Politics, Pedagogy, and the Public Humanities
Virtual Symposium | May 26–28, 2021
The application deadline has now passed.
List of speakers and organizers
Tufts University Library’s Symposium Resource Guide
Zoom / Remo Links & Symposium Details
Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New England Humanities Consortium (NEHC), and the University of Connecticut, the Faculty of Color Working Group (FOCWG) invites applications for a virtual symposium hosted by Tufts University scheduled for Wednesday May 26 – Friday May 28, 2021 themed “Politics, Pedagogy, and the Public Humanities.” This community and support-building event for FOC, continues the enthusiasm generated during the first regional FOCWG gathering, on May 10, 2019.
Given the particular challenges faced throughout the academy, the FOCWG's charge is to provide NEHC faculty of color with mentoring and other resources to support their professional success and wellbeing. To this end, we are continuing our large symposium program as well as piloting two new support programs: a fellowship competition for faculty research and writing time as well as mentoring network to support faculty at all levels.
With this year’s theme, we hope to offer attendees tools that help them situate their research, teaching, and service in the changing landscape of the university. Given the urgent research that faculty of color across the humanities are doing in response to systemic violence, how might we find new audiences for our scholarship and activate pedagogies that speak to current social and political conditions across our disciplinary locations? This question acquires greater urgency given our context of disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, precarious economic conditions and labor markets, anti-Black racism and police brutality, xenophobia and anti-immigration politics, unchecked white supremacy, ableism, and transphobia across the nation and in our institutions.
To respond to these issues and challenges, the FOCWG invites applicants for our second symposium designed to promote supportive professional networks and create cross-disciplinary mentorship opportunities. The virtual symposium, open to faculty of all ranks, runs Wednesday May 26 to Friday May 28. It includes a keynote by Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (Princeton), workshops by Dr. Noliwe Rooks (Cornell), Dr. Gabrielle Foreman (Penn State), Dr. Kyla Wazana Tompkins (Pomona), Dr. E. Patrick Johnson (Northwestern), and Dr. Nicole Aljoe (Northeastern), social hours, and opportunities for one-on-one meetings with publishers. Events on Wednesday and Thursday will occur in the evening, and Friday will feature five 75-minute workshops beginning at 10am EST.
Please note that space will be limited to ensure a high level of interaction among all participants. Preference will be given to applicants from NEHC member institutions, however we welcome applications from faculty of color in the humanities at any US higher education institution. Symposium fellows will receive a stipend to help defray any costs incurred in attending (meals, childcare, etc.), and to reward active participation across the three days.
Interested individuals should submit a brief letter of application (PDF, up to one page) outlining their experiences as faculty of color at their institution, their interest in this year’s theme, and what they hope to gain by attending the workshops. Please also upload an abbreviated Curriculum Vitae (up to 3 pages). Please submit your materials via our application portal by April 23, 2021. All fellows will be asked to complete a questionnaire relevant to planning the symposium and for identifying specific FOCWG priorities moving forward. Please distribute this call widely to appropriate potential applicants and feel free to direct inquiries to Kareem Khubchandani (kareem.khubchandani@tufts.edu).