The Northeastern Humanities Center was founded in 2008 under the directorship of Carla Kaplan, Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature, who directed the Center until 2011. From 2013 through 2022, the Humanities Center was directed by Lori Hope Lefkovitz, Ruderman Professor and Director of the Jewish Studies Program, who also became interim director following the tragic death of Ángel David Nieves, on December 2, 2023.
In July 2024, we welcomed K.J. Rawson as the next Director of the Humanities Center. Prof. Rawson is an accomplished scholar and a driving force in the fields of digital humanities and LGBTQ+ studies. As the founder and director of the Digital Transgender Archive, Prof. Rawson has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting access to transgender history. Prof. Rawson also chairs the editorial board of Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ linked data vocabulary that has become an essential resource for researchers and scholars. His commitment to advancing the representation and study of LGBTQ+ communities has earned him prestigious fellowships and grants from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Under Prof. Rawson’s tenure the Humanities Center has become more fully integrated into Northeastern’s global campus network. Kirsten Saxon now serves as the Director of the Humanities Center for Northeastern University Oakland, and Oliver Ayers, the Director of the Humanities Center for Northeastern University London. In addition, Getty L. Lustila has joined as Associate Director for the Humanities Center in Boston. More than ever, the Humanities Center is well-positioned to become a dynamic catalyst for collaborative humanities research and programming across Northeastern’s global network. We look forward to being a leading voice for the humanities within and beyond the university.