Ada Limón, 24th U.S. poet laureate, visited the William & Mary campus on Feb. 10 as the keynote speaker for the College of Arts & Science's Open Inquiry series. After leading a poetry workshop, Limón read a selection of poems and then joined Jon Pineda, associate professor of English, for an audience Q&A. Photos by Haley Braun '29 and Max Kershner-Hammond '29. 

Hello friends, 

Happy new year! Our newsletter returns to its regular schedule after a winter break hiatus. We're now a couple weeks into the spring semester — a sleepy January has quickly 'sprung' into a lively February (Chesapeake Chuck at the Virginia Living Museum predicted an early spring, so we'll ignore that other groundhog's prediction).

February is one of my favorite months because of all the important holidays and observances. It is a month for celebrating love and honoring Black history. The W&M community also celebrates the anniversary of our Royal Charter. It's already shaping up to be a busy month for us in the College of Arts & Sciences as we welcomed the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón to campus yesterday as part of the Open Inquiry Speaker Series. Next week, Harvey Langholtz, professor of psychological sciences, will give a talk at the Faculty Research Forum on Feb. 16 about the science behind decision making.

Read on to learn more about all the exciting things happening across our Arts & Sciences community this month!

Warmly,

Suzanne

Suzanne Raitt
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Chancellor Professor of English

Dean's Office Principles | Major Operational Goals

The College of Arts & Sciences is now on LinkedIn! Be sure to follow us and share with your professional network.

We've also launched a new Facebook page, please give us a 'like' and follow along to stay involved in our community.

On paying attention: a conversation with 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón

24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón visited campus yesterday for the College of Arts & Sciences Open Inquiry Speaker Series. Limón shared her thoughts with us on poetry and its importance to the world and to college students.

Javanese Gamelan Ensemble returns to W&M

Revitalized Gamelan Ensemble brings traditional Indonesian music back to campus, fostering new collaborations and partnerships between the music departments at W&M and the University of Richmond.

This January, students in professor Marcus Holmes’s seminar, Building Trust Through Diplomacy, took their classroom well beyond William & Mary’s Washington Center, engaging directly with the people and institutions that shape contemporary international affairs. 

Ospreys score a W&M campus first at Zable Stadium in 2025

W&M's Zable Stadium ospreys made history this year with the first ever recorded nesting on campus.

W&M grad student awarded for cancer research through yeast model system

W&M biology master’s student Keegan Sweeney ‘26 wins award at cancer research conference.

Sergio Palencia, assistant professor of anthropology, whose research centers on Maya histories, resistance, interethnic solidarities, and Indigenous autobiographies through the Cold War era, showcases the indigenous experience through visual ethnographies.

Strengthening civility

In polarized times, William & Mary cultivates civic leaders who can bridge deep differences.

New year, new decisions

W&M Professor of Psychology Harvey Langholtz breaks down the science behind decision making.

W&M students finished in the top tier of the University Trading Challenge, an international futures trading competition hosted by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, in the university’s first appearance at the event.

W&M announces 2026 Charter Day award winners

Two students and two faculty members were recognized at the Charter Day ceremony on Feb. 6 and a special reception on Jan. 30.

William & Mary announces 2026 Alumni Medallion recipients

The 2026 Alumni Medallions were bestowed at a ceremony during Charter Day Weekend on Feb. 7.

The Charles Center is now accepting applications for research grants including the Summer Research Grant ($4,000 for 7 weeks of full-time research) and Honors Fellowship ($5,000 for 10 weeks of full-time research). Students can submit a proposal for faculty-mentored research by Feb. 16 for consideration. More info here. Current freshmen and transfer students graduating no later than May 2027 may apply. Apply here.

Catron Scholarship for Artistic Development: Sophomores or juniors can apply to receive up to $5,000 to fund a creative or performing arts off-campus educational experience during the summer!
Applications due by March 2, 2026. Apply here.

The COLL Review Working Group requests your participation in a 5-10 minute survey on the COLL curriculum. This survey is different from the open-ended feedback form that you may have filled out. While more specific in nature than the previous form, responses to the survey will be anonymous and results will only be reported in aggregate. Please complete the form by Feb. 20. 

College of Arts & Sciences Mission Statement Working Group: Share your feedback here by Feb. 11 or attend one of two upcoming town halls, Friday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. in Sadler Center, York Room, or virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. Please fill out the RSVP form here.

Blackboard accessibility 

Ally is a tool in Blackboard that automatically reviews your content for accessibility issues and generates alternative formats for you. All you need to do is open Ally in Blackboard to check your score and follow the prompts to fix an item. Watch this short video for a step-by-step guide. While Adobe licenses are limited, Ally's tools are quickly evolving, and many issues can now be addressed directly in Blackboard. Adobe licenses are available in Jones 203 and the Reeder Media Center. You can attend upcoming labs in person and virtually. 

For more assistance, schedule a department roadshow with experts from STLI, IT, and the Libraries. You can also request additional help or an individual consultation here for one-on-one support. 

Submitted by members of the Arts & Sciences community

Fan Ge, associate professor of mathematics, resolved the Index Conjecture in zero-sum theory in a 2021 paper published in the Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A, introducing a new analytical approach and settling a problem that had remained open for 17 years. A recent paper in Discrete Mathematics describes the result as a breakthrough.

