The UMass Amherst History Department is delighted to present the 2020 edition of our annual newsletter, Past, Present & Future. In its pages, you’ll find articles on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and our initial attempts to address anti-Black racism, as well as updates on the latest research and news from faculty, students, and alumni. Our report serves as a reminder that though our lives have changed, the Department of History continues to be committed to the value of historical research and teaching for understanding the world we live in and trying to change it for the better.