. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a writing plan and engage in interactive activities with fellow writers. Participants are encouraged to bring a writing sample and laptop.

Extension Connections with Dr. Gregg Hadley

Wed., March 5 | 10-11:30 a.m.
123 Leadership Studies Building
RSVP encouraged but not required. Please use the form to express interest in the topic even if you can’t attend.

K-State Research and Extension Director Dr. Gregg Hadley will provide information about what KSRE does, how it is organized, and how faculty can connect with the Extension network across the state. This is a key opportunity for faculty interested in partnering with Kansas communities for research or engagement. The K-State strategic plan emphasizes leveraging the Extension network as a key asset for connecting with communities. Come learn how to build those connections!

Arts and Sciences Faculty and Staff Awards Celebration

Thu., March 6 | 5-7 p.m. | Location to be announced

Join us as we present awards to some of our outstanding faculty and staff members!

Important academic dates

See university academic calendar for more details.

Feb. 7 – Instructors may drop students for non-attendance
Feb. 14 – A/Pass/Fail Grading Option Request Deadline
Feb. 14 – Academic Progress Reports Available in SSC-Navigate
Feb. 17 – Census: 20th Day Deadline for making changes to program/plan
Feb. 24 – Academic Progress Reports end in SSC-Navigate
Feb. 25 – Last Day to Drop Classes with no ‘W’ grade on official transcript

College and university awards

Apply or nominate an ArtSci colleague or student for the following university and College of Arts and Sciences awards.

Faculty and Graduate Teaching Assistants

• Faculty Enhancement Program
  Packets due to Laura Hohenbary, laura8@k-state.edu, by Jan. 29
• University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research
  Nominations due Feb. 1
• Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head
  Packets due to Dean’s Office by Feb. 3. Please email materials in PDF format to asdeans@k-state.edu.
• Davids-Dunham Faculty Award for Diverse Scholarship
  Applications due Feb. 14
• Presidential Faculty and Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
  Packets due to Dean’s Office by Feb. 15. Please email materials in PDF format to asdeans@k-state.edu.
• Commerce Bank and Kemper Foundation Undergraduate Outstanding Teaching Awards
  Packets due to asdeans@k-state.edu by February 15
• Big 12 Fellowship Program
  Applications due Feb. 15
• University Outstanding Scholar Award
  Nominations due Feb. 28
• Faculty Development Awards and University Small Research Grants
  Early March; check website periodically for 2025 updates

Staff

• Unclassified Professional Staff Awards
  Last year in March; check website periodically for 2025 updates
• University Support Staff Awards
  Last year in March; check website periodically for 2025 updates

Department/Unit

• University Outstanding Dept/Unit Award for Enhancing Diversity
  Nominations due March 1

Students

• University Award for Distinguished Undergraduate in Research
  Applications due Feb. 1
• Douglas Benson Award for supporting diversity and inclusion
  Applications due March 15

Engagement—Faculty and professional staff

• K-State Engagement Award
  Applications accepted Feb. 1-March 7

Encourage your students!

Undergraduate Research Awards

College Undergraduate Research Awards are offered every spring, summer and fall. Recipients get $1,000 awards to conduct research and creative projects with a faculty mentor. All degree-seeking undergrads in any major in the college are invited to apply. Applications for Summer and Fall are due March 1 and May 1! View our spring 2025 awardees.

Other research award opportunities are offered by the Johnson Cancer Research Center and Chapman Center for Rural Studies as well as K-State’s Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

Mark Chapman Scholars Program

The Mark Chapman Scholars Program helps promising Arts and Sciences students fund meaningful summer projects early in their undergraduate careers. Five awards of $5,000 each are given annually—$3,000 to fund a summer activity and $1,000 per semester in the following academic year. Applications are due March 3.

ArtSci Student Mentorship Program

The ArtSci Mentorship Program is open to all undergrads in the college. Students are paired with professionals who provide insight and guidance for career preparation and help students develop a professional network. Students must sign up by Feb. 2 to be onboarded before the program launches Feb. 10. The program coordinator is Paige Altwegg, paltwegg@k-state.edu.

K-State Undergraduate Research Symposium

Tue., April 15 | 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
K-State Student Union, Ballroom and Courtyard

All undergraduate students participating in mentored research are encouraged to participate in this two-session symposium. They may exhibit traditional research posters or show artifacts that aid in presenting creative work. Students should start planning now and join the symposium Canvas page for information on poster design, presentation tips, printing and more. Registration closes March 23. Learn more from Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research.

• Emily Mann‘s role has changed from academic advisor to college orientation coordinator. She still advises students in math, geography, social science and physical science.
• Assistant Dean Ben Stark finally got a home in Calvin Hall! He is now located in 113 Calvin.
• Geology department’s interim head is now Dr. Matt Brueseke.
• Geography and geospatial sciences department’s interim head is now Dr. Marcellus Caldas.

After more than a year of collaborative work, the College of Arts and Sciences has a Next-Gen Strategic plan to align with the university’s Next-Gen K-State plan. To develop the college plan, members of our faculty and staff engaged in many discussions about our values and hopes for the college. Please view the result of this hard work and use it to guide your priorities and decisions.

College of Arts and Sciences Next-Gen Strategic Plan

Arts and Sciences graduates go in many different directions after they leave K-State, and we are proud of all they do to improve the world. Below are a couple you might know!

Allison Bowman, 2017 fine arts graduate, artist and nonprofit professional

Allison Bowman ’17 has always been drawn to the tallgrass prairie.

Born and raised in Manhattan, Kan., she came to K-State as a transfer student to study art, and whenever she needed a moment of peace and reflection, she walked the Konza Prairie. The gently rolling hills, waving grasses and beautiful wildflowers served as sources of inspiration that she continues to weave through her artwork.

Today, Bowman is a multidisciplinary artist who also works for a nonprofit arts organization called Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Read more.

Erica Short, 2007 mass communication graduate, creative director

Can you save a life through a video ad on social media that lasts only a few seconds?

Erica Short ’07 and her teammates at Kansas City-based creative agency Overflow believe you can.

Short, creative director at Overflow, recently worked on a Gen Z fentanyl awareness campaign called “You Never Know.” Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be manufactured illegally and cheaply and then disguised as legitimate medications, such as Xanax. It is 50 times more potent than heroin and just a few grains can kill someone.

Read more.