Bill Mechanic — you may not recognize his name, yet few filmmakers can match his level of success. The movies he has helped launch are among the biggest ever made, including Titanic, Independence Day, Braveheart, and X-Men. His blockbuster career can be traced back to Michigan State University — an unlikely starting point.
When Sloane Barlow first saw the email inviting students to apply for commencement speaker, she nearly passed it over.“Who am I to speak on behalf of so many successful graduates?”…
Four graduating seniors were awarded this year’s Louis B. Sudler Prize, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the performing and creative arts, including fine arts, music, creative writing, theatre, and electronic/photographic arts. Presented each year by the College of Arts & Letters, recipients must be members of the senior graduating class and demonstrate outstanding achievement in the performing or creative arts and show promise for future achievement.
Sixteen College of Arts & Letters students who are graduating in Spring 2026 have earned the Board of Trustees Award for having maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during their undergraduate education. These students are among the 315 graduating from MSU in Spring 2026 with a 4.0 GPA, the highest scholastic average one can attain at the end of their undergraduate career at Michigan State University.
The 10th annual Honors Giving Back Awards recognized eight Michigan State University students for their outstanding community-engaged work, including two College of Arts & Letters students. The awards recognize Honors College students…
At a time when students are encountering discussions of genocide not only in history books but as it unfolds in real time across social media and global news, a program…
For Michigan State University student and Citizen Scholar Audrey Pocopio, experiencing the history and culture of London, England, brought her coursework to life during a summer study abroad program. A double major in English and Humanities-Prelaw, Pocopio spent five weeks studying in England in Summer 2025, immersing herself in the history, literature, and culture she had previously encountered only in textbooks.
When award-winning playwright and Michigan State University alum Sandra Seaton returned to Wharton Center for Performing Arts for the world premiere of "Sally: A Solo Play," it was both a creative milestone and a homecoming. The production brought Seaton’s 15-year engagement with Sally Hemings to a stage that has long shaped her artistic life — one she calls “a home away from home.”
Thanks to Michigan State University, Sloane Barlow isn’t exactly sure what’s next. But she’s ok with that. “I feel very confident in my skills to do whatever I want,” she…
During the 2025-2026 academic year, 24 faculty members within the College of Arts & Letters received promotions. The success of these individuals was celebrated at special ceremonies hosted by the Office of the Provost. “On behalf of the College of Arts & Letters, I want to congratulate our faculty members who have earned promotions this year,” said Thomas Stubblefield, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.