Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day, and Happy Solstice! From all of us at CSSH and Native Studies, we hope you can take in, enjoy and celebrate Indigenous culture, wherever you are.

University of Alberta School of Business University of Alberta Faculty of Law Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta University of Alberta Faculty of Education

Congratulations to MLCS professor Micah True! We're proud to see his scholarship recognized with this honour. The CHA described his book as a “transformative study” that “sets a new standard for how scholars across disciplines should approach the documentary record of New France.”

Congratulations to MLCS professor Micah True for receiving the 2026 Canadian Historical Association Best Scholarly Book in Canadian History Prize (English) for "The Jesuit 'Relations': A Biography".

Learn more: https://ow.ly/Lb5j50ZcUkH

Indigenous Peoples and Pride Day Celebration With drag, dance and musical performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists.

At convocation last week, pre-eminent poet and literary professor Lorna Crozier, '80 MA, addressed our graduates when she received an honorary Doctorate of Letters.

"This ceremony has affirmed you are now an educated person. You have a certificate to prove it. As you move forward, continue to value clear and deep thinking—oh, how we need it— but educate your spirit too. Seek out the earth’s oldest songs and let them thrum inside you, free yourself from what chokes you and holds you back. To achieve the impossible and to be what
you will become—a scientist, a teacher, a trainer for a hockey team, a negotiator for reconciliation and justice, be first a person open to wonder. Be someone who makes other people and creatures of this world feel better just because you are here."

Read her full remarks here: https://bit.ly/4emCcBC

Congratulations to Brad Fraser, who was announced last week as the University of Alberta Department of Drama 2026 Lee Playwright in Residence!

The University of Alberta Drama Department is pleased to announce that Brad Fraser has been chosen as the 2026 Lee Playwright in Residence.

The selection committee was impressed with the quality of the candidates for this year's residency. However, Brad Fraser's experience, national and international acclaim, as well as his connection to the Edmonton theatre scene gave him an edge over the other worthy candidates. The committee members included Prof. Kenneth T. Williams, Dept. of Drama, Prof. Kathleen Weiss, Dept. of Drama, Ron Jenkins, 2025 Lee Playwright in Residence, Dr. Mukonzi Musyoki, and Josh Languedoc, MFA. The committee members have decades of experience in play creation, dramaturgy, directing, as well as expertise in Canadian, Indigenous and African theatre.

In Brad's words:
"I am thrilled to be the recipient of the Clifford E Lee [Lee Playwright in Residence] residency this year. A writer receiving support to concentrate on their work for a full year is an amazing gift and one I intend to take full advantage of. I look forward to returning to Edmonton and, finally, spending some time at the University of Alberta and would like to thank everyone behind the decision to present me with this amazing gift."

Read more at:
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/drama/about/lee-playwright-in-residence/announcing-the-2026-lee-playwright-in-residence.html

Photo credit: David Hawe

Alberta Playwrights' Network Playwrights Guild of Canada Theatre Alberta Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre Northern Light Theatre Shadow Theatre Theatre Network Citadel Theatre Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta Liz Nicholls 12thnight Edmonton Fringe Theatre

🎓 What started as a few electives taken "just for fun" turned into a passion for linguistics and language research.

Phoebe Lam graduated this week with a double major in Linguistics and University of Alberta Department of East Asian Studies, a minor in Psychology, and certificates in applied social sciences research and translation studies with a focus on Japanese.

Her advice to current students? Be unafraid of trying new things—you never know where they might lead.

Congratulations, Phoebe!

Read more: https://bit.ly/43ZHuya

🎓 Meet Eric Awuah, a new PhD graduate from UofA Anthropology.

Eric's research is at the intersection of anthropology, dance-music studies, intangible cultural heritage, and African diasporic performance practices.

During his doctoral journey, he connected scholarship with performance and community engagement, helping create spaces where African, Caribbean, and Black movement practices could be celebrated both on campus and with the wider community.

"My experience in the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Anthropology has been deeply transformative," he says. "I found a space where I could grow as a researcher, teacher, artist, and community organizer."

Congratulations Eric!

Read more: https://bit.ly/4xoIae2

Congratulations to Arts graduate Francerlândio Macena da Cruz, who received his MA in Digital Humanities at convocation yesterday! 🎓

Master’s grad builds an AI-powered bridge for neurodivergent students Digital humanities master’s graduate Francerlândio Macena da Cruz created an app based on his own research journey called NeuroBridge, designed to help neurodivergent students cut through distraction to overcome executive paralysis.

Congratulations to all the Arts grads walking the stage at Spring Convocation today! 🎓

Your dedication, creativity, and hard work have brought you here, and we can’t wait to see where they take you next! ✨

of 2026