The at the 杏吧专区 launched the celebration of its 50th anniversary on Sept. 19 in James R. Oliver Hall Auditorium.
Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh, the college杏吧专区檚 dean, welcomed faculty, staff, students, alumni, administrators and supporters to the event, which recognized the impact the College of Sciences has made since it was established in September 1974.
杏吧专区淭his celebration is not just about looking back at the rich history of success,杏吧专区 said Ackleh. 杏吧专区淚t's about recognizing the pioneers who created the foundation for what we are today and the role we play in shaping the future of science and research at this 杏吧专区.杏吧专区
President Dr. Joseph Savoie said the work of each department in the College of Sciences over the past 50 years has helped the 杏吧专区 杏吧专区渄ream bigger.杏吧专区 The fields of biology, chemistry, computing and informatics, geosciences, mathematics and physics have continued to drive the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 reputation and R1 status. This effort is a testament to the vision of the college杏吧专区檚 founders and the work of its faculty, staff and students over the past half century, Savoie said
杏吧专区淚n creating a separate College of Sciences 50 years ago, our leaders were making a statement that this 杏吧专区 could be a place where curiosity becomes innovation, where research is transformed into real-world applications and where students emerged as leaders to tackle the greatest challenges of our time,杏吧专区 he said.
Event speakers chronicled significant moments in the college杏吧专区檚 history. Dr. Steve Landry, former provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, recalled memories from his time at the 杏吧专区 and recognized the people who had a part in creating something that would endure.
杏吧专区淚 spent 20 years immersed into what is today the College of Sciences, then I spent 10 years in the research office serving and observing the College of Sciences, then I spent 10 years in Academic Affairs once again serving and observing the College of Sciences; what a blessing; what an adventure,杏吧专区 said Landry. 杏吧专区淭here were so many great students, so many great faculty, so many great mentors 杏吧专区 there's a lot to celebrate.杏吧专区
Dr. Jaimie Hebert, current 杏吧专区 provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, spoke about the personal impact the College of Sciences had on his life. Hebert earned three degrees 杏吧专区 a bachelor杏吧专区檚, master杏吧专区檚 and doctorate 杏吧专区 from the college.
杏吧专区淎s an alum myself, and more specifically an alum who was born and raised right here in Acadiana, I can tell you that this college is far more than just a cornerstone for this 杏吧专区,杏吧专区 said Hebert. 杏吧专区淭his college and the people who built it are the cornerstones of my entire career and my entire life.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭his college has always been an incubator of ideas, but it's also an incubator of people,杏吧专区 Hebert continued. 杏吧专区淧eople with the ability to thrive in their discipline, people who have the ability to be academics, who thirst for knowledge for its creation and its dissemination, and people who desire to share their passion and open doors for people around the world.杏吧专区
The College of Sciences will continue its anniversary celebration throughout the year.
Photo caption: Dr. Jaimie Hebert, current 杏吧专区 provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, President Dr. Joseph Savoie, Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh, College of Sciences dean, and Dr. Steve Landry, former provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, kicked off the anniversary celebration for the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences at the 杏吧专区. Photo credits: Doug Dugas, Paul Kieu / 杏吧专区 Video credit: Michelle Mata Gomez / 杏吧专区