Impact Report 2024-2025
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 2024-2025 academic year.
A Note from Dean Byrne
Our annual impact report serves as a narrative of our progress, showcasing faculty achievements, student excellence, and philanthropic impacts. Without the financial generosity of our CAHSS donors and alumni, many of these efforts would be stifled or impossible. 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, as the new Dean of the college, I look forward to seeing you at one of our inspiring musical performances, thrilling theatre shows, research labs, faculty lectures, or other events that make CAHSS and DU so special to all of us.
Thank you,
Sahara Byrne
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.
Susan Walter, Associate Professor in DU's Department of Spanish Language, Literary and Cultural Studies, took over as Program Director in 2024. She brings to the role a deep commitment to mentoring students and helping them navigate the many decisions and transitions that come with college life.
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Scholarships and Research
Through dedicated efforts towards establishing new scholarships and research this year, we have propelled our students and faculty towards deeper knowledge and further experiential learning across the liberal arts.
The William Sanderson Endowed Art Scholarship provides support for graduate students studying art history or art history with a concentration in museum studies. Students will have the opportunity to learn from curators and conservators, while gaining hands-on experience handling art, installing exhibitions, and curating shows both on and off campus.
This year’s designation of six entities as research centers marks the first year of official Research Centers at the University of Denver, with the Edward W. and Charlotte I. Estlow International Research Center for Journalism & New Media being selected as a formal research entity in CAHSS.
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Student 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.
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Creativity & the Arts
Anthropology Student’s Gen-Z Perspective Provides Fresh Take on Native American Art, Historical Narratives
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Students & Campus
Black Studies Minor Offers Journalism Student Deep Dive into African American History, Cultural/Racial Understanding
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Students & Campus
Chinese Studies Opens Doors to International Travel, Service and Connection for Graduating CAHSS Student
Philanthropic Impact
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) has raised $9.466 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.
MFJS Clarion Reporting Gift Fund: During the 125th anniversary of The Clarion, the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies launched a new fund that will elevate student journalism at the DU. The MFJS Clarion Reporting Gift Fund will have a direct, positive impact on current students involved with DU’s official student newspaper. Donations allow current student reporters to travel in covering national events, such as NCAA tournaments, and to attend national conferences on student journalism.
Highlights from the 2024–25 academic year include:
Scholarship support of more than $2.5 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 benefitted from nearly $200,000 in new funding, including funding for paid student internships over the summer.
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More than $3 million in gifts of art to support the growing University Art Collection, and $100,000 for a new Lecture in Curiosity.
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Department-specific gifts, including...
$450,000 for a Visiting Professor in Holocaust & Antisemitism Studies
$30,000 for the Center for Art Collection Ethics summer museum training program
$1M to endow paid internships for Media, Film, & Journalism Studies majors with The Lance Clem fund.
$125,000 towards renovation of the student darkroom and photography lab in the School of Art & Art History
$100,000 to support the Robert C. Aronoff Mock Trial Fund for student support
Lamont at 100: A Century of Sound
Gift Advances Holocaust Awareness at DU
Oct 2024
Outside cash pours into Colorado’s 8th Congressional District Race
This story quoted Seth Masket, professor of political science. Masket provided insight into how this affected local politics.
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Oct 2024
Incendiary rhetoric, immigration surge drive votes among Colorado in election – but not always to Trump
Lisa Martinez, professor of sociology and criminology, was quoted in this story.
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Nov 2024
Courting the Asian American Vote
Dheepa Sundaram, associate professor of Hindu Studies, Critical Theory and Digital Religion, was featured in a radio interview on Asian American voters in the 2024 presidential election.
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Dec 2024
Where did students’ grit go? How Colorado teachers are helping kids rebuild a core life skill
This story quoted Angela Narayan, associate professor of psychology, regarding how students’ learning has shifted since COVID.
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Jan 2025
Universities are mapping where local news outlets are still thriving – and where gaps persist
Kareem El-Damanhoury, associate professor in the Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies, was mentioned in this story.
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Feb 2025
If Fernanda Torres Wins an Oscar It Could Save Actual Lives in Brazil
This story quoted Rafael Ioris, professor of history, on what an Oscar win would mean for Brazilians.
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Mar 2025
New report says fewer Coloradans identify as “Christian,” mirroring a national trend
Carl A. Raschke, professor of philosophy, was featured in a story about national trends in religion.
Read MoreApr 2025
AI isn’t what we should be worried about – it's the humans controlling it
Billy J. Stratton, professor in the Department of English & Literary Studies, wrote this story on the impact of AI.
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May 2025
How a 19th-century British Jew became a Zulu chieftain and slaveholding warlord
Adam Rovner, director of the Center for Judaic Studies, was featured in this story.
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Jun 2025
Smithsonian’s Reaction to Trump’s Firing of Its Museum Director: Silence
Professor in the Department of Art & Art History, Dean Sobel, was featured in this story.
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Hannah Thompson
Director of Alumni Engagement
Jennifer Garner
Executive Director of Development
