Celebrating Our Community of Learners

The semester begins this year with a rousing gathering presented by the School of Arts & Sciences titled State of the School: A Conversation. As the heart of the University of Richmond’s offerings, The School of Arts and Sciences celebrates 22 departments and 10 interdisciplinary programs. Individual achievement is celebrated every day by our faculty, students and staff. Celebrate the latest here!

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Concept 30

Casting a vision for our shared future.View the plan.

2019-2020 Tucker-Boatwright Festival of Literature and the Arts

This year’s events will focus on the theme “Dancing Histories: This Ground.” All performances and events are free and the first event is September 27th.Learn more

Professor Kelly Lambert Joins President Crutcher on Spider Talks

Dr. Kelly Lambert, professor of behavioral neuroscience, sits down with President Crutcher to discuss her research on decision-making and the best strategies for protecting and enhancing the brain's ability to navigate life's uncertainties.

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UR Community Dives into Book about Flint Water Crisis This Summer

Students, faculty, and staff at the University of Richmond are adding the memoir of a pediatrician from Flint, Michigan to their summer reading lists.

A&S Student Symposium 2019

We celebrate our diverse community of learners at the Student Symposium.Learn More

Contested Spaces

Themed year programming to bring our entire community of learners together in conversations centered around conflict resulting from ethnic, racial, and cultural differences—in Virginia, the United States, and across the globe.Learn more

The School of Arts and Sciences is the heart of the University of Richmond’s offerings. You can choose from or combine majors from 22 departments and 10 interdisciplinary programs. In the School of Arts & Sciences, you will learn to integrate your classroom experience with your true interests, your calling.

Faculty Expertise

Do you envision college as a place where your professor’s office hours are spent in deep conversation about topics beyond this week’s assignment? Where you can work side-by-side with a faculty member on cutting-edge research that is published in a professional journal?

In A&S, our faculty are experts on the cutting edge of their fields. While they could work in some of the top research institutions in the world, our faculty chose Richmond because they believe in educating tomorrow's leaders and are passionate about mentoring and sharing their knowledge with students.

Faculty Highlights

Quintero Published
Omar Quintero and four UR students published “The MyMOMA domain of MYO19 encodes for distinct Miro‐dependent and Miro‐independent mechanisms of interaction with mitochondrial membranes” in Cytoskeleton.
Damer Published
Erika Zimmermann Damner recently published In the Flesh: Embodied Identities in Roman Elegy in the Wisconsin Studies in Classics by the University of Wisconsin Press.
Maurantonio Awarded
Nicole Maurantonio was awarded (along with Irina Rogova) the 2019 Engage for Change! Award for Contribution to the Institution for the Race & Racism at the University of Richmond Project.
Quintero Receives Grant
Omar Quintero was awarded the Bridging to STEM Excellence: Leveraging a Consortium of National STEM Education Initiatives to Improve Undergraduate STEM Teaching and Learning" grant through the National Science Foundation. Learn more here.
Damer Publishes Chapter
Erika Zimmermann Damer co-wrote a chapter for Document to History: Epigraphic Insights into the Greco-Roman World (Brill, 2019) This chapter, “Wall Inscriptions in the Ancient City: the Ancient Graffiti Project,” was co-written with Rebecca Benefiel, Holly Sypniewski.
Hobgood on Nixon and Press
Linda Hobgood discusses First Lady Pat Nixon’s relationship with the media on the Nixon Now Podcast.
Carol Parish Awarded NSF Grant
Carol Parish is partnering with colleagues at VCU and the University of Florida for a nearly $1m National Science Foundation-funded project to develop a central portal for the molecular sciences. Learn more here.
Smith at ICA
Professor Sable Elyse Smith’s work will be on display at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University. The exhibition Great Force will be on view starting October 5.
Nelson Book Launch
Professor Brittany Nelson’s book Out of the Everywhere launched at Casa Caníbal on August 19 and published by Mousse Publishing. Highlights topics such as feminist science fiction, space travel, and isolation.
Achter Receives Advanced Contract
Paul Achter received an advanced contract for his book, Fit to Kill: Militarism and the Rhetoric of Style, which will be published by Rutgers University Press.

