Society for the Humanities Fellows' Conference on "Scale"
Society for the Humanities Fellows present examples of research on the focal theme of Scale - Friday, April 24, 2026 at the A.D. White House.
2026-27: The Year of Survival
Announcing the 2026-27 cohort of SURVIVAL Fellows at the Society for the Humanities.
Panel explores Indigenous voices in Abiayala/Latin America
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.
Humanities students take D.C. trip to advocate for funding
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.
Perry Zurn on his new book, How We Make Each Other
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."
Culler Lecture in Critical Theory: "Technofascism" by Zahid R. Chaudhary
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.
Benjamin Barson on his book, Brassroots Democracy
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.
Museum installation focuses on small figures in large landscapes
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.
Cornell Cinema unveils diverse, collaboration-driven spring lineup
From midcentury melodramas to speculative visions of technology and the human body—and even a French coming of age story about crafting world class cheese—Cornell Cinema’s spring season offers a varied plate.
Combining humanities and tech for research gains
An interdisciplinary project is sparking collaborations among those interested in digital approaches to the study of history, languages and culture.
Medical anthropologist to deliver annual Society for Humanities lecture
Stacey Langwick, associate professor of anthropology in the College of Arts & Sciences, will speak on "Healing in a Toxic World: Reimagining the Times and Spaces of the Therapeutic."
Mayberry to lecture on the power of community-made video
Lecture Announcement: "Why Voice Matters: Lessons from India for America's Future," Monday, September 29, 5:00pm, A.D. White House (Guerlac Room)
Dual-campus visit highlights A.D. White Professors-at-Large lineup
Best-selling writer and technology blogger Cory Doctorow will make the A.D. White Professor-at-Large program’s second dual-campus visit, ending his week at Cornell Tech in New York City. Four other professors will visit Cornell this fall.
Film series: Scale on Screen
This series features a dynamic selection of films that approach questions of scale from different perspectives. Screenings will be introduced by this year’s Society for the Humanities Fellows and are inspired by the topics and themes of their fall course offerings.
New Course Offerings Fall 2025
Our fellows offer experimental interdisciplinary seminars on research topics related to the year's focal theme. These seminars are offered one time only! The theme for 2025-26 is "Scale."
2026-27: The Year of Survival
The Society for the Humanities at Cornell University seeks fellows for year-long residential fellowships who are conducting interdisciplinary research projects exploring the literary, historical, ethical, and political registers of survival.
Irina R. Troconis on her new book, The Necromantic State
The Fellows’ Q&A series continues with a spotlight on Irina Troconis, Irina R. Troconis is Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Romance Studies at Cornell University and 2021-22 “Afterlives” Faculty Fellow. Her book The Necromantic State: Spectral Remains in the Afterglow of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution (Duke UP, 2025), evolved out of research during the Fellowship year.
Media Objects podcast releases 'sonic essays' based at Cornell
“Media Objects,” a podcast collaboration between Cornell media experts and sound artists The World According to Sound, is now available in full on all streaming services, including Spotify and Soundcloud, and the Media Studies homepage.
From posters to precedent, humanities scholars showcase their research
Projects spanned topics from Confederate cemeteries to Korean textiles.
First Guerlac Lecture to celebrate ‘rock star’ science historian
Princeton history professor Michael Gordin will give the inaugural lecture celebrating the life and work of Henry Guerlac ’32, M.S. ’33, an influential historian of science and Cornell faculty member for three decades.
In ‘Silence’ spring conference, Fellows ‘attend to what is not there’
On April 25, seven Society for the Humanities’ Fellows will present their projects in progress during the annual Spring Fellows’ conference, highlighting the various ways that the theme of silence has been explored –
Symposium launches archive of Venezuelan migrant testimonies
On April 18, this collection of migrant experiences will be presented to the public in a daylong symposium at the A. D. White House.
Professor’s book probes afterlife of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela
Latin American studies scholar Irina R. Troconis, assistant professor of Romance Studies, and 2021-22 Society for the Humanities "Afterlives" Faculty Fellow, publishes book, "“The Necromantic State: Spectral Remains in the Afterglow of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution,” (Duke University Press).
Jane Bennett to deliver Culler Lecture in Critical Theory
Bennett, a founding scholar of the field of new materialism, will talk about the limits of “data” as the unit of humanistic study.
University Lecture examines ‘The Narrative Brain’
Our minds and the ways we tell stories are closely attuned, research shows, and scholar Fritz Breithaupt will explore how that connection works during a March visit as University Lecturer.
