Each month, The Stone House Center for Public Humanities interviews a humanities scholar or community member and asks them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our guest this month is Jason M. Kelly, Director of the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute and an Associate Professor of British History in the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. He is a Visiting Research Fellow at Newcastle University and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
 
Dr. Kelly received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is the author of The Society of Dilettanti: Archaeology and Identity in the British Enlightenment (Yale University Press and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2010).
 
As Director of the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute, Dr. Kelly supports IUPUI’s research mission by directing the IAHI grant programs, identifying and fostering transdisciplinary research collaborations, and organizing research workshops and symposia.  He also acts as a liaison to the Indianapolis community, and in this capacity facilitates collaborative endeavors including performances, lectures, and research projects.
 
Dr. Kelly’s research projects focus on the histories of the environment, human rights, art. His current book project is A History of the Anthropocene, a deep history of human-nature relations. He leads a major international collaborative project, Rivers of the Anthropocene, which brings together scientists, humanists, and policy makers to study global river systems and policy since 1750. He directs The Cultural Ecologies Project, a public research program and PhD track that works with community stakeholders to examine cultural interventions across multiple scales — from the personal to the neighborhood to the city level. He also directs Digital Freetown, an immersive, virtual reality educational environment focusing on African American history.
 
Dr. Kelly is also the recipient of the IUPUI Research Trailblazers Award (2013), two IU Trustees Teaching Awards (2011, 2008), and the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI Student Council Outstanding Academic Adviser Award (2010).

What inspires you in your current position/role?
My biggest inspiration comes from working with the many local communities beyond campus. One project that I am particularly excited about is our Cultural Ecologies project, which asks the question: how do cultural interventions transform cities? There are several components of this project including assessment and evaluation research, a PhD track, and a public seminar. From its conception, members of the community have been actively involved, and because of this, we’ve developed increasingly close working relationships with community partners. Our seminar, "The Ethics, Values, and Practices of Public Art in Urban Contexts” is a great example. It has brought together faculty, students, local artists, and art organizations to talk about the role that art plays in making communities. We’ve tackled some big questions about class, race, gentrification, and more. Beginning in Fall 2017, we will have several new PhD students whose coursework includes long-term internships in local cultural organizations, helping them develop solutions to the challenges that they face.   
 
What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
I have had lots of jobs over the years: park ranger, HVAC installation and repair, day care, apartment manager, and many more. I’ve learned something from each of them. But, I have to say that by current job has been the most educational. It’s taught me to think more about what we mean when we talk about “scholarship.” It’s led me to be a much more creative researcher. 
 
What project(s) are you currently working on?
In addition to the Cultural Ecologies Project, which I mention above, I direct the Rivers of the Anthropocene (RoA) project. RoA is a transdisciplinary research network of dozens of humanists, scientists, artists, social scientists, policy makers, and community organizers from eight different countries who focus on global water systems. In addition to holding regular symposia, this project supports a number of research endeavors, including Voices from the Waterways (an oral history project) and the Museum of the Anthropocene (a series of exhibitions that will begin popping up in 2018). In relation to RoA, I am writing a book _A History of the Anthropocene_. I am the lead editor on an edited volume, _Rivers of the Anthropocene_ that comes out this fall. And, we have two more edited volumes in production. 
 
Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
In addition to the joy that the humanities bring to everyday life, I think the humanities are important because they hold us accountable. They help us imagine a world beyond ourselves, to consider the effects that we have on other people across distance and time. And, they ask us to justify our choices in multiple ways — ethically, historically, socially.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill, interesting story)?
I don’t know how surprising it is, but I love to tend to our garden — and especially make it inviting to animals, which at the moment includes a fox, several Cooper’s Hawks, a Great Horned Owl, lots of songbirds, a few frogs, dragonflies, and butterflies. Visiting the garden is like entering a Beatrix Potter book sometimes. 
 
What is your first thought in the morning and last thought at night?
Don’t check your email. 
 
