This week, the Department of Life Sciences Communication is welcoming students back to Hiram Smith Hall for the start of fall semester. We’re excited to see new and returning students in our classrooms and are also excited about the many changes in our department!
This semester, LSC has welcomed Michael Xenos as the new department chair and Bret Shaw as the new director of undergraduate studies. We look forward to their leadership! We are also pleased to welcome two new teaching faculty. Brianna Van Matre is teaching design, social media, and digital marketing courses including LSC 332: Digital and Print Media Design, LSC 432: Social Media for the Sciences, and LSC 532: Web Design for the Sciences. Kelly Mella is teaching written communications courses which include LSC 212: Introduction to Scientific Communication, LSC 560: Scientific Writing, and LSC 561: Writing Science for the Public.
In addition to faculty and staff updates, three of our programs received approval for program name changes from the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents this summer. The Life Sciences Communication bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral minor are being renamed from Life Sciences Communication to Science Communication. Students will be able to earn a Life Sciences Communication BS, MS, or doctoral minor through the end of summer 2027. Effective Fall 2027, all degrees awarded will read Science Communication.
LSC continues to offer world-class instructors classes ranging from marketing and design to communication theory and practice. We look forward to the opportunities our students will have to apply their learning to their passion projects in climate change, health communication, artificial intelligence, and beyond.
From the LSC faculty and staff, we wish you the best of luck as we go into the fall 2025 semester. On Wisconsin!
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Written by: Parker Smith