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The University of Connecticut Humanities Institute EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF KNOWLEDGE
CONTENTS Director’s Message 2 Directors Past & Present 3 UCHI by the Numbers 4 Events & Programming 6 Sponsored Programs 8 Research Projects 10 Digital Humanities & Media Studies 12 Supporting Scholarship 14 Past Graduates 16 Former Fellows Spotlight 18 Twenty Years of Fellows 20 World Poetry Books 23 Exceptional Undergraduates 24 Creating Connections 26 Faculty of Color Working Group 28 Future of Knowledge 30 Support UCHI 32 Our Team 33
DIRECTOR’S “At a moment
when multiple
“The humanities are about the
inner life, but they are about
MESSAGE global crises much more: they engage
the systems of artistic and
are fracturing
what we intellectual inquiry through
What is the future of knowledge?
Democracies and their universities used to take it for once took for which we interrogate the
granted that they knew what knowledge was and why it granted, the world in which we live—and
mattered. But widespread public disagreement over the
reality of elections, racism, climate change, and even COVID humanities create a future in which we
demonstrates that we can no longer take these assumptions
for granted. Moreover, information technology, while making
lead us not just want to live.”
information easier to get, has also made it harder to know toward greater —Sharon Harris
what’s true, as disinformation spreads like wildfire on
social media. Indeed, with the rise of artificial intelligence
knowledge, 2009–2014
technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult to say what but greater “By studying not only objective
knowledge even is in our digital economy.
These problems strike at the very heart of democracy
understanding.” realities, but also ways of
but they aren’t just technical problems. They are human
—Michael P. Lynch thinking and acting—ideas,
problems. And they are bigger than any one field. So if we
are going to solve them, we need the help of people who
2014–present emotions, and behavior, both
know about humans: that is, we need research in history,
language, art, philosophy, and the ethics of science, media,
in the present and in the past—
and technology. And we need more than the usual voices: humanists, including those at
we need inclusive and truly global perspectives on these
problems—problems that affect the entire world, not just
the UConn Humanities Institute,
the privileged portions of it. If we can do that, we can start help us to understand ourselves
to figure out the future of knowledge and begin to educate
our students about the challenges we will face in knowing
in the world.”
what’s true—and what’s not.
—Richard D. Brown
This is the promise of UCHI’s new project on the Future
of Truth. But it is also the promise of the humanities. At a
Founding Director, 2001–2009
moment when multiple global crises—a pandemic, rising
racism, climate change, and misinformation—are fracturing
what we once took for granted, the humanities lead us not
just toward greater knowledge, but greater understanding. DIRECTORS PAST &
Michael P. Lynch
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor PRESENT
2 3
UCHI BY THE
NUMBERS
$8,300,000 in grants
raised internally and externally, including from the
John Templeton Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation, & Henry Luce Foundation.
253 fellowships
granted to UConn faculty, UConn graduate students,
and external scholars since the Institute was founded
in 2001.
7 major initiatives
launched, including the New England Humanities
Consortium, Digital Humanities and Media Studies, the
Future of Truth, Humility and Conviction in Public LIfe,
and the Faculty of Color Working Group.
21 disciplines
represented by our fellows and their research
interests.
76 programs
sponsored or funded at UConn from 2018 to 2021,
including invited speakers, conferences, colloquia,
symposia, publications, and performances.
4 5
EVENTS
Each year, UCHI puts on scholarly the-scenes glimpse at the publishing
events and professional development process, helping UConn faculty and 2017
workshops for the UConn community graduate students share their research A Publishing Now seminar where Adam McGee, managing
and beyond. In 2020–2021 alone we broadly. Our grant workshops showed editor of the Boston Review, talked to faculty and graduate
hosted 33 events. Each of our fellows ambitious graduate students how to students about publishing beyond the academy.
gave a research talk on their project, pitch their projects to secure funding
in dialogue with another fellow. The from foundations and institutes. Across
Digital Humanities and Media Studies those events, we welcomed over
Initiative invited speakers from all 1500 attendees, who asked questions,
over the world. In our Publishing Now shared comments, and helped sustain 2016
seminars, editors and other publishing the vibrant scholarly community that is Humility and Politics, the official kickoff event for the Humility
professionals provided a behind- the Humanities Institute. and Conviction in Public Life project, featured a night of
conversation with panelists David Brooks of the New York
Past Events Times, NPR’s Krista Tippett, New Yorker columnist Jelani
2021 Cobb, and Washington University’s Liz McCloskey.
Indigenous scholars and artists on climate change, featuring
Sandy Grande, Melanie Yazzie, Anne Spice, and Emily
Johnson. 2013
image: Emily Johnson for the A Day in the Humanities examined the environmental
performance project, The Thank- humanities in light of the 50th annivesary of Rachel Carson’s
“The Humanities you Bar. Photo by Cameron Wittig
Silent Spring.
