Dear GCD Alumni and Friends,
I'm thrilled to share some exciting updates from our department, as we've had quite the year in our research and educational missions!
In research, we're buzzing about the 2023 arrival of several new tenure-track assistant professors. Our new faculty are adding fresh perspectives, and their expertise is key to enhancing our research intensity and grant portfolio, thus strengthening the core of our department. Our strategic hiring efforts continue with a new faculty search that we launched this last fall. We’re looking to add several trailblazers to complement our departmental research strengths, collaborate and connect with the incredible work happening on campus in cancer, aging, drug addiction, developmental genetics and disease research. Thanks to our office staff, students and all of our faculty for their support and robust engagement in the searches including seminars, chalk talks, 1:1 visits, lunches and dinners! In the end, it’s the energy and interactions during campus visits that attract the best candidates.
On the teaching front, we've made significant strides as well. The GCD undergraduate curriculum has also been bolstered by new hires. We provided critical support for undergraduate courses, continued to expand the Writing Enriched Curriculum and developed a new assessment strategy for evaluating undergraduate majors and minors. In addition, the Medical School rolled out a new systems-based curriculum last year
Indeed, change is all around. We welcomed Saara DeWalt, the new dean of CBS, this last fall and look forward to working with her. Thanks again to David Greenstein for his service as interim dean and for providing a smooth transition to the new CBS administration.
In the Medical School, change is also underway as Dean Tolar works together with the University and the Minnesota Legislature to reimagine Minnesota’s healthcare and strengthen the role of academic medicine and access to healthcare across the state.
As we continue to evolve, we are thankful for the unwavering support of alumni and friends, which is integral to our faculty's accomplishments.
GCD is excited to share our collective strides in this year’s newsletter. Here's to another year of breaking new ground! ENJOY!!
Warmest regards,
Tom Hays
Department Head, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development