UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

What role did dogs play in the ancient Andes?

National Geographic explores how the Wari civilization may have viewed hairless dogs as spiritual companions—possibly helping guide people to the afterlife. anthropologist David Reid, helps shed light on this mysterious culture.

Read more 🔗 go.uic.edu/david-reid-nationalgeographic

A proposed data center in Lockport is sparking major community pushback with residents raising concerns about water use, infrastructure strain, and long-term impacts.

Insight from Rachel Havrelock, director of the UIC Freshwater Lab, underscored the broader environmental questions surrounding the proposal 💧

Read more via Daily Southtown ➡️ go.uic.edu/rachel-havrelock-daily-southtown

Did you know Dr. Javette Orgain, BS ’72, MD ’81, MPH ’05, helped transform community family medicine across Chicago?

From UIC student activist to longtime faculty member and medical director at Mile Square Health Center, she helped shape family medicine education and expand access to care. A dedicated mentor and advocate for health equity, her impact continues to shape future physicians and communities.

University of Illinois College of Medicine UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences UIC School of Public Health

Read more about her impact and legacy: https://loom.ly/AY8j_qU

✨ Major congratulations to English Professor Peter Coviello!

His essay, “Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani,” has been selected for inclusion in The Best American Essays 2026, guest edited by M. Gessen.

Published in Literary Hub, the essay offers a sharp, timely meditation on media, politics, and public discourse through the lens of coverage surrounding Zohran Mamdani.

The Best American Essays series is widely regarded as one of the highest honors in nonfiction writing, spotlighting the most distinguished essays published in the United States each year.

An outstanding and well-deserved national recognition for Professor Coviello and for UIC humanities scholarship.📚

Read Professor Coviello's essay here ➡️ go.uic.edu/CovielloEssay

See the full list of the Best American Essays from 2026: https://ow.ly/aCs250Zazhb

Margena A. Christian of English examines the vital yet often overlooked contributions of Black women songwriters and producers in shaping Motown’s enduring influence.

Read the full The Conversation US article: go.uic.edu/margena-christian-the-conversation

Motown’s Black women songwriters and producers were the invisible architects behind the pop music juggernaut Few people probably know the female songwriters featured in this article, yet Motown relied heavily upon their contributions to cement its place in music history.

How can light help detect and treat disease?

UIC chemist Jean-Luc Ayitou is helping answer that question through groundbreaking research in photobiology. His work has earned him the 2026 New Investigator Award from the American Society for Photobiology, a national honor recognizing outstanding early-career researchers.

Read more: https://go.uic.edu/photobiology-award

Four College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty members will participate in the 2026 American Writers Festival, contributing their expertise to conversations on literature, history, culture, and storytelling.

Representing LAS are Peter Coviello (English), Darius Bost (Black Studies and Gender & Women's Studies), Lilia Fernández (History), and Karen Su (Global Asian Studies).

Learn more about their participation and explore the full festival schedule. The American Writers Festival is free and open to the public.

Read more: https://go.uic.edu/2026-American-Writers-Festival

Festival schedule: https://americanwritersmuseum.org/american-writers-festival/schedule/

Explore Issue 3 of the UIC Journal for Health Equity, now available and featuring powerful student voices across creative writing, memoir, medical journalism, and research.

Students from across disciplines examine health equity through storytelling and scholarship—bringing attention to critical issues and perspectives.

Join us in supporting their work 👉 go.uic.edu/journal-for-health-equity

Congratulations to Jane Rhodes, professor of Black Studies and associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, on her election to the American Antiquarian Society! An esteemed recognition of her outstanding scholarship and contributions to the field.

Learn more: go.uic.edu/jane-rhodes-uic-today