Mercer Times

Humanities educators from all 18 public community colleges in New Jersey gathered at Princeton University on April 11 for a conference aimed at bolstering the role of the humanities in education and expanding collaborations with Princeton. The meeting was organized by Princeton's new Humanities Initiative in conjunction with the Program for Community College Engagement (PCCE).

Rachael DeLue, director of the Humanities Initiative, emphasized the initiative's commitment to fostering community engagement and collaboration, highlighting the growing relationship between Princeton and New Jersey's community colleges. "A major pillar of our initiative is to foster community engagement and public collaborations," DeLue stated.

Sarah Schwarz, the director of PCCE, encouraged attendees to consider how Princeton could become more accessible and resourceful to a wider audience. "I hope we can think together about the challenges facing the humanities while celebrating the humanities in the classroom and revitalizing the role of humanities," said Schwarz.

PCCE aims to create mentorship opportunities and collaborations between community colleges in New Jersey and Princeton faculty and students, having been founded in 2023 to build upon previous efforts. At the event, Linda Scherr from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges remarked on the growing importance of humanities students, stating they are "the heartbeat of our institutions."

Throughout the day, attendees learned about Princeton's available resources, including the Princeton University Library's Special Collections and the Princeton University Art Museum. Carin Berkowitz, executive director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, encouraged educators to be exemplary for other states in demonstrating the value of humanities education.

Acclaimed ceramics artist Roberto Lugo, who started his artistic journey at a community college, delivered a keynote conversation with DeLue. He credited his education at Seminole State College in Florida as "a transformative experience," allowing him to explore his passion for ceramics.

The conference featured breakout sessions on how humanities education can intersect with STEM fields. Participants, including Lauren Schwartz from Salem Community College, discussed innovative teaching approaches and the value of integrating ethics courses across various disciplines.

Cole Crittenden, vice provost for academic affairs, shared that the conference served as a model for PCCE's initiatives, emphasizing reciprocal learning opportunities between Princeton and community colleges. "Bringing together leading humanities scholars from Princeton, world-class artists, and committed faculty from two-year public institutions is something PCCE is perfectly positioned to do," Crittenden said.

Attendees also toured campus cultural and academic resources, including the Special Collections, where they explored artifacts from the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers. Emma Sarconi of Princeton's Special Collections emphasized the importance of access to these resources, encouraging faculty to inform students about the available opportunities for research.

As the conference concluded, Cara McClintock of PCCE solicited feedback on how Princeton can continue supporting community colleges. Jonathan Molinaro, dean at Ocean County College, appreciated Princeton's openness, expressing that the conference was a "real treat."

Participants left with a sense of optimism, including Eric Adamson from Hudson County Community College, who looked forward to using Princeton archives to supplement his English curriculum.