Dr. Gabe Kerr, mathematics, was recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents with a Faculty of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to teaching, student success and service to the university!
The award especially honors his work to support students’ mathematical literacy and advancement through initiating and implementing the Math Pathways program to help students effectively navigate the mathematics curriculum.
“One of my favorite parts of working with students comes when I see them acquire skills that they initially felt were inaccessible,” said Dr. Kerr.
The book tracks the historic fight for fair labor standards since the eighteenth century. Shining a light on the changing ideological landscape of the Supreme Court in the twentieth century, Dr. Fliter shows how the court’s groundbreaking decisions led to the creation of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1941, guaranteeing rights that are the norm today, such as the eight-hour workday, five-day workweek, and minimum wage.
Teaching excellence is a top priority of our college! Each year, we present several awards for exemplary teaching and honor the recipients at a celebration in the spring.
Her nominator, Anne Phillips, professor and associate department head of English, said:
“Professor Gray is an essential, admired, and consequential member of the English Department. Whether she is teaching required courses such as Expository Writing, degree-requirement courses such as Early American Literature, a 500-level course on Writing Center Theory, or creating a harmonious and productive environment as she directs the Writing Center, Stacia ensures that all students feel safe, engaged, motivated, and successful.”
A senior in English Education, said:
“I have never known a time in which Stacia did not open her office to meet with students. I have spent numerous hours with her navigating research and assignments. Her dedication and willingness to meet for any occasion displays a sincere investment in her students’ intellectual development and makes her an irreplaceable educator.”
We loved meeting so many of you at our Arts and Sciences Discovery Expo on Sept. 10! Are you exploring a major, minor, certificate, or applied learning experience as a result of the event?
We especially enjoyed giving away some scholarships and prizes!
Sept. 9 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Union Ballroom
Cosponsored by College of Health and Human Sciences
Learn about and build relationships with a variety of health-related employers. Health Networking Night is for anyone thinking about a career in a health-related field like family or specialized medicine, physical therapy, emergency medical services, elder care, hospital administration and public health.
Considering changing majors or adding a major, minor or certificate? Curious about applied learning opportunities? Visit the Discovery Expo to chat with any of our 20 academic departments about what they have to offer. You could even win a prize or scholarship!
Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 15, Dec. 13 | 2-2:30 p.m.
Manhattan Public Library Auditorium
Sponsored by the Modern Languages Department and community partners
Take your little loved ones to hear a story from Latinx authors and illustrators and do a fun craft or activity. Ages 5+ encouraged.
Sept. 30 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Union Ballroom
Cosponsored by College of Health and Human Sciences
Helping Professions Networking Night offers students the opportunity to meet with employers in social services, mental health, community engagement, youth and family support, and social justice and criminal justice.
Tue., Sept. 16 | 10:30 a.m.-noon
Regnier Forum, Regnier Hall
Sponsored by the Graduate School
Graduate students are invited to attend this panel discussion featuring K-State administrative leaders, including President Linton, for a candid conversation about how leaders are forged. Registration is requested.
The history department biennially invites internationally acclaimed historians to present on an issue of war and peace in their field for the Eisenhower Lecture series.
Important Dates
Sept. 15: Last Day for 100% Refund (16-week classes)
Sept. 22: Last Day for 50% Refund (16-week classes)
Sept. 29: Last Day to drop class without “W” on transcript (16-week classes)
Oct. 1: Graduation application must be submitted to KSIS to be included in commencement program
Oct. 17: Wildcat Pause Day (no classes)
Oct. 27: Spring 2025 Enrollment Begins
Oct. 31: Last Day to drop class with “W” on transcript (16-week classes)
Tip: Students can find the drop deadlines for all classes, including non-standard classes, by clicking on the calendar icon next to each class in their KSIS Student Center Academics area.
Undergraduate Research Awards – Due Nov. 1 for spring support Interested in doing research? Apply for a $1,500 College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Award to do a semester-long, faculty-mentored research or creative project! These awards are offered in fall, spring and summer; the application deadline for summer is March 1.
Travel scholarships provide students support to present research at conferences or conduct research off-campus. They are offered year-round. We request applications at least one month prior to travel.
Cancer Research and Travel Awards – Due Oct. 6 During the fall semester, the Johnson Cancer Research Center offers research awards for undergraduate students involved in cancer research and travel awards for both undergraduate and graduate students. Applicaitons are due the first Monday in October. Graduate student awards open in the spring.