Institute is a small
patch of paradise 2020
André Leon Talley on
that immeasurably race, fashion, and Vogue
enriches intellectual Magazine, in conversation 2011
life at UConn.” with Alexis L. Boylan and A keynote address by Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning
Melina Pappademos. author Toni Morrison, part of UCHI’s 10th anniversary
—Scott Wallace celebrations.
Faculty Fellow (2020–2021)
2018
Pulitzer Prize winner and
New York Times best-selling novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen
spoke to faculty and students about his books, navigating the
& PROGRAMMING
publishing world, finding time for creativity, and the role of the
public intellectual.
6 7
SPONSORED Working Groups Helen Rozwadowski, and Alexis
Boylan, explores the interfaces
The Political between scientific knowledge and its
Theory Workshop, representation and communication,
organized by Jane especially to a wider public, from the
Each year, UCHI helps to fund conferences, colloquia, invited speakers, and Gordon, meets pre-modern period through the twenty-
working groups across campus. six times a year first century.
to offer a space for political theorists
Speakers, Conferences, & Racism in the Margins based at and beyond UConn to present
Colloquia Conference; Kathleen and receive feedback on works-in- “We’re so fortunate to
Tonry and Gabe Morrison progress or recently published writing. have UCHI at UConn—
2020–2021 (English)
Teach In: The Egyptian The Creative Writing Pedagogy
nurturing ideas and
Revolution 10 Years 2019–2020 Working Group, organized by V. carving out space for
On; Hind Ahmed Zaki Talk by best-selling author Rebecca Penelope Pelizzon, meets monthly to public conversations
(Political Science) Traister; Frank Costigliola (History) read and discuss selected texts on
about the stuff that really
creative teaching praxis.
Design and Research for Healthy Talk by Pulitzer Prize matters.”
Communities and Healthcare and National Book The American —Sarah Willen
Facilities Project; Françoise Dussart Award winner Colson Studies Writing Faculty Fellow (2013–2014, 2021–2022)
(Anthropology) Whitehead; Melina Group, organized
Pappademos (History & Africana Studies) by Chris Vials, The Literary Epistemology Working
“Bl(x)ck Rhizomes: A offers an Group, organized by Yohei Igarashi,
Digital Public History UConn Spring Puppet Forum with a opportunity for faculty across the undertakes collaborative projects about
Praxis” with Aleia Brown; presentation by Jane Bennett; John university to meet and workshop their literature, history, and culture, with a
Clarissa Ceglio (Digital Bell (Dramatic Arts) chapters and articles in progress. focus on epistemological questions and
Media and Design) computational methods.
2018–2019 The Visual Studies Workshop,
Alejandro de la Guerra’s participatory Talk by gender studies organized by Kathryn Moore, opens The Early Modern
mural project; Samuel Martinez scholar Jasbir Puar; up dialogues about the future of visual Studies Working
(Anthropology) Bhakti Shringarpure studies. Group, organized
(English) by Greg Semenza,
The History describes a
of Science close-knit, interdisciplinary, and ever-
Reading Group, growing community, sharing a passion
organized by for learning about the art, culture, and
Debapriya Sarkar, history of our early modern forebears.
PROGRAMS
8 9RESEARCH
educational props, textbooks, paintings, taxidermy,
expedition materials, and maps, each exhibition
will initiate its own inquiry into truths about art and
science, speak its own questions, and engage diverse
communities and histories in the project of making
The Future of must not be academically isolated, but new knowledge. UConn’s iteration of Seeing Truth will
Truth is a multi- draw on collaborative insights from art, premiere in 2023.
disciplinary, science, and philosophy.
engaged research Why We Argue
project aimed Seeing Truth In 2021 we released ten episodes of a Future of Truth-
at investigating Seeing Truth: Art, Science, edition of our podcast, Why We Argue. Host Robert
what truth is now Museums, and Making Knowledge, Talisse (Philosophy, Vanderbilt) interviewed scholars
and if, and how, a collaboration with the American and thinkers to discuss what truth is, where it is going,
it will matter in Museum of Natural History and and why it matters in our democracy. Topics ranged
the future. Project generously funded by the Henry from the political power of rage to conspiracy theories
activities include Luce Foundation, seeks to challenge and transitional justice, and guests included Sophia
conferences, a audiences to see art, science, and Rosenfeld, Jennifer Mercieca, and Cornel West.
public forum, truth anew in this political moment.
exhibitions, a podcast series, and Each exhibition location, or partner, How can we balance our
related publications. The project is will use a few select museum objects most deeply held convictions
pursued against a background of three to inspire a reengagement with their with humility and open-
convictions: that there is a pressing own collections, their own historical mindedness in order to
practical and political need to examine locations, and their own communities in repair public discourse? This was the central question
these questions, that doing so at order to build a unique and interactive guiding Humility and Conviction in Public Life (HCPL),
this moment calls for new theoretical show. In bringing together scientific a research and engagement project investigating how
approaches, and that these approaches instruments, photographs, films, intellectual humility—being aware of our own cognitive
limitations and biases, and being responsive to the
evidence—can promote healthier and more meaningful
public conversation. Sponsored by generous grants
“We now face global, epic, and from the John Templeton Foundation and UConn, HCPL
existential problems that can only was an unprecedented combination of research and
engagement, bringing together scholars from all over
be solved by facing the future the world and across disciplines. The project, led by
of truth. In other words, the Michael Lynch and Brendan Kane, ran from 2015 to 2019
future of truth is also the future and has resulted in several major research projects and
of humanity and our planet. numerous publications, all working to elevate the tone
and outcomes of public discourse in our society.
