News - College of Arts & Letters

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

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.

News

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…

Alumni / English / News

From English Major to Big Ten Coach of the Year: The Arts and Humanities Behind Harry Jadun’s Success

July 9, 2026

For former Michigan State University Men’s Tennis Coach Harry Jadun, who led one of the most successful eras in Spartan Men’s Tennis history, the lessons that have shaped his career extend far beyond the tennis court. During his four seasons as head coach, Jadun’s teams compiled a 70-40 (.636) record, including 32-12 (.727) in Big Ten play. Both winning percentages…

Two side-by-side portrait photos. On the left, a smiling man with medium-length dark hair wears a blue button-down shirt and a dark blazer, standing in front of a blurred library bookshelf. On the right, a smiling woman with glasses and a gray button-up shirt stands outdoors against a background of green foliage.

Alumni / Award / News / Student

Fulbright Grants Awarded to Two College of Arts & Letters Alums

July 8, 2026

Two recent College of Arts & Letters alums have been awarded 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants. They are among seven Michigan State University students and recent alums who were offered Fulbright grants this year and who are traveling to seven different countries to teach English during the 2026-27 academic year. Two MSU students also were named as alternates. The Fulbright…

Aditi Gonuguntala smiles while adjusting her graduation cap outdoors on Michigan State University's campus. She is wearing a green graduation gown, a white Spartan stole, honor cords, and an Experience Architecture medal.

AAHD / News / Student / Student / WRAC / XA

Experience Architecture Student Finds Purpose in Inclusive Design

July 7, 2026

After exploring several majors at Michigan State University, Aditi Gonuguntala found more than a degree program in Experience Architecture (XA). She found a new way of thinking — one centered on designing experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and built around people's needs. Aditi Gonuguntala Now a senior majoring in Experience Architecture with a minor in Graphic Design, Aditi said discovering…

woman speaks to a group gathered on a covered porch, holding a sheet of paper as participants of different ages sit closely together listening and taking part in the discussion. Benches, chairs, and a small child seated on the floor are visible, creating the atmosphere of a community meeting.

International Impact / News / Philosophy / Programs / Scholarship / Student / Student

From Mali to MSU: Students Bridge Continents to Study Democracy in Action

July 6, 2026

Nearly 5,000 miles apart, students at Michigan State University and Université Yambo Ouologuem de Bamako (UYOB) in Mali came together in a shared virtual classroom to explore democracy, displacement, and peacebuilding. Through conversations grounded in both philosophy and lived experience, the students discovered how questions about citizenship, power, and civic responsibility transcend national borders. Two of the four workshop leaders…

A man with gray hair and a beard wearing a gray polo shirt.

Faculty / Faculty / News / Religious Studies / Research / U.S. Impact

Ask the Expert: How William Billings’ Music Became the Soundtrack of the American Revolution

July 1, 2026

Familiar figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin are receiving renewed attention as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the American Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. According to Michigan State University Professor David W. Stowe, another figure deserves a place in the story: William…