UVA Arts & Sciences alumnus Jay Pendarvis is turning a passion for storytelling into an award-winning film career. A studio art graduate and former student-athlete, Pendarvis is earning national recognition for films that explore grief, history, and the human experience, demonstrating the power of the arts to spark meaningful conversations and connect communities.

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.

Thanks to generous philanthropy at UVA, groundbreaking ideas are moving closer to real-world impact through the Manning Institute of Biotechnology’s "SPARK Tank" competition. By connecting researchers with mentorship, feedback, and critical funding, the program helps accelerate promising discoveries, from new cancer therapies to potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of transforming innovative research into life-saving solutions for patients.

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.