Humanities News

A year of risks and rewards at UC Santa Cruz

From a dramatic Quarry renovation groundbreaking to an extraordinary recognition for groundbreaking research, 2016 at UC Santa Cruz was full to bursting with accomplishments and accolades

New program helps humanities grad students consider work in the public sphere

From a Holocaust study center in Norway and a small environmental center in northern Alaska, to the Japanese American Museum in San Jose and the Santa Cruz County jail, humanities Ph.D. students expanded their horizons this year thanks to a new program started by the UC Santa Cruz Institute for Humanities Research (IHR).

Alumna Kate Schatz pens second NY Times bestseller with ‘Rad Women Worldwide’

Rad Women Worldwide, the follow-up to UC Santa Cruz alumna Kate Schatz’s New York Times bestselling book Rad American Women A-Z, is a showcase of extraordinary women from 31 countries around the world.

Students shed new light on slavery by mixing archaeological data with historical records

Using a blend of data, history, and archaeology, UC Santa Cruz undergraduates have explored what life as a slave was like on plantations in the American South. They shared their research findings in an interactive poster session this week.

Feminist studies professor Karen Barad receives multiple honors in Europe

Karen Barad--professor of feminist studies, philosophy, and history of consciousness at UC Santa Cruz--also happens to have a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics and quantum field theory...

Restorative justice and civil rights leader Fania Davis to give Baskin Ethics Lecture

Fania Davis, co-founder and executive director of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, will deliver the 2016 Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Music Center Recital Hall.

Five questions with UC Santa Cruz humanities dean Tyler Stovall

Tyler Stovall became dean of the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division in 2015. Now beginning his second full academic year as dean, we sat down with Dean Stovall to discuss the state of the humanities at UC Santa Cruz and beyond.

Anger as a tool for change: The role of rage and hostility in politics

"A free society is a passionate society,” UC Santa Cruz politics professor Daniel Wirls observed during 'Anger in Politics: From the Bard to the Donald,' the latest in the Institute for Humanities “Questions that Matter” lecture series.

Jody Greene appointed founding director of Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning

Jody Greene, professor of literature, feminist studies, and history of consciousness, has been appointed the founding director of the new Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning (CITL).

A tale of two fetuses

In 'What Becomes Us,' a new novel by UC Santa Cruz literature professor Micah Perks, twin fetuses tell the story of a pregnant woman who abandons her controlling husband in Santa Cruz and moves to a small upstate New York town.

New senate faculty further campus expertise across divisions

UC Santa Cruz has more than three dozen new senate faculty members joining this academic year, bringing the campus total up to 568.

Anger in Politics: From Shakespeare to Donald Trump

What place does anger have in public life? On the eve of an historic election, the Institute for Humanities Research at UC Santa Cruz, in collaboration with the research group Shakespeare Workshop--will present a public conversation about anger and politics, from Shakespeare to Donald Trump.

Big questions to be explored at Silicon Valley Campus grand opening

The celebration, showcasing the multidisciplinary teaching and research hub, will feature an open house, a ribbon cutting, and a handful of engaging talks by leading campus thinkers.

UC Santa Cruz receives NEH grant to broaden career opportunities for Ph.D. students

UC Santa Cruz is one of 28 colleges and universities nationwide to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to plan and implement changes to graduate education that will broaden the career preparation of a Ph.D. student beyond a career in the academy.

Book by UC Santa Cruz alumnus tops President Obama’s Summer Reading List

A memoir of surfing by UC Santa Cruz graduate William Finnegan, (Cowell, '74, English literature) is at the top of President Obama's 2016 Summer Reading List.

UC president encourages teenage girls to aim high during visit to campus

UC President Janet Napolitano visited UC Santa Cruz this week and stopped in on Dickens Universe, UCSC Farm, games and robotics programs, Youth Empowerment Institute, and COSMOS sessions.

Catherine Jones wins 2016 Abbott Prize for best book on the history of children

Associate professor of history Catherine Jones has been honored with the Grace Abbott Book Prize for the best book published in 2015 on the history of children and youth.

UCSC humanities dean contributes to Time Magazine’s ‘25 Moments That Changed America’

In late Spring, Time Magazine reached out to 25 historians and asked them to nominate a pivotal moment in history that has changed our nation. One of the distinguished historians that Time contacted for the piece is UC Santa Cruz humanities dean Tyler Stovall.

Stories of research, excitement, and surprise at Graduate Research Symposium

UC Santa Cruz storytelling project StoryCruz captures first-person narratives from graduate students describing their research and their hopes.

UCSC’s Gail Project wins first prize in national 'Shout Out for the Humanities' contest

Why is studying the humanities–history, literature, languages, philosophy, culture–important? How would you convince your parents, an employer, a politician, or others that there is value in pursing the humanities?

Nine faculty members honored with Excellence in Teaching awards

The awards honor instructors who have demonstrated exemplary and inspiring teaching. Students make the nominations and more than 620 were received this year.

Linguistics professor Pranav Anand receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities

Associate professor of linguistics Pranav Anand was presented with the John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities at the Humanities Division’s 2016 Spring Awards celebration held at the Cowell Provost House.

