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The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the largest college at William Paterson University, and home to a diverse population of more than 3,000 students. Our programs provide insight into the past and explore solutions for the future, enabling our students to build their careers, pursue advanced academic studies, and empower positive change.
We offer a wide range of outstanding programs in the visual and performing arts, communication arts, and the humanities and social sciences. Students have the opportunity to work closely with a dedicated faculty of teacher-scholars including many Fulbright fellows and others of international prominence who bring real-world experience to the classroom. In our college there are extensive opportunities for artistic creation, performance, scholarship, study abroad, and hands-on learning as a part of your academic experience.
Our internship program is designed to provide career experience that helps you connect your current educational program to your future as a successful professional. Students also benefit from state-of-the-art resources ranging from HD television broadcast studios, animation and game design labs to recording studios and a social media lab, among others. They can also participate in college conferences, academic clubs, and honor societies.
We are home to a number of signature experiences that make us unique in New Jersey and to students around the nation and world, including our internationally renowned—jazz studies program and our award-winning campus radio station, 88.7 WPSC/Brave New Radio (named “College Radio Station of the Year” by the National Association of Broadcasters).
Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: davisw@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-2731
OFFICE: Atrium 260
Associate Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: razzorel@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3282
Interim Associate Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: macdonaldp@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3036
New research led by William Paterson University Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Jason R. Silva finds that perpetrators communicated violent intentions through leakage or threats before 41 percent of 483 U.S. mass shootings he examined – shootings that occurred between 2000 and 2023 that left four or more victims dead – and that, among shootings preceded by these warning signs, the warning signs were not reported before the attack in nearly half of cases.
Published September 14 in the American Journal of Criminal Justice, the study is Silva’s first of five planned publications stemming from a $524,000 National Institute of Justice grant to William Paterson University to advance research on mass shooter leakage and threats. Silva serves as principal investigator for the project.
In collaboration with Professor Adam Lankford of the University of Alabama, Silva reviewed existing databases, official records, and news reports to assess more than 30 factors related to warning signs and how people responded. The researchers distinguished between “leakage”—communicating violent intentions to third parties, such as friends, family members, or an online audience—and threats made directly to potential victims.
“One of the most important questions in mass shooting prevention is not simply whether warning signs occur, but whether other people recognize them and what happens next,” Silva explains. “We wanted to understand when perpetrators communicate their intentions, who receives those warning signs, and what factors make reporting and intervention more likely.”
In their resulting article, titled “A Comprehensive Assessment of Leakage, Threats, Public Reporting, and Responses to Reports among Public, Family, and Felony Mass Shootings,” Silva and Lankford found that leakage or threats were particularly common before public mass shootings—those involving victims largely chosen at random or for their symbolic value. Seventy-one percent of public mass shootings were preceded by such warning signs, compared with 37 percent of family mass shootings.
The researchers also identified a significant gap between warning signs becoming known and those signs being reported. Among the 197 mass shootings preceded by leakage or threats, members of the public reported those warning signs before the attack in 54 percent of cases.
“What stood out most was that even when leakage or threats occurred, they did not always lead to a report,” Silva says. “People may be uncertain whether concerning behavior is serious enough to report. Our findings suggest that prevention efforts should make it easier for people to come forward, even when they are uncertain whether someone will actually carry out a threat.”
Reporting occurred more frequently when warning signs were clearer—for example, when perpetrators directly threatened potential victims, specifically expressed an interest in committing mass violence, or communicated warning signs in multiple ways or to multiple people.
To improve reporting, the researchers recommend that authorities educate the public about warning signs, encourage people to report concerning communications even when they are unsure whether someone will act on them, and make it easier to submit reports anonymously. They also emphasize building public trust in law enforcement and the justice system.
Silva, who developed the Global Mass Shooting Database to better understand and compare perpetrator motivations and identify strategies for intervention and prevention, focuses his broader research on mass shootings, school violence, terrorism, and media coverage of crime.
The second of Silva’s planned articles supported by the National Institute of Justice grant is forthcoming in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. It examines factors associated with the successful prevention of public mass shooting plots.
The Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University is dedicated to preserving and sharing the artistic heritage of China and integrating its rich tradition into the University's curriculum. Students will not only have the opportunity to view Chinese art, but draw upon its philosophy and incorporate its techniques in order to participate effectively in the increasingly global world of visual arts.
Combining coursework dedicated to the rigorous investigation of art with a broad spectrum of the most current tools and technology yields artworks that push the limits of the imagination. The activities and technology at the Center for New Art support and supplement the Art Department curriculum while also extending to other departments within the University.
"At William Paterson, I had the opportunity to get research experiences during my undergraduate studies, and that's kind of rare. I also have amazing professors who push you because they want you to be successful. They really want to help--they're not just leaving you out there alone. I really like that and feel supported here."
Sidal Yurt Earned her BA in psychology at WP in 2023 and continuing for her MA and PsyD in clinical psychology International Student from Turkey
"William Paterson was such a great force and inspiration to finding what I want to do in life. It's opened so many doors for me and allowed me to see my potential. Now that I see it, I'm going to run with it."
Justyn Chapman Double Major in Popular Music Studies and Public Relations | Class of 2023
"The resources here are top notch. William Paterson has hidden gems throughout the campus and the classrooms—resources that can really help a person grow and develop, not just in academics but also in their professional life."
Hosanna Nitro Communication/ Public Relations Major | Class of 2023
"The professors here have pushed me to grow as an individual. They encouraged me to take part in class discussions and debates, helping me go from shy and reserved to someone who speaks up and is willing to challenge herself. As a result, I was able to take part in a prestigious internship for a U.S. Congresswoman, where I recruited volunteers, participated in voter turnout events, and learned a great deal about re-election campaigns. I cannot thank my professors enough."
Dhruvisha Patel Political science, litigation paralegal at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, PC | Class of 2023
