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Thanks to the combined power of irrepressible curiosity, passionate faculty mentorship, and Charles Center Research in Motion grants, W&M undergraduates are connecting with students and scholars from across the country.

As part of its mission to support undergraduate research across disciplines, the Charles Center is supporting seven undergraduates in their artistic pursuits over the summer through the Louis E. Catron Scholarship for Artistic Development.

If there is one takeaway from WMSURE’s end of year celebration, it is that nothing quite compares to the program’s powerful sense of community and belonging.

Driven by a passion for museums and a taste for adventure, this year’s group of ten Woody interns embarks on journeys to explore the field alongside specialists in Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington, DC.

Less than a year into his tenure at W&M, Assistant Professor of Anthropology Buck Woodard is expanding the reach of the university’s anthropology program by immersing his students in Cherokee history and culture.

The Charles Center is collaborating with campus partners to bring three writers-in-residence to campus in 2025-26 to teach a variety of hands-on journalism courses for undergraduates.

As �鶹�ƽ�� launches its Year of the Environment, Ethan Stewart ’25 is breaking boundaries through research in environmental research.

Three Ph.D. candidates in history—Emily Wells, Jennifer Merriman, and Qiong Wu—received Boswell-Caracci Material Culture Study Fund grants this year to reach beyond campus and their primary fields to connect with leading experts in the world of material culture studies.

Undergraduate summer research experiences can be life changing. A seven-to-ten-week experience frequently blossoms into something larger — a senior thesis, a pathway to graduate studies, or even a lifelong pursuit.

Senior Emma Henry garnered one of �鶹�ƽ��’s largest awards before graduating last month — a $40,000 H. Mason Sizemore, Jr. Journalism Fellowship for graduate studies at Northwestern University’s renowned Medill School of Journalism in the fall.

Catherine Forestell has been appointed Vice Dean of Natural, Mathematical and Health Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Sciences, succeeding Rob Hinkle whose term ends June 30.

With funding from the prestigious program, biology major Jenna Jablonski ’26 and chemistry major Sarah Foster ’27 will undertake intensive research projects, obtain invaluable laboratory training, present their findings to colleagues and gain access to a wide professional network.

This slate of awards, conferred by both Arts & Sciences and the Office of the Provost, reflects A&S faculty members’ exceptional commitment to their students, to the campus community and to the ideals of a liberal arts education.

The new appointments reflect A&S faculty members’ achievements in scholarship, teaching, student mentorship and service to their fields and the university.

This past April, thousands of academics, researchers, and students descended upon Chicago for the Annual Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA). Among the presenters were students of W&M’s undergraduate research lab on International and Political Affairs in the Caucasus (IPAC) run by Associate Professor Dan Maliniak. The Midwest offered a unique opportunity for students to exhibit several projects at the Conference. Read more about their presentations.

Senior Chidi Akunwafor traveled to rural South Africa in summer 2023 on a Charles Center Summer Research Grant as part of a four-member research team whose findings were recently published in Global Public Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice.

From Text to Performance: Reimagining Ancient Drama.

PhD candidate, John Henshaw receives 2025 – 2026 Halleran Dissertation Completion Fellowship

New York Times video producer Claire Hogan ’22 returned to campus to moderate this year’s Sharp Journalism Seminar showcase held in Blow Hall’s Grimsley Board Room March 27.

This past Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Society of Women in Computing (SWC) chapters at William and Mary merged branches to engage in a night of joy and whimsy.

Five professors have been awarded Reves and Drapers' Faculty Fellowships for international research in 2025.

Conveying complex research in a way that is accessible to a general audience is a challenge for even the most accomplished researchers. For Barr Fellows in Public Speaking, it is an unrivaled strength.

Geology Club named 2025 GSA Southeastern Regional Champions in “Tee-Off Competition.”

For many of the 100+ seniors honors students who presented at the Charles Center’s Spring Honors Research Symposium, their research journeys profoundly shaped their �鶹�ƽ�� experience.

