Impact Report 2023-2024
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 2023-2024 academic year.
A Note from Interim Dean Walsh
Thanks to the collective efforts of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors, 2023-2024 was a year of tremendous progress for the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS). Our innovative research, outstanding scholarship, artistic expressions and generous philanthropy advanced CAHSS toward our vision of becoming a vibrant academic and artistic hub dedicated to examining, navigating and transforming the human experience in service of the public good. As interim dean, I’m immensely proud of our willingness to embrace the challenges we continue to face in our pursuit of excellence.
Our impact report serves as a narrative of that progress with stories highlighting student successes through our strategic initiatives and faculty achievements frequently enabled by the financial generosity of CAHSS donors and alumni. If you’re inspired through this report by our commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity and critical engagement among students, faculty and staff, I invite you to become a part of the CAHSS community. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at one of our entertaining student performances, insightful faculty lectures or other events that make CAHSS and DU so special to all of us.
Thank you,
Rachel A. Walsh
Interim Dean, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
First-Generation College Student Program
The CAHSS First-Generation College Student Program seeks to address educational inequity by offering comprehensive mentoring for CAHSS students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college. Generous gifts and an endowment support a network of program resources, including paid student internships and faculty and alumni mentors who promote affiliation and partnership among first-generation students, first-generation faculty and our campus community.
Maria Cruz, first-generation college student.
Support First-Gen ProgrammingInternships for All
Internships provide valuable experience and network-building opportunities to students across the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Students who participate in internships gain relevant, vital skills to employ in their careers and can demonstrate advanced career readiness during their job search. 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.
Ryan Thomas working on "The Taming."
Support Student InternshipsStudent Leadership Council
The Student Leadership Council (SLC) provides professional development for students and is designed to strengthen the partnership between departmental faculty and students. Nominated by CAHSS departments, selected students represent the College by attending meetings with CAHSS leadership, staff, faculty, students, student government, alumni and other relevant campus partners. The Student Leadership Council helps inform decision-making on events and programming across the College, directly from a student's perspective. While the tenure of our student leaders varies, many students often remain on the SLC for at least a year to contribute to building a sense of identity for our CAHSS community.
Student leaders in 2024.
Support Student Leadership-
Research & Scholarship
CAHSS Doctoral Student Dives Deep into How Racial Discrimination Affects Long-Term Mental and Physical Health
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Creativity & the Arts
Journalism Student Applauds Power of the Press in Preserving Democracy, Exploring Sustainability, Human Rights
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Students & Campus
Students Gain Hands-On Conservation Experience Through School of Art & Art History Internship
Community Engagement
Reggie Byron, Associate Professor of Sociology
Research
Awards & Honors
Kristy L. Ulibarri, Professor of English
Philanthropic Impact
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) has raised $9.8 million in philanthropic support this year from alumni, parents and friends of CAHSS and DU.
This year’s philanthropic support for CAHSS is part of DU’s new capital campaign, The Denver Difference, which was launched in April 2024 with a goal of $1 billion to support student scholarships, faculty research, new programs and initiatives across campus.
Highlights from the 2023–24 academic year include:
Scholarship support of more than $2.8 million to help talented students to afford a DU education and a CAHSS major or graduate degree.
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Student internships, research, and travel experiences are benefiting from nearly $200,000 in new funding, including $43,000 for the Amache Research Fund for Anthropology students.
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More than $3 million in gifts of art to support the growing University Art Collection.
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Department-specific gifts, including...
- $200,000 for an endowed chair in Holocaust studies
- $30,000 for the new Black Studies minor
- $130,000 for the Center for Art Collection Ethics summer museum training program
- Funds to endow the John C. Livingston and Jeanne Abrams Lecture in Jewish History
MFJS Welcomes First-Ever Wolzien Visiting Professor
Alumni in Liberal Arts Launched International Careers
Sep 2023
Why a lawsuit against Colorado's abortion pill 'reversal' law could be a really big deal
Josh Wilson, professor of political science, was quoted on the Christian conservative legal movement.
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Oct 2023
Gov Newsom vetoes bill banning caste discrimination in the workplace, housing and beyond.
According to Dheepa Sundaram, associate professor of religious studies, activist groups with ties to India strongly opposed California legislation that would ban discrimination based on caste.
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Nov 2023
The Denver Publishing Institute prepares book champions for careers in an ever-changing marketplace.
This story quoted Jill Smith, director of the Denver Publishing Institute.
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Dec 2023
In Her Own Name: The Politics of Women's Rights Before Suffrage.
This podcast featured an interview with Sara Chatfield, assistant professor political science, about her book.
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Jan 2024
A much-needed town hall on the Israel-Hamas war, 100 days after it started.
Jonathan Sciarcon, associate professor of history and Judaic Studies, was quoted in the story.
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Feb 2024
'No one had done it before him,' the groundbreaking stories of Black astronauts
The story featured and quoted Ed Dwight, School of Art and Art History graduate, on the obstacles he faced in becoming the first black astronaut.
Read MoreMar 2024
Sand Creek, Amache descendants find common cause to pass their Colorado history to younger generations
This article featured the DU Amache Research Project and quoted Bonnie Clark, professor of anthropology.
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Apr 2024
Antisemitism is everywhere. We tracked it across all 50 states
Adam Rovner, director of the Center for Judaic Studies, commented on the feeling of unease in the Jewish community in an article on the rise of antisemitism.
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Apr 2024
DU Media Creates Promising Internship Opportunities
MFJS students explained how DU Media Internships created opportunities to expand their skills, experiences and job opportunities.
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May 2024
The Spirituals Project 2024 Symposium
The Spirituals Project, whose mission is to preserve and revitalize the music and teachings of the sacred songs called “spirituals” sung by enslaved Africans in America in the 18th and 19th centuries, is the focus of this story.
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Jun 2024
Boebert will likely fill the House seat vacated by congressman who criticized the GOP's extremes
Seth Masket, professor of political science, was quoted on the trend in the Republican party toward selecting far right candidates for public office.
Read MoreConnect with Us
Hannah Thompson
Director of Alumni Engagement
David Smith
Director of Development
