CAS Connection - June

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Jordan Schnitzer posing with the Oregon Duck mascot

Expanding Our Global Reach

Philanthropist and alum Jordan Schnitzer shares his thoughts on living in an ever-globalizing world—and his hopes for the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages.

By Jenny Brooks and Henry Houston

Experiential Learning  |  Research & Innovation  |  Community Impact  |  Career Preparation  |  Teaching Excellence  |  21st Century Liberal Arts  |  Building Community  |  Good Vibes  |  CAS Spotlights  |  All Stories  |  Past Issues
 

3 people from graduating class of 2025

CAS Spotlights

Ready to Take on the World

Equipped with a liberal arts degree, these graduating seniors are prepared to forge their own path.

By Grace Connolly

Group of students posing together standing in a street

Community Impact

Turning College Inside Out

A class inside Oregon’s prisons helps students find meaning—and, for some, transformation.

By Henry Houston

Ocean floor with a sediment probe floating above it

Research & Innovation

Exploring Volcanic Fallout

A student’s discovery of ash from an underwater volcano will shape scientific research for years to come.

By Leo Brown

Comic book cover with the Joker character

CAS Spotlights

Villainy Is No Laughing Matter

Professor explores why the Joker is a beloved character despite—or because of—the mayhem he sows.

By Jenny Brooks

Illustration of an old theater

Research & Innovation

The Show Must Go On

A groundbreaking digital humanities project brings theater history to the public, despite federal funding cuts.

By Jenny Brooks

Evan Vickers

CAS Spotlights

A Window to the Brain

A postdoctoral neuroscientist is expanding our ability to study how the brain responds to different types of stimulation.

By Nicole Krueger

A classroom fille dwith students and a projector screen at front

Career Preparation

Peeking Behind the Curtain

Visiting filmmaker series helps cinema studies majors connect with mentors in the movie industry—and learn how films really get made.

By Jenny Brooks

Laborers from Mexico work on a farm in Salinas Valley, California, as part of a temporary labor initiative between the United States and Mexico.

Research & Innovation

Life as a Migrant Worker

A historian’s research on temporary migrant work policies is one of many projects around the country to lose NEH funding.

By Henry Houston

Message from the Dean

You’re Making an Impact

Thinking critically, speaking out and engaging with the world is more critical now than ever. As CAS graduates prepare to step into their new role as global citizens, Dean Chris Poulsen offers advice on the power of giving back.

CAS News

a person standing in a lab with scuba gear
Sports injuries helped shape an undergrad’s approach to research
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - When he was still an undergraduate, Tucker Orman served in an uncommon role: as first author on a paper published Sept. 4 in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, looking at the factors that affect a scuba diver’s ability to maintain core body temperature. Now a College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, Orman reflects on how experiential learning as a human physiology student and love for scuba diving came together.
headshot of marli miller
Marli Miller goes the extra mile for her geology students
EARTH SCIENCES - In spring 2025, Marli Miller received a Herman Award for Specialized Pedagogy. Taking a liberal arts approach, Miller’s focus is on helping students think about and work through problems, which they have a chance to put into practice on a yearly field camp in southwestern Montana.
students gathered by a poster
UO Earth sciences program pairs students with researchers
EARTH SCIENCES - CRESCENT wrapped up its first-ever cohort for the Geoscience Education and Inclusion (GEI) Twinning Program. Students worked with mentors on fully funded research projects, developing practical skills and presenting their findings to fellow scientists. The program manager, Shannon Fasola, said it offered a unique opportunity because students could focus on research without having to worry about finances.

All news »

From the Media

a movie poster on a wall
50 years later, screening celebrates power of the film ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’
Fifty years ago, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" hit theaters. Set in an Oregon state hospital, the movie based on Ken Kesey's novel received critical acclaim and told a history of Native Americans in the Oregon area. College of Arts and Sciences cinema studies senior instructor Stephen Rust spoke at a panel at an anniversary screening of the film. Rust highlighted Will Sampson’s role as Chief Bromden for his textured performance that came after producers were looking for a stereotypical tall, stoic Native American.
a snow packed mountain top
$224 for a lift ticket in Oregon? Where prices are rising or staying put, as ski resorts absorb insurance hikes
Ben Hansen, a University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences economics professor and avid skier, has watched the intricate and complex system of pricing at Oregon’s ski resorts evolve over the years. As of Friday, the highest priced season stood at $1,499, at Mt. Bachelor. But there are many discounts to be had for buying months earlier, online, on Black Friday or Cyber Monday at Mt. Bachelor and resorts across the state. Hansen spoke with Oregonian/OregonLive.
a person skiing
How Cold Weather Impacts An Athlete’s Training (And How To Use It To Your Advantage)
How can skiers train for the cold? The Weather Channel spoke with Chris Minson, the Kenneth M. and Kenda H. Singer Endowed Professor in the Department of Human Physiology. Minson is one example of the department's many faculty experts who are on the forefront of increasing sports performance.

All media news »

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