CAS Connection All Stories archive

GENERAL SOCIAL SCIENCES, SPANISH — Some students study abroad for a chance to learn a new language, to immerse themselves in a different culture, to gain work experience or for personal growth. Junior Jolie chose Querétaro because she wanted to gain a better understanding of Spanish and the Mexican culture.

THEATRE ARTS — When disaster strikes in a play, audiences get to watch from the safety of their seats as characters wrestle with what comes next, always hoping for a happy ending. During its 2026-27 season, the University of Oregon’s University Theatre is producing four shows that promise to take audiences on a cathartic and rewarding journey, beginning in November with "Noises Off."

PSYCHOLOGY — For Mara Sargent ’14 (psychology) the beauty of campus, the community and the atmosphere atmosphere that reminded her of home in Berkeley, California, and all played a significant part in developing her professional career.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES — As higher education faces pressure to improve affordability, shorten time to graduation and increase student retention, the College of Arts and Sciences is revising its core education offerings. Because CAS is responsible for more than 85% of core ed at the University of Oregon, it has an opportunity to drive meaningful change for students.

MARINE BIOLOGY — After an immersive education experience on the coast, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) alum Annie Pollard BS ’03 (biology), MS ’05 (marine biology) changed her career plans from becoming a veterinarian to becoming a marine biologist. Her passion was coastal bird nesting habits. Her new passion is brewing beer, still on the Oregon Coast.

SCHNITZER SCHOOL — Around the world, scholars are confronting how authoritarian power reshapes higher education. The “Global Futures of Higher Education: Autonomy in the Crosshairs” conference brought together 32 speakers to examine this challenge.

ARCHAEOLOGY, BIOLOGY, CINEMA STUDIES — Alison Carter, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology Laurel Pfeifer-Meister, associate teaching professor in the Department of Biology and Colin Williamson, assistant professor in the Department of Cinema Studies are this year’s College of Arts and Sciences Tykeson Teaching Award recipients.

EALL, HISTORY — A century after its first surge in popularity in the United States, the game Mahjong is once again having a cultural moment. At the University of Oregon, faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are using this renewed interest as an opportunity to help students explore history, culture and identity through hands-on experience.