History professor Greg O'Malley to create new public database about the slave trade

With the help of a $220,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, UC Santa Cruz history professor Gregory O'Malley plans to add his research to one of the most utilized resources in the digital humanities.

UCSC Night at the Museum to spotlight African American art and history

The UC Santa Cruz Institute for Humanities Research will present 'UCSC Night at the Museum: The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection', a free public event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, on Wednesday, May 18.

UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division celebrates International Jazz Day at Kuumbwa

A capacity crowd filled Kuumbwa Jazz Center Saturday night for "Race, Class, and Culture through the Lens of Jazz"--a special event presented by the UCSC Humanities Division, featuring a panel of jazz scholars, followed by an inspired performance by Bay Area jazz singer Kim Nalley.

Awards recognize top presentations at Graduate Research Symposium

Graduate student researchers from across the divisions explained their work to a diverse audience during the symposium.

History professor Peter Kenez honored with top UC award for emeriti faculty

The 2016 Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award, honoring emeriti professors in the University of California system, has been awarded to UC Santa Cruz professor emeritus of history Peter Kenez.

Alums Martha Mendoza, William Finnegan win 2016 Pulitzer Prize

Journalism's highest honor is awarded to the Associated Press and Mendoza for public service and in biography to Finnegan for his surfing memoir.

True Originals series: Coffee and games

The popular True Originals notable alumni speaker series returns with an artisan coffee innovator, and two creative Slugs who are setting bold new standards in the world of video games.

UC Santa Cruz receives $1 million to support Institute of the Arts and Sciences

Alumnus Nion McEvoy has donated $1 million to support programming for UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences over the next five years.

Alumni Weekend: Keynote speakers to explore the question of how we learn

A distinguished group of speakers will explore the question, “How do we learn?,” at an Alumni Weekend event that will range from virtual reality to adaptive learning techniques.

Faculty experts share research, insight with public in Original Thinkers speakers series

The Original Thinkers speaker series, launched in May 2014, has faculty members traveling across the country to share their work and insight in a format designed for the general public.

Living Writers Series to feature acclaimed alums Elizabeth McKenzie and Kate Schatz

Out of Line--the spring edition of the Creative Writing Program’s 2016 Living Writers Series--features eight writers who generally have fun with the unexpected.

In Memoriam: Dilip Basu

Alan Christy named provost of Cowell College

Associate professor of history Alan Christy has been named the new provost of Cowell College, effective July 1, 2016.

Groundbreaking master of science fiction Samuel Delany to read at UC Santa Cruz

The UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and the Living Writers Series will present an evening with acclaimed science-fiction novelist and critic Samuel R. Delany at the Music Center Recital Hall.

Discovering the UC Santa Cruz Campus: Jim Clifford to give Spring Emeriti Faculty Lecture

"In the Ecotone: The UC Santa Cruz Campus" is a new book by emeritus humanities professor Jim Clifford that reflects on the campus as an extraordinary architectural and ecological site.

‘Questions That Matter’ public humanities series to focus on games and play

Over the past decade, the revolution in gaming has created new communities, identities, and careers. Games can now help detect early dementia, reduce pain felt by burn victims, and may help speed healing from concussions...

Jewish studies conference to examine Venice Ghetto and the future of memory

The Center for Jewish Studies at UC Santa Cruz will present a one-day conference, The Venice Ghetto at 500 and the Future of Memory," on campus February 23, at the Humanities 1 Building.

Acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker to screen and discuss film about President Obama’s sister

The UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race & Ethnic Studies and the Living Writers Series will present two evening events with visiting Nigerian filmmaker Branwen Okpako, Feb. 10-11.

UC Santa Cruz awarded four NEH grants

UC Santa Cruz has been awarded four grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support faculty research and the Dickens Project.

Endangered species: American public libraries

Focusing his lens on shared commons that are under threat, alumnus Robert Dawson spent 21 years photographing 526 of the nation’s public libraries.

Institute of Arts and Sciences to launch campuswide 'Collective Museum' Feb. 11

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) at UCSC will kick off its innovative first exhibition project--Collective Museum, by the Portland-based artist group Public Doors and Windows, Feb. 11.

Holocaust survivor and scholar Hedwig Rose to give public talk at UCSC on Jan. 21

Following her father’s arrest by the Nazis in 1942, six-year-old Hedwig Rose, her mother, and sister spent three years hidden in an Amsterdam cellar by a Christian friend until the country was liberated on May 5, 1945.

UC Santa Cruz alumna to join National Council on the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities announced today that UC Santa Cruz alumna Patricia Limerick is one of three prominent and accomplished individuals who will join the Endowment’s advisory board.

Craft becomes art for celebrated Kiowa artist and alumna

Alumna Teri Greeves uses the traditional skill of beadworking to tell stories in new ways, to create a new language that draws people together.

Chair of National Endowment for the Humanities to deliver 2016 Maitra Lecture

The Institute for Humanities Research will present the 15th annual Maitra Lecture, featuring alumnus William “Bro” Adams, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, on Thursday, January 28.