Chelsea School Project Ends

Boston University returns management of the Chelsea School System to the City of Chelsea, after 20 years of work and cooperation between Chelsea and Boston University.

BU Prof Wins Nobel Prize

Osamu Shimomura, a School of Medicine adjunct professor of physiology and a senior scientist emeritus at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., is one of three winners of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His research on jellyfish has revolutionized the world of biology.

“If you find an interesting subject, go study it. Don’t stop. There is difficulty in any research—don’t give up until you overcome that.” — Osamu Shimomura

Jeffrey Hutter Dean of SDM

Jeffrey Hutter, professor of endodontics and the Herbert Schilder Chair of the endodontics department, is appointed dean of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Hutter hopes to continue many of the initiatives started under the leadership of the late Spencer Frankl, who was SDM dean for more than 30 years.

STH Appoints New Dean

Mary Elizabeth Moore is appointed dean of BU’s oldest school, the School of Theology. Moore’s research focuses on eco-feminist theology and spirituality, sacramental teaching, and reconciliation theory and practice, and she is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church.

Tom Fiedler Is COM Dean

The College of Communication welcomes back one of its own, appointing as the new dean Tom Fiedler, the former executive editor of the Miami Herald. Fiedler succeeds Tobe Berkovitz, who was named dean ad interim in September 2006 following the resignation of Dean John Schulz.

Concussion Research

The University launches the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy which links concussions to depression and dementia in athletes and soldiers. The center's research helps lead to significant rule changes in the National Football League and other professional sports.

Lawrence Lucchino Keynote

Commencement speaker Lawrence Lucchino, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, delivers an address titled, "Life is not about warming yourself by the fire, life is about building the fire."

“Perhaps most memorably, the Boston University Class of 2008 as freshmen and as seniors helped propel the Red Sox to two World Series Championships in your four years here in town. Unprecedented!” — Lawrence Lucchino

SED Names New Dean

Hardin L. K. Coleman, a leading University of Wisconsin–Madison educator and psychologist who specializes in preparing school counselors for culturally diverse settings, is named dean of the School of Education. He succeeds Dean ad interim Charles Glenn (SED'87).

1st Genetic On/Off Switch

Jim Collins, a biomedical engineering professor, applies dynamical systems theory to the workings of physiological systems to develop the world’s first genetic toggle switch. The switch, a molecular device that can turn genes off or on, gives researchers a chance to observe how genes interact with different cells throughout the body, in both healthy and diseased systems.

Choosing to Be Great: BU Launches 10-Year Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan, titled "Choosing to Be Great: A Vision of Boston University—Past, Present, and Future," sets goals to be carried out over the next decade, with an initial focus on augmenting the programs that are seen as BU’s current strengths and a longer-term plan for recruitment and expansion throughout all schools and colleges. While the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Fine Arts, the School of Law, the School of Management, and the School of Medicine are all identified as key players in the early stages, broader goals include more research funding for students across the University and continued renovations of both residential and community facilities for use by students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

“The great strengths of Boston University are the breadth of excellence stored in its faculty, coupled with its focus on rigorous and well-delivered education. What has emerged is a plan that builds on this foundation, strengthens it, and leverages it to move toward a uniquely broad, but also collaborative University.”—Robert A. Brown