What is the worst job that you had while working through your degree and what would you tell your past self now?
I was very fortunate to have good jobs while working through my degrees. The hardest job though was installing ductwork in attics in the middle of the summer. Temperatures could get unbearable. We would be sweating and covered in fiberglass fibers, which got under our skin and itched and burned. But, I had a good boss and worked with a great crew. We were all in it together, which meant that event the hardest work wasn’t entirely unpleasant. 
 
I would give my past self the same advice that I would give myself now. It’s the same advice a wise friend once gave me: "Slow down. There is plenty of time to do everything you want accomplish.” I know it’s very good advice, and sometimes I even listen to it. 

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Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed our interview last month with local performer, Angie Settlemire, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

In today’s society, higher education is largely marketed for its ability to better prepare individuals for the real world and securing a career, but rarely is it marketed for aiding individuals in their ability to pursue a good life. Studying the humanities allows us to dive into the depths of what it means to be human, and in turn, take part in the ongoing dialogue of what it means to live a good life.
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The humanities offer enlightenment on what constitutes the good and exemplifies the importance of virtuous characteristics, such as altruism, charity, civility, compassion, and generosity. The various lessons we can learn from the humanities transfer into the flourishing of individuals and society. Here are some examples:

• Studying great literature helps us appreciate and enlarge our horizons on the human condition, while increasing our capacity for empathy.
• Studying history provides us with a window into the past and allows us to understand human nature and society, allowing us to make wiser choices in the future.
• Studying art challenges us to see reality through new perspectives, while introducing us to aesthetic values and providing a gateway to the good in the guise of the beautiful.
• Studying philosophy forces us to confront the most basic intellectual questions: What can we know? What is human nature? What is of value?

Studying the humanities allows us to see how rich a human life can be and what makes a life worthwhile.

Want to learn more about the Stone House Center for Public Humanities and how the humanities are helping our community? Click here to learn more.

Science has two important yields: increased understanding of the world within and around us, and solutions to specific problems. But even the most profound scientific knowledge won’t solve world problems such as hunger, poverty, environmental damage, or even dinosaur attacks if we fail to respect, understand, and engage cultural differences.

All this considered, here are just some of the reasons why students pursuing science careers should enhance their education with a strong foundation in the humanities:

1. The humanities prepare you to fulfill your civic and cultural responsibilities.
2. Studying the humanities allows you to become familiar with and use the creative ideas from great minds outside of science.
3. The state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and techniques you learn in college have a limited shelf life; mastering the humanities provides tools for extending it.
4. Humanities strengthens your ability to communicate and work with others.
5. You will gain knowledge of foreign languages and foreign cultures.
6. The walls that exist among disciplines has been lowered and students can move across disciplines more freely.
7. Students can benefit from advice on which courses to take.
8. Humanities help you understand the impact that science, technology, and medicine has had on society and understand the future scientific needs of society.
9. Interdisciplinary learning adds value to one’s degree.
10. Humanities teach you that the supposedly sharp dichotomies that separate science from humanities do not really exist.

With aid from the humanities, those in scientific disciplines are better able to consider society’s needs, enabling them to carefully consider where he or she chooses to work, what projects they undertake, and what role it will allow them to play within society.

Want to learn more about the Center for Public Humanities and how the humanities are helping in our community? Click here.

The Trump administration may soon eliminate both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) entirely as part of a plan to curb spending. The administration plans to cut $10 trillion, nearly all of our budget’s non-discretionary spending, over the next 10 years.

The NEA has been the life-blood and foundation of the arts community across our nation since 1965. They provide grants for dance, music, drama, literature, outreach education, and so much more. The NEH offers research funding to museums, libraries, and colleges. Together, these two organizations enrich the arts in America, giving creativity and freedom of speech a voice. Don’t allow these organizations to slip away quietly. Keep reading to learn how you can help.

What is the NEH?
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1965 to support “scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future” (National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965). It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States.
 
