College of Arts and Letters

Interim Dean, Traci A. Zimmerman

Associate Dean, Melinda Adams

Associate Dean, Siân E. White

Assistant Dean, Karina Kline-Gabel

Academic Units

School of Communication Studies   
Lori Britt, Director

Department of English   
Rebecca “Becky” Childs, Head

Department of History   
P. David Dillard, Interim Head

Department of Justice Studies
Peggy Plass, Head

School of Media Arts and Design
Joe Hinshaw, Interim Director

Department of Philosophy and Religion
Kenneth Pearce, Head

Department of Political Science   
Kerry F. Crawford, Head

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Liam W. Buckley, Head

Department of World Languages and Cultures
Cynthia Chalupa, Head

School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication   
Michael Smith, Director

Graduate Programs

Students may select from a range of graduate programs in the College of Arts and Letters. The departments and schools fully describe their programs in the Academic Units section. In addition to departmental programs, the college offers a wide array of annual events and supporting services, some of which reach out to the regional community.

• Communication and Advocacy (M.A.)  
• English (M.A.)  
• History (M.A.)  
• Political Science (M.A.)  
• Public Administration (M.P.A.)  
• Public Administration – Fifth Year Format (M.P.A.)  
• Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication (M.A.)  

Mission Statement

The College of Arts and Letters empowers students to become reflective lifelong learners who can address today’s social, cultural, and political challenges through inclusive awareness, creative thinking, problem solving, communication, and responsive leadership.