HFA Dean's Newsletter, November 2026
Dear Colleagues,
With the semester well underway, our classes, research, and creative work are moving at a steady pace. This is an important time to check in with students and help those who may need additional support.
For instructors noticing missed assignments, low grades, or other signs of academic difficulty, the University’s Academic Alert initiative provides a way to connect undergraduate students with assistance. Alerts can be submitted through Navigate360 throughout the semester, helping students and advising teams to identify next steps and appropriate resources.
A conversation or personal check-in can also help a student feel comfortable asking for help. Please encourage students to connect with their instructors, advisors, and the HFA Advising & Career Center as they navigate current coursework and begin planning for next semester.
Thank you for the care and attention you bring to supporting our students and for your continued work across the College.
All best,
Maria del Guadalupe (Lupe) Davidson
Dean, College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Updates
Announcing the HFA Legal & Public Service Alumni Network
The College of Humanities and Fine Arts is launching a pilot alumni mentoring network for students interested in careers in law, federal service, public service, or foreign service. The network will connect participating students with alumni mentors who can offer guidance on career exploration, applications, internships, professional expectations, and pathways after graduation.
Faculty are encouraged to share this announcement with students who have expressed interest in these fields. Students who would like to learn more or be considered for the program should contact Philippe Baillargeon (baillargeon [at] llc [dot] umass [dot] edu (subject: ) (baillargeon[at]llc[dot]umass[dot]edu)), Associate Dean for Careers, Professional Pathways, and Innovation.
Connecting with HFA Alumni in New York City
Dean Davidson hosted HFA’s third annual “Cocktails with the Dean” gathering in New York City on October 28, bringing together 40 alumni to celebrate their lives and careers. Attendees represented fields including art auction houses, technology, law, finance, theater, and higher education, reflecting the many paths taken by HFA graduates.
Celebrating Penny Remsen’s Legacy
On October 30, 100 UMass Theater alumni, faculty, and staff gathered at the LGBT Center in New York City to celebrate Penny Remsen’s retirement. Ten alumni, including leaders in the Broadway theater community, shared how she shaped their careers.
The celebration also raised funds for the new Penny Remsen Internship Fund, an endowed fund that will help undergraduate and graduate students pursue internships in technical theater production and design by reducing financial barriers to participation.
News
UMass Amherst Dance Celebrates Opening of New Studios
Dance students led guests on a tour of the program’s new studios at 472 North Pleasant Street during an October gala featuring dance performances and live music.
A Tale of Two Microforests: Interdisciplinary Research Group Creates Campus Living Laboratories
Faculty and students in architecture, landscape architecture, environmental conservation, and engineering joined campus Grounds crews and volunteers to plant two microforests this October. Part of the Collaborative for Urban Imagination, the project brings together research, design, and hands-on learning to create living laboratories on campus.
Opportunity Scholars Build Connections Through Early Arrival Program
Incoming HFA Opportunity Scholars connected with returning student mentors, explored campus resources, and prepared for college life through a free early arrival program. Shared meals, campus visits, and practical activities helped students build friendships and confidence before classes began, with connections continuing through the Opportunity Scholars First-Year Seminar.
Felipe Salles Earns Latin Grammy Nomination
Felipe Salles, professor of jazz and African American music studies, has earned his first Latin Grammy nomination. He is nominated for Best Arrangement for “A Deriva (Adrift),” from his latest album, Camera Obscura. The awards ceremony takes place November 12 in Las Vegas.
Gabriel Bump Receives 21st Century Award
Gabriel Bump, assistant professor of English and a graduate of the MFA for Poets and Writers, has received the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s 2026 21st Century Award. The recognition comes ahead of the November 10 publication of his third novel, Don’t Stop Snowing.
Ela Gezen Receives GSA Mentoring Award
Ela Gezen, professor of German, has received the German Studies Association’s 2026 Mentoring Award. The recognition honors her support of students and early-career scholars, including her advocacy for scholars from underrepresented communities and her efforts to expand opportunities across the field.
Peace Tables: Food as a Catalyst for Tolerance and Peace
Thursday, November 19 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Join food scholar and founding editor of Gastronomica Darra Goldstein in the Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall, for the final event in the fall Peace Tables series. Her lecture will explore how sharing food can strengthen social bonds and promote greater understanding in our communities and around the world. All UMass community members are welcome. Please RSVP to help us plan for attendance.
Marla Miller Receives Ernest Redekop Prize
Marla Miller has received the Canadian Association for American Studies’ Ernest Redekop Prize for her essay “Telling American Stories: Mattel and the Material Culture of the US Past.” The prize recognizes the best essay published in the Canadian Review of American Studies during the previous year. The selection committee praised Miller’s analysis of how material culture shapes historical narratives.
Tiny Spaces, Big Ideas: Ela Gezen
Turkish German Cultural Encounters in West Berlin (1970-1980)
Drawing on extensive archival research, this lecture discusses cultural activities during the early stages of Turkish migration to West Germany.
Alumni Spotlights
Madeleine Noland ’89 and ATSC Receive Emmy Recognition
Noland, who earned her Bachelor of Music degree at UMass Amherst, is president of ATSC, The Broadcast Standards Association, which received a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for developing ATSC 3.0.
How Pedro Eiras ’14 MA, ’25 MFA Brings Overlooked Histories to Life
Award-winning writer Eiras transforms overlooked history into powerful stories for stage and screen, drawing inspiration from his UMass journey.
Opportunities
Call for Artwork: Gentzler Translation Center Spring Exhibition
The Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center invites UMass-affiliated artists to submit proposals for its spring 2027 exhibition exploring translation as a form of creative expression. Individuals and groups may propose existing artwork or new projects in media including drawing, painting, photography, digital art, and mixed media. Proposals are due November 13.
Learn more and submit a proposal
ISI Spring 2027 Faculty Seminar: Migrations
The Interdisciplinary Studies Institute invites faculty of all ranks and disciplines to apply for its spring 2027 seminar on Migrations. Fellows will explore the movement of people, ideas, and objects, alongside questions of borders, governance, rights, and belonging. Participants will meet biweekly and receive $1,000 in research funds upon completion of the fellowship.
Apply by December 2 with a 300–350-word statement of interest and a 100–150-word biography.
Events
For more upcoming events, visit the UMass Events Calendar.