University of Oregon | College of Arts and Sciences

Meet Spencer Chang, professor of physics and part of the Institute for Fundamental Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. 👋 Spencer has been at UO since 2011, and his favorite part of teaching is "those moments when your students are confused, asking questions, and something you say or do leads to that "aha" moment where they understand, something that might change them forever." In his free time, Spencer enjoys hanging out with family, playing guitar and banjo (blues, old time, folk, and alternative), cooking and eating different ethnic cuisines, and watching and playing some sports. You might not know that Spencer grew up in Texas and once owned 13 guitars at the same time! #UOCAS #CASFacultySpotlight

Students come to the College of Arts and Sciences seeking a degree, but many find something even greater: a sense of belonging, connection and purpose. "Being Jewish has always been a central part of my identity and my faith,” says fourth-year student Talia James, who is pursuing a major in public relations and a minor in Judaic studies. “I always felt connected to the Judaic studies curriculum, professors and other students; the courses unraveled a new layer of my identity and Jewish American history. The Judaic studies department inspired me to travel and work in Israel and get more involved with my community on campus.” Get the full story on finding identity in CAS: https://bit.ly/3XSYGSJ #UOCAS #CASConnection

Carol Paty, professor of Earth sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, has spent the past 10 years working alongside NASA to develop tools to look for an ocean on one of Jupiter's moons. The probe, the Europa Clipper, is ready for blast off this month. The data collected could detect and help describe what scientists strongly suspect is a vast sea of salty water buried under a sheet of ice enveloping the moon’s surface. The mission will help scientists understand the depth and salinity of the subsurface ocean, as well as where Europa’s icy surface layer ends and the subsurface ocean begins. Carol is currently in Cocoa Beach, Florida, as final preparations begin for Europa's launch. However, takeoff has been postponed due to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to pass directly over Kennedy Space Center. If all goes well, the craft should be able to launch later this week. #UOCAS

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and its transformation has touched every aspect of our lives—from social norms to where and how we carry out our work. Determining how to prepare students for success in an uncertain future can feel a bit like gazing into a crystal ball. But Dean Chris Poulsen is ready to meet them with a forward-thinking plan to establish CAS as a leader and innovator. We recently spoke with Poulsen to get his take on the state of CAS and the hows and whys of its new direction. Check out the full Q&A with Dean Poulsen: https://bit.ly/3zUHDr8 #UOCAS #CASConnection

Are liberal arts degrees becoming obsolete? Far from it, say CAS faculty who are evolving liberal arts education as part of the college's new strategy to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. To prepare students for these future jobs that don’t yet exist, educators are increasingly recognizing the need to evolve the way the liberal arts are taught so they can meet students’ needs in a rapidly changing, tech-centric workplace. This looks like top-tier academic advising, and embedding job skills into academic coursework. Learn more about how the College of Arts and Sciences is taking liberal arts to the next level: https://bit.ly/4eQY6M9 #UOCAS #CASConnection

A new academic year means new editions of CAS Connection! 🗞️ 🎉 Check out our latest release featuring NINE new Latinx studies professors, Sociology Associate Professor Krystale Littlejohn’s latest book, the benefits of a liberal arts education, and so much more! https://lnkd.in/gni_z47e #UOCAS #CASConnection

The University of Oregon has long served as an agent of change and innovation. The College of Arts and Sciences is excited to share that The National Scientific Council on #Adolescence has released a new brief, "Early Adolescence: A Window of Opportunity for Educators to Support Positive Mental Health." The brief's authors include UO's Leslie Leve, Lorry Lokey Chair in Education, Department Head of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, and Research Scientist at the Prevention Science Institute and Jennifer Pfeifer, Co-Director, National Scientific Council on Adolescence; and Professor, Department of Psychology. Early #adolescence—roughly ages 10 to 13—is a unique time in development where young people experience rapid social, cognitive, and emotional changes. These changes shape young adolescents in both positive and negative ways and offer opportunities to support youth and promote positive mental health. Middle-school educators can be a crucial first line in promoting each young person’s well-being. In this new brief, the National Scientific Council on Adolescence (NSCA) provides research-based recommendations for educators to promote positive mental health in their classrooms. Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/47IWvp3 #AdolescentMentalHealth #AdolescentDevelopment #UOCAS

Meet Mattie Burkert, a professor of Digital Humanities, and Interim Director of New Media and Culture Certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences. 👋 Mattie has been at UO for 4 years, and their favorite thing about teaching is having an excuse to keep learning and talking about interesting things with interested people. During their free time, Mattie enjoys woodworking, knitting, DIY projects, spending time outdoors, and playing with their kiddo. When it comes to entertainment, Mattie says "I've been loving the podcast Sherlock & Co. It's an update of the Sherlock Holmes stories done as a true crime podcast hosted by Dr. Watson. (Hat tip to English PhD student Frida Heitland, who recommended it to me.)" Headshot: Kate Griffith photography #UOCAS #CASFacultySpotlight

Immigration is a part of the United States’s DNA, but it’s long been a contentious political subject. Economic models have found immigration to be a fiscal cost, but a recent study by a University of Oregon economist challenges these findings, showing that low-skilled immigrants on average contribute an additional $750 in annual fiscal benefits not previously accounted for. Get the full story: https://bit.ly/3TG6rds #UOCAS

Meet Cecilia Enjuto Rangel, Associate Professor of Spanish in the College of Arts and Sciences. 👋 Cecilia joined the UO 19 years ago, straight out of grad school. She says "I love seeing my students thrive in the classroom, realizing the transformative power of art, how it can suddenly touch them personally. Facing the challenges of reading a poem or a film in Spanish can be daunting for some, but it's deeply rewarding and fun in our classroom, where every voice matters." Cecilia is Puerto Rican, and her favorite place in the world is a beach called Flamenco in Culebra, an island off the coast of Puerto Rico. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking, swimming, and traveling with her husband and three kids to visit our families in Puerto Rico, and Spain. You may never guess that Cecilia is the daughter of two political exiles. "My mom left Cuba in the early 1960's, and my dad left Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War. They met in Puerto Rico. I grew up with parents that taught me the values of democracy, and pursuing an education." Fun fact: Her favorite food is her husband Pedro's seafood paella. He's the family's Masterchef! #UOCAS #CASFacultySpotlight