We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our own, Professor Stephen Platt (History) and Professor Juana Valdés (Art), have been named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows!
Read the full article here: www.umass.edu/humanities-a...
Daniel Ellsberg’s archive lives at UMass, offering rare insight into war, protest, and the ethics of dissent. A powerful resource for students and scholars.
Read more: www.umass.edu/magazine/spr...
#UMassHFA #EllsbergPapers #Archives #SocialJustice
Last week, Chancellor Reyes visited the UMass DesignBuild site to meet with students and learn more about the collaborative, hands-on work happening at the build site. #UMassHFA
Learn more >>> websites.umass.edu/umassdesbuild/
UMass HFA student Cecilia Demolli ’26 spent her summer at the Poggio Civitate Archaeological Field School in Tuscany, excavating Etruscan artifacts under the guidance of UMass Professor Anthony Tuck. #UMassHFA
Read more:
Arya Gadage ’25 found her place at UMass in the iCons Program—bridging STEM and business, and discovering a passion for finance. Next stop? A predoctoral fellowship at Columbia. Read more about her journey:
The Juniper Summer Writing Institute’s public reading series returns at Old Chapel! Each evening at 7:30 p.m., acclaimed poets and writers—including Tiana Clark, T. Kira Māhealani Madden, Jessica Anthony, Sam Sax, and more—will share their work and creative process, with Q&As to follow. Open to all.
New from UMass Professor of History Stephen R. Platt:
"The Raider" (Knopf, 2025) is the first major biography of Evans Carlson—renegade WWII Marine, secret confidant of FDR, and commander of America’s first modern special forces battalion.
Learn more >>> ow.ly/Qhs350W6BsE
The DEFA Film Library at UMass Amherst hosts its 12th Summer Film Institute June 22–28:
Screened Environments: Intersections of Built, Natural and Social Spaces in East Germany
More info: umass.edu./defa
UMass undergrads in Monika Schmitter’s Curating Views of Venice course are organizing a Five College art show that reimagines the real Venice—through water, reflection, and the people who live there. Opens Sept. 13 at SCMA. #UMassHFA
🔗 ow.ly/HQZ150W5v7W
That’s a wrap on the 2024–25 UMass Theater season! 🎭
Xanadu brought the sparkle, spandex, and roller-disco energy to close things out. Congrats to the cast, crew, and creative team.
Learn more about our theater programs at umass.edu/theater.
#UMassHFA
At the 2025 UMass Amherst Commencement, College of Humanities and Fine Arts alum David Korins ’99—renowned creative director and designer—encouraged graduates to embrace the unknown, trust their instincts, and lead with purpose. #UMassHFA
On May 17, we celebrated the Class of 2025 at the HFA Senior Recognition Ceremony. Congratulations, graduates!
An album of photos from the event, as well as the full recording, are now available. #UMassHFA #UMassAmherst
We’re proud to share that two College of Humanities and Fine Arts Theater Department alumni have been nominated for Tony Awards for Best Lighting Design of a Musical. #UMassHFA
Congratulations to:
▪️ Ben Stanton ’99, ’22 – "Maybe Happy Ending"
▪️Justin Townsend ’97 – "Death Becomes Her"
Now on view: "Sowing History, Reaping Justice: Writing Children’s Books About Slavery in Canada and the US North"
This exhibition features 18 original illustrated children’s books created by students in Dr. Charmaine A. Nelson’s course, The Visual Culture of Slavery.
www.umass.edu/humanities-a...
A peek at campus last week, when spring was definitely springing. 🌸 Repost from UMass Amherst Alumni!
HFA’s Opportunity Scholars held their end of the year celebration this past Friday. Graduating seniors were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the program. The evening was filled with laughs, yummy food, and great company.
Thanks to all who attended!
Anna Broyard ‘25 and Rachel Martin ‘28 were recognized as this year’s Five College Prose and Poetry Prize winners from during an awards reading held on the Smith College. This celebrates the quality and range of student creative writing.
To read more, visit: www.umass.edu/humanities-a...
Each semester, some of the UMass Amherst history department’s most popular classes fill with scientists.
Read the full story in our 2024 magazine: www.umass.edu/history/abou...
This past Friday, scholars gathered in the Campus Center for a collaborative academic discourse contributing to the Advancing Community, Democracy, and Dialogue initiative. This effort centers on the recent publication of Earthborn Democracy: A Political Theory of Entangled Life.
Congrats to the 2025 Concerto & Aria Competition winners!
Robert, Laura, and Daniel will perform with the UMass Symphony Orchestra tomorrow, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Tillis Hall.
#UMassHFA #UMassAmherst
"UMass has provided me with the resources to succeed in a plethora of careers," says student Mia Klotz.
English major Mia Klotz has been named a 2025 Rising Researcher for her research and outreach work helping students around the world gain access to educational information!
A bright morning sun shines over the South College building at UMass Amherst, casting long shadows on the sidewalk and grassy hill. Leafless trees and historic campus buildings are visible in the background.
Good morning from South College ☀️ #UMassHFA
The grand finale!
The MA delegation pictured with @repmcgovern.bsky.social
UMass HFA represent! CHFA faculty, staff, and administrators are spending the day on Capitol Hill with the National Humanities Alliance, advocating for support of humanities funding; looking forward to full day of energetic conversation!
Reading Frederick Douglass Together: "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" A public reading of his influential Fourth of July address and breakfast. Friday, February 14, 10 am - 12pm at the UMass Amherst South College Atrium.
Join us on Friday morning for a special event, "Reading Frederick Douglass Together: 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?'" Feb. 14, 10 am - noon at the UMass Amherst South College Atrium. Sponsored by HFA & Mass Humanities. RSVP: www.umass.edu/diversity/ev...