News

The Humanities Center’s 2025-2026 Dissertation Fellows, Kellan D. L. Head (philosophy) and Abigail H. Long (composition and cultural rhetoric), are forging new paths in the Humanities and challenging prevailing ideas in their fields. From philosophy to writing pedagogy, Head’s and Long’s dissertations plant intellectual seeds that have been nurtured by their research, past academic pursuits, and personal experiences. All are invited to learn more about their projects, through video presentations and live conversation at 'Meet the Scholars Coffee Hour' event on Feb. 27.

In an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and automation, the distinctly human capacity for creativity has never been more vital for building resilient communities and fostering the understanding needed in moments of deep division.

The Syracuse University Humanities Center's spring programming for its Syracuse Symposium demonstrates the multifaceted power of “CREATIVITY” through events that span art, literary translation, textile arts and video production. Participants can engage with or witness creativity as a mode of healing and as a medium for social change.

Aligning with the Humanities Center’s 2025-2026 Syracuse Symposium theme, “Creativity," Voices of Service: A Celebration of Veterans Writing and Weekend Workshop offered space — in the form of writing workshops, readings, shared meals and a concluding open mic — for them to nurture and empower their creative expression.

Artistic Noise, a Harlem-based non-profit, started when two women, Francine Sherman and Lauren Adelman, initiated an art-making activity for a juvenile detention center for girls in Boston. After one girl was released, she joined Awais and Adelman in forming the program dedicated to assisting youth aged 14 to 22 who face challenges in foster care, shelters, probation and mental health issues.

Twenty-five years later, Artistic Noise staff and alumni reflected on their work at an event on October 20, hosted by the Incarceration and Decarceration Working Group of the CNY Humanities Corridor.

How does creativity strengthen communities and individual well-being over a lifetime? The Syracuse University Humanities Center invites the campus and local community to reflect on that question through its 2025–26 Syracuse Symposium, themed "Creativity."

Using simple objects such as stones, eggs, paper plates, colored markers and a globe, and employing techniques of light, shadow and motion, a dozen Syracuse area high schoolers are making original short films this summer using their smartphones. “Teens With a Movie Camera” is a four-week, community-based project designed to empower the teens, give voice to their ideas and bring the skills the faculty mentors teach in their college courses to a wider circle of neighbors.

The positive impact of community-engaged research was on full display at the Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) on May 2, presenting a wide array of projects. The event showcased the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff and students from over two dozen departments across seven schools and colleges at Syracuse University, along with partners from 30 community-based organizations.

The Syracuse University Humanities Center (HC) will soon mark a significant milestone in its history. For a decade, it has recognized the wide-ranging scholarly and creative achievements of our academic community. The Center’s 10th annual Books in the Humanities reception honors an impressive 46 works authored or edited by 45 Syracuse University faculty, staff and students published in 2024.

In this Q&A, Amanda Brown discusses her new book’s origins, key takeaways and the collaborative process behind its development.

Annual faculty fellowship awards reflect the Center's commitment to leading the way in facilitating humanities scholarship that encourages critical thinking, new perspectives and interdisciplinary connections. “Each spring, we are so delighted to support a cohort of Faculty Fellows engaged in cutting-edge scholarship,” says Vivian M. May, director of the Humanities Center and CNY Humanities Corridor, and professor of women’s and gender studies.