Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – The inaugural Arkansas Liberal Arts and Humanities Day will be held at the Arkansas State Capitol on Thursday, Nov. 13, largely through the leadership of Arkansas State University representatives.
This event will bring together undergraduate and graduate students from across the state to showcase their performances, creative projects and scholarly work in the capitol rotunda.
Celebrating the inspirational power of human expression, culture and critical inquiry, the event provides a unique platform for students in the liberal arts and humanities, including those studying fine arts and social sciences. This opportunity will allow students to engage directly with policymakers, educators and community leaders.
Attendees will have the opportunity to witness creative excellence and foster meaningful connections across disciplines.
Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication, said this is an important occasion for students in the state.
“Arkansas Liberal Arts and Humanities Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase the transformative, creative and scholarly work they have produced as a result of their grounding in the liberal arts and humanities at universities and colleges across the state.”
This event was born from a connection made through A-State’s Empower the Pack mentorship program. To develop this initiative, Dr. Kari Harris, director of the Office of Student Research and Scholarship, collaborated with her mentor Dr. Angelo Brown, assistant professor of criminology.
“The big picture goal was to bring more research opportunities to students within the College of Liberal Arts and Communication,” said Harris.
The event mirrors Arkansas STEM Posters at the Capitol, which provides a platform for students in STEM disciplines to connect with legislators.
“Nothing like this existed for our humanities and performing arts students,” Harris added. “We aim to fill a need for this community of researchers and to provide them an opportunity to not only connect with legislators and showcase the importance of their work in a prestigious way, but also allow them to connect with others across the state.”
Organizations such as Humanities AR and Arkansas Arts Council have been invited to participate.
“This event has incredible potential for lasting impact, including the connections these students make within the state,” said Molly Alexander-Steele, executive director for research development at A-State. “If it leads to the next step in their career or creates opportunity to fund future work, that would be the ultimate outcome.”
The event will spotlight creative and scholarly achievements of students while encouraging dialogue and collaboration across the state. The event is open to the public and aims to inspire future leaders in the arts and humanities.
Six institutions from across the state will be represented by students in 19 presentations. In addition, there will be two performances from Arkansas students, including a woodwind quintet from Southern Arkansas University and a choir featuring 41 performers from A-State will perform.
