Center for the Humanities

In 1983-84, Drake University established an endowment to support teaching and research in the humanities. The Endowment yields annual revenue whose sole purpose is to enhance teaching and scholarship in the humanities at Drake University.

Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Drake University Center for Teaching and Research in the Humanities serves the entire campus by initiating humanities-centered projects and activities, and by funding proposals made by faculty.

The Center strives not only to provide monetary support, but also to foster an environment of vibrant, ongoing, and collaborative inquiry.

Drake faculty, at any rank, in any department or program in the University, whose work as teachers, scholars, or in academic service  involves humanistic inquiry, broadly construed, are eligible to join the Humanities Center Faculty. Those interested should email the director expressing their wish to join the Humanities Center Faculty and be added to our email distribution list.

The board and director are elected by that self-same Humanities Center Faculty for three-year terms; the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences also maintains a seat on the board ex-officio.

The current director is Amy Letter, Associate Professor of English (Creative Writing); term ends Spring 2025

The current board members are:

Robert Collis (History) term ends Spring 2025
Dina Smith (English) replacement position Spring 2025

Dian Nostikasari (Environmental Science) term ends Spring 2026
Maureen Yuen (Music, Violin and Viola) term ends Spring 2026  

Emily Newman (Art & Design) term ends Spring 2027
Leanne Purdum (Law Politics & Society) term ends Spring 2027