Life & Letters Magazine

Tori Miller

Investing in the Future

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Jason Lamin, a 2020 Pro Bene Meritis award recipient, shares what he values in this moment and where he finds inspiration.

Stepping into the Wild

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Stuart Stedman, a 2020 Pro Bene Meritis award recipient, uses his liberal arts education to gain perspective.

Listen to Black Lives Texas

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This month, millions of young Texans will face new struggles in the transition back to school amid a global pandemic. But for those facing food insecurity or limited internet access, the new school year poses greater threats.

German Outreach Program Takes Shape

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The German Outreach Program at The University of Texas at Austin grew organically from an interest on the part of undergraduates to change their roles in the classroom and share the German language with a younger generation.

Career Advice for Graduating Seniors

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As we approach the last few weeks of the school year, students are beginning to look toward future plans, and for most graduating seniors this means focusing on their careers.

Solving Problems with Sociology: Q&A with ASA President Christine Williams

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Sociology is an academic discipline devoted to documenting and analyzing social oppression.  This primary focus, Christine Williams says, is what drew her to the field.  Williams, a professor of sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, is an extremely prolific sociologist, especially in regard to her work on gender discrimination and sexual harassment in […]

New LBJ Library Director to Show LBJ History Through Modern Lens

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History professor Mark Lawrence’s favorite story about former President Lynden B. Johnson took place right here on The University of Texas at Austin campus and changed the university’s social climate just as his presidency shifted the entire nation’s. One evening, LBJ decided on a whim that he wanted to attend a party held at the […]

Yiddish on the Rise

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The Yiddish language is deeply rooted in Jewish culture, typically passed down from generation to generation. Though not currently one of the most studied languages, scholars say that Yiddish is breathing new life and may even be on the rise. “The number of Yiddish speakers is already increasing. Everyone thinks of it as a dying […]

Dreams of El Dorado

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The rapid growth of America came as a shock to some, as it was the only country whose expansion occurred with such little government supervision.  In Dreams of El Dorado, author H.W. Brands recounts the rich history of the American West. Beginning with the purchase of the Louisiana territory, which propelled future Western expansion of […]

Affording Jane Austen

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In The Lost Books of Jane Austen, Janine Barchas explores the burgeoning popularity of Jane Austen’s novels beginning in the nineteenth-century. Through photographs and unique historical perspectives, Barchas shares some of the earliest and cheapest reprints of Austen’s work that brought the author recognition in the working-class, leading to the reputation she has today. Learn […]

New Faculty 2019-2020

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This academic year, the College of Liberal Arts welcomes 17 new faculty members to the 40 acres. Read more information on each of them below: Alagraa BedourAssistant Professor, African & African Diaspora StudiesAlagraa Bedour completed her Ph.D. in Africana Studies and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a master’s in […]

Camp Alba

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After spending three days on the University of Texas at Austin campus, sixth graders from Martin Middle School left with a greater sense of connection to their communities and their first single track, produced by hip-hop artist and activist Olmeca. 

From UT to DC

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Lance Gooden exemplified what it means to be a University of Texas at Austin graduate as he stepped into the role of United States Representative earlier this year. Before being elected to serve in Congress, Gooden held a position in the Texas House of Representatives for District 4. After winning the general election in November […]

Team of the Year

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Out of 145 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) detachments across the country, Detachment 825 of the University of Texas at Austin was named the Team of the Year. In making their selection, the national headquarters for Air Force ROTC considers each detachment’s accomplishments. “They make their determination on overall mission impact, the uniqueness […]

A Week on Mars

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For most, going to Mars is merely a childhood dream, but for Sukjin Han, that dream became a reality — all while never leaving Earth. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is a project that is operated by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA. The project hosts a select group of […]

Hope, Love and Charity: Q&A with Miss Austin 2019 Jacqueline Petescia

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Jacqueline Petescia, a freshman health and society major at the University of Texas at Austin, recently won the title of Miss Austin 2019. Jacqueline runs a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Friends Don’t Count Chromosomes, is a part of the Omega chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority, and is a classically trained opera singer and yodeler. Learn more […]

Hope, Love and Charity: Q&A with Miss Austin 2019 Jacqueline Petescia

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Jacqueline Petescia, a freshman health and society major at the University of Texas at Austin, recently won the title of Miss Austin 2019. Jacqueline runs a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Friends Don’t Count Chromosomes, is a part of the Omega chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority, and is a classically trained opera singer and yodeler. Learn more […]

The Best Teachers are the Best Researchers: A Q&A with Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra

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For the recognition of his work in mentoring graduate students, University of Texas at Austin history professor Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra has been presented with The Nancy Lyman Roelker Mentorship Award. This award commemorates educators that train, teach, and inspire students in a deeply meaningful and impactful way. Cañizares-Esguerra is the first to receive this award at […]

Free Minds, Free Education

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While higher education is often touted as the cornerstone of a successful and prosperous life, many are left in the dust, unable to afford the tuition or balance the time needed to build that foundation.