麻豆视频

The 2022-2023 academic year saw a familiar face return to the classroom full-time at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Dr. Morris Bramlett, professor of chemistry at UAM, stepped down from his position as dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences in July 2022 after serving in the role since 2007 so that he could return to his love of teaching.

Dr. Bramlett鈥檚 career at UAM began in 1991, when he served as a one-year visiting professor. He returned to UAM during the 1993-1994 academic year and has been a fixture of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences ever since.

Upon completing the 2023 spring semester, Dr. Bramlett reflected on the experience, stating, 鈥淲ithout a doubt, it was the right decision to go back to the classroom full-time. I love being able to devote a lot of time to things that will help my students learn. I鈥檓 not sure they appreciated the long homework sets at first, but by the end, they were on board and asking for more. They鈥檝e grown a tremendous amount this year. I look forward to watching my students from this year moving on to their professional careers. I鈥檓 sure they will be successful, and I鈥檓 thankful to have been directly involved with their growth to reach that point. I feel very energized. I love teaching organic chemistry. I teach it from the basics up, and UAM has a lot of really sharp students. They don鈥檛 always realize, when they get to UAM, just how sharp they are. I get to help them see that. Our students have an outstanding acceptance rate into pharmacy, medical and other professional programs.鈥�

Dr. Bramlett relates to his students and their experiences. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 like a lot of UAM students. People talk a lot about first-generation college students. I was a first-generation high school student. Neither of my parents went to high school, but it was always understood that I would go to college. My mom was determined to see me go to college, and my dad was encouraging, too.鈥�

Dr. Bramlett is dedicated to helping students outside his classroom, too. In 2007, when he became a dean, he began donating $25 from each paycheck to the UAM Foundation. In November 2020, his scholarship reached $15,000 and became endowed. The Bramlett Endowed Scholarship benefits chemistry or pre-pharmacy students with at least a 3.4 GPA. 鈥淚 knew if I donated a little every month, it would eventually make it. When I became dean, it was financially feasible for me to do it. With interest, and a few other people's donations, it reached endowed status in 13 years.鈥�

 鈥淢y background made me care about creating a scholarship to help make it a little easier for a student to go to college. It鈥檚 good to give back to the university and help the students. One of the reasons that I donated was because I thought it would be easier to convince other people to give if I was already giving,鈥� Dr. Bramlett explained. He continues to donate to his scholarship from each paycheck.

鈥淭he joy that teaching brings me, I don鈥檛 know if you get that in any other profession. I鈥檝e taught over 5000 students in my career,鈥� Dr. Bramlett said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine doing anything else. When I think about my students鈥� accomplishments, I go home happy.鈥