COSAM News Articles 2020 December COSAM new faculty connect virtually

COSAM new faculty connect virtually

Published: 12/28/2020

“I always enjoy welcoming new faculty each year and learning more about them,” shared Dean Nicholas J. Giordano. “Even with the challenges of COVID-19, we found ways to connect virtually and sincerely welcome them to our lovely college town.”

New faculty had an opportunity to get to know each other and have fun in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) via Zoom.

“We wanted to help welcome new faculty to their new hometown with popular treats from the businesses such as Toomer's Lemonade, popcorn from AU Popcorn, black-eye pea hummus and chips from Amsterdam Café, iced sugar cookies from Cakeitecture, and a gift card to enjoy dinner at Acre restaurant,” said Katie Brown, COSAM program coordinator. “We also included game pieces in the goodie box to play some virtual games together during the virtual new faculty reception and fun topic questions to use in some smaller breakout conversations.”

Faculty, who were located around the world, participated in this event. From the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Robert Molinari’s fiancée Elena Roversi was in Ferrara, Italy. Stephanie Rogers from the Department of Geosciences connected from Canada. Hong Zhao from the Department of Physics virtually attended from Colorado. And the Dean’s wife, Pat Giordano, participated from Seattle, Washington.

“This was a fun and engaging way to meet these new faculty and their partners and help them settle in to COSAM, Auburn, and Alabama,” explained COSAM’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Robert Boyd.

The event welcomed new faculty with a taste of what makes Auburn so special.

“Katie Brown and LaToya Stuart worked very hard to ensure the online reception went smoothly and COSAM is excited to have these new faculty as part of our college,” Dean Giordano added.