Since 1981, the Center has grown from a single NEH-funded endowment into a hub for fellowships, awards, and public programming across Boston University. Explore each chapter of that history below.
Beginnings
The Center, originally the Boston University Humanities Foundation, was established in 1981 following a $1,000,000 NEH Challenge Grant to the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Those funds created an endowment that has grown steadily and now supports a wide range of awards, fellowships, programs, and events.
The Foundation was renamed the Boston University Center for the Humanities in 2011. Today it’s led by a faculty director and governed by a faculty Executive Committee drawn from humanities and related departments.
External Affiliations
The Center is a member of:
- National Humanities Alliance (Washington, D.C.) — advocates for humanities funding at the federal level.
- Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (Madison, WI) — a network of 300+ humanities centers at other institutions.