Texas Liberal Arts
Life & Letters

Michelle Bryant


  • “Provincial Texan” tells the stories of her state

    Frances Vick was a prospective college freshman applying to The University of Texas at Austin in 1954, when her father dropped her off on “the Drag,” pointed her toward the Tower and said, “Go up there. They can tell you how to register.” That was the beginning of her time in the College of Liberal…

    “Provincial Texan” tells the stories of her state

  • Plan II gave philanthropist an exceptional start

    Leslie Blanton gets excited every time she makes the drive from her adopted hometown of Houston into Austin. After all, it’s where she met her husband, Jack Blanton, Jr., and began her studies in the Plan II Honors program. “I knew I was getting into something that was exceptional,” Blanton, a 1976 Plan II Honors…

    Plan II gave philanthropist an exceptional start

  • English alum supports teaching, writing scholarships

    Anticipating the future needs of a university the size of The University of Texas at Austin is no easy task, but Maureen Decherd is forging ahead, helping to shape that future. “While this may seem simplistic, I have a very deep belief in the university and its purposes,” says Decherd, a 1973 English graduate and…

    English alum supports teaching, writing scholarships

  • Books: Fall 2009

    Fall 2009 titles from our college community.

    Books: Fall 2009

  • News & Notes: Fall 2009

    Debate and Individual Event alumni looking to reconnect The university’s debate and individual events (IE) teams have an illustrious history on campus. Both groups have won numerous championships and both feature outstanding alumni. Still, there has not been an alumni association for these successful teams… until now. Are you a former debate team member? Did…

    News & Notes: Fall 2009

  • Cultural Memories of Rome

    Professor uses prize money to explore ancient civilization Staring down the challenge of a research project that spans 12 centuries of Roman civilization, Karl Galinsky’s expression is that of a confident gladiator. And who better to lead the charge than Galinsky, who admits he’s “not afraid to rattle some cages and have some fun” while…

    Cultural Memories of Rome

  • From Pre-K to Graduation Day

    Sociologist separates truth from rhetoric in studies of educational experience Eighteen years ago, the federal government enlisted leading researchers to study the effects of childcare on early development. What the researchers couldn’t have anticipated was that this monumental research would still be going on today. What began as a 10-site study of 1,300 children, all…

    From Pre-K to Graduation Day