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We establish humanities communication as a recognized field that translates heavy narrative-based research into accessible knowledge for all audiences.
Crafted
We envision a future where humanities scholars share their work with confidence and impact, and it is vibrantly integrated into public life by a skilled global community.
Humanistic
Our work celebrates existing expertise, prioritizes inclusivity and joy, and builds confidence through empowerment and reflection.
Collaborative
Center for
Humanities
Communications
We establish humanities communication as a recognized field that translates heavy narrative-based research into accessible knowledge for all audiences.
We envision a future where humanities scholars share their work with confidence and impact, and it is vibrantly integrated into public life by a skilled global community.
Our work celebrates existing expertise, prioritizes inclusivity and joy, and builds confidence through empowerment and reflection.
We envision a future, every humanities scholar, student, and advocate is enabled and expertly equipped to communicate the depth and delight of their humanities work, inspiring widespread engagement and lasting change.
Humanities Communications Programs
Humanities scholars already have what it takes to communicate their work. Trained in language, narrative, and argument — the very foundations of compelling public communication — what they have lacked is a practice built for them, not borrowed from science or adjacent research communication traditions.
It starts from a simple premise: the communication skills developed through humanistic inquiry are distinctive, valuable, and underrecognized. The Humanities Communication Scholars Program is here to help you name and extend what scholars already know how to do.
The Humanities+ Communication Student Engagement Program equips and mobilizes a diverse network of students and educators to reframe the humanities through joyful, co-created, and evidence-based storytelling. By integrating student-led communication with real-world experience, ready-made academic curricula, and professional training, we transform the humanities from a misunderstood discipline into clear and strategic professional pathways and purposeful impact.
Our multilevel approach—spanning K-12 through college—redefines how the value of a humanities degree is understood, driving enrollment and cultivating a new generation of communicators ready to humanize the modern workforce.
A public archive of rich humanities content that is uniquely relevant and relatable. This content is crafted to communicate the humanities with clarity, joy, vibrancy, and awe . The Toolbox focuses on quality over quantity to refresh communication about the humanities through the relevant, interesting, timely, and engaging content:
Humanities Communication is also equity work, addressing a humanities that is at once underserved by the structures around it and underserving of the publics who would benefit from the knowledge it holds. Its distinctiveness lies in two commitments: it is built from within the humanities rather than imported, and it is embedded in the communities it serves — which is why the work is continuing to grow, and why partners are asking for more.
Kath Burton and Anke Finer, Co-Directors of the Humanities Communications Scholars Program
HumComm Talk
Amplifying Humanities Communication Together
2024
NEH Grant
Awarded NEH Chair’s grant to organize a “Humanities Communication Convening.” The convening on September 6, 2024 brought together leaders and advocates of the humanities together with experts in science communication, journalism, social media content creation, public relations, design, and other fields. The day focused on helping the humanities learn from other areas of effective public engagement
First goal: to learn how better to present its materials, media, forms, and ultimately values in vibrant public communication.
Secong goal: for the the humanities to learn how to internalize the idea and practice of “communication” in its self-concept and professional training.
The CHC website was launched.
2025
Mellon Grant
Awarded $150,000 Mellon Foundation Grant estabish the CHC as an organization. The two year grant provided funding for organizational building and establighing core programs .
Mission, vission, and values were developed along with two core programs: the Humanities Communications Scholars Program and the Humanities Communication Student Engagement Program, which included the development of a student internship in communications. A bibliography of humanities research began the first steps in becomming an open-source clearinghouse for all humanities communications research. The first HummTalk blog posts were published.
2026
Leadership & Programming
The organizational structure as supported by the Mellon Grant now includes: Christine Henseler and Alan Liu as co-founders; Kath Burton and Anke Finger as co-directors of Scholars Program. Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque as director of communications and co-director of the Student Program with Henseler.
The Scholars Program carried out numerous workshops and talks, developed a faculty-journaling project, and podcast collaborations with humanities organizations. The Student Program designed a humanities games prototye, had student research assitants gather data on student perceptions and engagement in the humanities and using that research to build out the Humanities Talking Points Toolbox and engagement program. Launch new website.
2027
Self-sustaining Programming
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Broaden grant sources.
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Increase higher education partnerships for Scholars Program engagements.
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Offer initial Talking Points Toolbox kits for faculty and students.
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First phase of implementation of the Humanities Communication Digital Interchange (HumSource) providing open access to excellent examples of humanities communication to enable humanities organizations and projects, both large and small, to assist each other in communicating the humanities.
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Establish a social media presence
CHC Superstar
Stephanie Toxqui is a student at Rutgers University, majoring in English with a minor in Foundations of Urban Education. She holds an Associate’s degree in Teacher Education from Passaic County Community College. Since 2024, Stephanie has served as a Student Support Intern at Braven, actively empowering college students with career-connected learning and instilling in them the confidence to enter their desired field of work.
Stephanie has been part of the CHC family for over two years working with the Humanities Communications Student Engagement Program and the Talking Points Toolbox. As a research assistant aims to support and advocate for humanities communications by curating accessible and diverse resources related to the humanities. THANK YOU, Stephanie , for all of your hard work. You are a very important part of the CHC family.
In 2023, she received an International Distinguished Research Project Award from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for co-chairing a humanities-based undergraduate research project that explored constructs hindering students’ self-expression through play. Through her experience working in non-profit organizations and higher-educational spaces, she understands the value of using communication, collaboration, and community to uplift others. She strongly desires to aid and champion students in receiving interdisciplinary career guidance that aligns with their passions.
CHC Superstars
Stephanie Toxqui
Stephanie Toxqui is a student at Rutgers University, majoring in English with a minor in Foundations of Urban Education. She holds an Associate’s degree in Teacher Education from Passaic County Community College. Since 2024, Stephanie has served as a Student Support Intern at Braven, actively empowering college students with career-connected learning and instilling in them the confidence to enter their desired field of work.
Stephanie has been part of the CHC family for over two years working with the Humanities Communications Student Engagement Program and the Talking Points Toolbox. As a research assistant aims to support and advocate for humanities communications by curating accessible and diverse resources related to the humanities. THANK YOU, Stephanie , for all of your hard work. You are a very important part of the CHC family.
In 2023, she received an International Distinguished Research Project Award from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for co-chairing a humanities-based undergraduate research project that explored constructs hindering students’ self-expression through play. Through her experience working in non-profit organizations and higher-educational spaces, she understands the value of using communication, collaboration, and community to uplift others. She strongly desires to aid and champion students in receiving interdisciplinary career guidance that aligns with their passions.