What else would we want to talk
about?”
–Alexis L. Boylan
Director of Academic Affairs
PROJECTS
10 11DIGITAL HUMANITIES “UCHI’s DHMS initiative focuses
on how computation, data,
technology, and digital media
Founded in 2016 under the leadership and international richness of scholarly generally are shaping our
of Anke Finger, the Institute’s Digital inquiry, experimentation, and
world—and how they can help
Humanities and Media Studies Initiative publication. UCHI’s goal is to foster this
(DHMS) seeks to engage the UConn dialogue by offering a lecture series, us understand the past and
community in debates, explorations, workshops, reading groups, and other imagine the future.”
and exchanges on all aspects related programming that bring together
to the Digital Humanities and Media students and faculty to explore the —Yohei Igarashi
Studies. These sister fields are uniquely humanities from digital and medial Associate Director & DHMS Coordinator
in dialogue at UConn, with faculty and perspectives. The initiative also offers
students already working either in one a certificate in DHMS for graduate
or both, displaying an interdisciplinary students. 2020–2021
The 2020–2021 speaker series featured talks by digital artist
Past Events and author of New York Times best-seller How to Do Nothing,
Jenny Odell; feminist media scholar Sarah Sharma; digital
2021
humanist and early modern French historian Simon Burrows;
In March 2021, the Radical Futures Symposium, organized
computational humanities scholar Allen Riddell; and Chinese
by Anke Finger and Christoph Ernst, brought together
media scholar Shaoling Ma.
researchers from Germany and the United States to discuss
both the future of media and form(at)s of imagination/ 2019–2020
imaginaries in the 21st century. Sponsored by DHMS and the The 2019–2020 series featured Annette Vee on “Algorithmic
Future of Truth. Image: Anke Finger Writers and Implications for Literacy” and Nancy K. Baym on
“The Relational Affordances of Platforms.”
Jean-Marc Côté, En l’An 2000, c. 1900. Wikimedia Commons
2018–2019
In 2018–2019 DHMS welcomed Jacqueline Wernimont who
spoke on “Numbered Lives: A Feminist Media History” and
John Durham Peters who discussed “The Media of Weather.”
Learn more at https://dhmediastudies.uconn.edu/
& MEDIA STUDIES
12 13SUPPORTING
Communication, and Commerce in Early Modern Spain and the Mediterranean
(University of Pennsylvania, 2018)
Helen M. Rozwadowski, Vast Expanses: A History of the Oceans (Chicago, 2019)
UCHI supports several awards and fellowship Anne C. Dailey, Law and the Unconscious:
opportunities that reward creative thinking and A Psychoanalytic Perspective (Yale, 2017)
scholarship. These include annual residential “It’s always
fellowships for UConn faculty, UConn graduate
students, and external fellows, a book award, and
Micki McElya, The Politics of Mourning:
Death and Honor in Arlington National
invigorating to feel
awards for faculty fellows. Cemetery (Harvard, 2017) part of a thinking
Sharon Harris Book Award community!”
Since 2017, the annual Sharon Harris Book Award Felberbaum Awards —V. Penelope Pelizzon
has been given for a book published by UConn Faculty Fellow (2004–2005)
tenured, tenure-track, emeritus, or in-residence faculty Since 2003, the generosity of the
that demonstrates scholarly depth and intellectual Felberbaum Family Foundation has
acuity and highlights the importance of humanities enabled UCHI to offer a limited number of Felberbaum Family Faculty Awards
scholarship. to University of Connecticut faculty completing their UCHI fellowship year.
