We ring in 2020 with an affirmation that the groundwork the division has so meticulously laid will be continued: In partnership with the San Diego Community College District, the division received grant funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand the PATH program, providing continued support for undergraduate transfer students into our departments and launching a career-focused component for our Ph.D. students.

 

The support is one example of what each and every one of us are striving for at UC San Diego: arts and humanities as the foundational components of education, leading to more empathetic citizens.

 

The welcoming of the New Year also brought attention to uncertainty for many across the globe. As the home of six departments, 15 cultural programs and centers, and institutes dedicated to education and research in arts and culture, the Division of Arts and Humanities joins the voices of museum leaders and scholars who condemn the destruction of cultural sites in acts of violence and war.

 

Threats of this nature constitute threats against our shared humanity, for we know first-hand how preserving art and culture, preserving language and preserving history benefits all.

 

Best wishes for a prosperous and engaging year.