Schmidt centers his research on workers' theatre and the role of performance in urban tourism, focusing on South Africa and the larger Global South.

Prof. Swetnam-Burland heads the research in the Liber Memorialis Project.

Award-winning author and artist Lynda Barry visited �鶹�ƽ�� to discuss her approaches to implementing creativity into everyday life.

Inaugural Declaration Week fosters connection and celebration for students declaring their major.

The series, a joint initiative of the Graduate Center and the Williamsburg Regional Library, helps master’s and doctoral students refine their projects while honing valuable public communication skills.

The National Residence Hall Honorary recognized �鶹�ƽ��’s Sharpe Community Scholars program for its leadership in modeling living-learning best practices.

Former NBC News senior vice president Betsy Korona ’03 returned to campus March 24 to reveal truths gleaned from her two decades at the center of national news-making.

The National Residence Hall Honorary recognized �鶹�ƽ��’s Sharpe Community Scholars program for its leadership in modeling living-learning best practices.

Award-winning Virginian-Pilot staff photographer Stephen M. Katz discussed his empathetic approach to photojournalism with students attending the final Charles Center/Virginia Media journalism masterclass March 24.

The Hayes Translation Festival features award-winning literary translators that will share their work and talk about the art of translation during three days of readings, class visits, and panel discussions. Presented in partnership with the W&M Creative Writing Program.

On February 28th, the Public Policy Program and Schroeder Center for Health Policy hosted Amy Rosenthal, Executive Director of Health Care for All (HCFA)一a Massachusetts non-profit that advocates for health care equity and access at the state level.

Congratulations to Professor Brown on the publication of his first book Menander and the Birth of Domestic Drama (University of Wisconsin Press, 2024)!

The Sociology Department at William and Mary is thrilled to welcome Dr. Esmeralda Sánchez Salazar to its faculty!

In the February 2025 issue of the "American Political Science Review," Professors Israel-Trummel, Allison Anoll '09, and Drew Engelhardt '13 use the Black Lives Matter protests as a case study, to examine how social movements influence political socialization.

Six �鶹�ƽ�� geology students presented their research, receiving valuable feedback from experts, while faculty highlighted the importance of this event for collaboration in the field.

Eleni Orphanos '27 shares her impactful experience at the NEW Leadership Virginia program, where she gained leadership skills, professional insights, and confidence for her future career in government.

A daunting task to finish one thesis, seniors Liam Staker, Adam Jutt, Maryclaire O’Brien, and Sarah Sakly have undertaken the seemingly impossible task of completing two theses each during the 2024-25 academic year.

The Woody Internship in Early Childhood Music Education provides a unique opportunity for �鶹�ƽ�� students to gain hands-on experience in music education while making a difference in the community.

Martin Gallivan’s radiocarbon dating project, supported by the Arts & Sciences Faculty Grants Fund, will make a critical intervention in archaeology, advance collaborations with Indigenous communities and extend research opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students.

Faith Page ‘26 spent last summer developing a groundbreaking new tour at Surry’s Smith Fort, a historic site located across the James River from Jamestown that Preservation Virginia operates as a museum.  

As part of the annual College Fed Challenge, the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. invites participating teams to an open house

The annual event, hosted by the Arts & Sciences Graduate Center on Feb. 27-28, will feature master’s and doctoral research from across A&S and from other universities throughout the country.

Recently co-published in the Journal of Black Psychology, Raven Pierce ’23, M.Ed. ‘26, and Associate Professor of School Psychology Janise Parker are making waves for their study on the empowerment of women of color within higher education.

While many seek rest and relaxation over academic breaks, Sharp Journalism Seminar students get to work, traveling the globe in search of a scoop.

Erin Webster, now an English professor and director of the English Honors program at �鶹�ƽ��, initially didn't plan on a teaching career, but now finds great joy in teaching at �鶹�ƽ��, primarily due to the quality and engagement of her students.

In recognition of Reese’s generous gift, the PBK Memorial Hall green room will be named for the late Althea Hunt, professor of English and fine arts and first director of �鶹�ƽ�� Theatre, and Howard M. Scammon ’34, professor of theatre and department chair.

