For release: Sept. 6, 2012
News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu
MURFREESBORO — This
summer, MTSU News and Media Relations spent time interviewing Dr. Robert U.
“Bud” Fischer, first-year dean for the MTSU College of Basic and Applied
Sciences. He replaced Dr. Tom Cheatham, who stepped down to become director of
the Tennessee Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Center on campus.
Fischer, 52, became the fifth dean for the MTSU College of
Basic and Applied Sciences June 1 following a national search. He previously
served as chair of the biology department at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham and associate chair in biology at Eastern Illinois University. His
expertise is in aquatic and fisheries biology. Fischer’s wife, Anita, has been
a pharmacy technician for CVS/pharmacy for 17 years. They have a grown
daughter, Sarah Trigg, and granddaughter, Kelsey Trigg, 4, in Illinois. Called
“Bud” since birth and possessor of a hearty laugh, Fischer officially began his
MTSU tenure Aug. 1.
Q. What can be accomplished while the science
building is being built?
A. Everything. A
building does not make a program or a college. What makes a program or a
college is the outstanding faculty and staff in the department or college. Thus,
I expect the college to continue to offer the students a high-quality education,
opportunities to engage in innovative programs such as study abroad,
internships and undergraduate research, and opportunities to engage in service
on campus and in the Murfreesboro community. I think we should continue to
strive to increase enrollment, while helping our students to become life-long
learners and successful members of society.
Q. What are your thoughts about research?
A. Research is critical to the
mission of the university and is also critical to the economic and social
development of society. Some research benefits are obvious: for example,
benefits of an economic kind (a new product, technology or service), a social
kind (increased knowledge of relevance to policy makers), of an environmental
kind (improved techniques to ensure sustainable food production), of a cultural
kind (increased understanding of cultural values or social approaches) or of a
health kind (a better understanding of the causes of medical conditions or
better means of delivering health services). Thus, research adds to the stock
of global knowledge and provides the source of new ideas, methods, techniques
and innovation across a whole range of disciplinary and multi-disciplinary
areas.
In
addition, research is intertwined with teaching; it may be the best type of teaching
where a student is personally mentored on a research project. It is during
these opportunities when we are creating learning environments that fosters
creativity, produces strong analytical and leadership skills, provides students
with essential “hands-on experiences” and provides the student with an essential
skillset for the future. Thus, ultimately, making alumni productive and
influential members of society,
Q. What about your own research?
A. My research is in a wide
diversity of biological areas such as the fields of aquatic ecology, evolutionary
biology, fishery biology and physiological ecology. My approach within these
fields of interest integrates theoretical and applied research on natural
populations to answering questions concerning the effects of environmental
stressors on aquatic organisms.
At the
present time, my research focuses on the following two specific areas: 1)
examining changes in morphology, physiology, behavior and life-history traits
of bluegills and other aquatic organisms in response to environmental
perturbation. This research involves both field and laboratory experiments
utilizing state-of-the art laboratory equipment and procedures to answer
questions concerning changes in body shape, performance traits, lipid cycles,
reproductive cycles, metabolic rates and age at sexual maturity in bluegills
and other aquatic organisms from stressed sites, and 2) determining the effects
of land-use practices on stream ecosystems. This research involves intense
field analysis to answer questions related to the effects of flow regime and
riparian zone changes on species diversity, species richness, biotic integrity
and genetic structure of stream fish communities.
Recent
research projects specifically have examined 1) the effects of landscape
processes on fish communities, 2) the effects of near stream habitat changes on
the biotic integrity of stream communities and 3) the effects of stream habitat
fragmentation on the genetic diversity of darter populations.
Q. How did it feel to
be named dean for the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences?
A. It was a real
honor to be named dean at such an outstanding university as MTSU. I am excited about the opportunity to lead
the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, especially the chance to work with
such outstanding faculty and staff to help advance programs to the next level
and make the college a first choice for students in Tennessee. I am especially
excited to help open the new science building in 2015 and to offer our students
the opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art facility.
