Announcing the Division of the Arts & Humanities

Dear Members of the University Community,

We are very pleased to share an important milestone in the University of Chicago’s academic evolution. Following nearly a year of consultation and coordination with faculty, staff, and other stakeholders, the University is formally announcing the unification of the Division of the Humanities and UChicago Arts into the new Division of the Arts & Humanities.

While this integration has been in practice throughout the academic year—and is familiar to many in our community—this announcement marks an important step in bringing together these closely connected disciplines in new and meaningful ways. This transformation is already strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, more closely aligning arts initiatives with academic departments, and reinforcing the University’s leadership in research, creative practice, and graduate education in the arts and humanities.

Dean Deborah L. Nelson will lead the unified division, bringing a strong commitment to both fields and a compelling vision for intellectual and artistic exchange. We are deeply grateful to the many faculty, students, and staff whose insight and engagement contributed to this transition, especially the year-long efforts of Catriona MacLeod, Deputy Dean in the Arts & Humanities and Senior Advisor to the Provost for the Arts.

The Court Theatre and the Smart Museum of Art will continue to report to the Office of the Provost. This structure preserves their distinct governance and accreditation requirements, while supporting their roles as University-wide, public-facing cultural institutions. Through exhibitions, performances, and public programming, they will continue to engage broad audiences and collaborate closely with faculty and students.

For generations, the humanities at UChicago have fostered critical engagement with history, language, philosophy, and culture. At the same time, the arts have inspired new ways of thought and creative exploration. The new division builds on this legacy, opening the door to new opportunities for transdisciplinary teaching, research, and public engagement. 

We look forward to the many creative possibilities this next chapter will inspire for our campus and our broader community.

Sincerely,
Paul

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Paul Alivisatos
President

Kate

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Katherine Baicker
Provost

P.S. To learn more about this transition—and to see the division’s new logo—please visit artshumanities.uchicago.edu.