Elena Prokhorova, professor of Russian studies and director of Russian, East European and Eurasian studies, and Alexander Prokhorov, professor of Russian and film studies, published an edited volume titled, "The Haunted Present: Slavic Neo-Noir Cinema and Television."

Have an update or recent publication to share? Submit it here for inclusion in the next newsletter!

February 13, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Music Arts Center, Concert Hall

Prepare to be transported by the exquisite artistry of Irina Kulikova, one of the world’s most captivating classical guitarists. Hailed for her rich tone, effortless grace, and profound musicality, Kulikova has performed in some of the globe’s most prestigious venues — from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to Carnegie Hall in New York — and is a top prizewinner at over 30 international competitions. With every performance, she brings a rare combination of technical brilliance and emotional depth that leaves audiences spellbound. As Kulikova herself says, “It’s about the touch” — and her playing is a masterclass in nuance, color, and connection. Experience a concert of poetic beauty and refined elegance with a true master of the instrument.

February 16, 2026 | 4 p.m. | Tucker Theater

Professor Harvey Langholtz from the Department of Psychological Sciences will present during the next Faculty Research Forum on Feb. 16 titled, "Making Decisions: Analytics, Cognition, and Application," at 4 p.m. in Tucker Theater. 

The Faculty Research Forum celebrates the breadth and depth of scholarship within the College of Arts & Sciences. It highlights the interdisciplinary spirit that is central to our work, bringing together excellence across the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

February 19, 2026 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | MacKenzie Theater, Swem Library

Join the Institute for Integrative Conservation for an afternoon with Hilary Harp Falk, director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A distinguished speaker for the IIC Conservation Speaker Series, Falk will present "Conservation Leadership in the 21st Century, A Vision for a Healthy and Resilient Chesapeake Bay."

February 19, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. | MacKenzie Theater, Swem Library

GRI and the William & Mary Government Department will celebrate the launch of associate professor Kelebogile Zvobgo's new book, "Governing Truth: NGOs and the Politics of Transitional Justice" on Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. A book discussion and audience Q&A will be followed by a reception, where guests will have the opportunity to have copies of the book signed.

February 20, 2026 | 3:30 - 5 p.m. | MacKenzie Theater, Swem Library

Best-selling author and historian Susan Wise Bauer will discuss her newest book, "The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy," published in January 2026. She is also the author of "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education" and "The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home," among others.

February 25, 2026 | 3 - 5 p.m. | Dulin Learning Center, Swem Library

Joanmarie Del Vecchio, assistant geology professor, will present "Small Rivers, Big Data: Mapping the Hidden Dynamics of Headwaters" at the upcoming Research in Progress: STEM Talks on Feb. 25.

The series provides a forum for early career faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences to present novel research ideas they are pursuing. This venue will bring together research-active W&M faculty who are eager to share their creative research ideas and projects and are seeking feedback, discussion, collaboration, and community amongst their peers. Supported by the College of Arts & Sciences and W&M Libraries.

February 26-27, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sadler Center

The Graduate Research Symposium, hosted by the Graduate Center, encourages interdisciplinary exchange, bringing together students from across research disciplines at William & Mary with graduate scholars from other universities.

The student-led organizing committee has selected "Building Bridges" as the theme for the 2026 Symposium to highlight the interdisciplinarity and connection found within our community of researchers. Don't miss this signature event of our graduate research community! 

February 26-28, March 1, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. | Glenn Close Theatre

W&M Theatre Presents "The Minutes," written by Tracy Letts and directed by Abbie Cathcart.

Newly appointed Big Cherry city council member Mr. Peel starts to question the town’s leadership after discovering that the minutes from a previous meeting have mysteriously disappeared. What begins as a mundane bureaucratic session devolves into a darkly comic, sometimes unsettling exploration of civic pride, historical revisionism, and small-town politics. The Minutes dares to ask: how far will people go to avoid becoming history’s losers?

Performances:

February 27, 2026 | noon | Reves Center for International Studies, Reves Room

The Reves Center hosts 2025 Reves Faculty Fellow Jessica Paga and Maya Parfitt '27 for a presentation about their work last summer on the Naxos Quarry Project. All are welcome and a boxed lunch will be available.

Paga is associate professor of classical studies and is architecture and quarry specialist on the Naxos Quarry Project in Greece. The Reves Faculty Fellowship she received enabled two students to accompany her for the summer, Maya Parfitt '27 and Devon Keesee JDP '26. Maya and Devon won a prize for their poster presentation of their work at the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) annual convention last month.

Naxos, the largest island in the interconnected Cycladic archipelago in Greece, was famous in antiquity for its exceptionally brilliant white marble. The sculptural products from its ancient quarries have been the subject of intensive examination, but the quarries themselves remain understudied. The principal goal of the Naxos Quarry Project (NQP) is to bring greater focus to the quarries as areas of manufacture, in order to illuminate the processes of ancient quarrying and consider the long-lasting impact of extractive technologies on the landscape.

April 2-3, 2026

The Spring Honors Research Symposium, scheduled for April 2-3, 2026, will feature the research of students completing Departmental Honors in a variety of presentation formats. 

All students completing an Honors Thesis who received Summer 2025 funding from the Charles Center are required to present. All other students completing Honors Theses are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Have an item to submit the A&S monthly newsletter? Drop us a line! Submissions received before the first Wednesday of the each month are considered for inclusion.