UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts

has launched a new Master of Fine Arts degree program in Film and Media. Enrolling for fall 2026, the degree builds on the success of the program’s BA in Film and Media Studies that equips emerging filmmakers with the advanced skills needed to launch their careers in the professional industry.

“Due to recent legislation, regional tax incentives, and the emergence of programs like ours, this is a pivotal moment for the film and television production industry in Texas and our city, with the local creative economy primed for explosive growth,” explained Film & Media Program Director Paul Ardoin. “Our new program will train the high-level artists and craftspeople needed to sustain that growth, and we expect its presence to contribute to the appeal of San Antonio as an ideal film production destination.”

Visit UT San Antonio Today for the full story at our link in bio 🔗

Earlier this month on June 1st, Dr. Yoojin Muhn from the UT San Antonio School of Music was invited as a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall as part of the Manhattan Concert Productions Masterworks Series, where she conducted performances of Faure’s Requiem and Runestad’s Proud Music of the Storm with the New York City Chamber Orchestra and the Masterworks Festival Chorus. Several students from the UTSA Choirs also participated in the performance.

Photos at Carnegie Hall were taken by

This month, the Department of English brought faculty and students together for its deparmental awards ceremony to celebrate the work our students completed over the past year. The event highlighted the creative writing projects and academic achievements of undergraduate and graduate students including student successes at the COLFA Research Conference & Showcase!

Congratulations to all of this year's recipients for their focus and hard work inside and outside the classroom!

Join the Institute of Texan Cultures as they celebrate one of Texas’ most powerful cultural expressions: Conjunto music. Born from migration, working‑class life, and creative exchange, the new exhibition “Puro Conjunto: Border(less) Sound” traces conjunto’s layered musical heritage and celebrates San Antonio and South Texas as its heart—where neighborhood clubs, family record labels, school programs, festivals, and backyard gatherings have sustained the tradition while continually reimagining it for new generations. On view starting June 11, 2026, through May 30, 2027.

Generously supported by the Summerlee Foundation.

Alana Schwartz, a UT San Antonio alumna and former Top Scholar who earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in chemistry, is currently serving as a Fulbright U.S. Student Program English teaching assistant in Ourense, Spain, a role that allows her to live fully within the program’s mission of cultural exchange.

In reflecting on her time in Ourense, Schwartz noted that “the most rewarding aspect of my time here has been seeing students gradually participate and engage, which has confirmed my aspiration to pursue teaching in the future.”

While Schwartz always knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine, her time teaching English as a Fulbright recipient has reshaped her professional goals. Her long-term vision is to become a physician-educator.

Read more about her journey on UT San Antonio Today at our link in bio. 🔗

We are continuing our celebration of Spring graduates by sharing stories from across COLFA 🎉

Samuel Brammell is graduating with a degree in English Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing. During his time at UT San Antonio, he found a community that encouraged him to push the boundaries of his art and ideas.

“UT San Antonio has been a space where I have learned to find a relationship with language that gives shape to the intangible and that gives a voice to that which is unspoken. The Department of English and the Creative Writing program provided a sense of community and a place to explore art farther than I knew possible.”

In a special shout-out, Samuel noted that the mentorship of Drs. Vance, Garza, Kellman, and Bayer played a fundamental part of his UT San Antonio experience by providing guidance and inspiration throughout his studies.

This fall, Samuel will move to New York to begin an MFA in Poetry at Columbia University. As he transitions to graduate school, he plans to begin work on a new manuscript focused on addiction and recovery. Looking further ahead, he aims to work with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers while pursuing a career in the publishing industry.

Congratulations, Samuel!

As we continue our celebration of Spring graduates, we are sharing stories from across the college that highlight the diverse paths our students take 🎉

Bella is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Affairs and a minor in Russian. Growing up internationally sparked her interest in how global decisions are made, a curiosity she carried throughout her time at UT San Antonio.

One of the most impactful parts of her degree was walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to learn about the history and culture of Spain than through walking across the country. One of my biggest takeaways was how differently everyone experienced the trip. I loved meeting strangers, walking with them for a day, and hearing what they were taking away from the pilgrimage.”

On campus, Bella stayed involved as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and Model United Nations. She credits Dr. Matthias Hofferberth and the MUN program for helping her develop empathy by learning to view global conflicts from the perspective of other countries. For Bella, the community she built through these organizations was just as important as her academic work.

This summer, Bella begins training for her accelerated teaching certification. In August, she will stay in San Antonio to start her career as an elementary teacher with Teach for America. She looks forward to helping students analyze the world around them and eventually hopes to teach high school social studies or government.

Congratulations, Bella!

All this week, we are continuing our celebration of Spring graduates by sharing stories from across COLFA 🎉

Michaela Cobb is graduating this semester with a degree in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. Since 2024, Michaela has served as a Peer Educator at the COLFA Student Success Center, where she used her own experiences to help other students navigate university life.

During her time with the center, Michaela led the Well-being Series at our Student Success Center, focusing on how personal wellness and academic performance connect. She has worked hard to ensure her peers knew about the community of support open to them on campus. We are incredibly proud of the standard she has set for future Peer Educators at COLFA!

“So many students need to know that they’re not alone, and that college is a place where they belong,” Cobb said. “Whether I’m helping students find clubs on campus or just checking in on them as a friend, I want them to know they have a community here.”

Read her full story on UT San Antonio Today at our link in bio 🔗

Today we recognize the members of our Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) for their hard work throughout the academic year!

These students serve as a link between the student body and college leadership, providing us with feedback and perspective used to improve the student experience at . With so much growth happening across our college, it's more critical than ever that we have student voices to express the needs and wants of our study body.

We are incredibly proud of these students and are motivated to ensure that COLFA remains a college where student voices lead to change! If you are interested in applying to be on our council, visit our link in bio 🔗