FAQs

Graduate students doing research, Delaware Historical Societyphoto cred: Harrison Graves

What is the African American Public Humanities Initiative at the University of Delaware?
AAPHI scholars are fully funded graduate fellowship for matriculating Ph.D. students in History, English and Art History, with intentional focus on training students for a broad range of careers in and beyond the academy.  We believe in the centrality of African American Public Humanities, and our program showcases the opportunities and responsibilities of public scholarship and advocacy for African American history, cultural preservation, and community outreach work. Our interdisciplinary training focuses on collections based research and digital humanities training during a concentrated five year, 12 month, cohort model program of study that builds on the University’s strengths in public humanities and African American studies.  Students recruited through this interdisciplinary initiative will have opportunities to develop their skills as scholars and educators if they are interested in academic careers.  Career diversity is also encouraged through participation in project-based research experiences that advance the public profile of humanities. As such, our students engage in internships in libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and special collections on campus and as well as at our partner institutions.

Our program holds a thematic focus on 19th– through 21st-century African American public humanities, with a dual emphasis on print and material culture studies, and digital humanities training.  Our rich curriculum is tailored to students’ career goals and it involves interdisciplinary coursework, intensive off-campus professional training opportunities, and internship experiences. Our program provides Ph.D. candidates in History, English, and Art History with the full complement of humanities skills that are critical to career success in public humanities venues nation-wide.

How do I apply to be a  African American Public Humanities Fellow?
To be considered for AAPHI, students will apply to a program of graduate study at the University of Delaware and express their interest in the AAPHI fellowship.  Directions for admission can be found here.

What type of funding is available for the African American Public Humanities Fellows?

As a commitment to diversifying the professoriate, University of Delaware offers competitive English, History and Art History graduate applicants interested in interdisciplinary work in the Black public humanities a five-year fellowship with access of up to $4,500 in summer funding, and yearly professional development funds for training and research in digital humanities and in archives, repositories and museums, professional association membership, conference attendance and other relevant research. Students will join a close community of dedicated students and faculty. Our strengths in American literature and material culture studies beyond Africana studies are also deep and strong. Several faculty members within English, History, Art History and Africana Studies departments are dedicated teachers, mentors and public scholars. University of Delaware has strong faculty members who specialize in the study of African American Literature, African American History, Art History, Museum Studies, Material Culture and Africana Studies. AAPHI scholars have worked the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, the Center for Material Culture, and the award-winning Colored Conventions Projects (now a part of the Center for Black Digital Research at Pennsylvania State University.)

Information on the funding package available to AAPHI Fellows can be obtained by contacting us via AfAmPublicHumanities@udel.edu

Where is UD located?

A note on Delaware. It is mid-way between NYC and DC, close to Philadelphia and about an hour from Baltimore. In other words, Delaware sits in the middle of one of the most important cultural hubs of the world. Our students regularly go to exhibits and museums and hold internships in DC, NY and Philly. The cost of living is less expensive than many other metropolitan areas. Amtrak and regular bus routes makes getting to cities on the East Coast quite easy.