NYS Humanities Council Seeks Public Scholars

The New York State Council for the Humanities invites applications for their new public engagement initiative, the Public Scholars program.

Public Scholars is an evolution of the Council’s longstanding Speakers in the Humanities program. The new program promotes public humanities engagement across New York State by offering a selection of presentations facilitated by trained public engagement scholars.

The ideal applicant will be eager to contribute to and benefit from a statewide community of public intellectuals. Applicants should have a strong interest in engaging audiences beyond the standard lecture model – that of a credentialed speaker delivering facts to passive listeners. A successful Public Scholar’s presentation will not only introduce original material, but expand how participants think about the topic under discussion.

Scholars who work in all disciplines and periods are encouraged to apply, but applicants who use their expertise as a lens through which to view pressing contemporary issues are strongly preferred. Applicants should hold an advanced degree in a humanities discipline or be able to present a strong case demonstrating their commitment to scholarship and knowledge-gathering in their field.

For more information on criteria and eligibility visit can be found on the Become a Scholar page. Final decisions will be made by June 30th and Public Scholars are expected to begin delivering lectures this fall.

To begin the application process, complete and submit the Public Scholars application by March 25th. Email scholars@nyhumanities.org with questions.