Year In Review Message From The Dean 2023-24
Message From The Dean
As I enter my third year as dean of this wonderful college, I am reflecting on the many accomplishments by our faculty, staff and students that remind us why the academy is critical to our society. I am so proud to lead this community of inspired art makers and thoughtful world changers. During a year that tested our resilience and resolve, faculty, students and staff in the college led groundbreaking research, innovative teaching and community engagement activities. They explored the complexities of these times through literature, history, philosophy, languages, the arts and more, providing critical insights and fostering dialogue and understanding. They showed how our disciplines can help us make sense of our experiences, nurture empathy and inspire hope.
Among our many achievements, we are proud to have inaugurated the Frederick Douglass Center for Leadership Through the Humanities, a beacon for leadership development and civic engagement rooted in the rich legacy of abolitionist and humanist Frederick Douglass. Hosting legendary poet, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni to mark the center’s launch was unforgettable: her lifelong commitment to the arts and humanities coupled with an unwavering commitment to social change embodies our hopes for the Douglass Center. Our second annual Douglass Center Summer Institute this past July continued the momentum. Inspired by the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, UMD faculty and local teachers led workshops on topics ranging from “Teaching Palestine-Israel” to “Pedagogy and Hip Hop.”
The campuswide Arts for All initiative also continues to thrive, engaging the community through diverse activities that celebrate and integrate the arts into all aspects of campus life. Through the initiative, we experience how art helps us make sense of and respond to some of our grandest challenges. After the Israel–Hamas war began, Arts for All organized two musical events designed to create common ground, which included our own faculty and students as well as the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, comprising Palestinian and Israeli youth. Arts for All also provided a platform for conversations about the intersection of arts and technology, and funded a number of exciting and cutting-edge research projects.
We introduced a new ARHU newsletter and podcast, both titled “Rhyme and Reason,” where we amplify the voices and stories within our community. We kicked off the Harmony Fellowship program, fostering innovative collaborations across disciplines in ARHU and beyond. Additionally, our college has taken a leading role in the new Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland, ensuring that the ethical and humanistic dimensions of AI are at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
As always, our students and alums humble me with their passion, creativity and true belief in the power of the arts and humanities. I’m so proud of our many students who are leaders within ARHU and across the university community. Hanging out with and learning from them this year was an absolute thrill and a reminder of why we do what we do.
I hope you enjoy this Year in Review, which showcases the incredible achievements within ARHU, highlighting the leadership, creativity and dedication of our community. Let us take pride in what we have accomplished together and look forward to continuing our mission to enrich minds, broaden perspectives and make a positive impact on our campus— and the world.