Message from the Dean

September 2020

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

Leaves are turning, temperatures are cooling and the Fall 2020 semester is off and running. After months of primarily remote work, what a joy to see students, faculty and staff back on campus! This has been a challenging time for everyone. I deeply appreciate how you all are taking care of yourselves, one another and our broader community.

As we continue to pursue our shared goals of sharpening the College’s identity, offering programs that meet the needs of students and the world and securing support for the College, I continue to be amazed by how many wonderful things all of you are doing. We will thrive in part by raising awareness about the breadth and depth of our activities and contributions. And so, for each of the next three months, I will highlight a different area of the College of Arts & Sciences.

This month we begin with the social sciences. This area of the college encompasses Political Science, Economics (in partnership with the College of Business Administration), Psychology and Social and Cultural Sciences. Programs in these areas tend to focus on social justice and public-facing work with many opportunities for students to complete internships and engage in research.

Political Science has been prominent given the upcoming U.S. Presidential election and Wisconsin’s role as a swing state, with faculty members widely quoted in news outlets. These colleagues have been deeply engaged in voter awareness and education. The department recently sponsored virtual talks by alumni who work with the Democratic National Committee and the Republication National Committee, simultaneously educating the campus about our political system and illustrating career paths for majors. Exercise your civic responsibility: educate yourself about the issues and vote! One helpful resource is Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement.

Economics likewise has been focused on public-facing work, offering courses such as Public Policy and Finance in Latin American Cities, which studies public goods and services, as well as American Economics History, which examines civil rights. The upcoming Marburg Memorial Lecture honoring the late Fr. Theodore F. Marburg will be given virtually on October 8 by Eric Rosengren, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Social and Cultural Sciences faculty members have been highly sought for expertise and commentary around the criminal justice system, especially given heightened concerns about police training and violence. Such topics reflect the department’s focus on promoting racial justice. Faculty members have participated in a COVID Conversations podcast on race and immigration. The department’s recently created Criminal Justice and Data Analytics master’s program has outperformed expectations, attracting a robust cohort of students and illustrating the importance of interdisciplinary work.

Psychology colleagues offer expertise much in demand given the increased focus on mental health during the pandemic. The department is home to a number of clinics and labs, including the community-focused Center for Psychological Services. The department’s newest programs are the Master’s and Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis. Leaders of the Next Step Clinic, funded by a Marquette President’s Challenge award, were invited to present to the Wisconsin Legislature to advocate for better access to effective autism care, particularly on behalf of underserved families of color. Events include the recent virtual Undergraduate Psychology Research Symposium as well as the upcoming Diversity in Psychology Research Conference on October 3.

This handful of highlights represents just a small part of what makes our social sciences outstanding contributors to Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission. These areas illustrate the centrality of the Klingler College of Arts & Sciences to what makes Marquette a place to Be The Difference.

I hope you will be able to participate in the upcoming screening of the film “Picture a Scientist” and the panel discussion on October 6. Bridging the social and natural sciences, this documentary illustrates bias experienced by a diverse group of women scientists and discusses how to make science more equitable and open to all.

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or suggestions. I appreciate hearing about your work and exploring ways we can all work together for the common good.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heidi Bostic
Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences