CAS News

COMICS AND CARTOON STUDIES, DISABILITY STUDIES, ENGLISH - What makes the comic book villain the Joker such a popular antagonist for Batman? It’s one of many questions Professor Elizabeth Wheeler examines in her latest research paper, “The Joker’s Shifting Face: Eighty Years of Mad History in Batman and American Culture.”

SCHNITZER SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND LANGUAGES - After announcing a landmark $25 million commitment, Portland developer, philanthropist and alumnus Jordan Schnitzer shares his thoughts on living in an ever-globalizing world—and his hopes for the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages.

SOCIOLOGY - For some CAS students, a class inside Oregon’s prisons is an experience that current and past students say has provided them with meaning and a drive for life. And for the adults in custody—referred to as inside students—it’s a way to break up the clamor and routine of life in lock up.

EARTH SCIENCES - An undergraduate’s discovery of ash from an underwater volcano will shape scientific research for years to come. Marcus Chaknova, then a marine biology and geology major in the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences, stumbled across a massive deposit of ash sediment while on a research cruise with the UO's Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the University of Rhode Island and Western Washington University.

CINEMA STUDIES - Visiting filmmaker series helps cinema studies majors connect with mentors in the movie industry—and learn how films really get made. In spring 2025, Academy Award-nominated director Sean Wang was on campus to share his experience and advice with students in the Cinema Studies department.

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.

NEUROSCIENCE- For decades, scientists have believed that the outermost layer of our brain is divided into distinct areas, each responsible for performing different, separate information processing tasks. But recent research suggests the reality is more complex than that—and Evan D. Vickers wants to find out why.

ENGLISH - A groundbreaking digital humanities project brings theater history to the public, despite federal funding cuts. “The 18th-century London theater world has it all,” says Mattie Burkert, an associate professor of English and director of the digital humanities minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Scandals, government censorship, audience riots, labor strikes, market manipulation, corporate intrigue—you name it.”

The graduating class of 2025 represents the diversity of thought that is a hallmark of a liberal arts education. With 2,936 students graduating with a degree—including bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels—this year’s group of CAS graduates is about 13% larger than class of 2024. Equipped with a liberal arts degree, these three graduating seniors are prepared to forge their own path.

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, PHYSICS - One mathematical equation can open a world of possibilities. And that's what this College of Arts and Sciences graduate student is finding. Jesse Hall, a physics doctoral candidate, worked with theoretical physical chemistry professor Marina Guenza to develop the new model that could help advance the development of new drugs and sustainable materials.

ENGLISH, DISABILITY STUDIES — The University of Oregon’s Perfect Circle Theater is debuting its newest production, “Disabling Reality,” June 7 and 8. It’s a bold, imaginative performance created by and for a truly inclusive community. According to the creative minds behind the production, the goal of Perfect Circle Theater is to create an inclusive community where people with disabilities and their allies can work together as peers.

THEATRE ARTS — University Theatre's end-of-season production, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” is described as “good fun with plenty of heart.” It combines improv, heartfelt storytelling and audience participation. Performed by University of Oregon students, the production opens May 23 and runs through June 8.

In a new computer science capstone course, students contributed to a video game and helped Intel figure out how to limit its carbon emissions.

From teachers so beloved they’ve built a cult-like following to innovative researchers who are raking in patents, meet the recipients of the 2025 CAS Awards.

POLITICAL SCIENCE - New research by CAS political science assistant professor Neil O'Brian suggests that political beliefs affect patients’ trust in doctors. Democrats are more likely to trust their personal doctors and follow their doctors’ advice than Republicans, according to the research.