News – Page 87 – College of Arts & Letters

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Philosophy Department Earns High Marks for Addressing Issues of Underrepresented Groups

February 2, 2021

A leading advisory board of recognized philosophers has identified Michigan State University’s Department of Philosophy as a premier place for graduate students from underrepresented populations to earn a doctorate degree. In fall 2020, The Pluralist’s Guide to Philosophy commended the department’s approach, which fosters the use of traditional elements of philosophy while addressing practical issues of concern to society. Many…

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Award / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Staff

AAHD Professor and Museum Curator Honored by American Folklore Society

January 29, 2021

The American Folklore Society (AFS), the country's professional society for folklorists, has awarded Marsha MacDowell, Professor in MSU’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design and MSU Museum Curator, the 2020 recipient of the society's Benjamin A. Botkin Prize for significant lifetime achievement in the field of public folklore. MacDowell is the Curator of Folk Arts and Quilt Studies at…

Award / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Event / News / Student

College of Arts & Letters Students Win at Social Justice Art Festival

January 29, 2021

Two College of Arts & Letters students were winners at MSU’s 4th Annual Social Justice Art Festival. Charlotte Bachelor, a junior Professional and Public Writing major, and Nicolei Gupit, a second-year Studio Art MFA student, were two of the four students to receive awards at the four-day virtual festival that celebrates student artwork centered on social justice topics. Bachelor won the Most…

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Alumni / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / News / Scholarship / Staff

Professional Writing Alum Creates Nonprofit to Support Black Students

January 28, 2021

Inspired by events from this past year surrounding the Black Lives Matter and Black Civil Rights movements, College of Arts & Letters alumnus Darrell Williams founded a nonprofit organization, the Lawson Porter Scholarship Foundation, to help Black students reach their higher education goals while at the same time emphasizing the importance of Afrocentric history. A first-generation four-year college student, Williams…

Alumni / Donor / News

First-Ever Endowed Professorship in Art History Established with $1 Million Gift

January 21, 2021

A $1 million gift from alumna Carol Ann Bennett-Vallès and her husband Jean-Paul Vallès has established the first-ever endowed professor position in art history in the College of Arts & Letters. “We are grateful to Carol Ann and Jean-Paul for a gift that so generously supports the university’s commitment to programmatic growth, enhancement, and success in the arts,” said MSU…

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Faculty / Health / News / Student

New Director of Student Wellness Position Prioritizes Student Mental Health and Care

January 19, 2021

As students have had to face uncertainty, isolation, and many other daunting experiences, along with corresponding mental health challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new position has been created within the College of Arts & Letters that will focus on student mental health and care. This newly created position — Director of Student Wellness for the College of Arts & Letters — is at the cutting-edge of student mental health care…

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Alumni / News / Performance / Student

Theatre Design Alum Returns to Mentor Current Students

January 18, 2021

G. “Max” Maxin IV (MFA Design ’12) was scheduled to return to Michigan State University as a guest scenic designer for the Department of Theatre’s production of 9 to 5: The Musical that was slated to open in February 2021, but when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theatres and most of the department’s productions, the Dolly Parton musical based on the…

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Award / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / News / Research

Ruth Nicole Brown Named MSU Foundation Professor

January 14, 2021

In recognition of her innovative community-engaged scholarship and outstanding record of visionary leadership, research, and pedagogy, Ruth Nicole Brown was awarded an MSU Foundation Professorship, making her the first faculty member from the College of Arts & Letters to receive this honor since it was first introduced in 2014. Dr. Ruth Nicole Brown The title of MSU Foundation Professor is…

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Grant / News / Research

$3 Million Grant Funds Exhibits of Art Created Globally During COVID-19

January 13, 2021

Michigan State University has begun collecting art from around the world in an exploration of how people are using creativity in coping with the challenges and stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic...

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Faculty / News / Programs / Student

A Conversation Regarding Citizen Scholars

January 12, 2021

College of Arts & Letters' Citizen Scholars are students who put their arts and humanities values, knowledge, skills, and practices into action, leading toward a more just, inclusive, and open society. 