Humanities
Behind the Scenes at The Tonight Show
Crystal Marshall, C’24, just started a master’s degree in film programming and curating at the University of London, as a Thouron Scholar. Before leaving for the UK, she spent the summer as a general production intern on Jimmy Fallon’s show.
A Sounding Board for First- and Second-Years
The College’s pre-major advising program has been around since the 1990s. The 130 or so faculty and staff who participate act as a support system and academic guide for undergrads learning to navigate the experiences and spaces of Penn.
Children of Freedom
Historian Sarah Gronningsater’s new book, about efforts toward slavery’s abolition and equal rights in New York from the Revolution through Reconstruction, shows how Black people found ways to advocate for their freedom—and helped mold a new nation.
A Champion for the Liberal Arts
Peter Struck, Vartan Gregorian Professor of the Humanities, shares his journey as an academic, an educator, and now, Stephen A. Levin Family Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
60-Second Lectures | Fall 2024 Roundup (Video)
Topics ranged from social learning and the importance of reproductive health to the Civil Rights movement, the city of Philadelphia, and whether dance can exist without music.
Small Seminars Foster Sense of Belonging for New College Students
Sixty first-year seminars offer complex subjects in a comfortable group setting, as well as close connections to professors and peers. This year, 10 are also taking part in a pilot program focused on teaching students how to have respectful dialogue around difficult topics.
Omnia Podcast: Deep Listening and The Sound of Philadelphia (Audio)
In a graduate seminar taught by Professor of Music Carol Muller, students re-examined ethnographic research methods and worked on field projects aimed at documenting Philadelphia’s Black music history.
A Proud American
In his new book The Ballad of Roy Benavidez, historian William Sturkey explores the life of this Hispanic war hero, his fight to maintain veteran disability benefits, and the ways in which Hispanic Americans have long shaped U.S. history with scant acknowledgement.
Using Animation to Spread Strength and Hope
Ejun Hong, C’25, has been making animated films since high school. The prizewinning Echoing, It Doesn’t Stop is her fourth, inspired by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Peter Struck Named Stephen A. Levin Family Dean of College of Arts & Sciences
Struck, a distinguished classicist, award-winning teacher, and innovative program leader, starts the new appointment on Aug. 1, 2024.
Summer Reading Picks
Eleven faculty and lecturers from Penn Arts & Sciences share the books they’re reading now that the academic year has wound down.
A Safe Space for Difficult Conversations
How does representation in sexually explicit materials affect the well-being of people who identify as cisgender male, Asian American, and non-heterosexual? It’s a question Steven Chen, C’24, is on a quest to answer.
Using Literature to Unlock Stories of the Unseen
In the hands of Matty Hemming, GR’24, early 20th-century novels become roadmaps to the politics and norms of their authors’ time.
Just Right
The certificate programs offered by the College of Liberal & Professional Studies fill an educational need for students who want to learn about an area but don’t need a full degree.
Lessons in Philosophy
As philosophers-in-residence at the Academy at Palumbo in South Philadelphia, Ph.D. students Jacqueline Wallis and Afton Greco are teaching high schoolers how to contemplate life’s big questions.