College of Arts and Sciences at American University

06/02/2026

What makes a great beach read?

According to American University Department of Literature professor Marianne Noble, it's a book that's both impossible to put down and capable of changing the way you see the world.

In American University's popular summer course Beach Reads, students dive into compelling novels by authors like Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Louise Erdrich, and Richard Powers while exploring big questions about empathy, imagination, and the value of reading in a screen-filled world.

The result? Students are rediscovering the joy of reading, engaging in deeper conversations, and finding new ways to understand themselves and others.

Read the story: https://bit.ly/4uMfY31

05/29/2026

A quieter campus, a little more sunshine, and plenty to look forward to this summer. Happy weekend from the College of Arts and Sciences! ☀️

📸: Elyn Zimmerman’s Sudama

05/26/2026

Congratulations to AU Theatre Professor Meghan Raham for winning a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Set Design! 👏

Raham's innovative, rotating set design allowed Round House Theatre’s world premiere of Sharyn Rothstein’s play "Bad Books" to be seen from every angle last spring. The Helen Hayes Awards are the region’s top honors recognizing excellence in professional theatre across the Washington, DC, area.

🏆 Read more:

Scenic designer created innovative set for “Bad Books” last spring at Round House Theatre

05/19/2026

👏👏👏 Congratulations to Provost Associate Professor of Chemistry Raychelle Burks on being named a 2026-27 Fulbright US Scholar!

During her residency at Australia’s Curtin University, Burks will collaborate with researchers to advance the field of frugal forensics—developing affordable, portable tools capable of detecting illicit drugs, explosives, and chemical warfare agents in real-world and resource-limited environments.

At the center of the project are anthocyanins, naturally occurring pigments that give foods like blueberries, purple cabbage, black rice, and red-skinned grapes their vivid colors. The compounds can also undergo dramatic color changes when exposed to different substances, making them promising tools for chemical detection. https://bit.ly/4nD19Nr

05/14/2026

"Just go for it!"

"The best part of doing a student conference like Mathias is that everyone is in the same boat as you and everyone wants you to succeed!”

"Getting to share a project you’ve worked hard on is worth more than the anxiety you’ll avoid by not submitting.”

We asked the award winners from this year's Mathias Student Research Conference to share tips and words of wisdom to help inspire future participants. One message stood out above all: Don’t let fear stop you from sharing your work.

Student winners share advice, lessons, and the unexpected benefits of presenting their work

05/13/2026

Only a few more days to see the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center's spring exhibitions! ⏳

Five exhibitions are on view now, including work by this year's AU Studio Art MFA graduates, two fantastical exhibitions by Joan Danziger, monumental woodblock prints, and highlights from a sprawling collection of local art.

Visit through May 17, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn more and plan your visit: https://bit.ly/3uMmvka

🎨 Sheila Godlock works on view in "Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection" (left to right): "Interstellar Travelers," 2024. Paper clay, fabric (mixed media), 25 x 9 x 6 in.; "Taaaa Daaaa!," 2024. Paper clay, fabric, aluminum wire, acrylic paint, yarn, 18 x 6 x 4 in.; "I Have Arrived," 2024. Paper clay, fabric, aluminum wire, acrylic paint, yarn, 18 x 6 x 4 in.

📷: Greg Staley

05/12/2026

American University is bringing the global data science community to DC.

This June, AU will host the prestigious International Workshop in Sequential Methodologies, welcoming leading researchers in statistics, AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, and machine learning from around the world.

The conference will also create hands on opportunities for AU students to present research, connect with international experts, and explore careers in data science and analytics.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QW3cA2

05/08/2026

Congrats to all of our new CAS grads! Once an Eagle, always an Eagle! 🦅

05/06/2026

Step into the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center with Aidan Dowell (CAS ’26) for a virtual tour of “The Magical World of Joan Danziger,” including a look at this career-spanning retrospective including Dowell’s favorite artwork and behind-the-scenes insights. 🎨 Dowell is a graduating Art History major who serves as the AU Museum’s Gallery Attendant Shift Supervisor.

The AU Museum is free and open to the public Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Danziger’s exhibitions and three others are on view now through May 17. Learn more: https://www.american.edu/cas/museum/

🎥 Sophy Zhao

05/05/2026

STEM at American University is helping extend hands-on research opportunities beyond campus.

Through the NASA District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium, program manager Chelsey Brown supports DC area high school students participating in the American Rocketry Challenge. Students design, build, and test rockets while developing skills in engineering, collaboration, and iterative problem solving.

This initiative reflects how STEM at AU partners with local communities to create meaningful pathways into STEM fields and support the next generation of innovators.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dqsKxO