$650,000 Gift Establishes Two Scholarships and Supports English Department

Although they never had kids of their own, Gregory Shafer and Bernadette Gongora helped raise 39 foster children and soon will have a positive impact on the lives of countless students at Michigan State University for generations to come thanks to the $650,000 gift they made to MSU’s College of Arts & Letters. Married for 30 years, Shafer and Gongora say they…

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Fiction Filmmaking Capstone Class Premieres Short Film to Sold-Out Theatre

After two semesters of hands-on experience in film production, editing, and marketing, the 2023 Fiction Filmmaking Capstone Class at Michigan State University premiered its short film, Promises, Promises, to a sold-out theatre on May 3 at Studio C! in the Meridian Mall. An on-campus screening also took place on May 4 at Wells Hall and was followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew as well as a behind-the-scenes video of the making of the short film.

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German Study Abroad Program Celebrates 50 Years of Life-Changing Experiences

Each summer, for the past 50 years, Michigan State University students have made a small city in Europe’s Rhine Valley their home. They travel to Mayen, Germany, for five weeks to study the German language while immersing themselves in the local culture through one of the longest-running study abroad programs offered by MSU. Over its half-century history, the German Language…

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Conversations with CAL Features Fiction Filmmaking Capstone Students

In the newest episode of Conversations with CAL, the Fiction Filmmaking Capstone class discussed “The Broken Diamond,” their ambitious short film project, and explained why they'll need additional funding to help make their dream a reality. Followed by an informative interview session, the student staff replied to questions relating to the creation of the film.

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Philosophy Alumna Accepts Assistant Professor Position

Ayanna De’Vante Spencer, who earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Michigan State University this spring, has accepted a tenure-track assistant professorship at the University of Connecticut with joint appointments in Philosophy and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Dr. Spencer is changing the status quo in the field of philosophy by combining activism with her research. Her dissertation, “Epistemologies of Criminalization:…

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Gift to Benefit Summer Circle Theatre Program

Former Chair of the Michigan State University Department of Theatre, Frank C. Rutledge used to say that his daughter and the Summer Circle Theatre (SCT) Program were born in the same year. Now, in celebration of SCT’s recent 60th anniversary of producing free professional theatre on the banks of the Red Cedar, Andrea S. Rutledge, daughter of Frank C. Rutledge…

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Fund Created to Help Students Get the Art Materials They Need

When classes at Michigan State University moved to remote learning, students in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) faced the unique challenge of emulating studio spaces from home. In an effort to ensure student success, AAHD created the Student Art Materials Fund to provide necessary art supplies for students during remote learning.  “Some forms of Studio Art and Apparel…

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Free Support Programs to Help Michigan’s K-12 School Districts

Michigan State University has created a number of support programs and materials to help Michigan’s K-12 school districts prepare for online instruction this fall.  Among these programs is the Foundations of Successful Online Teaching & Learning series that was collaboratively developed by MSU's Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative and Okemos Public Schools. This series is designed to help teachers understand and adopt the…

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Spartans Will to Give and Help Students Who Face Financial Hardships

As the COVID-19 pandemic turns our way of life upside down, one principle continues to be of utmost importance: the need to look out for one another. Since mid-March when Michigan State University moved to remote learning to contain the spread of COVID-19, College of Arts & Letters alumni, parents, and friends have asked how they can help and dozens have contributed…

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