Feature

Class notes

Alumni updates

We are delighted to share these updates and truly impressive accomplishments of Arts alumni.

Humans and interconnectivity

Exploring the promise and challenge of 5G technology

How will 5G technology change the way we work and play? To get a handle on the concepts to be unpacked at our upcoming Humans and Interconnectivity event, we turned to professors Christine McWebb and Leah Zhang-Kennedy.

Understanding cybersecurity from multiple perspectives

Arts and Math team up to foster interdisciplinary graduate training

Professors Jennifer Whitson and Ian Goldberg developed an interdisciplinary course for graduate students to tackle the challenge of cybersecurity from humanities, social science and computer science perspectives.

Interdisciplinary skills for a complex world

Alumnus Josh Darby MacLellan, MA ‘17 Global Governance, reflects on how his graduate learning experiences prepared him for a career in security intelligence.

Awards and scholarships

Financial barriers should never stand between great students and success

When you enrich the student experience with scholarships and awards you provide financial stability and a vote of confidence in a student’s ability to succeed.

Recent news and stories from Arts

From revealing the latest Franklin Expedition discovery to developing a sustainable future to making space for Indigenous leadership, the last few months have seen some important and exciting news from our faculty and students.

Upcoming and recent events

Find out about recent alumni events, and please join us virtually for upcoming events presented by Arts and University partners.

Stay connected

While we dream of a new normal future, let's continue to embrace the virtual connections we are able to make every day.

The social impact of Arts

Message from the Dean

Sharing shining examples of the contributions our Arts alumni, students and researchers make for social good.

Owning your mental health

Q and A with 2020 Young Alumni Award recipient

Living with mental illness since childhood, Tara Hebblethwaite’s path to becoming a vocal advocate for mental health began after graduating from Waterloo in 2013.

How can we end poverty in our communities?

Q and A with 2020 Alumni Achievement Award recipient

Paul Born grew up as the son of refugees that worked together to survive and then thrive. Today he is a large-scale community facilitator focused on poverty reduction.

Class notes

Arts alumni updates and news

Class notes are back! We're so glad to be able to share recent news and accomplishments from our alumni.

New initiative helps non-profits hire Arts talent

Introducing Co-op for Social Good

A new program makes it possible for non-profits to hire highly-qualified Arts co-op students to apply their learning for positive social impact.

The show must go on

Adapting live theatre to the pandemic

The Theatre and Performance program faces and embraces the pandemic challenge of staging their main production for livestream performance.

Growing potential

New awards and scholarships, plus more impacts of giving

With support of alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and friends, we are growing opportunities for learning and research.

Recent news from Arts

Catch up on research and initiatives by Arts scholars, students and alumni that support a more inclusive and prosperous future.

Upcoming events

Join us for these upcoming online events presented by Arts and University partners.

Reach out

Our need to stay connected has never been greater

While we may be dreaming about the days when we can gather in person, it's still important to embrace the virtual connections we are able to make every day.

Arts celebrates 60 years

Happy 60th anniversary Faculty of Arts community! Read the original news announcement on how and why we became a full faculty at the University of Waterloo.

A letter of appreciation from one alumnus to another

Michael Kim Zapf (BA ' 72) graduated from Waterloo Arts more than a decade after Clem Bruder (BA '61), but they first met in a northern Ontario classroom. In spring 2020, Professor Zapf sent us a letter “to express my appreciation to a member of the first graduating class of the Faculty of Arts at Waterloo - Mr. Clem Bruder."

Puzzling through the summer that never was

Dean Sheila Ager tells us how she keeps busy with back-to-back virtual meetings, puzzles and adult colouring books. Plus, a reminder to complete the Arts strategic planning survey.

Making meaningful work in the midst of a global pandemic

This Spring, Waterloo hired more than 300 co-op students to help instructors redesign their courses for online delivery. We hear from Alexandra about her experience as a Senior Online Learning Assistant.

More than ever, students need digital tools and equipment to succeed

Working and studying online is the new normal for students this fall, and many need new kinds of support to succeed and thrive – especially when it comes to accessing technology. With support from the Arts Equipment and Technology Fund, we’re working hard to meet this growing need.

New awards help students succeed

We are so grateful to the alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and friends who generously support scholarships and awards for our students.

Arts researchers shed light on COVID-19

From beating boredom to tackling misinformation, Arts experts offer insight on pandemic challenges that affect us all.

