UA Little Rock’s CHASSE and Career Services Sponsor Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference
The College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE) sponsored 46 students’ attendance at the Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference held March 6-9. With local tours, professional development opportunities, and conversations on a variety of humanities topics, the conference programming addressed a variety of interest areas.
“We were so inspired to have 46 CHASSE students and several faculty members attend and/or present at the conference,” said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. “We were glad to partner with Career Services to be at a conference promoting engagement among humanities organizations and graduates to strengthen careers in the humanities in Central Arkansas.”
HumanitiesAR, formerly known as the Arkansas Humanities Council, hosted the inaugural Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference, focused on “bridging the gap from education to career (a first-of-its-kind conference for young professionals),” according to the conference website.
The conference was co-chaired by Jamie Middleton, who is earning a master’s degree in public history and serves as the program officer for grants and public programs at HumanitiesAR.
“With the conference being framed with the desire for candid conversations about pursuing degrees and careers in the humanities and the need for more events like the NGH conference, students, young professionals, and experienced professionals came together for a week of open dialogues about how we can better listen to one another and help the next generation of humanists take their next steps,” Middleton said.
As part of the diamond-level sponsorship, CHASSE and Career Services engaged in several conference events, including:
- “Careers in Cultural Industries and Schools,” a conversation regarding three graduate programs in the college with Dr. Barclay Key, chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Rachel Eells, interim director of the School of Education
- “Resume Writing and Review” with Brittany Straw, director of Career Services at UA Little Rock
- “Publishing in the Humanities,” a conversation moderated by Dr. Jeff Condran (English Program) with Dr. Heidi Skurat Harris (Rhetoric and Writing), Dr. Angela Hunter (English Program), and Dr. John Kirk (History).
- Judging and announcing Student Awards at UA Little Rock Downtown
“Career Services proudly sponsored and presented at the inaugural Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference, emphasizing the essentiality of adapting career strategies within the humanities field,” said Brittany Straw, director of Career Services at UA Little Rock. “Unlike the linear paths found in pre-professional majors, students in humanities benefit from a nuanced and flexible approach to resume-building and job search strategies.”
For additional information on Career Services at UA Little Rock, visit the Career Services website or email careers@ualr.edu. For information on programs in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, visit the college website or email chasse@ualr.edu.
