Graduate scholarship in the humanities explores countless facets of contemporary human experience, from film to food studies. However, this research typically demands extensive reading and writing time — often difficult to balance with jobs, coursework or teaching responsibilities.

To help smooth the way during this critical phase, each year the Syracuse University Humanities Center recognizes accomplished graduate student scholars through competitive fellowships and awards. These fellowships empower students to complete their academic journey while sharing their work with both campus and community.

The grants serve two purposes. Not only do they advance individual academic careers, but they also invest in humanistic inquiry and projects addressing societal challenges and spanning university and community.

“We are so proud to support the work of the next generation of humanists,” notes Vivian May, director of the Syracuse University Humanities Center, principal investigator of the CNY Humanities Corridor and professor of women's and gender studies. “This year's exceptional scholars earned their title of fellows through profound contributions to the humanities and showcase the critical importance of these disciplines in our complex world. Their work not only advances knowledge within their specialized fields but also bridges important conversations across academic boundaries.”

By funding such scholarly projects, the Humanities Center helps to spotlight the tangible impact of humanities research. And through cultivating scholarly expertise that extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, meaningful partnerships are created with local communities, public discourse is informed and creative insights emerge—all while fostering the next generation of humanistic scholars.

Meet this year's student fellows and awardees, who bring a range of scholarly backgrounds to the Syracuse community as they work in the areas of film archives, pedagogy, community-sourced art and food traditions.

Humanities Center Dissertation Fellows

Two doctoral candidates have been awarded Syracuse University Humanities Center Dissertation Fellowships, giving them the opportunity to dedicate their final year to research and writing. Beyond a stipend and benefits package, fellows engage with peers across disciplines and present their work to audiences within and beyond the Humanities Center's collaborative environment. This year’s Dissertation Fellows are:

• Caroline Imani Charles, Ph.D. Candidate, English / Film and Screen Studies, Watch Her Dissertation Here

Charles melds her expertise in film history and visuality studies with her commitment to archival research to examine how Black filmmakers have used the medium as a tool for counter-narrative creation. Her dissertation, “Black Filmmaking as Archival Practice," analyzes late 20th and early 21st century films to demonstrate how Black filmmakers have intervened in archives of Black subjection or absence to create powerful alternatives to dominant narratives. An experienced instructor and teaching assistant for courses such as World Cinema and Hip Hop and Race, Charles recently received the Graduate Dean's Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work—one of only eight recipients chosen from 60 nominees. Her project, "Black Family Photography in Syracuse," previously received grant support from Humanities New York.

• Lerie Gabriel, Ph.D. Candidate, Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, Watch Her Dissertation Here

Gabriel combines her knowledge of professional writing pedagogy and a commitment to social justice to examine how core writing courses can be fundamentally redesigned through anti-racist and anti-ableist frameworks. Her dissertation, "Equitable, Inclusive, and Accessible: DEIA-driven Revisions of a Core Professional Writing Course at a Private University," analyzes the collaborative revision of WRT 307, a professional writing course at Syracuse University. Drawing from her direct involvement in the course redesign process, along with departmental archives and faculty interviews, Gabriel aims to demonstrate how intersectional approaches to professional and technical writing can transform traditional pedagogical models while contributing to the broader social justice turn in technical communication. Gabriel explores such revisions through both Syracuse University's institutional history and the evolving landscape of technical communication as a field.

Charles and Gabriel held a Meet the Scholars Coffee Hour: 2024-2025 HC Dissertation Fellows on Feb. 21, where they each presented research grounded in their lived experiences in academia. Both scholars demonstrate how academic intervention and resistance can reshape engagement with history and culture.

Related Content: Read Goldring Arts Journalist Colette Goldstein’s blog post exploring how Gabriel’s and Charles’ lived experiences shaped their projects.

Humanities NY Graduate Projects

Every summer, two selected graduate student applicants from Syracuse University receive funding and other supports toward their work in the public sphere from Humanities New York, through its Humanities Centers Initiative. The program supports publicly engaged work by graduate student awardees from partnering institutions across the state. Both graduate projects meaningfully bridge academic research with community engagement, amplifying human voices and creating spaces for cultural expression and exchange—through visual art and culinary traditions.

The awardees are:

• Mary Hanrahan (Graduate Student, Communication and Rhetorical Studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts)

Project: Countering War on Terror Narratives with Muslim Community Art

Working with the Lender Center for Social Justice at Syracuse University, Hanrahan’s project examines the impact of post-9/11 media coverage on Muslim communities through the lens of community-sourced art. Hanrahan aims to curate an exhibit featuring artwork from New York-based Muslim communities and artists. The exhibition will be presented at the 2025 Lender Fellows Symposium, combining academic analysis with community-driven artistic expression to facilitate dialogue about surveillance, incarceration and media representation of Muslim communities.

• Mercy (Esi) Oppong (Food Studies M.S. ’24, Falk College)

Project: Food Sovereignty in Migration: The New American Kitchen

Oppong's project aims to understand the food sovereignty challenges facing New Americans, centering their voices in their own narratives and advocating for self-determination. It seeks to establish a valuable cultural resource, encourage cross-cultural exchanges and supports community collaborations. An additional component, a recipe book, enables farmers to share their food traditions and history with people in Central New York and beyond. A Ph.D. student at SUNY ESF, Oppong earned a master's degree at Syracuse University in 2024 and a bachelor's from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana in 2020. She is collaborating with the Syracuse Refugee Agricultural Program (SyRAP) at Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE) in her work.

About the Syracuse University Humanities Center

The Syracuse University Humanities Center’s mission is to advance humanities research, showcase the humanities as a public good, and enhance the scholarly community by bringing people together to confront some of the most pressing issues of our time.

About Humanities New York

Humanities New York (HNY) is the state's leading advocate for public humanities, bridging scholarly study with real-world impact through grants and programs. As a non-partisan organization supported by federal funding, private donations and foundations, HNY empowers local cultural organizations to create community-centered activities that foster critical thinking and open dialogue about important issues facing New Yorkers.