These competitive awards are offered to provide financial support for additional
2021 Winner expenditures related to fellows’ projects. The awards are for UConn faculty
Grégory Pierrot (English) fellows only and suggest “the individual receiving the Award will be a recognized
The Avenger in Black researcher, scholar, and teacher and will have made significant contributions to
Atlantic Culture (University the Institute.”
of Georgia, 2019)
2021 Recipients
2021 Honorable Mention
Ariel Mae Lambe (History)
No Barrier Can Contain
It: Cuban Antifascism
and the Spanish Civil
War (University of North
Carolina, 2019)
Past Recipients Sean Frederick Forbes Melanie Newport Scott Wallace
Kathryn Blair Moore, The Architecture of the Christian English History Journalism
Holy Land: Reception from Late Antiquity through the
Renaissance (Cambridge, 2017)
Daniel Hershenzon, The Captive Sea: Slavery,
SCHOLARSHIP
14 15PAST
Jorell A. Meléndez-Badillo
2017–2018 fellow Jorell A. Meléndez-Badillo is Assistant
Professor of History at Dartmouth College. His book, The
Lettered Barriada: Workers, Archival Power, and the Politics
of Knowledge in Puerto Rico (Duke 2021) received the Duke
UCHI’s dissertation research scholars of fellows—learning from more University Press Scholars of Color Book Award.
represent the best and brightest of experienced scholars, while interacting
UConn’s graduate students. The with them as equals. They go on
fellowship offers them the time and to have impressive and successful Allison Horrocks
space to focus solely on completing careers in academia and beyond. 2015–2016 fellow Allison Horrocks is a public historian with
their dissertations. They also benefit Here are some past graduates’ recent the National Parks Service. She also co-hosts, with Mary
from the Institute’s community accomplishments. Mahoney, the popular podcast American Girls. Each episode
examines a story, place, or cultural artifact associated
Nicole Breault with an American Girl character.
2020–2021 fellow Nicole Breault was named 2021–2022
David Center for the American Revolution Predoctoral Fellow
at the American Philosophical Society. She will be completing Asha Bhandary
her dissertation project, “The Night Watch of Boston: Law and 2010–2011 fellow Asha Bhandary, Associate Professor of
Governance in Eighteenth-Century British America.” Philosophy at the University of Iowa, published two books in
2020–2021, Freedom to Care (Routledge) and Caring
For Liberalism (Routledge), co-edited with Amy R.
Aimee Loiselle Baehr.
2018–2019 fellow Aimee Loiselle was the recipient of the
2020 Catherine Prelinger Award awarded to “a scholar
of excellence” by the Coordinating Council for Women in
History. Loiselle is now Assistant Professor of History at
Central Connecticut State University.
GRADUATES
2014: A Week in 2018: New 2020: UCHI
Twenty Years of UCHI 2006: James Barnett
Professorship in
2010: 2012: UCHI
the Humanities on England awarded
2008: Graduate sponsors 2016: Digital
Humanistic the theme “War Humanities $750,000 Mellon
Fellows begin student Humanities House, Humanities and
2005: Inaugural Anthropology and its Meaning” Consortium grant to expand
2002: The first an undergraduate Media Studies
Humanities endowed by giving public forum founded with the Faculty of
cohort of living and learning 2014: UConn joins Initiative
Authors Dennison Nash talks on their founded $100,000 Mellon Color Working
fellows begin community. the Folger Institute founded
Celebration projects. grant Group
their residency Consortium
2005:
Foundations of 2006: Junior Faculty 2011: 10th 2015: Humility and 2019: Future of
2001: UCHI is 2014:
founded under 2003: First Humanitarianism Forum founded 2009: Sharon anniversary Convinction in 2017: First annual Truth project
Michael Public Life project funded by Henry
the directorship annual Program 2006: First annual Harris becomes celebration
Lynch
Sharon Harris
Felberbaum launched jointly Day in the Humanities. director featuring a keynote funded by UConn Book Award Luce Foundation
of Richard becomes
Awards with Human address by Toni and the John granted to Micki
Brown The theme: “Staging
given Rights Institute. Morrison director Templeton McElya
Invasion.”
Foundation
16 17FORMER FELLOWS
Through its annual residential write. The impact of this opportunity not
fellowships, the Humanities Institute only shapes the creative minds of our
provides an interdisciplinary fellows during their residency, but also
environment in which junior and senior informs their scholastic contributions
scholars from around the world come long #afterUCHI. Here are some past
together to think, collaborate, and fellows’ recent successes.
2010–2011 faculty fellow Margo Machida, a pioneer in the
academic study of Asian American art, received the 2021
CAA Award for Excellence in Diversity. The Excellence
in Diversity Award recognizes outstanding efforts in arts
programming, projects, and/or scholarship to advance
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2019–2020 fellow Old Faithful Erupting on Live Web Cam & Prang Portfolio of Moran Sketches, American
“I formed lifelong Debapriya Sarkar Antiquarian Society from More Than Scenery: Yellowstone, an American Love Story, by
Janet L. Pritchard © 2010
friendships with other was awarded
the 2021–2022
scholars at UCHI, including Fletcher Jones 2009–2010 faculty fellow Janet L. Pritchard’s photography
creating a writing group Foundation project, More than Scenery: Yellowstone, An American Love
that continued after Fellowship from Story, which she worked on while a UCHI fellow, will be
the Huntington. Her project, Possible published in 2022 by George F. Thompson. In 2019 she was
the conclusion of the
Knowledge: The Literary Forms of awarded a Guggenheim fellowship for her project, The Wild
fellowship.” Early Modern Science, traces epistemic Heart of New England: The Connecticut River + Watershed.
