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American Studies, Art, Art History and Archaeology, Classics, College of Arts and Humanities, Communication, English, History, Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, School of Music, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

2026 ARHU Commencement: Undergraduate Ceremony

We look forward to celebrating the important milestone of commencement with our graduates, their families and friends and our faculty and staff.

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Arts for All, Roshan Institute for Persian Studies, School of Music

UMD Professor’s Poem Becomes Play-Opera About Women in Prison

Inspired by real accounts, “For Women Serving Time” opens March 20 at Dupont Underground.

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College of Arts and Humanities, English

Professor Emerita Merle Collins Recovers Overlooked Life of Louise Little

Collins received the Barbara T. Christian Literary Award for “Ocean Stirrings.”

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What interests you?

learning about...

a career in...

Whatever your interests and aspirations, ARHU is committed to providing the knowledge, skills and opportunities all our students need to write their own stories and chart their own paths.

"In ARHU, you’re learning about how people interact with the world and each other. My goal is to build things that people are going to use. Just technology knowledge can only go so far. You have to understand how people are going to use them to be truly successful."

Ozzie Fallick '14, Software Engineer, Google
Linguistics

"Cross-cultural communication is one of the most important skills that I learned at ARHU, and I use it to engage and inform the community in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean about our events, exchanges and any other information that supports our key policy priorities in the region. ARHU gave me the tools to understand why in diplomacy, it’s as much about what you say as how you say it."

Krystle Norman '08, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Spanish and Portuguese

"I had always loved art, but I never knew you could make a career out of it until I studied abroad in Rome. There, I took a full course load of art courses and learned all about the factors of being an art professional. It was life-changing. Now I feel lucky that I’m doing something that I’m so passionate about."

Laura Sheridan Raiffe '09, Regional Account Manager, Christie's Fine Arts
Art History and Archaeology

"One of the most important things I got out of my ARHU experience is my ability to parse arguments, think critically and see multiple sides of an issue. Being in law school, it’s important to do that—it’s a skill I use every day. Not a class goes by, not a case gets read that this skill doesn’t come into play."

AJ Clayborne '13, Student, Harvard Law School
English

GRAND CHALLENGES

DEMAND FEARLESS IDEAS

The research and creative works of our faculty, students and alumni are setting the agenda for transformative dialogue about the value of the arts and the humanities in the world today.

Research Highlights

New Scholarship from The College of Arts and Humanities

Explore Our Research

Happening at ARHU

War–what is it good for? Historians and literary scholars from across the college joined Dean Stephanie Shonekan today for an ARHU Pop Up Discussion on war and its impact on communities, democracies and futures. They discussed numerous topics including the importance of understanding contemporary events in the context of history, the role of literature, and how we can build expansive empathy as scholars, teachers and students. A big thank you to all of the participants as well as the attendees. Pictured left to right: Shay Hazkani, associate professor of history Ryan Long, professor of Spanish and director of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center Dean Stephanie Shonekan Erin Mosely, assistant professor of history Fatemeh Keshavarz, professor and director of the Roshan Institute for Persian Studies Shakira Sharifpour, doctoral student in comparative literature
Congratulations to Director of the Language House and Associate Clinical Professor of French Marilyn Matar, who is the recipient of the Grand Prix de la Francophonie for 2026! This prestigious award recognizes her contributions to promoting the French language, cultural and linguistic diversity, and education within the Francophone world. Matar received the award last month at a celebration as part of the Francophonie Festival in Washington, D.C., at the residence of the Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States. Smithsonian Associates is the main organizer of the festival. Pictured left to right: H.E. Nada Hamadeh Moawad (Ambassador of Lebanon), Matar and Brigitte Blachere (Program Manager at Smithsonian Associates).
Education to action. What role can the humanities play in strengthening democracy? Join the Frederick Douglass Center for Leadership Through the Humanities for the next Lessons in Leadership conversation featuring Dr. Terry Scott and Dr. David Domke, co leaders of the Institute for Common Power. In conversation with Dr. Quincy Mills, they will discuss how training in the humanities informs their leadership, their work with educators and the long struggle for an inclusive democracy. Tuesday, March 31 5 to 6:15 p.m. Tawes Hall, Room 1100 Reception to follow Dr. Scott will join in person and Dr. Domke will join virtually. Registration link in profile.

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