Whitworth University College of Arts and Sciences

One of the best things about the liberal arts is the exciting opportunities that emerge when disciplines come together. Whitworth's Education, Psychology and Theatre faculty are coming together to offer a unique continuing education opportunity for WA mental health professionals and teachers, wrapped around the spring production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time." Visit https://onthestage.tickets/show/whitworth-university-theatre/697c08cc01d7a52447605882/tickets #/productions-view and select Sunday, March 15 to register!

CASE celebrates the installation of Dr. Megan Hershey as the Amy Ryan Endowed Chair! The professorship is awarded to an outstanding faculty member who embodies Ryan’s love of the liberal arts, her skill in writing and her innovative spirit. During her tenure in the role, Hershey plans to travel to Kenya to meet with leaders of recent Gen Z protests and explore the gender dynamics of the movement, as well as the ways faith threads through the protesters’ efforts. Congratulations, Dr. Hershey!

We're excited for next week's Honors Exhibition events! Join us for a panel discussion on Tuesday, April 28 and the full exhibition on Thursday, May 1 to see what this year's Whitworth University Honors Program seniors have created.

Whitworth students Emma Maple and Dylan Richardson put their liberal arts educations to work at the American Enterprise Institute Summer Honors Program in Washington D.C. this summer. This program "assembles a diverse cohort of students from a wide range of ideological perspectives to engage in substantive dialogue and debate about the most pressing issues facing the country and world" during intensive one-week seminars. Congratulations, Emma and Dylan - we are so excited to see what you both do next!

The College of Arts and Sciences at Whitworth is proud to follow Whitworth's Biology Department on Facebook and Instagram! The faculty in Biology are Christian scholars who provide students with an interactive, in-depth science education that equips them to investigate the natural world, solve real-world problems, and serve the needs of humanity. Those students go out into the world ready to tackle problems, find solutions and become leaders in the natural sciences.

Congratulations to Whitworth Political Science Professor Megan Hershey on her latest book, Africa's Urban Youth: Challenging Marginalization, Claiming Citizenship (published with Amy Patterson and Tracy Kuperus, Cambridge University Press, 2023). Dr. Hershey also co-authored an article titled "Are Celebrity Spokespeople Always Helpful for Refugee Causes?" (https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/celebrities-refugee-advocacy-effectiveness) for the Migration Policy Institute with former Whitworth professor Michael Artime.

Whitworth mathematics assistant professor Dr. Diana Schepens and chemistry professor Dr. Kraig Wheeler recently received a $434,041 National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions grant to develop mathematical and chemical models for probing complex recognition profiles of small molecules. This collaborative project gives Whitworth students access to innovative research in the materials sciences, where they will develop as the next generation of scientists.

When great minds come together across disciplines, we see the liberal arts at their finest. Dr. Philip Measor collaborated with 19 students and colleagues in biology and math/CS to develop patents that could change the future of medical testing. Congratulations Philip!

Whitworth Professor Authors University’s First and Second Patents with Groundbreaking Research that Could Change the Future of PCR Testing Philip Measor, Ph.D., assistant professor of engineering & physics, has made history at Whitworth University by authoring and co-authoring t...

CAS graduates use their education in many ways after graduation - including seeking deeper and richer understandings of the world through graduate programs. Congratulations to Whitworth Political Science senior Cristian Colwell, who received an impressive scholarship to begin studies at Georgetown Law School, and Engineering senior Helio Ramollari, who will start a fully funded PhD program in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California Santa Cruz this fall.

"I saw in that moment that I stood at the midpoint of upstream and downstream—both of which extend into unknown times before and beyond my life. Standing in the river, my story is never wholly my own. Feeling the flow of water forced my imagination to expand. I couldn’t think of myself without thinking of all the other interconnected things."

Check out Theology lecturer and Emmaus program director Derek Taylor's latest contribution to Comment:

This River Contains Grace Learning the art of creaturely life through fly-fishing.

As the 22-23 academic year starts to come to a close, the College of Arts and Sciences prepares to send another group of excellent thinkers, designers, creators, speakers, collaborators and more out into the world. Over the next few weeks, we’ll celebrate the excellent work of this graduating class as well as the adventures that await them.

In Theatre, two seniors finished out their Whitworth Theatre education by bringing unique productions to the small stage: “Trifles,” by Susan Glaspell and “First Date” by Austin Winsberg (music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner). These capstone projects allowed them to apply their learning in many ways and take one last bow before crossing the commencement stage.