Trained students in financial planning or financial services offer counseling to fellow students on budgeting, saving, credit, student loan repayment and transitioning to work.
Refuel and Refocus Hours
Sept. 8 and 22 | Oct. 6 and 20 | Nov. 3 and 17 | Dec. 8 3-5 p.m. | 207 Hale Library
Sponsored by Academic and Career Engagement
Drop in to a focus hour to tackle a gnawing task with some motivation from First Lady Sally Linton, a certified life coach. Free food and tutors!
Undergraduate and graduate students engaged in artificial intelligence research are invited to submit poster abstracts for the K-State AI Symposium Oct. 14-16. Submissions are welcome from all areas of AI, including but not limited to:
Connect with other K-Staters and help build community through conversation. ‘Cats Connect is a peer-to-peer facilitated program designed to help groups of 4-7 Wildcats—faculty, staff and students—meet and develop friendships outside their regular social circles. Groups meet one hour a week for five weeks.
Even if you don’t plan to attend Commencement, the application is required to graduate. Stay up-to-date by checking the K-State graduation site frequently.
This is an exciting time! If you have any questions, contact the college’s Center for Student Success and Engagement, 107 Calvin Hall, artsci@ksu.edu.
University guidance on free expression
As a higher education institution, where thousands of perspectives and viewpoints convene, we provide space for civil conversations and discourse to express and learn from each other.
Congratulations to our Summer and Fall 2025 research awardees!
Undergraduate students enrolled full-time in any major in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to apply for research awards to conduct projects with faculty members in the college. Each awardee receives a $1,500 scholarship. Applications are accepted for spring, summer and fall semesters. Learn more and apply for Spring 2026 awards by Nov. 1!
Summer 2025
Ayianna Bailey, medical microbiology and medical laboratory science; mentored by Vanessa Ante, biology
Samuel, Gido, mathematics and computer science; mentored by Natalia Rojkovskaia, mathematics
Robin Imbeau, history; mentored by Mary Kohn, Chapman Center for Rural Studies
Brett McLeland, chemistry; mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry
Aaliyah Nance, sociology and dance; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
Kendal Palmgren, human health biology; mentored by Michael Veeman, biology
Allison Ricker, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology; mentored by Loretta Johnson, biology
Destinee Shaffer, biochemistry-medical track; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
Fall 2025
Josie Anderson, music education; mentored by Ruth Gurgel, music
Kieran Boeger, psychology and dance & the human experience; mentored by Kate Digby, dance
Ibrahim Ciftci, medical biochemistry; mentored by Ryan Rafferty, chemistry
Zach Davis, mathematics; mentored by Lizaveta Ihnatsyeva, mathematics
Jillian DeVoe, psychology and gerontology; mentored by Shalene Allen, psychological sciences
Brenden Draney, chemical engineering; mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry
Emma Edwards, biochemistry and chemical science; mentored by Ryan Rafferty, chemistry
Luke Hebert, mathematics and mechanical engineering; mentored by David Auckly, mathematics
Payton Henderson, biology and integrated health studies; mentored by Katsura Asano, biology
Marian Hernandez, psychology; mentored by Shalene Allen, psychological sciences
Hera Hessenius, piano performance and biology; mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music; and Tim Bolton, physics
Wynnstan Hessenius, physics; mentored by mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music; and Tim Bolton, physics
Blake Hoelting, medical microbiology; mentored by Sonny Lee, biology
Caden Massey, life science; mentored by Katsura Asano, biology
Sarah Musser, kinesiology and dance & the human experience; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
Viv Nguyen, physics and mechanical engineering; mentored Dinh-Liem Nguyen, mathematics
Carter Oliver, biology and gerontology; mentored by Heather Bailey, psychological sciences
Mark Rack, psychology and social work; mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences
Nalen Rangarajan, mathematics and computer science; mentored by Pietro Poggi-Corradini and Ngoc Huy Truong, mathematics
Sara See, visual communication design; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
Saiph Sorell, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology; mentored by Keith Gido, biology
Aspen Tallent, music education; mentored by Ruth Gurgel, music
Ishika Thakur, chemical engineering; mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry
Gracie Toman, psychology; mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences
Aly Youngers, history and philosophy with minor in anthropology; mentored by Phil Tiemeyer, history
Congratulations to our Goldwater and Fulbright Scholars!
