BYU College of Humanities

Art comes in many forms—paintings, sculptures, architecture, installations. For Katie Kresser, resident art historian at Seattle Pacific University, an understanding of art is defined by more than its form. In her Faith and Imagination lecture at BYU on March 19, 2026, Kresser argued that recognizing art’s true meaning requires looking beyond the work of the paintbrush and into the mind of the artist who holds it.

Read full article here: https://hum.byu.edu/true-awe-in-art

Imagine working on a single project for 27 years straight, then having Michelangelo say the work is good enough to exist in paradise. This was the experience of Lorenzo Ghiberti, who created Florence Cathedral’s famous baptistry doors called the Gates of Paradise, replicas of which are on display at BYU’s Museum of Art (MOA). On March 6, Associate Professor Elliott Wise (Eucharistic and Liturgical Imagery) gave a lecture at the MOA entitled “Sacred Symbolism in the Gates of Paradise,” explaining the origin of these historic doors and the way they symbolically point to Christ.

Read the full article here: https://hum.byu.edu/the-doorway-to-paradise

Many people think of art curation in museum settings, involving long-term planning, large spaces, and curators who have full creative freedom. Allie Sena (Art History, French Studies ’26) and Natalie Rasmussen (Comparative Studies MA ’26) found themselves in very different circumstances when they were asked to curate a new art exhibit for BYU’s Humanities Center. Working with a small room and a short deadline, the pair took on the complicated task and created an exhibit that displays unity across humanity.
Read the full article here: https://hum.byu.edu/curating-human-unity

As an undergraduate philosophy student at BYU, Professor David Laraway had no idea the journal he and other students created to showcase their work would become a lasting tradition. Yet more than three decades and dozens of student editors later, the Aporia undergraduate journal for philosophy is not only still standing, but it’s also providing a unique experience for students worldwide to engage in thought-provoking discussion.

Read the full article here: https://hum.byu.edu/aporias-lasting-legacy

When Professor Donald Parry set out to find a simple way for students to practice Biblical Hebrew verbs, he found almost nothing. One quick search revealed a tool with only 32 verbs, something students could master in minutes. That gap became the beginning of something much bigger.

With support from BYU’s Office of Digital Humanities, Parry created the Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite, an interactive resource that now supports thousands of learners. What started as a need for better verb practice has grown into a comprehensive tool with vocabulary builders, grammar exercises, native speaker recordings, and even an interactive Hebrew Bible.

Designed for beginners and advanced students alike, the suite meets learners where they are and grows with them. Students who spend time with it outside the classroom consistently see stronger results, and many continue using it long after their courses end. Even more, the resource is available to anyone around the world, making it a lasting tool for lifelong learning.

Learn more here: https://hum.byu.edu/your-companion-for-biblical-hebrew-study
Photo by David John Arnett

Poetry has a unique way of turning strangers into a community. After a life-changing trip to the Navajo Nation, BYU student Aiden Jones used a Humanities Undergraduate Mentoring (HUM) Grant to bring Indigenous voices to the forefront in Provo. By organizing public poetry readings of Indigenous poetry at local bookstores and cafés, she created a space where students shared powerful stories of heritage, resilience, and connection.

Read more about how these events fostered understanding and showcased the heart of the humanities: https://hum.byu.edu/giving-voice-to-native-stories

Meet one of our outstanding faculty members in the German & Russian Department, Jennifer Bown ✨

From earning national recognition for research in language education to being named BYU’s Professor of the Year in European Studies, her work continues to shape the way students experience language learning.

Her teaching spans from introductory Russian courses to advanced research seminars, and her scholarship explores how study abroad experiences influence identity, connection, and language growth.

Through both her research and her classroom, she is helping students see language as not just words, but as a bridge to understanding people and cultures around the world.

Six College of Humanities graduate students stepped up to the challenge at the Three Minute Thesis Competition, sharing years of research in a format that rewards clarity, creativity, and confidence. Their presentations highlighted not only impressive scholarship but also the personal growth that comes with graduate study.

Topics ranged across literature, language, and lived experience. Gabriella Schwartz explored identity through geometric fractals and William Wordsworth’s The Prelude. Michele Walker compared essays to rivers that grow and shape perspective over time. Lauren Smith examined how gratitude journaling can strengthen both well being and second language skills. Each presentation offered a unique lens on what it means to learn, reflect, and keep becoming.

Photo by Faith Riddoch

Read the full story here: https://hum.byu.edu/competing-against-the-clock

After years of studying, nearly 500 humanities graduates gathered for one final moment of reflection before they bid farewell to their time at BYU. On April 24, 2026, the College of Humanities held its convocation at the BYU Marriott Center, honoring the graduates as they move forward in the next chapter of their lives. Drawing from lived experience, Dean Christopher “Chip” Oscarson, student Kathryn Douglas, and Professor George Handley shared messages encouraging the graduates to remain grounded in their faith.

Read the full article here: https://hum.byu.edu/humanities-graduates-go-forth-with-faith

The humanities are not stuck in the past. In fact, modern media like video games can reveal just as much about human nature as classic literature or ancient texts. Through the lens of Roblox, Professor Kerry Soper highlights how virtual worlds create space for creativity, identity exploration, and meaningful social connection.

As digital spaces continue to shape culture, they raise important questions about community, learning, and safety, especially for younger audiences. These platforms are more than entertainment: They are reflections of who we are and who we are becoming.

Read more here: https://hum.byu.edu/the-reality-of-roblox