Research with Impact: Boundary-Breaking Creativity

From communication studies to digital media, our scholarship drives new knowledge and solutions that resonate locally and globally. Artists, thinkers, writers, and performers reimagine traditions and pioneer new forms of expression, expanding the possibilities of human imagination.

Faculty Research:

• Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars and artists whose work shapes conversations in academia, policy, and culture. They bring this cutting-edge research into the classroom, ensuring students learn from leaders at the forefront of discovery.

• They publish in leading university presses and journals, exhibit in major galleries, and present at global conferences — advancing knowledge across disciplines.

• Their work often bridges theory and practice, influencing public discourse, cultural institutions, and emerging industries.

Student Innovation:

• Students are not just consumers of knowledge — they are creators. From digital storytelling and design thinking to entrepreneurial ventures and public scholarship, our students are building the future now.

• They publish in peer reviewed journals. They launch podcasts, zines, and media platforms that amplify underrepresented voices and challenge dominant narratives. They win national awards for their research and community service.

• They collaborate across departments to build immersive experiences —from augmented reality exhibits to civic engagement campaigns. They prototype solutions to real-world problems, applying creative thinking to social, environmental, and cultural challenges.

Alumni Impact: Leading Beyond the Classroom

• Our alumni carry the spirit of Arts & Letters into the world — as changemakers, creators, and thought leaders. They apply their education to industries, communities, and causes across the globe, proving that boundary-breaking creativity doesn’t end at graduation — it evolves.
• Explore Alumni Stories

Living Lab

Sacramento is our canvas. Students engage with the city through internships, performances, exhibitions, and community projects — turning theory into practice and classrooms into catalysts.

A Collaborative Ecosystem

• Faculty lead bold initiatives that connect research with real-world impact — from public humanities projects to immersive media installations.

• Students contribute fresh perspectives, applying their creativity and curiosity to civic challenges, cultural programming, and entrepreneurial ventures.

• Community partners co-create solutions, offering lived expertise, mentorship, and platforms for engagement that extend far beyond campus.

Innovation in Motion

• Faculty and students collaborate with city agencies, nonprofits, and arts organizations to design public-facing projects.

• Courses become launchpads for community-engaged research, multilingual storytelling, and cultural revitalization.

• Public performances, exhibitions, and digital campaigns bring academic work into the streets, amplifying its reach and relevance.

How Students Engage Locally

• Students collaborate with local arts organizations to produce public exhibitions and performances.

• They contribute to civic initiatives through storytelling, media production, and multilingual outreach.

• Faculty-led projects connect students with city agencies, nonprofits, and cultural institutions for hands-on learning.

Real-World Learning in Action

• Students intern with local museums, theaters, and media outlets to gain real-world experience.

• They design and implement community-based research projects that address regional challenges.

• They showcase their work in public forums — from pop-up galleries to citywide festivals — amplifying their impact beyond campus.

Global Collaborations

We connect with industry, community, and international partners to expand opportunities for our students and amplify their work. These collaborations fuel innovation, open doors, and ensure our work resonates far beyond campus.

Who We Work With

• Creative industries that offer internships, mentorships, and real-world platforms for student work.

• Community organizations that co-design projects rooted in cultural relevance and civic engagement.

• International institutions that foster cross-cultural exchange, research partnerships, and global learning experiences.

What Collaboration Makes Possible

• Faculty co-author research with global scholars and present at international conferences.

• Students participate in study abroad programs, virtual exchanges, and global media projects.

• Alumni and partners return as guest speakers, project mentors, and collaborators — creating a cycle of innovation and impact. Explore Alumni Stories.

Future-Ready Learning

Students gain the skills to thrive in evolving fields — critical thinking, adaptability, and creative problem-solving that prepare them for what’s next. We prepare students for industries not yet imagined. With skills in design thinking, communication, and cultural agility, our graduates are ready to lead in a rapidly changing world. We don’t prepare students for jobs — we prepare them for futures that don’t exist yet.

In the College of Arts & Letters, future-readiness means cultivating minds that can adapt, invent, and lead across disciplines, industries, and cultures. Our graduates are not just employable — they’re indispensable.

How We Build Future-Ready Thinkers

• Faculty design learning environments that mirror the complexity of the world — interdisciplinary, collaborative, and constantly evolving.

• Students learn to navigate ambiguity, ask better questions, and build solutions that are as imaginative as they are practical.

• Courses integrate design thinking, cultural fluency, and ethical leadership, preparing students to shape the future, not just survive it.

What Future-Ready Looks Like

• Students prototype ideas in real time — from immersive media to multilingual campaigns — and test them in public.

• They graduate with portfolios that reflect not just what they know, but how they think and what they can build.

• They enter the world as agile creators, strategic communicators, and culturally attuned leaders — ready to thrive in industries not yet imagined.

• Explore our Career-Ready approach.