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Dear Students,

I extend you a very warm welcome return to campus. Speaking on behalf of the faculty and staff in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, we’ve missed you and can’t wait to see your faces again—even if they will be partially covered by masks!

To those of you who will be stepping onto campus for the first time, welcome to UMass Amherst and welcome to the College of Humanities and Fine Arts! In addition to fostering curiosity, expression, and critical thought, ours is a college that strives to be open, supportive, and accepting. The faculty and staff of the HFA Advising and Career Center, located in the atrium of South College (room E-202), are here to help you achieve success while at UMass Amherst. I encourage you to reach out to them, make appointments with academic and career advisors, and familiarize yourself with the resources available. As always, you can reach me by email at dean@hfa.umass.edu.

The 2021-2022 academic year promises new beginnings and exciting opportunities. We eagerly look forward to the October opening of the transformed “arts bridge” in the Bromery Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Fine Arts Center). This newly renovated concourse now includes an animation lab, full recording studio, costume shop, rehearsal space, and other creative learning spaces, all state-of-the-art. We will welcome Professor Mabel Wilson from the Columbia University School of Architecture as the second Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer to speak to this year’s theme “Race and the American Landscape.” Many more events are being planned and scheduled, so be sure to check our calendar for lectures, concerts, plays, readings, or exhibitions that might interest you.

I’m sure you are as excited as I am to be among peers again. The campus feels abuzz with activity as classes get underway. I encourage you to attend the HFA welcome events in September and hope you will get involved with student organizations and clubs in your departments and the college. Find out about the HFA Student Leadership Board, a student-led group who publishes a creative journal, organizes events, and regularly meets with me.

As we embark on a new semester and return to a full campus experience, I congratulate you on doing your part to ensure the safety of your fellow students and the surrounding community. We are a large campus with students from places all over the nation and world. By following public health measures, getting vaccinated, and being responsible about testing, we can do our part to protect the most vulnerable in our community and curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its more contagious Delta variant. Visit the Fall 2021 website for more information about campus health and safety requirements and resources.

I am confident that by working together and embodying empathy, progress, and an interest in the betterment of humankind—core tenets of the arts and humanities—we will make the return to campus a safe, productive, and welcoming experience.

Be well,

Barbara Krauthamer
Dean, College of Humanities & Fine Arts
Professor, History