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UVA TOP RESEARCH HONOR GOES TO CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR
A SYRIAN REFUGEE’S IMPROBABLE JOURNEY TO GRADUATING FROM UVA A&S
‘TOP CHEF’ A&S ALUMNA BRINGS CULINARY HISTORY BACK TO GROUNDS
ARTS & SCIENCES RECOGNIZES 19 RETIRING FACULTY
UVA STUDENTS JOIN BROADWAY TALENT FOR NEWSIES
The 19 honored professors whose careers span decades of teaching, research, and service have shaped generations of students and advanced scholarship across disciplines. Their collective impact on UVA highlights the lasting value of hiring top faculty who educate, mentor, and drive discovery for years to come.
Tanya Holland '87 returned to Grounds bringing Virginia’s culinary history to life for students in her Summer Sessions class. Her journey back to the classroom after achieving a nationally recognized culinary career reflects the lasting impact of a UVA education and showcases how alumni engagement can enrich student learning. Sustained support for A&S fuels innovative teaching programs like Tanya’s and helps connect former and current Hoos in meaningful ways.
For Dareen Aloudeh ‘26, the path to a UVA degree began nearly 15 years ago in war-torn Syria. She resettled in Virginia, learned a new language, and returned to school as an adult. This spring, she graduated from A&S with a double major in Biology and Middle Eastern Language & Literature and earned the University’s Cultural Fluency Award.
Chemistry professor Jill Venton has received the University’s highest honor for her groundbreaking discoveries in brain chemistry, furthering new understanding of neurological disorders. Sustained investment in research and education reflects critical support that enables faculty to advance discovery, train students, and extend UVA’s impact far beyond Grounds.
Retiring after nearly four decades at UVA, Deborah McDowell, Alice Griffin Professor of English, leaves a lasting mark. She played a key role in building the African American and African Studies department and the Woodson Institute. A pioneering scholar and mentor, McDowell continues to lead the Julian Bond Papers Project, making the life work of Civil Rights icon Julian Bond accessible to all.
New UVA Arts & Sciences research powered by philanthropic support shows GLP-1 weight-loss drugs reshape the brain’s reward system, reducing not just hunger but the desire for food. Led by neuroscientist Ali D. Güler, the study reveals how these drugs influence motivation and behavior.
From the humanities to the sciences, 27 exceptional graduate students have been recognized with endowed fellowships, made possible by generous donors who believe deeply in the importance and impact of a strong graduate program.
Arts & Sciences hosted a dinner celebrating early unprecedented success of the Campaign for Graduate Excellence, bringing together donors and graduate fellows to recognize the impact of philanthropic support and the accomplishments of the 2025-26 named fellows.
A team of mathematicians, including Leonid Petrov, a professor of mathematics at UVA Arts & Sciences, has solved a decade-old problem that even advanced artificial intelligence could not crack. This underscores the power of human insight in tackling complex challenges. Fueled by a culture of collaboration and supported by philanthropy, this work highlights how investments in faculty and research empower discovery, elevate graduate and undergraduate learning, and drive impact at the forefront of mathematical innovation.
Four UVA Arts & Sciences professors have been named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows, one of the nation’s highest honors for scholars and artists. Their groundbreaking research is supported by a culture of academic excellence and sustained by philanthropic investment in faculty, will advance new knowledge and shape conversations far beyond Grounds.
Hoo Rah Raise was a success! Gifts made to the College Fund during our annual giving day make a meaningful difference, directly impacting Arts & Sciences, its students and faculty.
As the first donor to establish a fully endowed fellowship during the Campaign for Graduate Excellence, Smith continues a legacy of leadership and steadfast support for the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences by investing in graduate students and ensuring their opportunities to study at UVA for years to come.