Converse University Liberal Arts & Sciences

Our faculty can't stop winning! 🏆Congratulations to Dr. Mark Bohler, Assistant Professor of Biology, who recently received the Jo Ann Lever Award of Excellence. The award is a distinguished honor presented to faculty members for excellence in teaching and service. Named in honor of the former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, it highlights individuals who show outstanding commitment to students and the Converse community. 🔬

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Howard, Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Writing Center, who recently received the Dukes Family Faculty Award 🏆. The award is given each year to a faculty member demonstrating excellence in scholarship or creative activities. ✨

Congratulations to Converse University's own Dr. Stefania Licata on receiving the SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award! Read more below ⬇️

🎉 Congratulations to the 20 outstanding faculty members recognized at the 2026 SCICU Excellence in Teaching Awards Dinner!

These educators exemplify excellence in undergraduate teaching, mentorship, and student engagement across SCICU’s member colleges and universities. Each recipient received a $3,000 professional development grant in recognition of their dedication to shaping future leaders.

Read the full story: https://scicu.org/39832-2/

Congratulations to Dr. Stefania Licata for being recognized with the SCICU Award for Excellence in Teaching! 🏆Dr. Licata is an Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies as well as the founder and director of the Spanish Writing and Language Center. She earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature from Stony Brook University along with two master's degrees in Hispanic Languages and Literatures and in Pedagogy of Foreign Languages.

She has taught a wide range of courses in Spanish language, literature, culture, film, and media, including specialized courses on contemporary migration from Africa to Spain. She has also taught in the Honors program and led senior seminars for Hispanic Studies majors. Dr. Licata has also conducted research examining migration and the cultural representations of Africa in Europe, and published numerous studies on post-colonial Equatorial Guinea, Afro-Spanish identities, and more.

At Converse, Dr. Licata also serves as the faculty advisor for the Hispanic Organization for Latinx Awareness (HOLA) and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In 2024, she also earned the ACUE Teaching Excellence Certificate in "Fostering a Culture of Belonging."

Converse is honored to have such an amazing professor so dedicated to teaching!

LAS Alumna Angela Brobson (German studies!) is our latest Fulbright award recipient! 🎉🇩🇪

Congrats to Angela Brobson '23! Read about Converse's most recent Fulbright grantee here: https://www.converse.edu/alumni/2026/05/angela-brobson-fulbright-student-program-award/

Congratulations to all of our LAS students who received awards and recognition at last weekend's Academic Awards 🏆. Students were celebrated for their academic excellence in their respective majors, recognized for receiving research grants and scholarships, and inducted into multiple honors societies. Keep up the good work! ✨

Congratulations to all of the LAS students who were recognized at the 2026 RISE Symposium Awards! You all did amazing work presenting your internships and research. If you haven't participated in the RISE Symposium yet, we highly recommend it. It's a great opportunity to network and show off your hard work. 📚

Thank you as well to all the judges and faculty who made RISE happen!

During Reunion Weekend and organized an amazing showcase for the award-winning Model Programs here at . Many alumnae attended, most of them being previous members of the CU Model Programs. It was amazing to hear different generations of the teams discuss their experiences!

Good job to all the LAS students who presented their research and internship experiences at the 2026 RISE Symposium! If you haven’t already seen them, go check out all the posters around campus while they’re still up. 🎉💜

LAS students travel the world!

International study abroad opportunities are an enriching part of the Converse experience. Our students return with fresh perspectives, deeper compassion for diverse cultures, stronger communication skills, and a new sense of independence. 💬✨

In January 2026, Converse students spent 12 unforgettable days in Spain🇪🇸, a vibrant hub of history, style, and design. From Barcelona to Madrid, they immersed themselves in stunning architecture, incredible cuisine, world-class museums, and inspiring local artists. 🎨🏛️🍽️

Read more about this trip from the perspective of Dr. Andrea Elliott ‘03 & Graci Barga ‘26: https://www.converse.edu/travel/2026/03/transformed-through-study-travel-andrea-elliott-graci-barga/