Erin Frenk, junior in chemistry and the MBA program, from Fredonia, Kan., has received a prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship! Erin is passionate about solving environmental problems and plans to earn a Ph.D. and lead research that improves water quality and other critical issues. Read more.
Kutina Cabrera, recent grad in psychology and French, from Kansas City, received a Fulbright Award to research worker well-being and pursue a master’s degree at Aix-Marseille University in France. Her ultimate goal is to improve the working conditions of vulnerable groups in the U.S. Read more.
Teaching excellence is a top priority of our college! Each year, we present several awards for exemplary teaching and honor the recipients at a celebration in the spring.
Abigail Langston, associate professor in geography and geospatial sciences, was recognized with a 2024 William L. Stamey Award for Undergraduate Teaching.
Her nominator, Chuck Martin, former geography department head, said:
“Dr. Langston’s dedication to experience-based, practical learning in her upper-level undergraduate courses, and her enthusiasm and real-life examples in lower-level courses, enrich the undergraduate experience of every student in her courses. She is a gifted teacher who dedicates hours to her students in the classroom, office, lab and field.”
A recent graduate student said:
“Dr. Langston made learning both engaging and immersive. Her passion for teaching truly comes to life in the field, where she allows students to engage deeply with hands-on science and research. [Dr. Langston’s mentorship] was pivotal in my development as a researcher. Her creativity in simplifying complex concepts and her commitment to nurturing students’ curiosity had a lasting impact on my academic journey.”
Langston teaches Intro to Physical Geography: Earth Systems Science, Spatial Analysis of Surface Water Hydrology, and Fluvial Geomorphology. She is also the department’s interim graduate program director.
Left to right: Christie Launius, Kimathi Choma, Ben Stark, Chris Culbertson, Scott Tanona, Mary Cain
Hello, Arts and Sciences Students!
Welcome to Fall 2025 at K-State! We’re so glad to have you in the College of Arts and Sciences, a place where you can explore various interests and gain real-world experience and employer-valued skills. We hope you have a great year!
We are here to help you make that happen. Watch for monthly newsletters like this to stay informed about helpful resources, exciting opportunities, and fun and informative events.
As we welcome our newest students to K-State and our established students back, we hope you’ll appreciate a few words of wisdom on making the most out of college. Take it from us—we’ve been around a while!
Sincerely,
Chris Culbertson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Chemistry
Advice: It’s ok to change your mind. Explore different interests. I changed my major 5 times before graduating in chemistry.
Get involved in the community off-campus. It’ll broaden your experiences and opportunities. When I was a student, I got involved with an aquarium and eventually was trained in scuba diving.
Scott Tanona, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Planning, Professor of Philosophy
Advice: Be ready to learn from failure. There was a time when I wasn’t doing well in school due to a variety of issues, and I let my fear of failure get in the way of owning up to what was happening. Honest acceptance is important…and hard.
In both science and life, we’re not really learning unless we accept when our hypotheses or beliefs are wrong or unuseful. The best classroom learning often happens when students share what isn’t working and explore alternative solutions or approaches.
Mary Cain, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Professor in Psychological Sciences
Advice: Try new things and take opportunities. I started out focused on pre-med. And then I took Intro to Neuroscience and loved it. I got a neuroscience research opportunity and that was it—totally changed my life trajectory.
Christie Launius, Associate Dean for Student Success, Engagement and Undergraduate Studies, Professor in Social Transformation Studies
Advice: Do something that scares you or might be “off-brand” for you. I got involved with a UPC-like organization, helping coordinate entertainment at my university. I had to introduce speakers in front of large audiences, which was totally out of my comfort zone. But as a result, I gained skills and confidence I never pictured having.
Kimathi Choma, Assistant Dean for Student Success, College Health Initiatives, and Retention
Advice: Find opportunities to work with others to gain teamwork experience. Participate in study abroad or gain other cross-cultural experience and meet people who are different from you. Look for leadership opportunities like serving as a club officer or in student government.
Ben Stark, Assistant Dean for Infrastructure and Faculty Support, Professor of Theatre
Advice: Be in charge of your own path. Find ways to do what you want. Be persistent and stubborn. Create the opportunities you want if they don’t already exist. I pursued a theatre teaching certificate for a semester, and then the program was canceled. But it was for the best because it allowed me to focus on other opportunities like an English degree and entrepreneurship certificate.
Dr. Gabe Kerr, mathematics, was recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents with a Faculty of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to teaching, student success and service to the university!
