News - College of Arts & Letters

Promotional grid for a 2026–27 theatre season featuring eight illustrated show graphics arranged in a 3x3 layout next to a black left banner reading "2026 - 27 SEASON".

MSU Department of Theatre’s 2026-27 Season Explores the Art of ‘Becoming’

August 21, 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.

A group of more than 20 people pose together on the steps outside a brick building.

MSU Fellowship Helps Michigan Teachers Rethink Genocide Education

August 19, 2026

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…

A woman with shoulder length black hair, brown eyes, and light skin smiling and wearing a black jacket over a mosaic print purple and white top.

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News

Faculty Voice: The Role of Empathy in Teaching

August 11, 2026

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…

Two performers stand on a stage amid dramatic lighting while a large projection behind them displays text comparing artificial intelligence and human learning. The digital backdrop reads, "AI learns through mathematical pattern recognition and optimization of large datasets, while human learning is a biological process shaped by emotions and consciousness."

Michigan Impact / News

Arts and Humanities in Action: How MSU’s College of Arts and Letters Is Shaping Michigan’s Future

August 4, 2026

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…

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Award / Community Outreach / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Michigan Impact / News / Philosophy

MSU Institute Director Honored for Community-Led Partnership Supporting Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

July 31, 2026

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.

People in protective jackets, gloves, and helmets work together pour molten metal into molds in an industrial setting outside.

Student / Student

MSU Sculpture Students Learn Metal Casting, Build Creative Networks in Michigan

July 30, 2026

An arts education at Michigan State University goes beyond two dimensions. Students have opportunities to participate in fabrication, metal casting, and sculpture experiences with their peers at MSU and around Michigan — all while wearing proper safety gear of course. MSU students participated in an iron pour at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit learning firsthand different metal casting…

A performer sits cross-legged at center stage with palms raised upward, illuminated by cool blue lighting and circular projections. Two dancers stand behind holding flowing blue fabric.

Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Programs / Student

Ask the Expert: How Arts and Humanities Drive Michigan’s Economic Future

July 29, 2026

Higher education plays a key role in educating Michigan residents as well as supporting the state’s economy, workforce, and culture. Michigan’s 15 public universities generate nearly $45 billion in annual economic impact with Michigan State University supporting $9.7 billion, according to the Michigan Association of State Universities Economic Impact Report released in 2026. Additionally, MSU educates more Michigan residents than…

Michigan State University students sit across from participants in blue-and-orange uniforms, talking and working together on a writing activity at classroom tables.

Community Outreach / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Faculty / Michigan Impact / News / Programs / Student / WRAC

Behind Prison Walls: MSU and Incarcerated Students Learn From Each Other Through Writing

July 24, 2026

Michigan State University students chat among themselves in the cramped waiting room at Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, unfazed by the TSA-like security process. They place their shoes and socks in bins, walk through a metal detector enclosed in chain-link fencing, and go through a pat-down before the steel doors lock behind them. Next, they walk across a prison yard…

A student model walks the runway inside Michigan State University's Horticulture Gardens greenhouse wearing a fitted black-and-gold embellished dress with a dramatic sheer black tulle train flowing behind her during the Studio 450 fashion show. Audience members seated on both sides of the runway watch and applaud as the model presents the original student-designed garment.

Student / Student

Student Designers Turn Greenhouse into Runway for First-Ever Studio 450 Fashion Show

July 21, 2026

Student designers turned a greenhouse into a runway as Michigan State University’s Horticulture Gardens became the setting for Studio 450, a student-led fashion show showcasing original work by emerging fashion designers. Surrounded by glass conservatories and lush greenery, models moved through an evening of fashion that was about more than garments on display. For the Apparel and Textile Design (ATD)…

A television news crew films visitors exploring the student-curated museum exhibition on Michigan State University traditions, with artifacts, display cases, and interpretive panels throughout the gallery.

AAHD / Art, Art History, and Design / Arts MSU / Exhibition / Faculty / Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Scholarship / Student / Student / Theatre

From the Shadows of Beaumont Tower: Hands-On Curatorial Experience Brings Spartan Traditions to Life

July 20, 2026

Painting the MSU Rock. A primal midnight scream during finals week. Formal social etiquette from a 1954 student handbook. And even Sparty himself. These iconic Michigan State University traditions — and many more — are featured in the What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions exhibition created by students in the…