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UVA'S POLITICAL AND SOCIAL THOUGHT MAJOR CELEBRATES 50 YEARS!
RECLAIMING HUMANITY IN THE AGE OF AI
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TAKE CLEAN FUEL BREAKTHROUGH ABROAD
RESEARCHERS WIN GRANT TO STUDY BIRTH EFFECTS ON MOTHERS
At an event co-sponsored by Arts & Sciences, tech journalist Karen Hao and Seth Lewis, incoming Professor of AI and Media Studies, discussed AI’s trajectory and its potential for exploitation. Dean Christa Acampora said AI could “save or destroy us,” emphasizing how it renews the liberal arts’ mission to foster empathy, discernment, and meaning. Donor generosity enables A&S to promote intellectual debate on leading edge topics and to attract star professors to the College.
Professor Jessica Connelly and senior scientist Allison Perkeybile received nearly $5 million in NIH grants to study how birth experiences shape maternal health and brain function. Their psychology department labs provide research opportunities for dozens of undergraduate and graduate students in Arts & Sciences to be part of groundbreaking work and enable the College to lead in discovery and innovation that improves lives.
A team of nine UVA students are heading to Paris to present a synthetic biology innovation that turns waste into clean fuel. Research opportunities like this reflect how philanthropic support results in life-changing experiences for A&S undergraduates and solutions for the broader world.
PST celebrated its 50th anniversary with a symposium for alumni, faculty and current students made possible by philanthropic support. A recent significant gift alongside other generous donations have helped secure the future of PST and serve as a model for expanding interdisciplinary majors across Arts & Sciences.
Philanthropy is a critical component of UVA's budget. College alum Matt S. Erskine now leads the College Foundation of the University of Virginia in its mission to raise donor support for Arts & Sciences.
Anton Korinek, a UVA economist and AI expert, joins TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence for his work on AI’s economic impact and global policy leadership. Donor support helps attract top teaching talent to the College.
September 2025
Student satisfaction jumped from 55% to 84% after UVA Arts & Sciences revamped its advising model with help from the College Fund. Those paired with full-time Advising Fellows reported even higher ratings.
September 2025
College Advising Fellows and pre-major advisors welcome incoming students during UVA’s Summer Orientation, offering personalized support as they navigate course registration and begin their academic journey.
After earning a PhD in religious studies and consulting on tech ethics, UVA graduate Philip Lorish opens Commerce Street Books, a haven for readers seeking surprise, community and intellectual connection.
Motivated by a personal experience, Nora Fotuhi, a neuroscience and global public health double major, blends science, storytelling, and service to raise awareness and support recovery for young athletes.
September 2025
Donor support of Arts & Sciences’ effort to attract top PhD talent continues to pay off. A rare newspaper found by Robert Sanchis-Álvarez in a Barcelona flea market launched a two-year international effort to preserve and repatriate a piece of Filipino heritage.
September 2025
English professor Bruce Holsinger’s fifth novel, Culpability, exploring the moral complexities of artificial intelligence, was selected as Oprah Winfrey’s 2025 summer book club pick.