Impact Report 2022-2023
Each year, the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) Impact Report highlights the contributions of students and faculty, with the support of alumni and donors, toward our mission of fostering curiosity and creativity in a complex and changing world. This year’s report covers the most notable achievements at the College in the 2022-2023 academic year.
A Message from Dean Gonzales
Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, graduate, donor or a dedicated member of our community, you helped to make 2022–2023 a remarkable academic year for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS). Our impact report will take you through the many achievements and contributions of our College during the year. And I believe you will find that when our work is viewed holistically, this report shows we are on the path toward establishing CAHSS as a model for a liberal arts education in this century.
We are proud of the new access to education and professions we have created for students through Strategic Initiatives including our First-Generation College Student Program and Internships for All. Our faculty guide us toward making our world a better place with their innovative research, inspirational teaching and selfless service, through grants and often thanks to the generosity of committed donors and alumni.
I hope this report and its stories will resonate with and embolden you to join more closely with us on our journey.
Yours,
Rhonda M. Gonzales
Dean and Professor
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Strategic Initiatives
Our Internships for All Program and the CAHSS First Generation College Student Program both work to help students through transformative experiences, such as internships and mentorship. We also prioritize supporting interdisciplinary faculty innovation through CILCA, the Center for Innovation in the Creative and Liberal Arts.
Strategic Initiatives in Action
First-Generation College Student Program
Through our First-Generation College Student Program, students who are the first in their families to attend college receive mentoring, academic advice, and opportunities to connect with other first-gen students.
Support 1st Gen Programming
Internships for All
Internships provide a critical opportunity for students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings. For many students, taking an unpaid internship for the experience is not financially possible. Our program makes internships accessible to students by providing scholarships and promoting paid internship opportunities.
Support Student InternshipsStudent Internship Stories
Center for Innovation in the Liberal & Creative Arts (CILCA)
CILCA helps faculty bring their big ideas to life by providing grants for projects that advance the liberal and creative arts. These grants can have a big impact, promoting collaboration across the college and a stepping stone to greater things!
Documenting Essential Voices for Social Justice
Faculty Directors: Carlos Jiménez (Media, Film & Journalism Studies) and Lina Reznicek-Parrado (Spanish Language, Literary & Cultural Studies)
Through their CILCA funding grant, faculty partnered with community organizations to provide meaningful, often bilingual internships to students. Along with applying their Spanish language skills to make a difference in their community, students collected oral histories that will be archived at History Colorado and help add the missing voices of Spanish-speaking Coloradans to the historical record.
The implications of this project and the funding that made it possible go beyond the direct and immediate impact on students and the community. Faculty developed and implemented a micro-credential program in Spanish Media Production, which will allow future students to continue to benefit from these experiences. In addition, the project served as a template for faculty to apply for—and earn—a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant.
Lamont Welcomes Virtuoso, First Juilliard Master of Music in Piano Graduate
From China to New York City and now Denver, Jiawei Lyu’s journey with the piano has taken her across the globe. Lyu, who earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at Juilliard, is in Lamont’s two-year artist diploma in performance program
“Jiawei is an exquisite artist. She is a pianist with a refined sensibility, a gift for deep lyricism and a natural technique. She also has a self-effacing personality and approaches the art of performance with great humility.”
—Steven Mayer, professor in the Lamont School of Music
DU Students Converse with Ancient Mesoamerican Art in Davis Gallery Exhibit
When Sydney Barofsky (MA ’23) saw the call for exhibition proposals by DU’s newly opened Davis Gallery last winter, they seized the opportunity to share their passion for Mesoamerican ceramics. The Davis Gallery emphasizes collaboration.
“For me that meant making connections with members of DU and the community to form a cohesive exhibition around the theme of conversations through time."
—Sydney Barofsky (MA ’23, Art History with a Concentration in Museum Studies)
Lending a Hand: CAHSS Student Attends International Conference on Meaningful Play
Jenna Armstrong (BA '23) presented a video game she and classmates created for the course “Programming for Play” at the International Conference on Meaningful Play, in East Lansing, Mich. with the support of the Student Scholar Travel Fund.
“I was able to take a manger role and communicate between the artist, the writer and the coder. It made me realize I want to help the different components of a team work together to make a cohesive project.”