Community Stories

Professor Delivers Talk in South Africa
Carol Summers holds the Samuel Chiles Mitchell/Jacob Billikopf chair in History.

Exploring questions of cultural belonging, hybridity and memory
Dr. Tanja Softi's Exhibit May and June

New Sabbatical Fellowship Program in the School of Arts & Sciences
Building Community in A&S

Young Black Artists Are More in Demand Than Ever
But the Art World Is Burning Them Out

New Staff Engagement Plan in the School of Arts & Sciences
Building Community in A&S

The Arc of Justice Institute
The Arc Bends Onward

History in their own words
Growing up in Civil Rights Richmond

Arc of Racial Justice
Faculty institute explores equity-minded education

2018 A&S Faculty Mentor Award Winners
Recognizing the contributions of our faculty to undergraduate research

Northside Vibes
First-year students write for local newspaper

Experiencing a religious revolution
Religious studies professor's latest book looks at the role of religious revivals in colonial times

A deep dive into the African American experience
HistoryMakers database demonstrates the power of oral history to share the African American experience

The Great War, Modernity, and Memory
Sophomores immerse in the study of World War I

Documenting a Historic Black High School
UR students wrote and performed a documentary drama about the history of Armstrong High

Chemistry in Art
Professor introduces chemistry course that incites creativity

East End Cemetery Collaboratory
UR and VCU deepen connections to historic African-American Cemetery

Writing From the Body: Words and Movement
Students use movement to practice mindfulness

Exposing students to etymology
Community-based learning helps middle school students learn etymology

Solving more than equations
Incorporating social justice issues in the math classroom

Keeping Data Secure
Computer science research lab explores issues of data security

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A&S Faculty in the News

Toys 'R' Us Rises From The Dead: How To Lead a Comeback

October 18, 2019

Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and historian Ed Ayers in quoted in this story from a previous interview about the American psyche and rooting for underdogs.

"Maleficent" The Spider at UR

October 18, 2019

Jennifer O’Donnell, manager of biological laboratories and animal care expert, is interviewed about Maleficent, a black widow spider she rescued and cares for on campus in addition to about a dozen tarantulas. This story was also covered by ABC 8 News.

Library of Congress Ken Burns Unveil Inaugural Documentary Prize

October 16, 2019

Ed Ayers is highlighted for serving on a jury that reviewed finalists for the inaugural Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film.

The Heart of the University

At Richmond, the School of Arts and Sciences is at the heart of your education, with courses in the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. But choosing an A&S education offers you more than just variety.

It’s the chance to explore a topic you’ve always been curious about, whether that’s Russian, modern dance, or environmental ethics. It’s getting a different perspective on your favorite subject, thinking through concepts and problems in a way you never have before. It’s satisfying your curiosity and love for learning, and then working to translate that into a career path.

Access A&S

Award-winning playwright comes to UR
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins will give a talk on campus.

Professor Delivers Talk in South Africa
Carol Summers holds the Samuel Chiles Mitchell/Jacob Billikopf chair in History.

Taylor Hoogsteden, '20
Senior receives Governor's Fellowship to work on education policy

Unsettling Ecologies Lecture Series
Diverse faculty speakers from a variety of disciplines reflect on environmental issues and climate change.

Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows
Celebrating a decade of faculty engagement, teaching, and scholarship

UR Student Published in VA Engage
Junior Rachel Ziemba discusses her experience taking a summer class called "Spanish in the Community."

Celebrating Our Community of Learners

Emma Nash, '20
Senior uses creative communication to interact with patients

Curating History
Kate Wiley, '20, an art history major and archaeology minor, became interested in museum work when she realized the power of curation.

Akers Wins 2019 Dickerson Award
Robin R. Akers, '19, is the recipient of the 2019 Lynn C. Dickerson Award.