Jazz legends Steve Wilson and George Cables mentored students, faculty, and community members in a Charles Center-sponsored masterclass in the W&M Music Arts Center Concert Hall Jan. 25.

Jay Jolles joins the team and the Writing and Communication Center.

Lingfei 'Teddy' Wu Ph.D '16 sees the potential for artificial intelligence to transform the practice of law.

In a grueling 38-hour-long competition hosted by &hacks X, more than 250 �鶹�ƽ�� hackers representing nearly every discipline competed in the annual Hackathon Oct. 4-6 in Swem Library.

Weaving through the vibrant displays of the Ruth E. Carter exhibit on Afrofuturist costume design at Jamestown Settlement Nov. 13, students in the W&M Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) marveled at the harmonious combination of scholarship and storytelling told through fabrics and colors.

Denise Watson, features editor of The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, led a Nov. 15 journalism masterclass on artificial intelligence (AI) and media misinformation, the third session in a series of six workshops offered by the Charles Center this academic year.

�鶹�ƽ��’s cyber teams finished 2024 ranked 6th nationally in the National Cyber League, competing against 550+ universities. Their success highlights top-tier talent, leadership, and career readiness in cybersecurity.

The Department of Kinesiology’s new degrees in human health & physiology and public health will equip students to become leaders in vital fields.

On November 15th, the Public Policy master’s students met with the Board of Advisors for a day of professional development and networking.

The designation, awarded by the National Security Agency, recognizes the strength of W&M’s doctoral program in computer science and interdisciplinary research collaborations across data science, law and business.

Student research featured in the Undergraduate Research Symposium details the fungal landscape of the College Woods.

With support from the Office of the Provost, Ashleigh Everhardt Queen, teaching professor of kinesiology, and Gexin Yu, chair and professor of mathematics, will implement a two-phase proposal to train faculty and staff as campus mental health and wellness resources.

With sponsorship from the Arts & Sciences Dean’s office, a faculty team led by Lori Jacobson, director of the Writing and Communication Center, is participating in the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum.

In writing her English honors thesis, Shawna Alston ‘25 calls upon many muses, including renowned scholars and artists — from Lucille Clifton to Toni Morrison — as well as faculty and students in the �鶹�ƽ�� Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) community who provide invaluable support and inspiration each day.

The Marlene Jack Ceramics Opportunity Endowment will support a range of opportunities for students in the Department of Art & Art History, where Professor Jack touched students’ lives for nearly 40 years.

More than 65 faculty, staff, students, and family members attended an evening program Nov. 14 in which this year's Catron Scholars shared stories, discoveries, and creations from summer experiences dedicated to exploring their artistic interests.

Students attending the second Charles Center journalism masterclass were faced with the gravest of hypotheticals: how does one cover a newsroom shooting ethically, responsibly, and respectfully, while working under a tight deadline, in competition with other news outlets?

Audrey Horning to serve as next Arts & Sciences Vice Dean for Research & Graduate Studies

Proceedings from a symposium hosted by the W&M Public Policy Program on April 5, 2024 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Brown studied and wrote poetry grappling with constructions of manhood in the American West for a summer research project supported by the Charles Center.

Proceedings from a symposium hosted by the W&M Public Policy Program on April 5, 2024 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Since 2015 Dr. Carol Clayman Woody '71 and Robert Woody have supported �鶹�ƽ�� students’ passion for public history, art history, and museums through the Charles Center's Woody Internship in Museum Studies.

Mary-Elise Alworth (MPP '25) writes about her 2024 summer internship with NetworkPeninsula, a nonprofit organization in Newport News, Virginia.

�鶹�ƽ��’s NOBCChE chapter makes waves both for their scientific achievements and creation of opportunities for Black chemists on campus.

For Monroe Scholars Max Kaminski ‘26 and Sabine Mead Mexia ‘26, research is more than an intellectual enterprise – it is driven by their passion for illuminating Indigenous narratives that continue to be underrepresented.

