The College of Arts & Letters is saddened by the death of long-time English Professor, James Seaton, who died on March 30, 2017, at the age of 72. For more than 45 years, Dr. Seaton had been a member of the Michigan State University faculty. In 1971, he joined MSU’s Humanities Department, where he taught the classics, philosophy, architecture, and…
Alison Trainor on her study abroad in Valencia, Spain. Growing up in a family of Spartans, attending Michigan State University was a no-brainer for senior Alison Trainor, but deciding on a major wasn’t as easy of a decision. Studying Spanish and Going Abroad When Trainor first came to MSU, she was on the nursing track until she realized how much she…
In recognition of their outstanding achievements in leadership, teaching, innovation, and community engagement, five deserving individuals were presented with CAL Alumni Board Awards at the annual CAL Alumni Board Faculty & Student Awards Reception hosted by the College of Arts & Letters on April 1. This year’s award recipients include: Paul Varg Award Ellen McCallum McCallum is a Professor in the…
Graphic Design senior Lorenza Centi recently designed an exclusive T-shirt for Urban Outfitters Artist Editions, an ongoing series of limited edition graphic T-shirts created by artists from around the world. Lorenza Centi wearing her Dream Girl Design. The opportunity stemmed from her internship with Urban Outfitters during summer 2016 as a print design intern (you may have seen her Snapchat…
I’m standing on top of a mountain in Greece, watching as a drone zooms through the sky taking pictures, gathering important information for MSU archaeologist Jon Frey. He’s standing next to me, telling me about the history of this place. It’s quite a history.
Through the careful study of excavation records dating back some 40 years, Michigan State University’s Jon Frey has discovered an ancient gymnasium at the archaeological site of Isthmia, Greece. Frey and his team are performing a “digital dig” of sorts. Rather than using shovels and tools to excavate the site, the researchers are studying a backlog of evidence housed in remote storage.
Much work from College of Arts & Letters students, faculty, and alumni has gone into the Williamston Theatre’s current production – Michael Gene Sullivan’s adaptation of 1984 by George Orwell. Kirk Domer, Chair of the Department of Theatre, on the set of "1984" at the Williamston Theatre. Kirk Domer, Chair of the Department of Theatre, was the set designer for the play. Several…
Tara Mock, a doctoral candidate in African and African American Studies, was recently awarded the 2017 TIAA Ruth Simms Hamilton Graduate Merit Fellowship at MSU. “Ruth Simms Hamilton’s scholarship challenged our understanding of the linkages between the past and contemporary experiences of African people globally,” Mock said. “My project builds on Dr. Hamilton’s legacy in its exploration of the continuities and…
In early November last year, I returned to the Leviathan. In it, Thomas Hobbes grapples with the question of sovereignty and considers the human condition in a state of nature in which there is:
The College of Arts & Letters is mourning the loss of Anna Norris, Associate Professor of French, who died on Saturday, March 18. She was 58 years old. For more than 18 years, Norris had been a member of the faculty at Michigan State University, and from 2008 to 2010, she served as Acting Chair of MSU’s Department of French,…