What does it do?
The NEH awards grants that typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, radio stations, and to individual scholars. In fact, the Center for Public Humanities was recently awarded an NEH grant for our Humanities Ladder program.

These grants allow for projects to deeply reach into communities across the country by way of exhibitions that help preserve valuable heritage collections, historic installations, discussion programs at local libraries, or simply by allowing us to indulge in the humanities from the comfort of our own homes through documentaries, radio programs, websites, and apps.
 
What is in jeopardy?
President Trump has proposed the elimination of National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts funding in order to eliminate some of the country’s debt. Further drastic cuts could threaten programs that provide important support for humanities teaching, scholarship, preservation, and public programs in communities across America. For example, the NEH provides support for some 56,000 lectures, discussions, exhibitions and other programs annually. The NEH and NEA only require a combined .006% of the federal budget.
 
Why should you care?
The NEH serves to strengthen our democracy by promoting excellence in the humanities, while conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. Through the strengthening of teaching and learning provided to us through the NEH, we are better able to learn about and tell the stories of our communities and our nation. The NEH facilitates research, provides opportunities for lifelong learning, preserves and provides access to cultural and educational resources, and strengthens the institutional base of the humanities
 
How can you help?
Take action! Let your voice be heard by calling and writing to your local Members of Congress and letting them know that you value the NEH and NEA.

Click here to send a message to your Members of Congress and the President.

You can also sign the petition.

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How have the humanities impacted you? Share your experiences below.

If you're an SRU student, take this opportunity to share why the humanities are important to you via our Shout Out for the Humanities contest!

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our fifth guest is Kristen Baldwin Deathridge. She is an assistant professor of history at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she works with both undergraduate and graduate public history programs. She earned her PhD in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012 and an MA in Archaeology from the University of Reading in 2005. She specializes in working with communities to help preserve their stories and places.

What inspires you in your current position/role?
Hopefully this doesn't seem cliched, but the students that I work with inspire me so much. Helping folks work through new (to them) concepts is always a pleasure, but I'm truly inspired by the energy, creativity and passion that some of my students bring to their work.

What project(s) are you currently working on?
Several at once, which means there's always something to do when one project hits a slow period. I'll share a few. I've been working with a local group, the Junaluska Heritage Association to raise money for a monument for unmarked African American graves in the town cemetery. Click here to check it out. Working with another local group, the Lincoln Heights Recreation Corporation (alumni of a Rosenwald school), we've recently earned a grant to hold a digitization day event. Alumni and friends of the school can come and have their memorabilia scanned or photographed; there will also be public programs to share the history of the place. I'm also continuing work on several traditional scholarly writing projects.

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
Languages, literature, history, philosophy, art, anthropology - people use what we call "the humanities" to explore what it means to be human, whether they recognize it in those terms or not. People use elements of the humanities as they contemplate their place(s) in the world. Perhaps more importantly, folks use elements of the humanities to understand one another; we learn from the creative output of others and ask new questions.

What shows are you currently binge-watching?
I'm really behind on my binging! Right now I'm watching Jessica Jones on Netflix. It is intense and mesmerizing; I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone slower than me.

What is the worst job that you had while working through your degree and what would you tell your past self now?
I had pretty good luck with jobs, honestly, but the most stressful was working as a bank teller. I'd tell myself two things. One: stop taking on other peoples' stress; you have plenty of your own; just help one person at a time. (I did learn this eventually, but I wish I'd gotten there more quickly) Two: start that 401(k) they offered you right away!--you'll end up in this job longer than you think. Practical, I know, but I really wish that I'd started saving earlier, even if it was only a little bit.

Thank you, Kristen, for sharing your exciting projects and perspective on the humanities.  