—Katherine Jewell uncertainty in literary writing during the
Dissertation Fellow (2018–2019) Scientific Revolution. In 2021, 2018–2019 faculty fellow Dexter Gabriel published
his first novel, A Master of Djinn, under his pen name P.
December 2019 fellows reunion celebrating 2017–2018 visiting fellow Deirdre Bair Djèlí Clark. Gabriel’s 2020 novella, the Nebula and Locus
Award-winning Ring Shout, is being adapted for television by
Skydance TV. He recently consulted on Connecticut’s new
Black and Latino studies curriculum for high school students.
SPOTLIGHT
18 19TWENTY YEARS
Stuart Leibman Oliver Hiob Gregory Semenza
Jeremy Pressman Melissa Homestead Sebastian Wogenstein
Helen Rozwadowski Brendan Kane Simon Yarrow
Nancy Shoemaker Charles Mahoney
Catherine Thompson Matthew McKenzie 2013–2014
UCHI Leadership 2005–2006 Paul Silva Mohammed Albakry
Director: Richard Brown Keith Brown UCHI Leadership Christopher Vials Peter Baldwin
Associate Director: Cornelia Dayton Director: Sharon M. Harris Patricia Taylor Kelly Dennis
Françoise Dussart Aparna Gollapudi Associate Director: Janet Watson Robin Adèle Greeley
Robert Hasenfratz Evelyn Simien Simon Yarrow Robert Gross
2002–2003 Benjamin Liu
Susan Porter Benson Osvaldo Pardo 2009–2010
Clare Eby
“The opportunity to present nascent
Jonathan Carlyon Pratima Prasad
Christopher Clark Carolyn Schwarz Jennifer Holley ideas to a warm, encouraging, and
Frank Costigliola Altina Waller Glen MacLeod diverse group of intellects was a
Anne D’Alleva Naeem Murr true gift—their feedback opened up
Anita Garey 2006–2007 Janet Pritchard
Glenn Stanley
alternative paths of thought which
Margaret Gilbert Michelle Bigenho
Fred C. Inglis Jacqueline Campbell Jennifer Terni would otherwise have remained hidden.”
Ross Miller Jennie-Rebecca Falcetta Sherry Zane —Joseph McAlhany
Jennifer Spinner Anke Finger Visiting Fellow (2014–2015)
Robin Greeley 2010–2011
2003–2004 James Luberda Asha Leena Bhandary
Peter Baldwin Michael P. Lynch Miloje Despić UCHI Leadership Brandon Hawk
Rae Beth Gordon Sally O’Driscoll Emma Gilligan Director: Sharon M. Harris Michael Hughes
Kenneth Gouwens Mark Overmyer-Velazquez Kenneth Gouwens Associate Director: Gregory Kneidel
Joel Kupperman Guanhua Wang Anne Lambright Brendan Kane Jessica Linker
Cynthia Macdonald Margo Machida Nicola McDonald
Charles McGraw 2007–2008 Joanne Melish 2012–2013 Sarah Willen
Timothy Nulty Joel Blatt Gustavo Nanclares Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio
Michael Orwicz Paul Bloomfield Michael Neagle Anthony Antonucci UCHI Leadership
Sylvia Schafer Robert Bonner Marcus Rossberg Mary K. Bercaw-Edwards Director: Michael P. Lynch
Sonya Stephens Mary Crawford Alexia Smith Mary Burke Associate Director:
Sharon Harris Christopher Clark Brendan Kane
2004–2005 Brenda Murphy 2011–2012 Jeremy DeAngelo DHMS Director: Anke
Fakhreddin Azimi Katherine O’Sullivan Lindy Brady Antonio Guijarro-Donadiós Finger
John Davis Andrew Pfrenger Phyllis Cole Mary Isbell
Elisabeth Frost Jennifer Travis Eleni Coundouriotis Pamela Longo 2014–2015
Jean Marsden Omar Hassan Dphrepaulezz Adrienne Macki Braconi Fakhreddin Azimi
Peg O’Connor 2008–2009 Alea Henle Linda Meditz Frank Costigliola
Sherri Olson Amanda Bailey
V. Penelope Pelizzon Jonathan D. Bobaljik
OF FELLOWS
Andreas Prieto Brian D. Carroll
Janet Watson Rosa Helena Chinchilla
Chandra Wells Barbara Fultner
20 21WORLD POETRY BOOKS
Martha Cutter 2017–2018 Hayley Stefan
Jeffrey Dudas Deirdre Bair Jessica Strom
Gordon Fraser Sarah Berry Nu-Anh Tran
Lucía García-Santana Eleni Coundouriotis Joseph Ulatowski
Rachel Greenblatt Rebecca Gould
Christina Henderson Ruth Glasser 2020–2021 Based at the University of Connecticut, languages other than English. We invite
Joseph McAlhany Kenneth Gouwens Elizabeth Athens World Poetry Books (WPB) is the our readers to celebrate the art of
Beata Moskal Alycia LaGuardia-LoBianco Nicole Breault
only publisher in the United States translation so essential to the vibrant
Fiona Somerset Jorell Meléndez-Badillo Kerry Carnahan
dedicated solely to publishing books circulation of words and ideas.
Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar Amanda J. Crawford
2015–2016 Sean Frederick Forbes of international poetry in English Current titles include Last Dream
Nancy Shoemaker
César Abadía-Barrero Harry van der Hulst Ashley P. Gangi translation. As a press, our goal is to by Giovanni Pascoli, winner of the
Hilary Bogert-Winkler Laura Wright Erica Holberg champion poets and translators from all 2020 Raiziss/De Palchi Book Prize
Peter Constantine Amy Meyers stages of their careers by creating new from the Academy of American Poets;
Susan Einbinder 2018–2019 Melanie Newport communities of readers both inside and Goddesses of Water, the debut
Allison B. Horrocks Dorit Bar-On Helen M. Rozwadowski outside of the university. We believe collection by Mexican poet Jeannette
Hassanaly Ladha Jason Oliver Chang David Samuels every language has its Walt Whitman, L. Clariond, whose work pays homage
Diane Lillo-Martin Dexter J. Gabriel Shaine Scarminach C.P. Cavafy, or Anne Carson, yet most to Mexican Indigenous cultures and the
Joanna A. MacGugan Katherine Grandjean Sara Silverstein world poetry—especially poetry from Nahuatl language; Everything I Don’t
Natalie Munro Katherine Rye Jewell Scott Wallace underrepresented languages—remains Know, the selected poems of Warsaw
Christiana Salah Ellen Litman Sarah Winter
under-published and undiscovered. Uprising resistance fighter Jerzy
Joshua Schechter Aimee Loiselle
Our mission is to publish and promote Ficowski; and a growing collection of
Brad Simpson Stuart S. Miller 2021–2022
Peter Zarrow Meina Cai books of vital world poetry from others.
Jonathan E. Robins
Amy Sopcak-Joseph Haile Eshe Cole
UCHI Leadership Adrian Stegovec Shardé M. Davis Meet the WPB Team
Director: Michael P. Lynch Lynne Tirrell Erik Freeman
Associate Director: Carol Gray
Alexis L. Boylan UCHI Leadership Drew Johnson
DHMS Director: Anke Director: Michael P. Lynch Prakash Kashwan
Finger Director of Academic Laura Mauldin
Affairs: Alexis L. Boylan Micki McElya
2016–2017 DHMS Director: Yohei Kathryn Blair Moore
Robert T. Chase Igarashi Sherie M. Randolph
Peter Constantine Brian Sneeden
Anna Mae Duane Fiona Vernal
Publisher Senior and Managing Editor
Jeffrey R. Egan 2019–2020 Shiloh Whitney
Leo J. Garofalo Emma Amador Sarah S. Willen
Mark Healey Alexander Anievas Anna Ziering
Daniel Hershenzon Nathan Braccio
Melanie Meinzer Andrea Celli
George Moore Kornel Chang
Daniel Silvermint Daniel Cohen
Christine Sylvester Patricia Morgne Cramer
Fabiana Viglione Laura Godfrey
Dimitris Xygalatas Debapriya Sarkar
22 23EXCEPTIONAL
The Humanities Undergraduate and empathy in the face of uncertainty. Meet the HURS Team
Research Symposium (HURS) is a Through research presentations by
student-run exhibition of undergraduate students in panel and roundtable Madelon Morin-Viall is a University Scholar majoring in English
humanities research at UConn. formats, a keynote presentation by and minoring in History. Her research interests focus on Early
After the COVID-19 pandemic led Alexis Boylan, and informational panels, Modern drama and the ways in which humanity expresses
universities across the country to cut the Symposium will introduce what emotional pain.
humanities research programs, the research in the humanities entails and
Humanities Undergraduate Research provide an opportunity for students to Aarushi Nohria is a senior double majoring in English and Human
Symposium aims to reiterate the ability share research they have accomplished Rights. Her research interests center on the intersection of human
of humanities research to inspire much- through coursework and/or individual rights law and literature, Afro-futurism and speculative fiction, and
needed critical thinking, understanding, projects. postcolonial literature.
Rylee Thomas, from East Hampton, CT, is double majoring in
Led by UConn History professor, Joseph English, with a creative writing concentration, and communication.
