Fall 2026

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Foundations

Foundations can be physical or philosophical: the air sustaining us, natural systems connecting species, ideas that help us navigate change, and objects preserving our shared histories. In this issue, we travel from the mountain gorillas of Rwanda to butterflies that crossed the ocean to a zoo in our backyard; consider philosophy’s modern relevance; and explore museum objects that illuminate the past. Together, these LSA Magazine stories reveal foundations as living structures, continually tested and renewed. 

14 Surprising but True Facts

It’s impossible that a star ate a planet, or that people dressed up their pet squirrels in silver collars, or that we are all breathing Julius Caesar’s last breath. And yet … well, let’s allow the experts at LSA to tell us more.

 

Gentle Giants: The Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda

Three LSA graduate researchers scale volcanoes to encounter some of our closest evolutionary relatives.

 

The History of Human Thought, the Meaning of Life, and … More Cake

If you’ve ever contemplated workplace dynamics, the nature of happiness, or the ethics of Big Tech, LSA’s Department of Philosophy has some questions for you to think through—and they are as relevant today as they were in the 17th century.

 

Starting a Collection

LSA is home to six museums. Each was built on a foundation of curiosity, academic rigor, an eye for things rare and meaningful, and the hope of educating future students and researchers.

 

Dean’s Note: Setting the Foundation

We are strengthening the support structures that help every student thrive.

 

The Classical Jurisprudent

The legal profession has its origins in ancient Greece and Rome, and LSA’s Department of Classical Studies is where one alum decided to become a human rights attorney.

 

The Restoration of a Resting Place

U-M anthropologist and UMMAA curator Tiffany Fryer is one of the leaders of a community effort to bring recognition to Washtenaw County’s African American legacy.

 

Learn to Play, Play to Learn

Two LSA professors have created a research-backed card game and workbook that’s getting people talking across differences.

 

5 Questions …

… with Prof. Marin Clark, who is leading a massive, multi-university center that focuses on the science behind landslides, river erosion, and more—and how they are all connected.

 

Be Real: The Art of Being Authentic Online

Communications Professor Kyla Brathwaite’s course on authenticity teaches students to reflect on what they actually see and do on social media.

 

Be part of their foundation

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Donor support makes LSA scholarships possible—creating access to a foundational education that gives students the skills to think clearly, communicate confidently, and solve today’s problems creatively.

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