In Their Own Words: What Our Faculty Says About CHASS and UCR
[At UCR] the global constantly informs the local and the local is a reflection of new global realities. Our students largely come from California, but in their local homes, their parents are more than likely speaking Khmer, Spanish, Korean, Persian, German, or Tagalog. They grew up living ‘One Nation under God,’ but were surrounded by Buddhist temples, Botanicas, Hindu Mandirs, shrines to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and Sikh Gurdwaras. While our scholars certainly teach American history and English literature, they also teach Brazilian film, Russian music, Indonesian politics, Thai ritual, Japanese art, and French literature.
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Justin McDaniel
We are all citizens of the world, and in order to be good citizens, we must continually enlarge our knowledge of that world, and of the humanity that inhabits it. In a nutshell, the mission of the faculty, students, and staff in CHASS is to help us all become better citizens of our world. The future of our species depends on it.
Professor of Music Walter Clark
UCR, because of its diversity, captures the multicultural and global nature of the world our students will inevitably face when they graduate and enter the work force. This diversity affords our students professional, intellectual, and personal advantages that few other universities can offer.
Associate Professor of Psychology Veronica Benet-Martinez
One of the things I really like about this job is how democratic it can be. I feel like I learn things from students and I teach things to students. I learn things from colleagues and I teach things to colleagues. Anybody can have an insight or a really good idea, and that certainly happens here. There are definitely students in CHASS who could be anywhere doing anything. They are great and an absolute joy to work with.. UCR and CHASS are transformative places. We can really affect people’s lives.
Associate Professor of Political Science Martin Johnson
I like the fact that we have such a diverse campus. I love sitting in the classroom and listening to students who come from such different walks of life critique the reading materials for the week. I also feel fortunate to be in such a strong department with so many wonderful writers and educators.
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Laila Lalami