McAlhany, the MegaBiblion Society offers She is a 2021 Holster Scholar pursuing a film study on feminism
intellectually ambitious undergraduates the in Victorian novels and enjoys reading Jane Austen and writing
opportunity to read great works of fiction fiction and poetry.
in a relaxed and friendly setting. Every two
weeks, students gather for a free lunch and WHAT’S NEXT?
free-flowing conversation about daunting and Starting in 2022, UCHI will offer undergraduate fellowships,
difficult books, without the pressure of formal redoubling our support for student scholarship in the humanities.
requirements. Instead, students can discover
the pleasures of a shared intellectual endeavor
UNDERGRADUATES
outside of the formal framework of a class.
24 25CREATING Global Distinguished Humanities
Fellowship
In an effort to foster international collaboration and
highlight the importance of the humanities in creating
The New England Humanities Consortium a future that speaks globally to social justice, equity,
(NEHC) promotes and strengthens intellectual and the environment, Global Affairs and the Humanities
collaboration, interdisciplinary exchange, and Institute have joined forces to create a new opportunity
innovative educational, intercultural, and curricular for a Global Distinguished Humanities Fellowship at
programming among New England humanities the University of Connecticut.
centers and institutes, and the faculty, students, Maoz Azaryahu,
and regional, national, and global communities they Professor of Cultural
serve. NEHC includes: Amherst College, Brown Geography at the
University, Colby College, Dartmouth College, University of Haifa in
Middlebury College, Northeastern University, Smith Israel and the Director
College, Tufts University, the University of Connecticut, the University of New of Herzl Institute for
Hampshire, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Vermont, Wellesley the Study of Zionism,
College, and Wheaton College. The programming and activities of the NEHC, is our inaugural
including seed grants for collaborative humanities projects, are made possible by fellow. Azaryahu will
a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the participating institutions. be in residence at
UCHI founded NEHC in 2018 and served as its first administrative hub through UConn in March 2022. His research includes urban
June 2021. and landscape semiotics, the cultural and historical
geographies of public memory and commemoration,
In 2014 UConn became a Consortium the spatialities of memory and narrative, and the cultural
member of the prestigious Folger history of places and landscapes. Maoz Azarhayu
Institute, a center for advanced study has built his career on a remarkable ability to speak
and collections-focused research in across disciplinary boundaries, forging productive
the humanities. Through its multi- collaborations with scholars across a wide range of
disciplinary, cross-cultural programs fields.
and residential research fellowships, While in residence at UConn, Azaryahu will meet with
the Folger Institute gathers knowledge students, give a public talk, and participate in UCHI-
communities and establishes fresh sponsored events, including a two-day symposium on
research and teaching agendas for Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities.
early modern humanities. This area of study spans from the 14th through the 18th His residency was sponsored by Ken Foote
centuries, focusing on a wide range of relevant texts, issues, and questions. The (Geography), Nathaniel Trumbull (Geography & Maritime
Institute fosters targeted investigations of the world-class Folger collection and is Studies), Sebastian Wogenstein and Avinoam Patt
based out of the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Consortium acts as an advisory (Judaic Studies), and Chris Vials (American Studies).
body to the Folger Institute, with members meeting bi-annually in D.C. to work with
Folger staff on program development and scholarly outreach, among other things.
CONNECTIONS
By virtue of UConn’s membership, our students, staff, and faculty have access to
the Folger’s tremendous range of research, educational, and artistic offerings.
26 27FACULTY OF COLOR
Generously supported by the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and in
collaboration with the New England
Humanities Consortium and UCHI,
the Faculty of Color Working Group
(FOCWG) provides extra-institutional
space for Black, Indigenous, and
People of Color (BIPOC) faculty to
navigate the particular challenges Director
that they face in their academic Dr. Melina Pappademos (Africana
positions. Academic institutions create Studies & History, UConn)
and incubate myriad inequalities, What We Do...
institutional microaggressions, and bad- Executive Committe
faith policies regarding the recruitment, Touba Ghadessi (Wheaton) Host an annual symposium, which provides a rare and necessary venue for
retention, promotion, and provision Darryl Harper (Amherst) faculty of color to speak freely to one another, find community, and share ideas,
of healthy, respectful environments Kareem Khubchandani (Tufts) strategies, potential solutions, and creative energy through the experiences of
for faculty of color. Such imbalances Ted Landsmark (Northeastern) others.
degrade BIPOC faculty’s well-being and Irene Mata (Wellesley)
professional advancement as well as Jorell Meléndez-Badillo (Dartmouth) Offer fellowships that seek to relieve scholars of institutional hindrances by
institutional health. FOCWG has begun Stephen Trzaskoma (New Hampshire) providing resources to reduce many of the barriers that make it difficult for faculty
to address these inequities through Melva Treviño-Peña (Rhode Island) of color to research, think, and engage in their transformative work at their home
targeted programming. Gabriela Torres (Wheaton College) institutions.
Administer a mentorship program that aims to create a supportive community of
“Using vital support programs for scholars that works toward alleviating the unequal advancement of FOC through
BIPOC faculty, FOCWG fosters broad the ranks of academia.
institutional health and growth.
