Responding to strong student interest, UVA is expanding its Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy with three distinguished faculty members and a broader interdisciplinary mission. Supported in part by philanthropic partners, the expansion demonstrates how investing in extraordinary talent can enrich undergraduate education, foster collaboration across disciplines and strengthen UVA’s leadership in the study of democracy.
An overlooked collection of dried plants in a Puerto Rican archive became the foundation for award-winning research by UVA Ph.D. candidate Elizabeth Mirabal. Fellowships, travel funding and faculty mentorship enabled Mirabal to pursue her discovery across borders, illustrating how investment in graduate excellence gives emerging scholars the resources to expand knowledge in unexpected ways.
As the University shapes its next strategic plan, President Scott Beardsley is drawing on input from across the UVA community to identify the priorities that will guide its future. Emerging themes include academic and research excellence, deeper faculty-student connections, interdisciplinary collaboration and affordability, all areas where Arts & Sciences will play a central role in advancing UVA’s mission.
Dean Christa Acampora explores the lasting value of a liberal arts education and its power to cultivate judgment, discernment, empathy, and courage. It is an education that prepares students not only to shape their own lives, but to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
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.
Members of the UVA Arts & Sciences Class of 2026 express gratitude to the faculty, graduate students, and staff who shaped their time on Grounds. The reflections highlight the relationships that defined their student experience and the lasting impact of mentorship in helping them identify their paths forward.
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.
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.