The Syracuse University Humanities Center in the College of Arts and Sciences concludes its spring series with appearances by several luminaries, including social entrepreneurs Sanjit “Bunker” Roy and Meagan Fallone and multimedia artist Saya Woolfalk.

“We’re ending our season on a high note,” says Vivian May, director of the Humanities Center and associate professor of women’s & gender studies in A&S. “In addition to extending the Syracuse Symposium series, this year’s spring schedule is breaking ground with bold, new lectures, workshops, and seminars. Common to all of them are issues of broad societal concern, worthy of public and academic attention.”

All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit syracusehumanities.org or call 315-443-7192.

Upcoming events include the following:

Thursday, April 14
Lecture: “Saya Woolfalk: Chimeras, Empaths, and Utopias”
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hosmer Auditorium, Everson Museum of Art (401 Harrison St., Syracuse)

Brooklyn multimedia artist Saya Woolfalk discusses how her fictional universe blends with science fiction, fantasy, and cultural anthropology to create a society of tech-savvy plant-human hybrids. Her appearance is part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (SU:VPA) Visiting Artist Lecture Series, and coincides with an exhibition of her work at the Everson, created during her 2015 Light Work residency. The evening includes the world premiere of a video.

Co-Sponsor: School of Art (SU:VPA)


Wednesday, April 20
Humanities Book-Signing & Reception
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Goldstein Alumni & Faculty Center

This inaugural event showcases more than 30 humanities-related books written or edited by Syracuse faculty and staff in 2015. Many authors will be on hand to discuss and sign copies of their work, available for purchase at a one-time 20-percent discount. (Some exceptions apply.) Additional support comes from the Office of Research and the Syracuse University Bookstore.

Thursday, April 21
Lecture: “’Barefoot’ Solutions: Networking Rural India and a Global Initiative”
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Maxwell Auditorium

Friday, April 22 (Earth Day)
Mini-Seminar (sold out)
9 a.m. to noon
Room 341, Eggers Hall

Friday, April 22
"Moonlighting Discourse Series: Ethics and Earth Day," with Quentin Wheeler, president of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Samuel Gorovitz, professor of philosophy and former dean of A&S at Syracuse
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gateway Center, SUNY-ESF (1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse)
Registration required; click here to register

Syracuse Symposium continues its “Networks” theme with three events featuring Sanjit “Bunker” Roy, founder and director of Barefoot College in Northern India, and Meagan Fallone, CEO of Barefoot College International. Presented in conjunction with Earth Day, their talks focus on “barefoot solutions” to solar energy, water, education, connectivity, health care, handicrafts, and the empowerment of women.

Organizers: The South Asia Center in the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the Humanities Center (A&S), the South Asia Program at Cornell University, and SUNY-ESF

Co-Sponsors: A&S; the School of Architecture; the School of Education; the Whitman School of Management; the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program, co-administered by A&S and the College of Engineering and Computer Science; the Democratizing Knowledge Collective (A&S); The Renée Crown University Honors Program (A&S); the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics; the departments of Geography (Maxwell and A&S) and Art & Music Histories (A&S); and the Department of Philosophy’s Undergraduate Ethics Program (A&S)


Wednesday, April 27
The Central New York Humanities Corridor Seminar by Paul Arras
Noon to 1 p.m.
Room 304, Tolley Humanities Building
Registration required; RSVP mmditmar@syr.edu by Monday, April 25

Paul Arras is this year's New York Council for the Humanities' Graduate Student Public Humanities Fellow and a Ph.D. candidate in history in the Maxwell School. He will discuss his role in developing a podcast about people and places in Syracuse's Near Westside neighborhood. Light refreshments provided.

Co-Sponsors: The CNY Humanities Corridor, the Humanities Center, the New York Council for the Humanities, and Daniel and Joanna Rose

Wednesday, May 4
Alan Rutenberg, Humanities Fellowship Advisor (The University of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Workshop 1: “Effective Applications for Humanities Funding & Fellowships: A Substantive Approach”
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (room 114), Bird Library

Based in UT Knoxville's Office of Research & Engagement, Rutenberg explores strategies for conceptualizing and crafting compelling, competitive proposals for humanities funding and fellowships, involving such organizations as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy in Rome. Supported by A&S and the Office of Research.

Thursday, May 5
Workshop 2: “A First Step in Humanities Competitions: Short-Term Fellowships at Humanities Research Libraries”
9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Room 304, Tolley Humanities Building

Rutenberg discusses how short-term residencies may serve as a pivotal step in pursuing larger awards and appointments. Supported by A&S and the Office of Research; coffee provided.

Thursday, May 5
Workshop 3: “Fulbright Fellowships for Faculty: A Strategic Approach”
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (room 114), Bird Library

Rutenberg explains key considerations for submitting a successful proposal to the Fulbright Program—suitable for faculty across the disciplines, including the liberal arts, communications, law, visual and performing arts, education, and management. Supported by A&S and the Office of Research.

Friday, May 6
Workshop 4: “Humanities Fellowships for Recently Tenured Faculty: An Introduction and Incitement”
9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Room 304, Tolley Humanities Building

Rutenberg reviews strategies for pursuing fellowships for recently tenured humanities faculty, with emphasis on projects of broad scope and high significance. Supported by A&S and the Office of Research; coffee provided.

All four professional development workshops are free and open to the public; registration is not required.

The Humanities Center, located in the Tolley Humanities Building, is a hub of humanities research, fellowships, and public programming.