In a time when universities often prioritize fields with clear expectations and tangible results, the humanities can feel overlooked.
This lunch with Dr. Edda Fields-Black was an opportunity to engage in conversation regarding the unique challenge of making humanities work visible and valued. Humanities research is not about equipment or immediate outcomes; it is about understanding ideas and culture which take time to develop. Because these contributions are harder to measure, they are often undervalued. Supporting the humanities requires more than funding. It requires a change in how universities recognize what is important.
Supporting humanities centers means recognizing the work faculty already do and asking how institutions can meet their needs. Too often, the humanities are treated as a service department rather than as creators of knowledge in their own right. Dr. Fields-Black captured this reality when she said, “I went everywhere with my plate and said this is what I need.”
Administrators often automatically recognize the value of time spent on research and student engagement. Making needs clear and being heard are essential for creating a culture where humanistic work is respected and supported.
Humanities centers can serve as bridges, demonstrating how humanistic thinking contributes to ethical discussions and social research. Building these bridges takes patience and careful effort. Administrators need to recognize that work that is less immediately tangible, such as leading inquiries and interviews or producing thoughtful scholarship, is just as important as research with clear, measurable outputs.
Ultimately, sustaining humanities centers is about changing the story we tell about their value. Instead of comparing the humanities to science or engineering, institutions should focus on the unique contributions humanists make to critical thinking and cultural awareness.
When faculty are empowered to ask for what they need and are met with understanding, the humanities can regain the central role they deserve in shaping ideas and preparing students to engage thoughtfully with the world.
-Grace Ifiegbu