With the start of the Fall 2026 Semester, the College of Arts and Letters is welcoming 20 new faculty and staff members whose talents, experiences, and perspectives will contribute to the college’s teaching, research, creative activity, and student support. Some of the new faculty and staff who participated in the College of Arts and Letters' new faculty and staff orientation…
Michigan State University is expanding opportunities for students to explore the connections between science and philosophy with a new undergraduate major launching in Fall 2026. The program will challenge students to consider not only what science can tell us, but also how scientific knowledge is produced and the ethical and societal questions surrounding scientific discovery.
Kristen Mapes is leading Digital Humanities in Michigan State University’s College of Arts and Letters as its new Director, following a year as Interim Director. Mapes began her term on July 1, 2026, succeeding Kathleen Fitzpatrick, who served as Director of Digital Humanities from 2017 to 2024.
Beginning in Fall 2026, Michigan State University students interested in law, policy, public service, and related careers will have a new way of preparing for their futures. The Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Letters is launching a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Law that combines the study of law, justice, and contemporary ethical issues with…
This year, 29 faculty members within the College of Arts and Letters received promotions. Their achievements will be celebrated during the 2026-27 academic year at promotions ceremonies hosted by the Office of the Provost. This year’s group marks another milestone for the college as the first to include faculty from the School of Residential Community-Engaged Arts and Humanities (RCAH), which integrated with the College of Arts and Letters on July 1, 2026.
The Michigan State University Department of Theatre’s 2026-27 Season, with the theme “Becoming,” features nine productions that examine moments of change and the question of who we are, who we are told to be, and who we choose to become. The 2026-27 productions explore characters who discover who they are, challenge expectations, confront impossible choices, resist pressure to conform, and imagine new futures for themselves and others.
As artificial intelligence and social media reshape how students evaluate information, teaching about genocide and mass atrocities has grown more complex. Teachers in Michigan are required to spend at least six hours on genocide curriculum during grades 8-12. They must navigate not only changing technology but also shifting geopolitical events and a generation of students who see the world differently…
Associate Professor Amy Simon is the William and Audrey Farber Family Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History. She holds a joint appointment with James Madison College and the Department of History in the College of Social Science and is a core faculty member of the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel in the…
The impact of Michigan State University's College of Arts and Letters extends far beyond campus. Across Michigan, students, faculty, and alumni are putting the arts and humanities to work through education, language access, accessibility, public engagement, and creative partnerships that preserve cultural heritage, expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and prepare the next generation of leaders. "The arts, culture, and humanities enrich…
For nearly four years, a Michigan State University researcher and two Detroit organizations have worked side by side to expand services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Detroit, securing nearly $900,000 in funding, establishing the first paid staff positions at both organizations, launching new programs, and strengthening community-led support networks across the city. That work earned Elena Ruíz, Professor in MSU’s Department of Philosophy and founder and Director of the Research Institute for Structural Change (RISC) at Michigan State University, two 2026 MSU Outreach and Engagement Awards.