Let's stay connected

Class Notes are back! Whether you live in Waterloo Region or across the globe, there are lots of ways to stay connected, get involved, and share your news with the Faculty of Arts.

The human dimensions of our climate crisis

It’s no surprise that humans are the problem. That’s why research and teaching in the humanities, social sciences and creative arts play a critical role in addressing the myriad issues connected to climate.

Greetings from the Dean on a snowy February day!

Now eight months into her tenure as Dean, Sheila Ager touches base and invites your input.

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset

Everyone can develop the skills and experience to think like an entrepreneur, even if they don't found a company.

Dianne Carmichael

2019 Alumni Achievement Award

A dogged determination to get things done and a passion for making a difference led Dianne Carmichael along an unusual and highly accomplished path.

Marc Hall

2019 Young Alumni Award

Experience taught Marc Hall that human rights progress is not really made by individuals but by communities of people who struggle together and support one another.

Waterloo then and now

How has campus changed in the last decade?

What a difference a decade makes! With the start of 2020, we look back at some of the changes that have shaped our Faculty and our campus over the past 10 years.

New awards and scholarships

A vote of confidence in a student’s ability to succeed

With support of alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and friends, we are growing the scholarships and awards available to all students.

Events

Recent and upcoming events on campus and beyond

From the new Toronto Alumni Chapter to The Seagull, see highlights from recent events, and mark your calendars for upcoming events!

Stay connected with Arts!

Whether you live in Waterloo Region or across the globe, there are lots of ways to stay connected and get involved with your Faculty of Arts.

The future of healthcare in Canada

With UWaterloo hosting a series of Fall events exploring healthcare and technology, we invited Arts alum Janine Tatham to share her perspective on how healthcare will change over the next five to ten years. 

Q and A with our new Dean

Including a short Proustian questionnaire

Just as the fresh paint in the Dean's office was drying, we put a few questions to Sheila Ager, Dean of Arts.

Drawing can help memory

Research finds that drawing is better than writing for memory retention

One of our most popular media releases over the past year featured research led by Professor Myra Fernandes and PhD candidate Melissa Mead from the Department of Psychology.

Why assisted dying matters for young people too

Three Minute Thesis-winning research

Kathryn Morrison won the 2019 Three Minute Thesis heat for the Faculty of Arts and advanced to present at the University 3MT finals. Watch her final presentation on the prospect of extending Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) eligibility to mature minors

Students experience global economics in action

Impact of giving

Students are given an outstanding opportunity to hear directly from global economic leaders and practitioners about the complexities of international political economies.

Enabling innovative research

Impact of giving

Alumnus Bob Harding's donation established an endowment that now provides vital seed funding for unconventional or start-up research in the social sciences, humanities, and creative arts.

Events

Recent and upcoming events on campus and beyond

From the new Toronto Alumni Chapter to The Seagull, see highlights from recent events, and mark your calendars for upcoming events!

Beyond the classroom

In life, Ross and Doris Dixon gave generously to help many young people achieve their dreams. Today their legacy lives on in countless ways, including the Dixon Scholarship in International Trade, which helps students like Jonathan develop diverse global perspectives.

Makes a dean proud

Now in his last months as Dean of Arts, Doug Peers shares just a few highlights of his eight-year tenure.

Buddies – then and now

Arts grads forged a bond 50 years ago

In 1968, a group of undergraduates formed a road hockey league that forged the beginning of an enduring friendship. Fifty years later, although their careers and lives have varied, the group maintains a strong connection.

Arts First

New program enhances every student's first-year experience

With smaller class sizes, engaging topics and collaborative learning, the new Arts First program ensures every student begins their undergraduate career with strong core skills, and a sense of their own agency.

A passion for justice and human rights

Susheel Gupta, 2018 Alumni Achievement Award recipient

Susheel Gupta’s contributions to human rights and justice in Canada extend from courtrooms to high school classrooms to individuals and their families, and arguably, into cyber space.

A commitment to global diversity and inclusion

Mandy Tao, 2018 Arts Young Alumni Award recipient

What has Mandy Tao been up to since graduation? Founding an award-winning NGO, launching a successful diversity campaign, and climbing a mountain, for a start.

Beyond tomorrow

Leaving a legacy for future students

Alumni couple Dennis and Elizabeth Huss have earmarked part of their estate for the Faculty of Arts, honouring their own time here while providing more opportunities for the next generations of students.

Recent event highlights

(Winter 2019 Edition)

From Reunion to winter lectures, see what's happened in the past few months in Arts and at Waterloo!