News

All News

September 14, 2023

On the Same Page "Crip Camp" Essay Submissions

Tabasom Barkzai

September 13, 2023

“How did I get into Classics?” an Interview with Lauren Nguyen, GSI

For the first interview of this series, I’m actually going to be interviewing a GSI, rather than a professor. It was really important to me that I started here because the first seed of this idea actually started in her class. Lauren Nguyen was my teacher for Latin 1 during my first semester here at Berkeley, and I remember having a really interesting conversation with her about the elitism we’ve dealt with in our respective academic careers.

September 12, 2023

OTSP Crip Camp Essay Contest Winners

In partnership with On the Same Page, the Division of Arts & Humanities sponsored a student essay and video contest. We asked students to stream the documentary (available for free here, including a version with audio description and open captions), and invited them to respond to one of the following prompts:

September 6, 2023

"My solitude is gladdened by this elegant hope" an introduction from the Editor of "What is Humanities Research?"

Dear readers,

As with many things in my life, this column was partially inspired by aspects of my personal life, partially inspired by literature. And because this column is designated to highlighting the arts and humanities, I thought it would be fitting to begin by introducing the wonderful short story that partially inspired me in this process: “The Library of Babel” by Jorge Luis Borges. 

September 5, 2023

Berkeley News
Who needs 10 arms and the ability to see everything all at once? Stage managers!

Three headshots of Haley Baynard

Haley Baynard is a new student in theater and performance studies, who plans on pursuing a career in stage management. She says strong communication and leadership skills, and the ability to improvise and think quickly, are some of the traits of successful stage managers.

Sofia Liashcheva/UC Berkeley

Morrison Recital Hall Renovation: an inspiring venue for stellar performances

Laurie Wu McClain (B.A. '64, J.D. '82) and Chuck McClain have been attending music performances on campus for years. They are intimately familiar with 678-seat Hertz Hall — and were aware that no equivalent venue existed on campus for small performances. Cal parents John and Kristi Cumming likewise noticed that the quality of spaces in Morrison Hall did not do justice to the talent of student musicians. Thanks to their generosity, that is about to change.

August 31, 2023

The Daily Californian
Student Op-Ed: ‘At war with itself’: Studying humanities at UC Berkeley

Walking into my senior capstone course for the English major, I was a third-year student surrounded mostly by seniors headed out the door. Many people take these capstone courses in their final semester, but I took mine for English earlier to make room for a sociology thesis later.

My mind lives to create — so this expediting didn’t surprise me.

August 29, 2023

Berkeley News
At age 5, she pondered existence. Now, she wants to study it at Berkeley

Photo of Esther Cannesson standing beneath a tree on UC Berkeley campus

"I really like the existential movement, where nothing really has a purpose, apart from what you make of it," says new first-year student Esther Cannesson.  

Brittany Hosea-Small for UC Berkeley

August 23, 2023

"This major will open doors": EALC launches new major in East Asian Humanities

The department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) is excited to announce a new major in East Asian Humanities. "This major will open doors," says Chair Robert Ashmore.

Associate Professor Weihong Bao appointed to prestigious chair in China studies

Weihong Bao, associate professor of Film & Media and East Asian Languages & Cultures, has been appointed to the Pamela P. Fong and Family Distinguished Chair in China Studies. Bao's appointment marks the first time the chair has been awarded to a faculty member from a humanities discipline.

August 21, 2023

The Department of Art Practice Celebrates 100 Years at Berkeley

The Department of Art Practice within the Division of Arts & Humanities is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The department’s two-year MFA program, which supports on average a dozen graduate students, is also welcoming its 100th MFA class this fall with increased resources for students.

August 7, 2023

NPR
Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs (Art Practice '80) talks about her new novel

The protagonist of Susanna Hoffs' debut novel, Jane Start, probably listens to Dionne Warwick to hype herself up in the morning. Start is 33 and living with her parents – her days of pop stardom, for one song, are 10 years behind her. But in This Bird Has Flown, a romantic spark reignites a second chance for her creative endeavors, too. Hoffs tells NPR's Andrew Limbong how her own experiences as a rockstar influenced the story, which she's adapting into a feature film.

August 2, 2023

Nora Jacobsen Ben Hammed joins the Department of Middle Eastern Languages & Culture as Assistant Professor

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley is pleased to welcome Professor Nora Jacobsen Ben Hammed as of July 1, 2023. Jacobsen Ben Hammed is an assistant professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages & Culture with a specialization in the continued life of Islamic philosophy as it was absorbed and transformed in Islamic theology and mysticism. 

Professor Cathy Park Hong joins the Department of English

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley is pleased to welcome Full Professor Cathy Park Hong as of July 1, 2023. Park Hong is joining the Department of English and holds the Class of 1936 First Chair in the College of Letters and Science. 

Grace Erny joins the Department of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies as Assistant Professor

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley is pleased to welcome professor Grace Erny as of July 1, 2023. Erny is an assistant professor in the Department of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies and specializes in the archaeology of early Greece from the end of the Late Bronze Age through the Archaic period. 

Poulomi Saha will be Co-Director of the Critical Theory Program

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley is pleased to announce Professor Poulomi Saha as the new co-director of the Critical Theory program at UC Berkeley, effective July 1, 2023.

Professor Shannon Jackson will be chair of the History of Art Department

The Division of the Arts & Humanities is pleased to announce that Shannon Jackson will be chair of the History of Art Department, as of July 1, 2023. Jackson is the Cyrus and Michelle Hadidi Professor of the Arts & Humanities and holds appointments in the departments of Rhetoric and Theater, Dance and Performance Studies. She specializes in collaborations across visual, performing, and media art forms and the role of the arts in social institutions and in social change. She will serve as chair following outgoing chair and professor Greg Levine. 

Arts & Humanities Welcomes 12 New Chairs and Directors for Fall 2023

On July 1, 2023, the Division of the Arts & Humanities welcomed new chairs and directors for 12 departments, centers, and programs: 

Xueyin (Snow) Zhang joins the Department of Philosophy as Assistant Professor

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley welcomes Xueyin (Snow) Zhang as of July 1, 2023. Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy with a specialization in formal epistemology, particularly Bayesian. 

Liesl Yamaguchi joins the Department of French as Assistant Professor

The Division of Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley is pleased to welcome professor Liesl Yamaguchi as of July 1, 2023. Yamaguchi is an assistant professor in the Department of French with a specialization in linguistics and translation.