Amber Musser lectures at the Humanities Center
The Humanities Commons provides intentional space for programming and events for the campus and greater community, including talks, conversations, panel discussions, and film screenings that draw diverse audiences. Last month, the Humanities Center hosted author Amber Musser in the Commons for a discussion related to the climate crisis.

University of Richmond Launches New Humanities Center

Initiative will provide students more opportunities for collaboration and exploration
October 2, 2024

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond recently launched the Humanities Center, a campus-wide initiative that will foster student and faculty research in the many areas of scholarship that make up the humanities.  

“The humanities at UR are not defined as a set of majors, minors, or departments, rather these disciplines are a cluster of intellectual practices that get taken up in every field of study across all of the University’s five schools,” said Nathan Snaza, director of the Humanities Center. “The humanities are critical as we all need to be able to understand history, to think philosophically about what’s ethical or about what makes truth claims valid, and to think about how we interpret and make sense of the texts that shape our lives.”

Each year, the Humanities Center will focus on a theme that informs coursework, independent study, and community events. This year’s theme — “How (and why) do we represent nature?” — aims to inspire ecological awareness in the face of climate change.

In addition to advancing existing UR research opportunities across disciplines, including through Humanities Connect and the Humanities Fellows Program, the Humanities Center will work closely with various student-facing offices across campus to showcase the value of a humanities degree in various career paths. 

“Students who study the humanities develop skills in critical thinking and communication, alongside building humane instincts, all of which are important to success in careers and life,” said Amy Howard, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “The Humanities Center reflects UR’s commitment to the humanities as a foundation of life-long learning.”

The Center is hosting the 2024-25 Tucker-Boatwright Festival of Literature & the Arts in partnership with the English department, as well additional public events throughout the year.

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