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.
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.
Echols Scholar alumnus Tim Ingrassia returned to Grounds as the keynote speaker for the 65th anniversary of the Echols Scholars Program, reflecting on the program’s lasting impact on his life. Ingrassia and his wife, Stephanie, are among Echols’ most generous supporters, making transformational gifts to the program and supporting research opportunities for Echols Scholars.
A newly installed radio telescope at UVA is opening powerful new pathways to uncover the mysteries of dark matter, one of the universe’s most elusive forces. Made possible through philanthropic support, this cutting-edge instrument gives graduate students and UVA Arts & Sciences undergraduates the opportunity to engage directly in advanced research.
The Echols Scholars Program marked its 65th anniversary, reuniting alumni and connecting them with current scholars on Grounds. Many generous Echols alumni supported and attended the event in celebration of the life-long skills this unique honors program fosters.
Strategic investments and cross‑disciplinary collaboration are ushering in a new era for UVA’s Department of Astronomy. Philanthropic support plays an important role in expanding access to world‑class telescopes, growing postdoctoral and research communities and leading national AI‑driven astronomy initiatives. Arts & Sciences’ investment in the size and scope of Astronomy studies is strengthening UVA’s ability to explore the universe and train the next generation of astronomers.
A chance observation in a chemistry lab led Professor Marcos Pires and his research team of students and scientists to uncover previously unseen behavior in how cells organize themselves, which could lead to advances in understanding how cells become susceptible to disease. Support for the Graduate Excellence campaign is enabling the University to generate ground-breaking research with teams of leading faculty, top PhD students and bright undergraduates working together on consequential scientific discovery.