—Jenna Armstrong (BA '23, Emergent Digital Practices and Computer Science)
From the Society of Professional Journalists to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, organizations have been recognizing DU media, film and journalism students and their excellent work.
"This wouldn’t have been possible without DU! We have loved being able to share in this project’s success with all of the people who’ve supported us this far. "
—Alumni David Painter (BA '22, Film and English) and Davis Mawer (BA '23, Film, minor in Marketing), whose short film "The Bird of Paradise" won the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Heartland Emmy Chapter Award for Best Fiction Film.
Awards and Honors
- Jeanne Abrams Inducted Into Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame
- Anthropology Professor Receives International Honor for Amache Project Work
- DU Sociology & Criminology Professor Receives 2023 Outstanding Book Award
- CAHSS Faculty Receive Distinguished University Professor and Teaching Awards
- Fulbright Appointment to Expand Hilary Smith’s Asian Experience into Taiwan
Alumni Making a Difference
Record Breaking Year in Fundraising for CAHSS Student Support and Faculty Innovation
We're always proud of our community, but this year you have gone above and beyond to support our students, faculty innovation and advances in the liberal and creative arts through your generosity.
Aug 2022
DU Prison Arts Initiative brings stories from across the prison system to life
Through the verbatim documentary play “If Light Closed Its Eyes,” the artists who are a part of DU PAI told stories that communicated themes of shared humanity.
Learn More
Feb 2023
Students and faculty design an exhibit to bridge the gap between DU and Iran
"#WomanLifeFreedom: Iran Today" featured digital and paper-based art by students in the Emergent Digital Practices course "Designing Social Good" and incorporated protest art by Iranian artists.
Learn More
July 2023
Student gives back to her community through non-profit internship
Daisy Hernandez is pursuing a life of purpose through her internship with WeeCycle. This non-profit organization expresses their gratitude for Daisy's ability to speak Spanish, and uplift and mentor her community.
Watch the Video
Oct 10
Inside the nation's first and only statewide prison radio station where inmates use conversation to "become better people"
CBS News featured Inside Wire, a DU Prison Arts Initiative project.
Watch the Story
Oct 11
Colorado Sun partners with the Center on American Politics to host the Colorado secretary of state, treasurer candidates debate
The Center on American Politics co-hosted the debate and Seth Masket, Center on American Politics director and professor of political science, served as one of the moderators.
Watch the Debate
Oct 25
More money for housing, less for police: advocates let the city know what they want from next year’s budgetu
Renee Botta, associate professor in media, film & journalism studies, was quoted in a Denverite article.
Read More
Nov 11
Military veterans: We need to recognize Latinos' long history of service
Elizabeth Escobedo, associate professor of history was quoted in a NBC News article.
Read More
Dec 15
Meet the educators that are doing 'hero's work' to preserve Amache — all as volunteers
Bonnie Clark, archeology professor, was quoted in this KUNC story.
Listen to to the Story
Mar 15
It’s been 20 years since the US invaded Iraq – long enough for my undergraduate students to see it as a relic of the past
Andrea Stanton, senior associate dean of CAHSS; associate professor, Department of Religious Studies, wrote an OpEd for The Conversation.
Read More
Apr 9
Opinion: Americans say they’re sick of the major parties, but they don’t vote that way
Seth Masket, professor, Department of Political Science and director of the Center on American Politics, wrote an OpEd for the Los Angeles Times.
Read More
May 4
How to Improve Your Odds for a Successful Marriage
Scott Stanley, research professor, Department of Psychology, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies, wrote an OpEd for Christianity Today.
Read More
Jun 21
Aspen School District sues social media companies over impact on youth mental health
Derigan Silver, associate professor and chair of the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies, Department of Psychology, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies, was quoted in a story on CPR.
Read MoreJul 13
Video game exhibition at Buntport Theater challenges the perception of traditional gameplay
Rafael Fajardo, associate professor, Emergent Digital Practices, was quoted in an article in the Denverite.
Read More
Jul 14
Economic impact of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour
Paula Cole, teaching assistant professor, Department of Economics, was quoted in a television story on 9News.
Watch the StoryJul 17
These charts show how Denver spent public money and changed during Mayor Michael Hancock’s time in office
Dean Saitta, professor, Department of Anthropology; director of the Urban Studies program, was quoted in a Denverite article.
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