The Raft Debate returns to �鶹�ƽ�� for the first time since 2019, exciting both faculty and students.

Dedicated to supporting student research across an expansive range of disciplines, the Charles Center is hosting a gallery exhibition celebrating the artistic development of last summer’s Catron scholars in the Sadler Center’s Hart Gallery from Nov. 11 to 22.

The Williamsburg Public Art Council and the City of Williamsburg is launching a Poet Laureate program and are looking for applications.

On October 22, 2024, the �鶹�ƽ�� Public Policy Program and Government Department invited Dr. Alan Kennedy, associate teaching professor and multi-term elector for Colorado and Virginia, to speak on the electoral college and its controversy.

Modern Languages and Literatures department displays its first Day of the Dead altar, inviting student participation.

Sophia Heilen ’26 is uncovering evidence of a new kind of unnatural shapeshifting quietly occurring around us: many of the state’s coastal forests are being killed in a transition to saltwater marshes due to recent sea level rise.

Chancellors Hall welcomed alums to their yearly Homecoming Brunch. The Government Department was happy to welcome back a record number of graduates and their families!

During the 2024-25 academic year, the Charles Center is sponsoring a new Arts Masterclass series in partnership with Arts at �鶹�ƽ�� dedicated to creating opportunities for artistic exploration and discovery across disciplines, from music to dance and everything in between.

Hundreds of students, alumni, faculty, and staff attended the Oct. 19 celebration of the renovation and reopening of Monroe Hall.

�鶹�ƽ�� faculty earn national leadership roles, awards in archaeology, anthropology and classical studies

After four years, the Raft Debate returns, pitting four W&M faculty members against each other in a comedic competition

On September 24th and October 4th, the Master’s in Public Policy students gathered to discuss and reflect on their internship experiences.

Since 1924 more than 12,000 �鶹�ƽ�� students have called Monroe Hall home, making memories, forging friendships, and in more than a few cases, finding future life partners in the iconic dorm adjacent to the university’s Historic Campus.

�鶹�ƽ��’s annual hackathon, &hacks, took place from October 4-6, 2024, setting a new standard for future hackathons. From Friday to Sunday afternoon, students across all majors and multiple schools came together to create interdisciplinary projects that address real-world challenges.

Encompassing all major disciplines and spanning over 36 departments, �鶹�ƽ��’s honors program saw a record number of applicants this year, with 198 students seeking the opportunity to design their own research and write an honors thesis.

The �鶹�ƽ�� Cybersecurity Center, in partnership with Mantech International, organized TribeCTF 2024, W&M’s first Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competition, on campus from October 4th (Friday) to October 6th (Sunday), co-located with &hacks, W&M’s premier hackathon. Competitors vied for prizes totaling $9,000, and the fame of besting some of the best in Virginia.

In September 2023, the newly renovated and expanded Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall opened with a performance of “Nine,” choreographed by Year of the Arts Professor of Dance, Leah Glenn. The performance explored the story of the “Little Rock Nine,” the students who integrated Little Rock High School in 1957. “Nine” was one of the many arts initiatives at �鶹�ƽ�� made possible by the Sumner G. Rand Jr. Foundation, which has provided generous funding for performances, equipment, professional development and broader campus engagement since the Foundation’s establishment in 2003.

Each summer �鶹�ƽ�� students from different backgrounds with diverse academic interests come together in a vibrant community centered on a shared passion for research.

Aspiring �鶹�ƽ�� journalists now have an additional avenue to hone their craft – a new summer internship program with mentorship from award-winning reporters and editors from the Daily Press, Virginian-Pilot, and other outlets belonging to Norfolk-based Virginia Media, Inc.

Through the Charles Center's Woody Internship in Museum Studies, ten �鶹�ƽ�� undergraduates spent last summer exploring potential careers in the field alongside mentors at nine host museums.

Though �鶹�ƽ�� undergraduates often pursue summer internships with specific goals in mind, perhaps the greatest benefits of gaining hands-on experience in a potential career field are the zigs, zags, and unexpected life lessons that inevitably arise.

