The College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has announced the awarding of SPARC Grants to 20 faculty members, providing support for research, scholarship, creative activity and innovative projects across a broad range of disciplines.
A grant from the UVA Arts & Sciences Seed and Planning Grants Program helped support a three-week research collaboration in Angola, where UVA doctoral students collaborated with institutions and researchers to mitigate the spread of malaria.
An international study co-led by UVA political scientist David Leblang uncovers new insight into one of today's pressing social challenges. The study found that loneliness is highest in lower-income countries and closely tied to economic conditions and access to supportive relationships. The findings suggest that reducing loneliness and its impact should be tailored to local communities and conditions rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.
By working alongside graduate students, faculty, and research staff, undergraduate student researchers in Arts & Sciences contribute to groundbreaking projects across disciplines. They aren't just learning about discovery, they're helping drive it, while gaining hands-on experience and skills that will help shape their future careers and impact well beyond Grounds.
In November, a special 2-day event brought together students, faculty, scholars, and alumni to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jewish Studies at UVA. The weekend kicked off a $25 million fundraising campaign to strengthen and grow this interdisciplinary program through new professorships, graduate fellowships, and programming.
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.
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.
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.
Decades ago, passionate alumni helped form the Foundation to ensure the philanthropic support the needed by the College to flourish. Twenty-five years and a billion dollars later, the Foundation is still advancing the academic mission of Arts & Sciences thanks to generations of benevolent alumni, parents, and friends.
UVA opened its doors to students and held its very first “College” classes in 1825. Today, its academic mission is stronger than ever, thanks in part to donor support. To celebrate, Arts & Sciences is kicking off a year-long bicentennial celebration.
A formal Investiture Ceremony recently celebrated 16 faculty who were awarded prestigious named professorships. Philanthropic support makes these possible to recognize top professors for contributions to research, teaching, and the University community.