Jieyi Ding, '19
International student explores psychology of group identity through leadership studies honors thesis

Cassie Gilboy '19 wins The Jane Stockman Award
Cassie is a graduating senior from Pittsburgh, PA

Emily Churchill Awarded Writing Consultant of the Year
Three faculty nominated the same student for different reasons.

Exploring questions of cultural belonging, hybridity and memory
Dr. Tanja Softi's Exhibit May and June

Tuong-Vi Trinh, '19
Senior infuses her art with social justice themes

Erin Sorady, '19
Student charts path to servant leadership

Learning as an Emancipatory Practice
Dr. Karina Vazquez expands student perspectives through community engagement

Tech4All
Bonner Scholars support information technology solutions for nonprofits at IT4Causes

Noah Clarke & William Stith, '18
Alumni reflect on the importance of men of color in mentoring roles

Chris Cassella, '20
Junior researches mass shootings and their impact

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New AS Symposium Film

Student Symposium 2019
Each April, we celebrate our diverse community of learners at the Student Symposium, a showcase of student-led research projects from nearly 30 disciplines in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The 2019 Student Symposium was held on Friday, April 12.

Upcoming Events

Oct
21
Major & Career Workshop
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Choosing a major can be tough. If you are in the process of deciding on what you should major in or if you want to get... Continue reading
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Oct
21
Curator's Lecture with Carmen Hermo
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Carmen Hermo, Associate Curator, Brooklyn Museum, presents "On Curating & Feminist Art," in conjunction with the... Continue reading
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Oct
22
Juror's Walk-Through
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Exhibition walk-through with Carmen Hermo, juror of the exhibition "Contested Spaces: 2019 Harnett Biennial of American... Continue reading
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Oct
22
Lecture: Plant Feeling in the Anthropocene
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Join Mary Kuhn, University of Virgina Assistant Professor of English and Program in Environmental Thought and... Continue reading
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Oct
22
Lecture: "People Power: Social Media and Political Space in Uganda, East Africa" (African Week)
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Presented by Professor Ernest Okello Ogwang, Department of Literature, and First Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic... Continue reading
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Oct
22
Career Chat: Life After Teach for America
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Antoine Waul graduated from University of Richmond in 2013 with a BA in political science. Following graduation, Antoine... Continue reading
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Oct
23
TEACH-IN: Protests in Hong Kong
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dr. Dan ChenDr. Tze Loo... Continue reading
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Oct
23
Career Chat: Working for the Department of Justice
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Our speaker graduated from the University of Richmond in 2014 with a degree in psychology. She has since gone on to work... Continue reading
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Oct
23
Professional Communication Workshop
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
"Just reach out to some alumni who work there!""Don't forget to write a thank you note!""Prepare a pitch to introduce... Continue reading
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Oct
23
Lecture: "French-Speaking African Immigrants in Ontario Entrepreneurship Resilience and Integration" (African Week)
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presented by Professor Virginie Mesana, University of Ottawa.... Continue reading
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Planning for the Future

Become an educational entrepreneur, taking your vision and passions and turning them into your livelihood. Study a subject you love, go all in on your academic experience. Take that depth of knowledge, add to it your broad exploration, experiential learning through internships and research, and guidance from faculty and career services, and you’ll be ready to chart a course for success with your passion at its core.

Alumni Stories

On deadline.In May, business journalist Mohammed Hadi, ’98, landed a plum assignment: news director of The New York Times’ Business Day section. Read his story.

A voice for othersMelissa Diamond, '15, has been devoted to helping children with autism in refugee camps and conflict zones since she was still a student. Read her story.

Warrior care.Committed to serving the country after 9/11, Maj. Max Sirkin, '08, has developed a life-saving invention for the military. Read his story.

A matter of priorities.Photographer Jensen Sutta, '99, turns down well-paying assignments to support nonprofit work in Haiti. Read his story.

NYPD pilots alum's technologyPatrick Traynor, '02, a professor at the University of Florida and a cybersecurity expert, has created the “Skim Reaper” alongside two graduate students to combat credit card fraud at ATMs. Learn more in Spider Pride