2025-26: The Year of Scale
Announcing the 2025-26 cohort of Scale Fellows at the Society for the Humanities.
Explore home space in a teenage sitcom during upcoming lecture
"Sanctuary from the Storm: Making (My) Room with The Torkelsons," will explore Sheppard’s fondness for the 1990s television show and what the show’s representation of home spaces can tell us about the way television influences living practices.
New Course Offerings Spring 2025
Society for the Humanities' new course offerings for Spring 2025. Enroll Today!
Poets in Japan experiment at the edge of media
Andrew Campana, 2024-25 Society for the Humanities "Silence" Faculty Fellow (Asian Studies), releases new book, December 2024.
Exhibit highlights art/tech intersections in student work
The event invited undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines to display their projects at the historic A.D. White House.
The A.D. White House: Andrew’s abode is a campus gem
Commissioned by Cornell’s inaugural president, the villa later became an art museum—and has long hosted a humanities group.
Crowdfunding launch supports Ways of Knowing podcast at Cornell
A crowdfunding campaign launched Nov. 1 to support a Cornell-based season of "Ways of Knowing,” a new podcast created by The World According to Sound.
Short films from Rural Humanities course selected for festivals
Three short documentaries produced in a Rural Humanities Seminar, taught by PMA Associate Professor Austin Bunn, are headed to film festivals this fall.
‘Silence’ theme of Society for the Humanities Fall presentations
Six fellows from a broad swath of humanities fields will present their projects in progress during the annual Fall Fellows’ conference, on Friday, Oct. 25.
Zeavin delivers Annual Digital Humanities Lecture at the Society for the Humanities
The Society for the Humanities & CNY Humanities Corridor, in partnership with Cornell's Media Studies Colloquium, present: The Annual Digital Humanities Lecture - Tuesday, October 22, 5:00pm
A&S announces membership in MLA Strategic Partnership Network
“We felt this is an important resource that should be available to our humanists at all levels, whether they have the resources to pay for membership or not,” said Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Jerusalem to speak Oct. 10
Nathan Thrall will talk about his most recent book, “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy.”
Modeling an ancient house and garden in 3D
Cornell researchers have received a $150,000 NEH Digital Humanities Advanced Grant to create a 3D virtual modeling project based on the Casa della Regina Carolina, a large Pompeian house.
Professor’s feature-length documentary film debuts at Cornell Cinema
“Possible Landscapes,” a new feature-length documentary film exploring the lived experience of landscapes and environments in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, will have its debut screening on Sept. 25 at Cornell Cinema.
Final speaker in series examining antisemitism, Islamophobia
Cornell’s “Antisemitism and Islamophobia Examined” series concludes this semester with a talk by Derek Penslar, the William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History at Harvard University.
Jonathan Lethem to speak, "The Novel as Lyric Essay and Stage Play"
Author Jonathan Lethem, hosted by the Society for the Humanities, will speak at the A.D. White House at 5 p.m. on 09.12.24
2025-26: The Year of Scale
The Society for the Humanities at Cornell University seeks interdisciplinary research projects for year-long residencies that reflect on the theme of Scale.
Peter Loewen named dean of Arts and Sciences
Coming from the University of Toronto, where he was the director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Loewen began his five-year appointment as the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Aug. 1.
National Humanities Center selects two A&S professors as 2024-25 Fellows
Kim Haines-Eitzen, the Paul and Berthe Hendrix Memorial Professor of Near Eastern studies, and Mostafa Minawi, associate professor of history and director of Critical Ottoman and Post-Ottoman Studies, will pursue research projects in residence in Durham, North Carolina.
Ghosh to lead Cornell’s Society for the Humanities
Recently the faculty director of the Humanities Scholars Program, Ghosh brings to the Society scholarly background in the history of British colonialism on the Indian subcontinent; academic focuses on gender and sexuality and South Asia; and broad experience with interdisciplinary collaborations.
Society for the Humanities celebrates 50th year in AD White House
To honor the anniversary, the Society has produced a booklet chronicling the history of the A.D. White House as president’s home, art museum and locus for the humanities at Cornell.
Community event will showcase trans philosophy and scholarship
Organized by trans Cornellians, the event will address issues and harms facing the community from a trans perspective.
April 10 lecture focuses on formation of revolutionary China
Mitter’s talk will re-examine the classic question, “Did the communists win or the nationalists lose the Chinese civil war?”
2024-25: The Year of Silence
Announcing the 2024-25 cohort of Silence Fellows at the Society for the Humanities.