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What is the Humanities Center?
As scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences at the University of Rochester, we examine human culture in its myriad forms: literature, language, media, philosophy, religion, history, anthropology, visual and performing arts, and much more. We are committed to critical thinking, reasoned discourse, inclusiveness, civility, empathy, and compassion—values that lie at the center of humanistic inquiry and that are essential for a thriving democratic citizenry. The Humanities Center, located in Rush Rhees Library, is our home base for interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration. We offer programs for faculty, students, and the public. To become an affiliate of the Center and receive emails about our events, contact humanities@rochester.edu.
Upcoming Events
Recent News
Faculty Spotlight: Jordan Ealey
Jordan Ealey, Assistant Professor of Black Studies, was awarded the 2025 C.L.R. James Research Fellowship, which supports research for completing dissertations and publishing books focused on Black intellectual history. They were also awarded a 2025 Playwriting Fellowship with the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, which provides support to visual and literary artists in New York State through summer residences and retreats. Professor Ealey is one of the inaugural residents in playwriting.
2025-2026 Internal Fellows
We are excited to welcome a new cohort of internal fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please join us in congratulating:
Lisa Cerami, Assistant Professor of Instruction in German, Modern Languages and Cultures
Melanie Chambliss, Assistant Professor of History
Vialcary Crisóstomo Tejada, Assistant Professor of Spanish, Modern Languages and Cultures
Laura Smoller, Professor of History
The Humanities Center
Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration
In the Humanities Center, faculty, fellows, students, affiliates, and the public gather to collaborate and create community. Seminars, workshops, lectures, digital projects and other forms of humanistic inquiry animate our beautiful new space in Rush Rhees Library.
Watch VideoWith majors and degree programs that incorporate dozens of disciplines.
Comprised of hundreds of courses based in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Support the Center
Rochester is uniquely positioned to pursue research that spans the arts and humanities. If you would like more information about the humanities at Rochester or the Central New York Humanities Corridor, please contact us.