Hobart and William Smith Colleges have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to launch a new interdisciplinary program focused on historical memory and civic identity. The “Matters of Memory: Confronting Conflicting Narratives in a Small American City” program will offer students seminar-style coursework and hands-on research opportunities to explore the impact of history and memory on culture, conflict, and identity.
The program, set to launch in Fall 2025, will be led by Professor Matthew Crow, Chair of the Department of History and Director of Law and Society. It will feature team-taught courses, advanced research opportunities, and community collaborations in Geneva. Students will develop capstone projects examining how historical narratives shape civic life.
“This project is a tremendous opportunity to put the humanities to work in the world in a very direct way,” Crow said. “My hope is that it not only benefits students and the broader Geneva community but also allows faculty to see themselves as critical stewards of history and memory.”
The Mellon Foundation’s Higher Learning program awarded the grant, recognizing the initiative’s potential to deepen student engagement with history and serve as a model for other institutions. The foundation has previously supported Hobart and William Smith, including a 2022 grant for a leadership program for humanities faculty.
Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Kirk praised the grant, saying it would enhance interdisciplinary learning while strengthening ties between the college and Geneva. “The program will allow students to think critically about their own role in a community, which aligns with our mission of preparing students to lead lives of consequence,” she said.
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