Q. What sold MTSU on you?
A. I think my
background as both a successful faculty member and administrator at both a
comprehensive and research institution was what interested MTSU in me as a
possible dean candidate. At both Eastern Illinois University and the University
of Alabama at Birmingham my leadership ability, management style and commitment
to shared governance has allowed me to work successfully with faculty and staff
to develop outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs which are student-
centered and offer students a variety of innovative programs.
Q. Why did you want to leave UAB?
A. I was not
looking to leave UAB. I was very happy as chair of biology, where I worked with
a great group of people. The reason I decided to leave is I thought the
position of dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences was a once-in-a-life-time
opportunity. This position offered me the opportunity to work at an outstanding
university with outstanding faculty, staff and students. Also, the college is
poised to grow and expand in the future. With the addition of new degree
programs, new Ph.D. programs and new science facility in the near future the
college will continue to be a first choice for the students of Tennessee. The
future of MTSU and the college is bright and I wanted to be a part of that
future.
Q. What is your vision for the
College of Basic and Applied Sciences?
A. I have only been on campus for a short period of time, and I’m
still in the process of understanding the history and culture of MTSU and the
departments in the college. I can assure you that the college will work
together through discussion involving all members of the college to come up
with a strategic plan that will guide the college for the next five years. Certainly
that strategic plan will include aspects that maintain the quality of the
programs, offers students new and innovative programs and experiential-learning
opportunities that increase the research capacity of the college. We will be
striving to be a college that is just not a first choice college for students
in Tennessee but also attracts students from across the country and the globe.
Q. What appear to be the greatest
challenges?
A. (Fischer said the challenges he faces are a
work in progress. He added that he is “still trying to get to know the MTSU
community and especially the faculty, students and staff in the college, as
well as learn the history of MTSU.”
Q. What challenge does development
(fundraising) bring?
A. I do not look at development as a challenge but an opportunity.
At a time of reduced state support for universities and institutions trying to
limit the amount tuition is raised each year, development is the one area where
an institution can increase funding. Thus, it is imperative for the dean to
work with the development office on campus to create relationships with alumni
and other friends of MTSU that will benefit the students and college. If there
is a challenge right now, it is getting out to meet all of the people who are
part of the MTSU family and have been strong supporters of the institution.
Q. What are your first impressions of
Murfreesboro?
A. It’s amazing
how large Murfreesboro has grown and the amount of activities available to a family
in this town. Recently, we finally got a chance discover more of the town:
areas to shop, restaurants, Stones River Battlefield, the children’s science
museum (Discovery Center at Murfree Spring), the Murfreesboro wetlands and we
cannot wait to see more. We’re looking forward in the future to the chance to
walk and ride the greenways. Additionally we have found everybody to be
incredibly friendly and helpful.
Q. What hobbies or interests do
you have?
A. Reading, golf, spending time with family. I wouldn’t be
where I am today without my family. We’ve lived in many different places, five
since I started my career and, with every move, they have been my support
system.
About the College of
Basic and Applied Sciences
The MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences includes 10
diverse departments, approximately 5,000
students, 204 faculty and nearly 70 staff.
The departments include aerospace, the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience,
biology, chemistry, concrete industry management, computer science, engineering
technology, mathematics, military science and physics and astronomy. Seven of
the 10 offer programs leading to master’s degrees. The college offers three
Ph.D. programs
Within the college are three chairs of excellence: The
Robert E. and Georginna West Russell Chair in Manufacturing Excellence; the
Mary E. Miller Chair in Equine Health; and the John C. Miller Chair in Equine
Reproductive Physiology.
The college motto:
“The Science of Success”
The college website:
http://www.mtsu.edu/cbas/
To contact:
615-898-2613 (8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) or email basdean@mtsu.edu.
— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)
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The Carnegie Foundation for
the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular
engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU continues its
second century of service, Pride, Tradition and Excellence remain the
cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information any
time, visit www.mtsunews.com.
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For
MTSU news and information any time, visit www.mtsunews.com.
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