Society for the Humanities Campuses

The Society for the Humanities at Cornell University offers a rich array of interdisciplinary programs centered on humanistic inquiry. Core to its mission are residential fellowships that bring together scholars from diverse fields to explore pressing themes in the humanities. Each year, the Society selects a focal theme, such as 'Afterlives' or 'Scale/Enscale,' around which seminars, lectures, and workshops are organized.

• Fellowship Seminars: Participants engage in weekly seminars discussing foundational texts and contemporary issues, fostering dialogue across disciplines like literature, philosophy, history, and art history.
• Public Lectures: Renowned scholars deliver talks on topics ranging from postcolonial theory to environmental humanities, open to the Cornell community and beyond.
• Humanities Research Workshops: Intensive sessions on methodologies, including digital humanities tools, archival research, and critical theory applications.
• Interdisciplinary Courses: Affiliated with Cornell's curriculum, offerings include graduate seminars on topics like 'Aesthetics and Politics' or 'Human Rights in Literature,' emphasizing theoretical and ethical dimensions of human experience.
• Undergraduate Engagement: Opportunities for advanced undergrads through the Humanities Scholars Program, featuring capstone projects in areas such as cultural studies and media theory.

Beyond structured courses, the Society supports independent research projects that interrogate the boundaries of humanistic knowledge. Fellows pursue individual work while contributing to collective intellectual endeavors, often resulting in publications and collaborative initiatives. The program underscores the relevance of humanities in addressing global challenges, from climate change narratives to migrations and identities. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, courses incorporate global perspectives, decolonial approaches, and intersectional analyses. This holistic educational environment not only imparts knowledge but cultivates critical thinking and empathetic understanding essential for future leaders in academia and public life. The Society's offerings evolve annually, ensuring dynamic engagement with evolving scholarly landscapes. (Word count: 312)