Greetings and Happy New Year from the College of Social and Behavioral Science! Over the past few years I’ve found myself thinking that working within the College cannot get more interesting but it continues to do so. I cannot list all of the extraordinary accomplishments by our faculty, students and staff but will highlight a few. I hope that you are as excited – and as proud – as I am.

Please take special note of our Distinguished Alumni for 2007 – Betty Glad and J.D. Williams. The celebration of these two exemplary graduates is especially meaningful with the passing of J.D. Williams in September. He will be missed forever.

I am particularly pleased with the progress in the Institute of Public and International Affairs. We hired two exceptional senior scholars in 2007, professors Susan McDaniel and Dennis Wei. We also have entered into a two-year arrangement with Dr. Bruce Hoffman, perhaps the world’s leading expert on counterterrorism, who is helping us develop teaching and research initiatives in international human security. All of these programs involve faculty in all departments in CSBS and in several colleges across The U. These three new scholars are continuing the momentum toward interdisciplinary examination of issues of global consequence.

Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, delivered the keynote address at the 11th annual Siciliano Forum on one such issue of global consequence – obesity. His lecture began a two-day conference on the causes, consequences and policy alternatives for dealing with obesity. Faculty for the conference came from across the United States and Utah.

The second annual conference from the Barbara and Norman Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Rights Advocacy will be here in no time. At the inaugural conference last year, we wrestled with terrorism, violence and values. This year, we are taking on another complex issue with intriguing local, national and international implications – population migration. Faculty from four colleges at The U will join with scholars from around the country. Mark your calendars for February 28-29 and join us.

Several stories in our current newsletter remind me of our many generous supporters. So many of you give time and resources to help the College of Social and Behavioral Science move forward. You truly make a difference in the daily lives of our students, faculty and staff. We are grateful.

Sincerely,

J. Steven Ott, Dean


About Dean J. Steven Ott