Illinois Wesleyan University’s Center for Humanities will welcome approximately 60 undergraduate students from across Illinois and Missouri for MUSE: An Undergraduate Humanities Conference on Saturday, Feb. 7. 

Hosted by the Illinois Wesleyan Center for the Humanities, the day-long conference invites students from IWU and other Midwestern institutions, including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and Webster University, to present original research and creative work in a wide range of humanities disciplines. Participants share their scholarship, attend a professional development workshop, hear from a nationally recognized keynote speaker, and conclude with a humanities banquet.

MUSE is designed to highlight undergraduate work in the humanities disciplines. In alignment with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the conference welcomes research in traditional fields while also encouraging presentations in creative writing, theater history, art history, music history and the history of science.

Throughout the day, students will present in panel sessions consisting of three presenters each. Each student will have 20 minutes to present their work, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period for audience discussion.

The conference will also feature an address from keynote speaker Professor Steven Mentz of St. John’s University, a scholar known for his work in Shakespeare, literary theory and the “blue humanities,” a field that explores environmental questions through oceanic and maritime perspectives. In addition, panels of humanities professionals will address topics of interest to undergraduate students considering careers and graduate study in the humanities. 

“This is a terrific opportunity for professional development,” said Isaac Funk Endowed Professor of English Joanne Diaz, the inaugural director of the Center for the Humanities. “Of equal importance, though, is that this conference will connect students to each other, and to what they value, what they believe in, how they express themselves, and how they see themselves in historical context. We are delighted to have so many smart, curious students come together in this way.”

By bringing together students from multiple institutions, MUSE aims to promote professional growth and a shared celebration of humanities scholarship at the undergraduate level. 

Please find the full schedule of events here.