A Message from the Dean

People and the Power of Knowledge

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many UVA alumni in the nearly five years I have served as dean, and I’m often asked about the priorities of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. In short, our work is about people and the power of knowledge.

Let me start with the first of those: people. Fundamentally, we are focused on our students and the education we provide them. Central to providing a second-to-none liberal arts experience is attracting and retaining world-class faculty, and this issue of A&S Magazine highlights our most recent successes in recruiting faculty recognized as international leaders in their respective fields.

In addition, we need the power of knowledge to address the great challenges of the 21st century. From JC Cang’s work in brain science, to Larry Band’s efforts in studying the complex problems of water in relation to climate change, to the challenges facing democratic societies that are the focus of our new Democracy Initiative, our work in these areas is pushing the outer frontier of research, discovery, and policy design to ensure we are making a difference.

To educate our students and expand knowledge for the Commonwealth and the global common good, we need your active participation. It is my sincere hope that you always remain actively engaged with the A&S community.

Ian Baucom
Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts & Sciences

Volume 37 | Number 1 | Spring 2019

Published by the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Publisher
Eugene R. Schutt, Jr.
President, College Foundation

Editor
John A. Carfagno
Director of Communications

Art Director
Krista King Ulrich

Designer
Journey Group

Managing Editor
Molly Minturn

Contributing Editors
Kennedy Kipps
Vice President of Administration, College Foundation

Angela Ross
Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, College Foundation

Editorial Assistant
Kelli Martin

Copy Editors
Sheila McMillen
Melanie Simon

Contributing Writers
Anne Bromley
Caroline Kettlewell
Caroline Newman
Lorenzo Perez

Contributing Photographers
Dan Addison
Molly Angevine
Gerard Gaskin
Hunter Hall
Peggy Harrison
Evan Kutsko
Tomas Munita
Sanjay Suchak

Cover Illustration
Mike McQuade

On the Cover
A visual depiction of the key question Professor JC Cang is working to answer: What makes an older brain different from a younger brain?

A&S Magazine | Aug-Sep 2022 Edition

Loneliness Is Epidemic. This UVA Professor Is Searching for a Cure

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions in America, and psychology professor Adrienne Wood’s search for a cure has won her one of the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards.

The Charlottesville Civil Rights Tour visits the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, the first memorial in the United States dedicated to the legacy of enslaved Black people, lynching victims and African Americans harmed by rac

Bearing Witness to History

The Charlottesville Civil Rights Tour continues the work started by the late Julian Bond during his teaching tenure in the College, bringing UVA students, faculty and community members to landmark sites of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South.

Q&A: Continuing the Legacy of a Legendary Economics Professor

A new endowed chair honoring the career of Professor Ken Elzinga has brought noted antitrust expert Julie Mortimer to UVA.

Getting to Know New Arts & Sciences Dean Christa Davis Acampora

Christa Davis Acampora joined the University of Virginia on September 1 as the new dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

A&S Magazine | May-June 2022 Edition

Making an Impact by Investing in Faculty

College alumni and friends who want to give something back are finding that the investments they make in the University’s faculty are paying important dividends.

Teaching Economic Models Transformed with Virtual Reality

An innovative teaching method has enabled a College economics professor to demonstrate complicated principles via VR goggles to enhance student learning.

The Key to Clean Energy, on a Nanoscale

A young UVA chemistry professor has emerged as one of the most promising researchers in the field of developing renewable fuel and chemical sources.

Breaking Barriers in the Sciences

The Class of 2022 includes impressive female Ph.D.s who are inspiring the next generation of young women to pursue what has long been considered a male-dominated scientific community.

A&S Magazine | March-April 2022 Edition

Transformational Leadership

After eight transformational years in the College, the esteemed A&S Dean moves on to a larger role at UVA as Provost.

Chemistry’s State-of-the-Art Home

After a six-year renovation, the College of Arts & Sciences' chemistry building is welcoming students back to a facility designed for cutting-edge science and to inspire scientific community.

The Art of Success

For many College alumni, arts degrees have paved the path to success in a wide range of careers.

Mapping the Unmapped in Outer Space

Researchers from the Department of Astronomy are among the select group awarded coveted observation time with the Webb Space Telescope.

A&S Magazine | September - October 2021 Edition

Cultivating Democracy in the Next Generation

The Democracy Initiative’s Student Advisory Council Offers Undergraduates a Voice in One of UVA’s Most Important Missions

Pandemic Inspires Resilience and Innovation in the Arts

Being an educator during a pandemic hasn't been easy, especially for those teaching aspiring actors, musicians and artists, but adapting to the challenge has had some surprising results.

Highly Competitive Undergraduate Major Launches New Program in Fundamental Neuroscience

One of the College’s most sought-after undergraduate STEM majors is about to take a giant step forward.

Summer CONEX Program Eases the Transition to College

For some high school graduates, summer can be a time of anxiety about the challenges that college life will bring. This UVA program gives incoming first years the quantitative skills and a community of support to face those challenges with confidence.

Giving