Science dean to step down
USU College of Science Dean Donald W. Fiesinger recently announced his decision to step down as dean at the end of the 2006-2007 academic year. Fiesinger has been the dean for the past six years, first being named interim dean in 2000 and then appointed as dean in 2003.
Fiesinger plans to return to the college’s department of geology next fall, where he will become a part of the faculty once again. Fiesinger originally joined the USU faculty in 1976, and prior to being appointed dean, served as head of the geology department for 18 years.
“In the six years that I’ve been dean, Widtsoe Hall has opened and the chemistry building was finished. There have been many changes and tremendous advances in the life sciences that will affect the college in the future and the university as well. I’m glad to have been a part of this,” Fiesinger said.
The students and faculty of the College of Science have had some impressive accomplishments during Fiesinger’s years as dean. Among the college’s recent graduates and students, there has been a Rhodes Scholar, a Governor’s Scholar and five Goldwater Scholars. Faculty members and alumni have been the recipients of the Carnegie Professor of the Year Award, the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology and the geology, chemistry and physics departments have received the USU Teaching Excellence Award in recent years.
Additionally, the college’s medical and dental school acceptance rate was outstanding last year: 80 percent of applicants were accepted to medical school and nearly 60 percent were accepted to dental school. This is high compared to an average of less than 50 percent to these professional programs nationwide, according to the college’s Web site.
In response to this statistic, Fiesinger said, “Just keep up the good work, everyone. The people who deserve recognition are the faculty of the biology department who work very closely with the students. These accomplishments wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the dedicated faculty and hard-working students.”
Although Fiesinger has continued to teach while being dean, he is looking forward to working solely as a professor again in the fall.
“I enjoy teaching and have missed the regular contact I used to have with students,” Fiesinger said. “Being able to interact with them one-on-one again and on a regular basis will be great.”
Fiesinger said his favorite aspect of geology is igneous petrology, specifically the study of volcanic rocks, which he is able to do locally in Cache Valley and southern Idaho. Fiesinger said he also enjoys photography, where he has taken many pictures related to his field, as well as flying kites with his family while vacationing on the Oregon coast.
USU President Stan Albrecht said, “Dean Fiesinger has provided visionary leadership for the college and we are deeply grateful for his service. He was a stabilizing and calming voice during tough economic times early in his deanship and because of his guidance the college is well positioned for continued growth and success.”
USU Provost Raymond T. Coward agreed, saying, “We all owe Dean Fiesinger a great debt of gratitude for his vision, leadership and dedication. He leaves a strong collection of academic departments and centers that are poised for even greater accomplishments in the future.”
The college of science includes the academic departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, mathematics and statistics, geology and physics. There are more than 1,400 undergraduates and more than 250 graduate and doctoral students currently enrolled in degree programs administered by the college.
A national search and screening committee composed of faculty, alumni and students has been organized in order to locate Fiesinger’s successor. USU college of Natural Resources Dean Nat B. Frazer will be the committee chair.