From the Dean’s Desk: April 2026
Welcome to spring quarter. As the days grow longer and we dive into one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year, I want to thank you all for your contributions to advancing, elevating, and embodying the enduring value of a CAHSS education.
I’m deeply moved by your willingness to channel your creativity, innovation, and expertise toward meeting this moment in higher ed. I recently had the opportunity to meet prospective students and their families to hear firsthand how much they value our diverse pathways to degrees, the chance to double or triple major in our college, and our strong faculty mentorship model.
Our recruitment, enrollment, and marketing teams, amplified by the dedication of our own faculty, are actively spreading the word about how CAHSS prepares students to pursue leadership roles in today’s diverse workplaces. Our faculty mentorship models, alumni connections, internship programs, and character-building opportunities are preparing students to graduate as thoughtful, adaptable, and capable professionals — qualities increasingly sought after by employers.
You’ll be reading about some new alumni/recent graduates in the CAHSS newsroom this month and the opportunities their CAHSS education has already afforded them. I hope you can join us for our upcoming CAHSS endowed lectures, made possible by the generosity of our alumni, including:
The Estlow Lecture April 8th, entitled “The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home,” in which acclaimed Author and Journalist Wil Haygood will share untold stories of Black soldiers in Vietnam and the era’s impact on civil rights from his book on the subject. (RSVP here.)
This year’s Harper Lecture April 13th, “How Maps Reveal (and Conceal) Our History,” in which our own Distinguished Professor of History and current Colorado State Historian, Susan Schulten will discuss the ways maps have defined the United States for 500 years. (RSVP here.)
The Kirk Lecture April 23, “From Reform to Backlash: The Politics of ‘Woke Capitalism,’" in which Lucia Hulsether, associate professor of religious studies at Skidmore College, will share her perspective on neoliberal globalism and today’s right-wing movements. (RSVP here.)
I look forward to seeing you all at these exciting events.
With gratitude,
Sahara Byrne
Dean, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