It also challenges colonization FOCWG is supported by
in the academy, its received
wisdoms about who and what
have value, deserve respect, and
can actively shape its future.”
–Melina Pappademos
Director of FOCWG WORKING GROUP
28 29FUTURE OF KNOWLEDGE
and Design) on Algorithmic Arts & Humanities at UConn
Wendy Hui Kyong Chun (Communication, Simon Fraser) on her new book,
Discriminating Data: Correlation, Neighborhoods, and the New Politics of
Recognition (2021)
In 2021–2022, UCHI is celebrating Through invited speakers, panels, and
its twentieth anniversary. As we colloquia we explore the challenges Spring 2022
“Today, if you create
welcome our twentieth cohort of facing the production, dissemination,
fellows and commemorate twenty and representations of knowledge as How to Write about knowledge without
years of innovation, creativity, and well as solutions to those challenges, Race Now, featuring communicating with a
community, we also look forward with working toward a future that is Lewis Gordon variety of audiences it
events and programming around the equitable, sustainable, and just. What (Philosophy), author
theme The Future of Knowledge. will the future of knowledge bring? of Fear of Black will remain silenced.”
Consciousness (2021) —Anke Finger
Fall 2021 Faculty Fellow (2006–2007)
How to Work with an Academic Press, DHMS Director (2014–2019)
How to Apply for a UConn Internal Grant, Humanities Style, featuring Matthew featuring Leah Pennywark, Humanities
Mroz, Internal Funding Coordinator, Office of the Vice President for Research editor, University of Minnesota Press
Publishing about Politics after (?) Trump, featuring Susan Herbst (Political Talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones
Science), author of A Troubled Birth: The 1930s and American Public Opinion (Communications, Howard University)
(2021)
Audrey Watters on her new book Teaching Machines (2021), an
“The future of knowledge How to Publish for exploration of the predigital history of education technology
will depend upon the Public, featuring
editors from Lapham’s Public talk by Global Distinguished Fellow Maoz Azaryahu
specialized research Quarterly, the (Cultural Geography, University of Haifa)
and writing and creating Conversation, and
ways to deliver those Public Books
findings to a more general Daniel Rosenberg, co-author of
Cover image: detail from
Excelsior Geyser from More
audience.” Cartographies of Time: A History of the
Than Scenery: Yellowstone,
—Kornel Chang Timeline (2010) on the history of data
an American Love Story, by
and information
Visiting Fellow (2019–2020) Janet L. Pritchard
© 2009
Jessica Johnson
(History, Johns Hopkins University) and Kim Gallon (History,
Purdue University) on the Black Beyond Data project
Kyle Booten (English), Sue Huang (Digital Media and Design),
Stefan Kaufmann (Linguistics), and Anna Lindemann (Digital Media
30 31OUR TEAM
Michael P. Lynch
Director
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, Philosophy
Alexis L. Boylan
Director of Academic Affairs
Professor, Art and Art History & Africana Studies
Give Visit Connect
Yohei Igarashi
As UConn’s premier institute Our bright, beautiful offices, located Keep up with all Associate Director & DHMS Coordinator
for research in the humanities, on the fourth floor of Homer future events and Associate Professor, English
fellowships and lectures are highly Babbidge Library, offer collaborative programming by
competitive and awarded only to space for scholars to meet and talk, following us on social Nasya Al-Saidy
outstanding projects. Private support as well as office space for all our media, subscribing Administrative Manager & Financial Officer
helps sustain excellence across the fellows and staff. Our conference to our newsletter,
humanities. room, complete with state-of-the- or checking out our Mary Volpe
A gift to the Humanities Institute art audio-visual equipment that website. Administrative Program Support
will provide critical resources supports livestreaming, is available
to UConn faculty, students, and for booking. Visitors will find a @uconnhumanities Elizabeth Della Zazzera
external fellows to pursue a full bookshelf filled with the scholarship Postdoctoral Research Associate &
range of humanistic inquiry and of past fellows, past book award @uconnhumanities Communications Coordinator
enrich our understanding of the winners, and other friends of the
human condition. Gifts help fund Institute. Our walls showcase bits @UCHI_UConn
fellowships, graduate student of our history—including posters 2021–2022 ADVISORY BOARD
research, study groups, conferences, and banners from past events and a s.uconn.edu/subscribe
special initiatives, and more. celebration of fellows past—as well Fred Lee; Political Science & Asian and Asian
as art on loan from UConn’s Benton humanities.uconn.edu American Studies
For more information or to give, Museum. Liansu Meng; Literatures, Cultures, and Languages
please visit s.uconn.edu/donate or Shawn Salvant; English & Africana Studies
contact the UConn Foundation at Nancy Shoemaker; History
(800) 269-9965 or (860) 486-5000. Lynne Tirrell; Philosophy
Dimitris Xygalatas; Anthropology
SUPPORT UCHI
32 33humanities.uconn.edu
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