From 2004 to 2024: A historical timeline

2004

A massive campus reorganization divided the College of Arts and Science into the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science.

David Westfall was appointed the College's first dean. (Learn more about David Westfall's legacy on page 37 of the 20-Year Anniversary Edition of Discovery magazine.)

The Mackay School of Mines merged into the College of Science as the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering.

The first cohort of Westfall Scholars (originally called Dean's Senior Scholars) were honored for their academic achievements.

2008

Jeff Thompson was appointed the second dean of the College of Science.

The Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Living Learning Community was first established in Argenta Hall. (Learn more about the WiSE LLC.)

2010

The Davidson Mathematics and Science Center, recognized as home to the College of Science, held its grand opening.

The Discover Science Lecture Series was founded by Jeff Thompson with the goal of bringing the country's top scientists to the University to share their knowledge, research and wisdom with the community. (Learn about the Discover Science Lecture Series.)

2011

The first annual College of Science Golf Tournament took place.

In 2024, the event was held at Red Hawk Golf and Resort on the Lakes Course. The tournament serves as a fun gathering opportunity for friends and alumni of the College of Science and supports the Dean David P. Westfall Award for Academic Excellence Endowment, which aims to recognize the success of our highest achieving students. (Check for information about next year's tournament.)

2013

The first BioFIT program was hosted by the College of Science. This Freshman Intensive Training camp paved the way for the creation of the University's NevadaFIT program in 2014. (Learn more about NevadaFIT.)

The Museum of Natural History opened, providing a space for experts, local schoolchildren and curious minds to learn about Nevada's native flora and fauna. (See the story about the museum's outreach initiatives on page 32 of Discovery magazine.)

2016

The Global Water Center, an initiative to foster creative, interdisciplinary research aimed at answering critical questions related to water resource management and sustainability, was founded. (Read about what's new at the GWC on page 18 of Discovery magazine.)

2018

The Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology was established. The center's goal is to conduct high-quality research focused on some of the most important basic and applied questions in chemistry, biology and ecology. (Check out the story on page 46 of Discovery magazine to learn about the program and how there is still much to be discovered in the field.)

2019

The Department of Psychology and its programs were integrated into the College of Science.

Within the department, the Psychological Services Center serves as a critical training ground for clinical psychology graduate students. The center is an outpatient mental health clinic that provides low-cost treatment for adults in northern Nevada. (Read the story on page 44 of Discovery magazine to discover the variety of services offered by the Psychological Services Center.)

2020

The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, a historic landmark deeply ingrained in the fabric of the Reno community, was integrated into the College of Science. (Read about the new George W. Gillemot Dome and how it will enhance field trip visits and classroom learning on page 30 of Discovery magazine.)

2021

Jeff Thompson was officially appointed provost and executive vice president at the University, and Katherine McCall became the College of Science's interim dean. Thompson currently holds the title of longest standing dean for the College.

2022

The Energy Solutions Forum Seminar Series was launched with generous support from Mick Hitchcock. The series brings together leading researchers across disciplines to advance understanding of solutions-focused topics related to climate and energy. (Learn about upcoming Energy Solutions Forum speakers.)

The Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Nevada Program welcomed its first cohort. (Learn about the MARC Nevada program.)

2023

Louisa Hope-Weeks began her tenure as dean. Prior to joining the University, she served as the associate dean of graduate and postdoctoral fellowships at Texas Tech University.

The Mackay Muckers Women's Team won first place in the International Collegiate Mining Competition in Australia.

The Golden Scholars Program for first-generation science students was revived through a grant obtained by the academic advising team. (Learn more about Golden Scholars and other student resources on page 12 of Discovery magazine.)

2024

The College of Science celebrates its 20-year anniversary in tandem with the University of Nevada, Reno's sesquicentennial. In celebration of the College’s growth and achievements, and with gratitude for our generous community partners and dedicated faculty and staff members, we invite you to take part in our special 20-Year Anniversary Gala on Friday, September 20.