Public Humanities Scholars: Public Humanities Scholars Projects


Scholar Paul Fehrenbach presents at Mengle Memorial Library as part of a Public Humanities Scholar project.

Organizations chosen for Public Humanities Scholars clearly explain the role of the humanities in their project, articulating the issues and questions that they will explore with their scholar. Their projects target a broad range of people in mid-central Pennsylvania and are well planned. Finally, selection to Public Humanities Scholars depends on the availability of appropriate scholars.

2009-10 Projects
  • Nicolas Fernandez-Medina, a specialist on late 19th and 20th-century transatlantic history and Spanish literature, gave an audio-visual presentation on the Spanish American War of 1898, in collaboration with the Friends of the Pennsylvania Military Museum (Centre County).

  • Paul Fehrenbach, Senior Instructor in Music and Integrated Arts, presented and performed a program on the history of Celtic music to intergenerational audiences at Mengle Memorial Library (Jefferson County).

  • The Altoona Symphony Orchestra (Blair County) collaborated with music education expert Robert Gardner to plan new programs for its free outreach Cushion Concerts series which introduces children and families to classical music at community sites around the county.
2008-09 Projects
  • Mark Lusk, Trombone Choir Director at Penn State University, produced a music assembly for students at Philipsburg Elementary School (Centre County) featuring Penn State's trombone choir, aimed at inspiring the students to pursue the school's music program.

  • Jefferson County Historical Society (Jefferson County) partnered with historian Bill Pencak to plan the production of exhibits, programs and possibly publications that will make up the Historical Society's Civil War commemoration which is slated to take place from 2011 to 2015.

  • History and environmental studies scholar Brian Black aided the Alto Model Train Museum Association (Blair County) in planning educational programs to foster an understanding of and appreciation for the Altoona area's rich railroading heritage in young people.

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