The Portland Center for the Humanities @ PSU

Closely aligned with the motto of Portland State University, “Let knowledge serve the city,” which emphasizes civic engagement and community-based learning, the new Portland Center for the Humanities aims to connect students with faculty at PSU and other institutions as well as the community through the lens of the humanities.

Housed at Portland State University, the center:

invites students, faculty, and academic professionals to work together, and to learn from each other to boost student success
engages the larger Portland community with the humanities through events, conversations, and community-building activities.
fosters faculty development and supports innovative scholarly research through research groups, guest lectures, and other interdisciplinary collaborations at PSU and beyond

We invite members of the PSU community who want to join the center as board members or contributors to contact us (email dolidon@pdx.edu or jaen@pdx.edu).

Who We Are

Co-Directors

Annabelle Dolidon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of French
Office: FMH M322
Email: dolidon@pdx.edu

Isabel Jaén Portillo, Ph.D.
Professor of Spanish
Office: FMH M421
Email: jaen@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-3541

Board

Evguenia Davidova, Ph.D.
Professor, International & Global Studies
Office: URBN 470
Email: evguenia@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-8992

Sarah Dougher, Ph.D.
Instructor, University Studies
Office: CH 137
Email: sed@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-715-6731

Brenda Glascott, Ph.D.
Director, University Honors College
Office: UHP UH 105
Email: glascott@pdx.edu

Annie Knepler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University Studies
Office: CH 117
Email: knepler@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-5813

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar, Department of English
Office: FMH M405
Email: dp22@pdx.edu

Get Involved

To stay updated about the events and initiatives of the new PCH@PSU, please add your name and address to our mailing list via this form. You can also email us here: PCHatPSU@pdx.edu.

Current Events

Finding an Audience for the Humanities with NY Times Reporter Jennifer Schuessler

How can we bridge the world of academic research and writing with audiences beyond the university who engage with many of the questions we explore? Join reporter Jennifer Schuessler, who covers intellectual life and the world of ideas for The New York Times, for a webinar conversation with PSU Visiting Scholar Daniel Pollack-Pelzner about connecting humanities ideas with a broader public.

Friday, May 19, 11 am to noon
Free and open to the public
Webinar registration

Speakers:

Jennifer Schuessler
Culture Reporter · New York Times

Jennifer Schuessler is a culture reporter for The New York Times covering intellectual life and the world of ideas.

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
Visiting Scholar, English · Portland State University

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner is a visiting scholar in English at PSU. He writes about theater and cultural history for The Atlantic and The New Yorker.

Past Events

Changing the Narrative: Humanities Approaches to Houselessness (Spring 2022)

Roundtable with panelists Maude Hines, Kacy McKinney, Todd Ferry, Marisa Zapata, and Kanani Cortez from Street Roots followed by a Q&A with the audience. You can find a recording of this event HERE.

Humanities Forum (Winter 2022)

In this forum, we presented our vision(s) for the new center and opened the discussion about what others would like the center to be and do.