USC Society of
Fellows in the Humanities
An interdisciplinary community that
supports advanced research in the humanities
The USC Society of Fellows in the Humanities is an interdisciplinary community that supports advanced research by postdoctoral fellows and faculty members, promoting intellectual exchange and interdisciplinary approaches to research and teaching in the humanities and humanistic social sciences.
Fellows meet regularly in formal and informal settings to present and discuss advanced scholarly research. Postdoctoral fellows are affiliated with the Society as well as with a USC department of their choice, and have faculty mentors in both. Postdoctoral fellows in the humanities engage with each other as well as humanities departments, institutes, and centers at USC and in the broader Los Angeles area.
Join the Society of Fellows
Each year the Society admits five postdoctoral fellows, who are appointed for two-year terms. The fellows pursue research and teach three courses over four semesters, with one semester for full-time research. They participate in the scholarly life of the Society, the host department, and the university.
Yearly topic: Starting in the fall of 2025, the USC Society of Fellows in the Humanities will have a research topic for each two-year cycle, to allow for more focused interdisciplinary conversations between postdoctoral and faculty fellows.
Learn more about eligibility, requested materials, and commonly asked questions.
Pictured left to right: Andrea Ballestero, David Helps, Kangni Huang, Alyssa James, Alana Mailes, Maya Maskarinec, Lori Meeks, Jasmine Ann Strickland, Lisa Cooper Vest, Jennifer Wild
The Office of the Provost and Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences appoint faculty fellows and postdoctoral fellows for two-year terms as recommended by the Society’s selection committees. Congratulations to our new faculty fellows:
- Andrea Ballestero, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Maya Maskarinec, Associate Professor of History, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Lori Meeks, Associate Professor of Religion and East Asian Languages and Cultures, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Lisa Cooper Vest, Associate Professor of Musicology, Thornton School of Music
- Jennifer Wild, Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, School of Cinematic Arts and Department of French and Italian, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Please join us in welcoming and congratulating our new postdoctoral fellows:
- David Helps, History, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Kangni Huang, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Alyssa James, Anthropology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Alana Mailes, Musicology, Thornton School of Music
- Jasmine Ann Strickland, English, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Society of Fellows in the Humanities 2024 Newsletter
Explore the 2024 newsletter of the USC Society of Fellows in the Humanities.
About the Society of Fellows
Learn more about the USC Society of Fellows in the Humanities.
Postdoctoral and Faculty Fellows
Get to know our current Postdoctoral and Faculty Fellows and explore alumni.