A visit to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) strengthened the connection between the two institutions, and potentially helped to spark additional support and resources to UH Mānoa in the field of humanities.
The UH Mānoa Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship hosted the NEH delegation from Washington, D.C. NEH is an independent federal agency dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities. The delegation was led by NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), NEH Senior Deputy Chair Anthony Mitchell and NEH Chief of Staff Kelsey Coates.
The visit on April 25 began with a meeting with College of Arts, Languages & Letters Dean Peter Arnade to discuss UH Mānoa’s strength in humanities, highlight the work of UH Mānoa’s faculty and students, and learn about NEH’s mission and strategic goals. Arnade previously received NEH funding, which helped change the course of his career.
“The visit from NEH Chair Lowe underscored the breadth of talent among our faculty in the
Humanities and our unique scholarly attributes,” Arnade said. “It placed a spotlight on the excellence of our faculty’s research and opened the door to more NEH funding opportunities.”
The NEH delegation also met with UH Mānoa faculty who received NEH funding, and learned about the lasting impact of their projects.
They toured the Hawaiian and Pacific collections, housed in UH Mānoa’s Hamilton Library. The delegation conducted a faculty forum for UH faculty, staff and students, and representatives from the Hawaii Council for the Humanities. They were treated to a poetry reading by Associate Professor Brandy Nālani McDougall, who is the Hawaiʻi state poet laureate. Lowe then showcased NEH’s work to increase access to the humanities for every American across the nation. Finally, the group received tours of the John Young Museum of Art and the Center for Oral History.
