News

The Courtney Kampa Poetry Prize was named to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of A&S alumna Courtney Kampa, whose talent and love of poetry took shape during her time on Grounds. Established by her family, the annual award supports emerging writers in the Creative Writing Program while honoring Kampa’s lasting impact as a poet and teacher who inspired others to find their voice.

A dedicated supporter of the College Fund and former Benefactors Society Board member, Maxwell Bonnie ’07 brings an entrepreneurial spirit and deep commitment to community to his engagement at UVA.

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.

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.