News - College of Arts & Letters

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Department of Art, Art History, and Design Honors 2026 Award and Scholarship Winners

April 24, 2026

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) at Michigan State University honored its 2026 undergraduate awards and scholarship recipients during the reception for the 2026 AAHD Undergraduate Exhibition on April 10 at (SCENE) Metrospace. The awards and scholarships recognize Art, Art History, and Design students for their outstanding coursework and creative skills this past academic year. Each spring the faculty comes together to nominate exceptional undergraduate…

2026 award recipients Avery Riehl (left), Emma Wilkins (center), and Alliah Woodside (right) stand together smiling in front of a projected College of Arts & Letters slide. Riehl wears a black short-sleeve top with long red hair down; Wilkins wears a black blazer over a white top with curly hair and clear-framed glasses; Woodside wears a white ribbed fitted dress and an ornate blue and gold head wrap. A green Department of Religious Studies table is partially visible in the foreground.

News / Religious Studies / Student / Student

Religious Studies Students Honored for Outstanding Achievements

April 23, 2026

The Department of Religious Studies at Michigan State University celebrated undergraduate excellence at its 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium and Awards Ceremony on April 17, recognizing students whose academic achievements and community commitments reflect the department's core values.Three students — Alliah Woodside, Emma Wilkins, and Avery Riehl — were each presented with awards at the event for their outstanding achievements. In…

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Student / Student

Museum Studies Students Curate Exhibition on 170 Years of MSU Traditions

April 22, 2026

An upcoming exhibition at the MSU Museum, developed by students in Michigan State University’s Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies program, offers a dynamic exploration of MSU student life. Through objects, stories, and creative interpretation, the exhibition explores 170 years of student traditions and how they have connected Spartans across generations.

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Faculty

MSU Philosopher Heather Douglas Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Belgium

April 21, 2026

In recognizing of her influential work in science, values, and public trust, Heather Douglas, a prominent philosopher of science and Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Universite Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), one of the oldest universities in Europe, located in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

A grid of four headshots of the 2025-2026 Fintz Award recipients. Top left: Laura Yares, smiling, with shoulder-length brown hair and blue earrings, against a yellow background. Top right: Jonathan Choti, smiling, with a navy blazer. Bottom left: Nerli Paredes Ruvalcaba, smiling, with long pink-tinted hair. Bottom right: Aaron Schultz, smiling, with a beard and glasses

Faculty / News

Four MSU Faculty Honored with Fintz Award for Teaching Excellence

April 20, 2026

Four College of Arts & Letters faculty have been selected as this year’s recipients of the Fintz Award for Teaching Excellence in the Arts and Humanities in recognition of their exemplary Integrative Arts and Humanities (IAH) instruction. Presented each spring by the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities (CISAH), the Fintz Award, which is student nominated, recognizes outstanding faculty who engage students in arts and humanities ways of knowing while helping them develop critical thinking and effective communication skills.

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Student / Student

From East Lansing to Paris: Graphic Design Student Expands Creative Vision During Semester Abroad

April 16, 2026

McKenna Long, a Michigan State University student majoring in Graphic Design, spent a semester abroad studying at the Paris College of Art (PCA), an opportunity available exclusively to MSU College of Arts & Letters students. She used the experience to expand her academic and creative focus, exploring interior design, architecture, and spatial design — all while living and studying in the City of Light.

Two young women sit on a stage, one comforting the other by holding her face. Both wear casual summer outfits. The woman on the right holds yellow flowers, conveying emotions of support and tenderness.

Theatre

MSU Premieres New Musical, Exploring Caregiving, Resilience, and Mental Health

April 15, 2026

Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre invites audiences to experience Dandelion, a 23-song original musical based on a true story that will resonate with families everywhere. Brought to life in just months with limited resources and running April 23-26, 2026, at Studio 60 in the MSU Auditorium, this new musical tells the story of a daughter who longs to leave…

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News

From First-Generation Student to Beal Award Recipient: Thomas Berding Honored for Scholarly Excellence

April 14, 2026

Thomas Berding, Professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design, has spent more than three decades at Michigan State University, creating paintings, mentoring student artists, and developing a studio practice that has taken his work to galleries and museums across the country. He is now among a select few MSU faculty members who have earned the William J.…

Bright graphic announcing 1,332 Spartan undergraduates at the University Undergraduate Research & Arts Forum, April 17, 2026. Bold colors convey excitement.

Event / Faculty / Faculty / News / Research / Student / Student

MSU’s 28th Annual UURAF Showcases Undergraduate Research and Creative Work

April 14, 2026

Michigan State University’s 28th annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) takes place in person on April 17 at MSU’s Breslin Center and asynchronously online on April 16 and 17, hosted on Symposium by ForagerOne. This hybrid event will feature research, scholarship, and creative work in multiple formats from hundreds of MSU undergraduate students, including many students from the College of Arts…

Graduates in green caps and gowns sit in a spacious indoor arena. One cap features a large jeweled "S." The mood is celebratory and formal.

Student / Student

Perfect Achievement: 16 College of Arts & Letters Graduates Receive Board of Trustees Awards

April 13, 2026

Sixteen College of Arts & Letters students who are graduating in Spring 2026 have earned the Board of Trustees Award for having maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during their undergraduate education. These students are among the 315 graduating from MSU in Spring 2026 with a 4.0 GPA, the highest scholastic average one can attain at the end of their undergraduate career at Michigan State University.