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Jacob Miller's interview, click HERE.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

​Studying the humanities allows for the development of well-rounded and informed citizens that are essential to the flourishing and success of any democracy. Through the exploration and study of the humanities (philosophy, art, anthropology, literature, history, etc.) we are able to:
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• Develop critical thinking skills that enhance our capacity for reason and provide us with the tools for effective decision making.
• Understand justice and foster social equality.
• Contemplate the meaning of democracy through the understanding of other cultures and human rights.
• Foster empathy and compassion by addressing ethical questions.
• Appreciate the variances and similarities that reside within different cultures.
• Understand what it means to be a citizen.
• Think creatively and ask questions that can provide insights into all sectors of life.
• Add to our knowledge about our world through researching the human experience.
• Gain a better understanding of the past while grasping a clearer picture of the future.
• Contemplate what it means to live a good life.

All of these shape the thoughts and behaviors of citizens across the globe, which can lead to the creation of a harmonious world and a stronger democracy among the people. To learn more about the humanities, and how the Center for Public Humanities is helping in our community, click  here.

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our fourth guest is Jake Miller, alumnus from Slippery Rock University's master's program in history in 2013. He currently works as the Interpretive Programs Manager at Fort Delaware State Park/Fort DuPont State Park/Port Penn Interpretive Center with Delaware State Parks.

What inspires you in your current position/role?
I am inspired by the idea of children becoming engaged with history and beginning what may become, for some, a lifelong passion for the art. I see historical literacy as hugely important to understanding many of today's big social and political issues, and I am happy to be able to work toward improving people's knowledge.

What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?
I had the opportunity to receive Certified Interpretive Guide training through work. This is valuable to me as a professional interpreter, but also has wide-ranging applications for any job I may get because it involves how to communicate a message and get others connected with that message. 

What project(s) are you currently working on?
One of the long-term projects that we are working on is putting together a program for high school students that will integrate physics and math skills with historical education. We will bring students to our 1900s era coast artillery site and get them to work on a large math/physics problem involving firing on a theoretical ship with one of the guns that was here. Integrated into this problem will be a lot of information on what life for an artillerist at the fort was like during that time period. I'm excited about the project because it integrates multiple disciplines, and so will be very valuable and popular, I think, with the educational community. 

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?
Hard to go into this in two sentences, but the humanities bring a deeper appreciation and richness to all parts of life. Humanities force you wrestle with difficult ideas and questions, and gives you the ability to understand those who are different from you. Necessary tools for life, and ones that you cannot acquire except through studying the humanities! 

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you (hobby, skill, interesting story)?
I actually grew up overseas, in Portugal and Mozambique.

Thank you, Jake, for sharing how your work directly influences a wide variety of people.

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Karen Pierce's interview, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our third guest is Karen Pierce, director of the Slippery Rock Community Library. Karen loves books, loves talking about books, loves finding new books to read, and well, loves helping people to find books and information. Ms. Pierce used to sell books for children and the position of librarian was a perfect fit. She is pursuing her degree in library science at Clarion University. Karen notes the best part of her job is working with the people who walk through the library door. Ms. Pierce is "information central" and can answer most any question posed to her and if she doesn't know, she knows where to go to find the answer. She has been working at the library since 2008.

What inspires you in your current position/role?   
I really like my job at the Slippery Rock Community Library.  I enjoy being able to help people find information and solutions.  I like being a point of information for the community.                                                
What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why?  
I was an Independent Educational Sales Consultant for Usborne Books.  I learned so much from that job -  marketing skills, including marketing not only the books but myself as well, working with the public,  customer service and some computer skills.  I loved selling kids books - really they sell themselves - they still are some of my favorite books!                    

What project(s) are you currently working on?     
We are currently working on building a new library!  I am very excited.  We are located right now in a room that is 283 square feet and we've outgrown that room a long time ago.  We've been raising funds and are ready to build a new library at 465 North Main St that will be around 2700 square feet.  Our community is ready for this!                                                                                                             

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia?  
I think the study of humanities is important for everyone!  Humanities is the study and interpretation of language, literature and history among other things and I think it's good to be able to understand the context of a conversation.  For example, a conversation in our current time is about the Constitution and how it was written by the founding fathers and how it is being interpreted today.  Are we interpreting it the way our founding fathers intended? How has society changed in 200 + years?  This is but one example of why humanities is an very important part of our education.  Think of the other things we interpret - Religious texts, historical documents, ancient history - before the written word.  We are shaped as a community by events that happened in the past and the things that happen today will shape how our community looks, acts, responds in the future.   

