OUR MISSION

The West Virginia University Humanities Center ignites, supports, and promotes humanistic inquiry. As a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub of WVU, we proudly bring together a strong community of scholars and artists to showcase the vital role of humanities scholarship and creativity in a thriving and just society.

What We Do

Foster Faculty &

Student Research

And Development

With the support of multiple private endowments, we support humanities research through our annual grants and fellowships program. We also support workshops, reading groups, and other activities that enhance our lives as scholars and artists.

Spark Human

Connection with

Public Engagements

We engage the public by hosting speakers, exhibitions, and discussions that expand our perspectives, challenge assumptions, inspire the imagination, encourage human connection, and promote a deeper understanding of all aspects of human culture.

Build Community

around Humanistic

Inquiry

We put humanistic inquiry and human connection at the center of our campus culture. Our goal is for WVU to be a model of cutting-edge humanities research, outstanding teaching and learning, and a service for improving the lives of the people of our state and the world.

News & Updates

Mountains, clouds, and trees fill the background. Text that says, "Now Accepting Submissions for the 2026-27' undergraduate fellows program. Deadline: July 1, 2026.

Apply to be a 2026-2027 Undergraduate Research Fellow

The WVU Humanities Center’s Undergraduate Research Fellows Program provides sustained, mentored research and professional development for a select community of undergraduate students. We are seeking applications for the first cohort of undergraduate students conducting research projects aligned with the Humanities Center’s annual theme.

Learn More and Apply

Dylan Collins stands beside his sculpture in a garden.

Sculpting A National Identity: Interview with Dylan Collins

With a 2025-2026 research support grant from the WVU Humanities Center, Professor Dylan Collins spent June 2025 participating in a digital stone carving residency in in the northern part of Tuscany, Italy. The residency brought together a diverse, international cohort of studio artists, architects, designers, and students.

Read About Collins' Research

Photo of Sarah Morris standing in front of wood railing overlooking a valley.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sarah Morris on Identity, Place, and Belonging

Dr. Sarah Morris, Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Writing Program at WVU, published her first book, Lessons from “Take Me Home, Country Roads”: Identity Be(Longing), and Imagined Landscapes with West Virginia University Press in October 2025.

Learn About Morris' Book

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Our newsletter is the best way to keep up to date with all the humanities happenings on campus. We'll bring you updates and opportunities from the Humanities Center and our partners on campus.

Upcoming events

Join us to hear from special speakers, see exhibitions, and discuss topics that expand our perspectives, challenge assumptions, inspire the imagination, encourage human connection, and promote a deeper understanding of all aspects of human culture.