Notes from Our Dean: October 2025
From the dean's desk. Photo by Hannah Fulk.
Dear Colleagues,
One of the very first things I noticed upon joining CAHSS this summer was the extraordinary talent, passion and dedication of everyone in our community. In my early one-on-one meetings with CAHSS staff colleagues, I am struck by how many hold degrees in the liberal arts, and I am awed by their deep commitment to the mission of CAHSS. As I begin to meet with faculty across the college — and learn more about the ways they are innovating in their teaching, creativity, and scholarship — it is clear to me that this college is made up of faculty who are pushing themselves to work at the cutting-edge of their disciplines.
We are a remarkable collection of artists, scholars, writers, performers, critics and social scientists, together focused on exploring the uniquely human expressions of creativity, how we understand each other, interpret our lived experiences and environments and how we connect across time.
Recently, for example, I visited the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, where I had the pleasure of meeting with Dena Sedar, who manages the NAGPRA program, Museum Director and Professor of Anthropology Christina Kreps and Curator of Collections Natalie Patton. They gave me a thoughtful tour, shared objects that held personal meaning for them and spoke about the importance of preserving and protecting the museum’s collections.
Later that week, Professor Bonnie Clark, Chair of the Anthropology department and co-director of the Amache Community Archeology Project, showed me a rare Amache rose blooming in front of the Anderson Academic Commons. The rose, originally grown at Colorado’s WWII-era Japanese American internment camp, is said to have been cultivated by camp prisoners and today serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and hope.
At the Lamont School of Music, I enjoyed conversations with new colleagues, including Director Brian Pertl, and have attended incredible faculty recitals, including by new faculty Brian Neal (trumpet) and Cindy Lindeen-Martin, a tribute to jazz musician Chick Corea by our jazz faculty and an evening of expressive chamber music. I also had the privilege of hearing these performances in the treasured Hamilton Recital Hall. Its extraordinary acoustics left me feeling deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve CAHSS.
I also attended the Media, Film & Journalism Studies department’s annual Margolin Lecture, where celebrated “Los Angeles Times” columnist Gustavo Arellano spoke to a standing-room-only audience of more than 200 people. His remarks ranged from media, culture and identity to something uniquely local — a Denver specialty called the “Mexican hamburger.” Curious, I immediately found one that evening at a nearby restaurant. (I regret not snapping a photo, but I was far too eager to eat!)
Beyond campus, I have been meeting and connecting with alumni. These conversations have been both energizing and inspiring, as alumni share how their experiences in CAHSS have shaped their professional and personal lives, helping me better appreciate the lasting impact of a CAHSS education.
One by one, I hope to continue meeting with each of you in the months ahead to learn more about your passions, projects and extraordinary contributions to our college and students. I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received and for the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible work happening across CAHSS. I look forward to continuing these conversations with all of you.
With appreciation,
Sahara Byrne
Dean, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Dean Sahara Byrne continues to savor getting acquainted with all people and things DU, CAHSS, Denver and Colorado, and welcomes recommendations for restaurants, hikes, cultural and artistic venues and neighborhood wonders. You can contact her at sahara.byrne@du.edu
