Humanities Works

From classrooms to communities, from research to industry—the arts and humanities spark ideas, drive innovation, and transform the world. Discover how the arts and humanities intersect with Civic Engagement, Education, Industry, and Research to drive innovation and societal impact.

Watch it in action in our intro video below!

A society that recognizes the enduring significance of the arts and the humanities to the quality and to the future of our civilization will set high value also on diversity and on independence of initiative.
Ronald Reagan, October 14, 1981

The humanities are everywhere—shaping how we live, work, and connect

In partnership with our colleagues in the Humanities Institute at Penn State, Humanities Works is an initiative that demonstrates the ongoing value of a humanities education. Our video stories—honored with Golden Quill Awards, Bronze and Silver Telly Awards, and a Bronze Anthem Award—spotlight the people who apply the skills and knowledge of the humanities to address real-world challenges and create more thoughtful, sustainable solutions.

Explore the powerful connections between creative expression, critical thinking, and societal progress. The arts and humanities cultivate essential capacities—like empathy, communication, ethical reasoning, and adaptability—that drive innovation across every sector and enrich our communities.

These strengths form the foundation of Humanities Works and come to life across four key areas of engagement:

Civic and Community Engagement
Education and Lifelong Learning
Industry and Enterprise
Research and New Knowledge.

Areas of Engagement

Civic and Community Engagement

The contributions of the humanities are essential to the functioning of a democratic society, but what do those contributions look like and how do they impact civic life? From crowd-sourced public histories to advocacy and action-oriented curricula, these stories highlight initiatives that use the humanities to build informed civic engagement.

Education and Lifelong Learning

Humanities skills such as communication, critical thinking, cultural knowledge, and creativity are essential to human development and to enhancing quality of life. These stories highlight innovations and profile the ways in which the humanities disciplines contribute to education and lifelong learning for all ages.

Industry and Enterprise

Ask any employer; "What skills are needed in the workforce?" Humanities-based skills and knowledge are at the forefront and are essential to a wide range of professions. As creativity, critical thinking, self-development, and communication top the lists of employers’ highly sought-after skills, these stories highlight the impact of a humanities education for successful industry leadership.

Research and New Knowledge

These investigations reveal truths about our experience in the present, as much as they inform us of human experience in the past. Stories in this section highlight researchers who explore the unknown through humanities methodologies in collaboration with other disciplines.

Featured Videos

Band Together Pittsburgh: In Concert with Those on the Spectrum

"The Queens Gambit" From the Chess Board to the Board Room: Life Lessons on 64 Squares

Schell Games Bridges Humanities & STEM