Undergraduate Humanities Innovators

Undergraduate students committed to the humanities have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of career pathways, but often lack the levels of specialized pre-professional support and structured engagement with peers enjoyed by students in law, business, or STEM fields. The Undergraduate Humanities Innovators program seeks to address this inequity by bringing together a community of future scholars, practitioners, and leaders in the humanities to learn from experts and from one another.

Students who take part in this year-long experience will receive tailored mentorship and take part in professional development activities designed to strengthen their portfolios, refine their research skills, clarify postgraduate options and processes, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the breadth and state of humanistic work in the United States today.

The division of Public Engagement at the National Humanities Center established the Undergraduate Humanities Innovators program (formerly National Humanities Leadership Council) to empower a group of student leaders from institutions across the country to leverage humanistic approaches in their work inside and outside of the academy. Students selected as Innovators participate in a unique series of interactive experiences with humanities practitioners in a variety of fields and sectors. From discussion sessions to skill-based workshops, they explore the essential importance of humanistic perspectives in addressing the concerns of contemporary society. Students also focus on developing projects with their cohort and engaging with the communities at their institutions.