Department of Humanities

The Department of Humanities is committed to connecting students with the enduring value of the humanities — the study of human cultural expressions in art, history, languages, literatures, writing, and philosophy across the globe. 

An art installation featuring many small paintings done for an artist talk with Abhilasha Natarajan

Studying Humanities at Simmons

In addition to learning the humanistic skills of critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking, students will develop an appreciation of the diversity of social, cultural, moral, and aesthetic values in human experience. A humanities-based education provides students with multiple career capabilities that are vital for our increasingly complex world.

Humanities Faculty and Staff


Chair

Wanda Torres Gregory photo

Wanda Torres Gregory

Professor and Department Chair

Full-time Faculty

Renee Bergland photo

Renee Bergland

Professor

Steve Berry photo

Steve Berry

Associate Professor

Danisa Bonacic

Danisa Bonacic

Associate Professor

Diane Grossman photo

Diane Grossman

Professor

Alister Inglis photo

Alister Inglis

Professor

Colleen Kiely photo

Colleen Kiely

Professor

Sarah Leonard photo

Sarah Leonard

Associate Professor and Graduate History Program Director

Faculty member Yunxin Li

Yunxin Li

Assistant Professor

Cathryn Mercier photo

Cathryn Mercier

Professor and Graduate Program Director of Children's Literature

Helen Popinchalk photo

Helen Popinchalk

Assistant Teaching Professor and Director, Trustman Art Gallery and University Art Collection

Farooz Rather Headshot

Farooz Rather

Associate Professor of Practice

Photo of Patrick Sylvain

Patrick Sylvain

Assistant Professor

Part-time Faculty

Shelley Isaacson

Shelley Isaacson

Assistant Teaching Professor

Katherine Magyarody

Katherine Magyarody

Assistant Teaching Professor

Department of Humanities in the News

Recipients of the 2024 Faculty Awards, along with President Wooten, Provost Cosner and Associate Provost Doherty.

2024 Simmons Faculty Awards Celebrates Stellar Researchers and Educators

Simmons faculty from various disciplines received awards in undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, service, and a commitment to DEI at the 2024 Faculty Awards.


Roger Mello visiting a Picturebook class

Award-Winning Illustrator Roger Mello Visits Simmons

Brazilian illustrator Roger Mello visited the Simmons campus for a presentation in Professor Cathryn Mercier’s Picturebook class.


Book covers from the 2024 Horn Book winners: Do You Remember, Remember Us, The Mona Lisa Vanishes, and Kin

Children’s Literature Professor Helps Select Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Winners

The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards “recognize and reward excellence in literature for children and young adults.” As the School Library Journal reported, Professor and Graduate Program Director of Children’s Literature Cathryn Mercier chaired a group of judges who determined the 2024 awardees.


The cover of "Natural Magic: Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, and the Dawn of Modern Science", flanked by photos of Emily Dickinson and Charles Darwin

The Boston Globe Praises Literature Professor’s Daring New Book

A recent article in The Boston Globe commends Natural Magic: Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, and the Dawn of Modern Science (Princeton University Press, 2024) by Professor of Literature and Writing Renée Bergland.


Professor Sheldon George, Professor Homi K. Bhabha, and Assistant Professor Patrick Sylvain

Professor Homi K. Bhabha Delivers 2024 Robert M. Gay Memorial Lecture

Professor Homi K. Bhabha, the Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, was this year’s featured speaker for the Robert M. Gay Memorial Lecture. In his conversation with Simmons faculty and students, Bhabha emphasized the importance of dialogue with people from different backgrounds and points of view on their terms.


Sex and the City Cast

Professor Suzanne Leonard Discusses “Sex and the City’s” Toxic Masculinity in Los Angeles Times

“Audiences [today] are much more aware of the dangers of toxic masculinity, and that doesn't read as sexy anymore. I think you have more sophisticated feminist viewers,” says Leonard.


A basic map of Haiti

Assistant Professor Patrick Sylvain Offers Insights into Crisis in Haiti

After armed groups overran Port-au-Prince, thereby displacing thousands of residents and hindering access to food, Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency on March 4, 2024. According to Sylvain, Haiti must cultivate strong leadership to overcome the current crisis.


Lawrence L. Langer

Remembering Professor Emeritus Lawrence “Larry” Langer

The recent passing of beloved Professor Emeritus of English Lawrence “Larry” Langer has deeply saddened everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him as a colleague, teacher, and mentor during a distinguished Simmons career that spanned over three decades.


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Department of Humanities

The Department of Humanities is committed to connecting students with the enduring value of the humanities — the study of human cultural expressions in art, history, languages, literatures, writing, and philosophy across the globe.