Established in 1966, the Cornell Society for the Humanities brings distinguished visiting fellows, Cornell faculty, and graduate student fellows together each year to pursue research on a rotating interdisciplinary focal theme. Legendary seminars and experimental, innovative courses fuel an unmatched research and learning environment.
Cornell University will host “Indigenous Voices in Abiayala/Latin America,” on April 9 at 4:45 p.m., exploring Indigenous media self-representation in Latin America – known as Abiayala in the Guna language. Held in the in the A.D. White House and organized by Polly Lauer, a Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow in Romance studies in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences, the panel will feature scholars discussing Mapuche and Maya K’ishe’ cultural production, Indigenous languages and broadcasters’ fight to sustain native-language media such as Guatemala’s oldest Maya radio station.
Cornell University Humanities Scholars traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased National Endowment for the Humanities and National Archives funding, meeting with congressional offices to highlight the impact of humanities programs on education. Their two‑day trip underscored how federal support strengthens community partnerships, language programs, and public humanities initiatives benefiting campuses and local organizations nationwide.
The Fellows’ Q&A series continues with a spotlight on Perry Zurn, Provost Associate Professor of Philosophy at American University and form Society for the Humanities Fellow at Cornell University. His book, "How We Make Each Other: Trans Life at the Edge of the University," evolved out of research during his Fellowship year during the theme of "Crossing."
Zahid R. Chaudhary, Associate Professor of English, Princeton University, will deliver this year's Culler Lecture in Critical Theory. Chaudhary, who received his Ph.D. from Cornell Unviersity, specializes in postcolonial studies, visual culture, and critical theory.
The Fellows’ Q&A series continues with a spotlight on Benjamin Barson. Barson is the Samuel L. Williams Endowed Assistant Professor of Music at Bucknell University and former Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. His book Brassroots Democracy, evolved out of research during the Fellowship year.
Society for the Humanities Faculty Fellow, Benjamin Anderson, associate professor of art history and classics, offered a humanities seminar connecting Cornell students with the Johnson Museum to curate a collection demonstrating staffage for the Society's theme year of Scale.
The Society for the Humanities at Cornell is proud to present our new podcast, The Humanities Pod. Informal conversations with Society Fellows, Cornell Faculty, community collaborators, and special guests shine a light on some of the new work, the current conversations, and the latest ideas of humanists at and around Cornell.
