Arts and Letters News

Scholars of Latinx politics and Islam sign on for historic cohort hire

Rachel Torres and Cyril Uy are the first scholars to join the cohort working broadly across racial and social justice, minority cultures and critical race studies.

Looking to the future

Czech Republic, Taiwan, Maldova. Dukes set their sights on international exchange as they advance in most competitive cycle to date.

JMU sociologist dispels immigrant stereotypes in new book

In his first book, “Fútbol in the Park: Immigrants, Soccer, and the Creation of Social Ties” Trouille dispels some common myths about immigrants.

Silicon Valley executive gives back through English scholarship

The English scholarship created by Silicon Valley executive John Taschek aims to reach “young, potentially rudderless students,” like Taschek remembers himself as a young Duke.

‘Why don’t we put Marilou there?’

SMAD professor Marilou Moore Johnson ('80) went on to become one of JMU's most highly regarded — and sought after — administrators.

A "Commitment to Fairness and Justice"

The Whitten Maher Memorial Scholarship recognizes undergraduates in all JMU disciplines whose writing and design reflects Maher’s commitment to advocacy and change.

Page County drug treatment court to launch with boost from JMU professor

With help from JMU Political Science professor Amanda Teye, Page County will launch of a new adult drug treatment court this spring.

Applications open for first “cohort hire” in university history

Six new faculty members will join the college as a cohort and work broadly across areas of racial and social justice, minority cultures and critical race studies. 

Honoring the Histories

Through internships with the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project, JMU students have forged deep connections with Harrisonburg’s Black community and history.

Defending the air

U.S. Army air defense artillery officer Amanda Del Re (’06, ’06M) is an expert on high-impact leadership.

‘¡Conectémonos!’

Language learning still translates in an online setting.

Alumni board unifies college

The Liberal Arts Alumni Board has evolved into the first college-wide alumni board in Arts and Letters history.

College welcomes new professors to JMU

Meet the eight new professors who joined the College of Arts and Letters this fall.

JMU poet is finalist for Library of Virginia Literary Award

Lauren Alleyne is one of three finalists in the poetry category for the Library of Virginia’s 23rd Annual Literary Awards.

English professor awarded fellowship at The British Library

English professor Katey Castellano was awarded a visiting fellowship at the British Library’s Eccles Centre for American Studies, where she will track the influence of the Black British writer Robert Wedderburn.

English professor secures NEH grant to teach on printing and the book during the Reformation

Since arriving at JMU in 2007, English professor Mark Rankin has received over one million dollars in external research funding.

Doors open for first recipient of the Opportunity Fund

A rising freshman from Springfield, VA is the first recipient of the Arts and Letters Opportunity Fund.

COVID-19 in Perspective: Course covers the disease, and much more

Students enrolled in a special course are learning about COVID-19 from experts in chemistry; health; history; philosophy; and writing, rhetoric & technical communication.

Guiding the growth

A History professor described as a “force of nature” in the classroom has been selected as a recipient of the 2020 Roberts Endowment for Faculty Excellence Award.

'A time to celebrate you'

Dean Robert Aguirre has a message for College of Arts and Letters graduating seniors.

A photo essay from an empty campus

Carrie Chang (’20) shares her first-person introspection through a before-and-after treatment of campus imagery.

‘Fast and Furious’

Two teams of JMU X-Labs students produced a computer application designed to assess and test decision-making among NATO officers.

Clarifying the information

Allison Capley ('16) is volunteering with the COVID-19 Ask a Scientist project to answer pressing questions about the novel coronavirus.

#Oscarssowhite, How digital spaces are reimagining advocacy

Morgan Smalls, SMAD professor, uses popular culture as an entryway to have larger conversations in the classroom about race, class, gender and power.

"We All Need A Voice"

The Whitten Maher Memorial Scholarship recognizes undergraduates in all JMU disciplines whose writing and design reflects Maher’s commitment to advocacy and change.

Middle East expert Bernie Kaussler wins inaugural Cinquegrana

Kaussler will spend the 2020 year conducting new research on proxy war and civilian victimization in the civil war in Yemen.

JMU professor and poet nominated for NAACP Image Awards

Professor Lauren K. Alleyne, an associate professor of English at James Madison University, has been nominated for the NAACP Image Awards for her book of poetry, “Honeyfish.”