Ph.D. student Johnny Clapham led the Parkinson’s-focused startup to success in W&M’s six-week program, earning a $2,000 prize.

Since 2002, almost 2,300 high school students from around the world have traveled to �鶹�ƽ�� each summer to absorb the region’s history through the National Institute of American History & Democracy’s Pre-College Program (NIAHD). When they leave, they’ve not only learned about the history of the region but also about the craft of history – how to analyze and interpret evidence as a historian.

With more than 1200 students, faculty, staff, and community members participating in the Charles Center's annual Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium Sept 20 in Swem Library, �鶹�ƽ��'s thriving undergraduate research community was on full display.

Learning flourishes at the intersections of class, community, and research – where knowledge and discovery mutually thrive in collaborating relationships. This is the philosophy behind the Sharpe Community Scholars Program, according to its director, Dr. Monica Griffin, who has been involved with the program since 2004.

The �鶹�ƽ�� Office of the Arts opens its inaugural presented season �鶹�ƽ�� Presents! with a capella group Take 6 and organist Alan Morrison the weekend of September 28 and 29.

First-year Stamps 1693 Scholar Aliyana Koch-Manzur ’28 served as New Hampshire’s youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Aug. 19 to 22 in Chicago.

Former W&M faculty John Morreall and Tamara Sonn have released a comprehensive survey of the study of religion worldwide, from ancient indigenous traditions to today's religious nationalism.

On September 11th, the Schroeder Center for Health Policy and the Public Policy Program hosted Leslie Mehta, the Democratic nominee for Virginia's 1st Congressional District.

Duong's award-winning research introduces the CAT model, enhancing deep neural network interpretability for high-stakes applications like healthcare and finance.

Peyman Jafari, Assistant Professor, History and International Relations, provides some insights into the current political climate in Iran, two years after the death of Mahsa Amini and the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' protests.

Over the summer, Dana Smith MPP’25, had the opportunity to intern with the Virginia Center for Health Innovation (VCHI). VCHI is a healthcare non-profit located in Richmond, run by President and CEO, Beth Bortz MPP’93. �鶹�ƽ�� is participating in a novel study comparing Medicaid and commercial reimbursement rates for primary care and behavioral health providers in Virginia.

Stephanie Hanes, climate reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, and medical journalist Caleb Hellerman of the Global Health Reporting Center kicked off the 14th Sharp Journalism Seminar challenging students to be inspired by their curiosity.

In her major economic speech last month, Vice President Kamala Harris declared that “building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency, because I strongly believe when the middle class is strong, America is strong.” Professor Chris Howard argues that dealing with the problems of poor American also should be a priority. Read more in his opinion piece published to "The Hill" website.

Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press features editor Denise Watson has joined the growing list of professional journalists invited to campus this year by the Charles Center to help educate the next generation of storytellers and reporters at the university.

We are excited to announce two new faculty members joining our department, including Antonio Mastropaolo and Yuchen Wang.

The following story is the third in a series of profiles on the recipients of the Arts & Sciences Faculty Grants Fund. The Faculty Grants Fund provides support for A&S faculty research, conference travel, and student hourly wages that are related to a specific research project. You can support efforts like the Faculty Grants Fund by giving to the Arts & Sciences Annual Fund.

Computer Science PhD students Nathan Wintersgill and Trevor Stalnaker, along with their advisors and collaborators, have been honored with an ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award at the prestigious ACM International Conference on the Foundations of Software Engineering (FSE 2024).

This past May 2024, after decades of dedication to �鶹�ƽ��, Professors Clay Clemens and Sue Peterson, two of the Government Department’s most beloved professors, retired. Known throughout the broader W&M community, Professors Clemens and Peterson have made incredible contributions to the College and the lives of countless students and coworkers.

The Health Comp Group at W&M received the Best Paper Award at ACM/IEEE Conference on Connected Health: Applications, Systems and Engineering Technologies (CHASE) in June 2024.