McGillicuddy Humanities Center welcomes Spring 2025 undergraduate fellows
In spring 2025, the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center (MHC) will welcome four new undergraduate humanities research fellows: Chantelle Flores, Heath Kennedy, Jordan Ramos and Ellis Sinclair. This cohort joins current fellows Rehannah Baksh, Obie Casperson, Kyra Pederson and Neil Rockey.
MHC undergraduate fellows receive an award of up to $8,000 over the course of two semesters to pursue an independent research or creative project in the humanities in collaboration with a faculty member.
Flores, (Oakland, ME), is a student in the Honors College and an English and art history major whose project, “The Traces of Other Ghosts: A Documental Poetic Approach to Hypervisualizing Medical Trauma,” aims to raise awareness of medical trauma by creatively exploring the tensions between patient and medical field, between subject and document, and between the physical body and one’s lived experience. Flores will be working with Dr. Hollie Adams, assistant professor of English. Chantelle’s Fellowship is supported by the David ’64, ’67G and Alison ’71 Wiggin Humanities Fellowship.
Kennedy, (Cape Elizabeth, ME), a Music Education and Performance major whose project “The Influence and Uniqueness of Barbara York’s Music” seeks to understand what makes Barbara York’s musical compositions for low brass unique, as well as understand her influence within the tuba and euphonium community. Kennedy will be working with faculty advisor David Stern, adjunct professor of low brass. Heath’s Fellowship is supported by The Sandra Merrill Peters and John G. Peters Humanities Scholarship Fund.
Ramos, (Bristol, RI) is a student in the Honors College and a studio art and environmental science double major whose project is “Maine Wild Blueberry Harvest Heritage: Painting Series Exploring the Interconnected Relationship Between the Fields and Communities Practicing the Harvest Tradition of Hand-raking.” Ramos’s work will be advised by Dr. Lily Calderwood, UMaine Cooperative Extension wild blueberry specialist and assistant professor of horticulture. Jordan’s Fellowship is supported by the Echoes of Maine Humanities Fund.
Sinclair, (Bangor, ME), an English and WGS double major, proposes “Girls’ Worlds,” a collection of essays exploring three classic children’s stories: Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Employing a Marxist-feminist framework influenced by prominent children’s literature scholars such as Jack Zipes and Maria Tatar, they aim to situate these stories in both their historical contexts and their contemporary sociological relevance. Ellis will be working with the English Department’s Dr. Hollie Adams as a faculty advisor on the project. Ellis’s Fellowship is supported by the Liam Riordan Humanities Fellowship Fund.
In addition to honing their research skills and building their academic networks, MHC fellows serve as humanities ambassadors to their peers, the campus and the broader community. For students interested in becoming a fellow, and faculty who might like to nominate one, the next deadline to apply is March 17. Research and creative work of all types across the humanities will be considered. This includes academic papers, art gallery shows, community workshops or films. Applicants do not need to be humanities majors or minors to be eligible. More information, including application instructions, proposal guidelines and a statement of purpose, is available on the MHC website.
The MHC supports excellent teaching, research and public engagement in the humanities to deepen understanding of the human condition. It elevates programs that foster intellectual curiosity, critical reflection and creative innovation. At the core of the center’s work is the belief that studying the humanities inspires compassion across differences, develops empathy, strengthens critical thinking skills and cultivates the emotional and intellectual agility needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected and complex global landscape.
Contact: Alex Young