What shows are you currently binge-watching?    
I rarely watch TV live.  I record Timeless and The Walking Dead. I am restless though so I usually can't sit through an entire episode without pausing it and doing something else for a while.        

Thank you, Karen, for sharing how you're bringing humanities into our community. We look forward to the new library!

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Seth Bruggeman's interview, click here.

Want to be interviewed? Contact us.   

With funding challenges forcing many institutions across the country to either scale back or consider cuts to liberal arts programming, Slippery Rock University's Humanities Ladder program will soon receive an infusion of capital courtesy of a $100,000 Humanities Access Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.The NEH today announced $16.3 million in funding for 290 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to support a variety of humanities-based research and programs. The grants include the inaugural round of Humanities Access grants which were awarded through NEH's Office of Challenge Grants to 34 organizations - including SRU's Humanities Ladder - that provide "cultural programming for young people, communities of color and economically disadvantaged populations."

SRU's Humanities Ladder program, a 10-week initiative that launched in fall 2015, introduces underserved high school students at Aliquippa High School to topics not normally covered at the high school level, including: art history, gender studies and philosophy.

The ultimate goal of the program is to help students develop a love of humanities and find motivation to attend college.

"The grant speaks volumes about the significance of the Humanities Ladder and its tremendous potential," said Aaron Cowan, SRU professor of history and program co-director. "There is an entire national movement in the humanities where we think about how to make enrichment available to people outside the University."

According to Timothy Aiken, director of congressional affairs for the NEH, the 34 Access Grant recipients were awarded following a "rigorous and highly competitive" peer-review process.

Aiken said the NEH evaluated each grant application before forwarding recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities, which serves in an advisory role to the NEH. The council then provides its recommendations to NEH Chairman William Adams for final approval.

"The humanities help us study our past, understand our present, and prepare for our future," said Adams. "The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to support projects that will benefit all Americans and remind us of our shared human experience."

While the NEH awards 900 grants a year ranging from $1,000 to $750,000, Aiken said many applicants get turned down.

"In most programs, the applicant success rate varies from about 6 percent to 40 percent," he said.
SRU's Humanities Ladder served 25 high school sophomores in its first year and has followed those participating students into their junior year while welcoming another class of 30 sophomores in 2016.

"Since the program started, these students have exhibited increased educational goals, a deeper appreciation for the humanities and an overall greater confidence," Cowan said. "There was a 50 percent increase in students motivated to apply for college admission."

Participating faculty have been joined this fall by SRU students Max Knight, a junior secondary education/history from North East and LaMorie Marsh, a senior English major from New York City, who act as student mentors in the program.

The NEH grant monies are designed to support initiatives by matching other external funding up to $100,000, according to Lia Paradis, SRU associate professor of history and program co-director. The program was the recipient of a $45,000 grant from the PNC Foundation in June.
"The support of the NEH will help us approach other potential funders, because it indicates that the Humanities Ladder is an important program worth their attention," she said.

Funding from the NEH grant will allow for expansion of the program to additional area school districts that, like Aliquippa, lack funding for humanities education.

The Humanities Ladder program is part of SRU's Stone House Center for Public Humanities. Cowan and Paradis launched the Center in 2014, with the goal of taking humanities programming into the wider community and sustaining interest in liberal arts education.

"The Center connects the University's humanities faculty and students to the broader community by offering collaborative educational programming, public forums, non-degree courses, workshops and service-learning opportunities, all focused on bringing the insights of the humanities to bear on contemporary public life," said Cowan.

"The mission is to provide unique opportunities for the western Pennsylvania community to celebrate cultural heritage, foster innovative educational experiences and highlight the humanities' relevance to contemporary life."