FMU begins 57th academic year with new initiatives, record scholarship funding

Francis Marion University began its 57th academic year Monday with the announcement of new academic programs, record scholarship funding, and continued investments in the university’s campus and students.

FMU President Fred Carter welcomed almost 300 faculty back to campus by highlighting their scholarly accomplishments during the past academic year. Collectively, they published 96 peer-reviewed books, chapters, articles, and poems and presented 57 exhibitions, performances, and shows.

“Those accomplishments speak to the quality and dedication of our faculty and the breadth of scholarship and other creative work taking place across this campus,” Carter said.

This fall, the university will begin two new undergraduate programs: Forestry and Social Work.

The new forestry program complements FMU’s renowned environmental sciences program and responds to the growing need for professionals committed to the responsible management, restoration, and preservation of natural resources. Students will receive training in forest production, management, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

The program has received significant philanthropic support, including the establishment of Darla Moore Forestry Scholarships.

The new social work program will prepare students for careers as social workers serving a broad range of human service, social service, and community agencies.

Additionally, the university’s graduate nurse educator program will prepare veteran nurses to teach in both academic and clinical settings. This program received substantial external support from the Pee Dee Medical and Health Sciences Education Consortium.

Meanwhile, FMU’s two newest doctoral programs–the Doctorate in Psychology and the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy–continue to thrive. Both programs are entering their third year and will graduate their first cohorts of students this year.

Carter also announced that FMU has awarded more scholarship funding over the past two years than at any other point in the university’s history, with an even greater commitment planned for the current academic year.

“Over the last two years, we have awarded the most scholarship funding in the university’s history. This year, we are committing even more,” Carter said. “Our students are the recipients of more than $28.5 million in institutional, foundation, state, and federal scholarships. Many of our families can only get their children here with financial aid, and we will continue to find it or fund it.”

The university’s commitment to student success is also expanding beyond financial support. Carter announced the creation of the Nationally Competitive Awards Committee, a new initiative designed to help FMU students prepare and compete for prestigious national and international awards.

The committee will be chaired by Dr. Derek Jokisch, professor of physics.

“Students don’t simply apply for Rhodes Scholarships and other distinctions. Their universities prep them,” Carter said.  “At FMU, we’ll have seven faculty and staff working on this effort.”

FMU’s physical campus continues to grow as well, with construction underway on the new Forestry and Environmental Sciences Building and the C. Edward Floyd Medical Education Consortium Building.

Several renovation projects are also in progress, including improvements to the Leatherman Science Facility, McNair Science Building, and Hyman Fine Arts Center. The university has also received state appropriations for renovations to Rogers Library.

“These projects will address most of our immediate construction and renovation needs,” Carter said.

In addition to Carter’s remarks, 11 new faculty members were introduced. They are: Dr. Jose Roman Aranda Cuevas, Ms. Kimberly Basso, Dr. Jenna Blaschke, Ms. Lisa Glenn, Dr. Heesun Kim, Dr. Md Rezwan Hossain Ratul, Dr. Zeinab Khoshhal Mollasaraei, Dr. Madeleine Mason, Dr. Benjamin Schaffer, Mr. Tyler Sehnal, and Dr. Emily Tuttle.

17 faculty members were also recognized for their years of service to the State of South Carolina.

Ten Years

Dr. Brittany Baker

Dr. Lisa Midcalf Carpenter

Dr. Christine Masters-Wheeler

Dr. Tiffany Phillips

Dr. James Ritter

Dr. Dillon Tatum

Twenty Years

Dr. Larry Engelhardt

Dr. Alena Eskridge-Kosmach

Nathan Flowers

Charles Jeffcoat

Dr. Daljit Kaur

Dr. Christopher Kennedy

Dr. Hari Rajagopalan

Dr. Jeffrey Steinmetz

Dr. Shawn Smolen-Morton

Dr. Matthew Turner

Forty Years

Demetra Walker