News - College of Arts & Letters

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German Studies Doctoral Student Reflects on Teaching and Learning at MSU

February 26, 2026

Temilade Adegoke, a doctoral student in German Studies and Graduate Teaching Assistant, came to Michigan State University in Fall 2022 to pursue an M.A. in German through the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures. She previously earned a B.A. in German Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her master’s thesis examined Germany’s colonial violence in German Southwest Africa – present day Namibia.

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Alumni / Arts MSU / English / Faculty / Faculty / Michigan Impact / News / Performance / Production

MSU Alum Sandra Seaton Reclaims History and Voice in World Premiere of ‘Sally: A Solo Play’

February 25, 2026

When award-winning playwright and Michigan State University alum Sandra Seaton returned to Wharton Center for Performing Arts for the world premiere of "Sally: A Solo Play," it was both a creative milestone and a homecoming. The production brought Seaton’s 15-year engagement with Sally Hemings to a stage that has long shaped her artistic life — one she calls “a home away from home.”

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Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / International Impact / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Philosophy / U.S. Impact

Shaping the Future of Science: MSU Philosophy Professor Joins National and Global Science Committees

February 24, 2026

From national research ethics to global scientific freedom, Heather Douglas, Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University, has been appointed to two high-profile committees: one at the National Academy of Sciences redefining ethical research practice for the next generation of scientists, and another at the International Science Council where she is the only American member monitoring threats…

Entrepreneurship, Business, and Innovation / Excel Network / Excel Network Communities / Humanities-Prelaw / Internship / News / Student / Student

Humanities-Prelaw Student Gains Experience Assisting Attorneys During Internship

February 23, 2026

Faustina Zielonka is a Humanities-Prelaw senior from Macomb, Michigan, who interned with Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) in Lansing, Michigan. She shared her experiences with this internship in this Q&A that originally was published by the Excel Network.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Humanities-Prelaw / News / Student / Women’s and Gender Studies

Student Reconnects with Anishinaabeg Heritage and Discovers Unlimited Potential at MSU

February 20, 2026

Every Spartan’s path to Michigan State University is different. There are many reasons students find themselves pursuing their future at MSU, but for Kaylin Casper from Los Angeles, California, the reasons were ambition and heritage. “I lived really far away from my Anishinaabeg family,” she said. “As the great-granddaughter of federal Indian Boarding School survivors, coming back to Michigan State was a way for me to be closer to my tribal community to reclaim my cultural knowledge.”

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / International Impact / News

MSU Theatre Professor Survived a Forgotten War and Is Refusing to Let It Disappear

February 19, 2026

Long before he became a Professor of Theatre Studies and Integrative Humanities at Michigan State University, Philip Effiong Jr. was a child struggling to survive a war the world would largely forget. During the Nigeria-Biafra War, he endured air raids, hunger, and displacement —experiences that left lasting psychological and emotional scars. Decades later, those memories have become the foundation of two memoirs.

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News

College of Arts & Letters Plays Critical Role in Shaping MSU’s Ethics Institute

February 19, 2026

Technology is changing how decisions are made. Trust in public institutions is shifting. And many of the choices shaping daily life — across education, health care, government, and business — raise fundamental questions about values, responsibility, and the common good. For scholars in Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters, asking those kinds of questions has long been central to their work.

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English / News / Scholarship / Student

MSU’s Culture of Exploration and Donor Support Helps Fuel English Major’s Spartan Journey

February 18, 2026

Thanks to Michigan State University, Sloane Barlow isn’t exactly sure what’s next. But she’s ok with that. “I feel very confident in my skills to do whatever I want,” she said. “I'm not tied to any certain job or field, and that's because of the exploration that MSU has allowed me.” Originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan, Barlow is an Honors…

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AAHD / Art, Art History, and Design / Digital Humanities / Event / Faculty / Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Philosophy / Research / Student / Student / XA

From AI to Urban Trees: College of Arts & Letters Faculty and Students Lead Ethics Week Events Inviting MSU Community into Critical Dialogue

February 16, 2026

This week, Feb. 16-20, 2026, Michigan State University celebrates Ethics Week, a week-long series of events designed to engage students, faculty, staff, and the community in meaningful discussions about ethics and to encourage campus-wide engagement with contemporary moral challenges. Organized by the Ethics Institute, Ethics Week is dedicated to exploring the key roles ethics plays in our professional and personal…

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Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News

MSU Celebrates Promoted Faculty, Honoring 24 from the College of Arts & Letters

February 14, 2026

During the 2025-2026 academic year, 24 faculty members within the College of Arts & Letters received promotions. The success of these individuals was celebrated at special ceremonies hosted by the Office of the Provost. “On behalf of the College of Arts & Letters, I want to congratulate our faculty members who have earned promotions this year,” said Thomas Stubblefield, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.