Associate Director’s annual letter
The past year at the Oregon Humanities Center (OHC) has been an inspired and special one—the celebration of the center’s 40th anniversary. Since 1983, the OHC has been at the forefront of bolstering faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students so they can pursue research and discovery, publication and dissemination, and new course development. Outside of the academy, the center’s public programs act as a conduit between the campus and local communities, ensuring that the public has free and open access to the innovations and knowledge produced at the University of Oregon (UO).
During the 2023-24 academic year, the OHC highlighted the remarkable scholarship of UO faculty in our “Humanities Matter(s)” lecture series. Over the course of the year the center held five lectures and panel discussions focused on current topics of great social importance: artificial intelligence and the humanities, science and the humanities, and white supremacy and climate obstruction. The center also held a roundtable discussion with the current and previous directors who shared their perspectives on the history of the center, the state of the humanities, and the key role that the humanities play in solving our interconnected crises. Christopher Newfield, Director of Research at the Independent Social Research Foundation in London, also delivered a keynote lecture titled “Jobs and Universities: A Tale of Two Futures,” outlining the complex partnership between society and higher education institutions, and how to better position students to take on current global challenges.
The OHC was excited to bring back our signature Wine Chats after a hiatus during the pandemic. These popular events, held at Capitello Wines, provide an opportunity to share the fascinating work of UO scholars in the community. In January, Courtney Thorsson, professor of English, spoke about her highly acclaimed recent book, The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture, followed by a disucussion with Faith Barter, assistant professor of English and scholar of African-American literature. In June, Diana Garvin, assistant professor of Italian and Mediterranean Studies, discussed “The Coffee Bean and the War Machine: Northern Italian Coffee Business between the World Wars.”
Collaboration is essential to the success of a research center and in this spirit the OHC has built several new pathways for supporting undergraduate humanities research and career readiness. The OHC has strong partnerships with the UO Special Collections and University Archives and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program that provide undergraduate research fellowships during the school year. This year we developed an exciting collaboration with the Center for Undergraduate Research and Education that provides support for five humanities undergraduate students as they pursue research this summer. These fellowships offer opportunities for students to conduct research and develop skills to be better prepared for the job market or graduate school.
In Fall 2023, the OHC set the goal of raising $40,000 in honor of the 40th anniversary of the center—a goal that we not only met, but substantially exceeded because of the generosity of our donors who understand that the humanities are critical to the flourishing of our world. To advance our fund- and friend-raising efforts, we are welcoming applications to join the community Board of Visitors (BOV)—a group of donors who help advise the center. If you are interested in helping with this important effort to foster the humanities, more information can be found at: ohc.uoregon.edu/people/board-of-visitors. And if you personally don’t have time to join, consider sponsoring a graduate student to join our board so they can gain vital professional experience and carry out a project for the OHC.
This June the OHC reached another important moment in the history of the center with the well-earned retirement of Paul Peppis, Professor of English, who was a steadfast supporter of the humanities and the center director for eleven years. While it is hard to say goodbye to Paul, we are all thrilled to have Leah Middlebrook, Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Spanish, become the center’s newest director as of July 1, 2024. Leah is an accomplished scholar and leader who has served as department head for Comparative Literature, and on many university and external committees and boards. Leah’s most recent book, Amphion: Lyre, Poetry, and Politics in Modernity, is forthcoming from the University of Chicago Press in 2024, and she received both the Ersted Award and the Herman Award for Distinguished Teaching during her career. Please join us in welcoming Leah as the new Director of the Oregon Humanities Center.
We are deeply humbled by your interest, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the center’s work, and for the financial support from dedicated donors. Have a wonderful summer. We look forward to seeing you in the fall!
